[Sung to the tune of Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson"]
Where have you gone, Jeff Green's Mom?
Our fanbase turns its lonely eyes to you
Ooo ooo ooo
What's that you say, Mrs. Jeff Green's Dad?
Jumpin' Jeff's left for the NBA
Hey hey hey
Hey hey hey
Jeff Green declared for the NBA draft today. Or, rather, he said he was staying in it. His teammate and classmate Roy Hibbert said he's coming back to school for his senior year.
This past March, I saw all eleven games of the 2007 Big East Championship at Madison Square Garden. (This was the tournament for which Jeff would earn Most Outstanding Player honors after the Hoyas routed Pitt in the championship game.)
I met Jeff Green's Mom there. We were both getting a beer on the mezzanine level.
Jeff Green's Mom's face is a fixture on the jumbotron at all Hoyas home games. She always wears her son's #32 jersey and she looks a lot like her son, so she's easy to spot.
Normally I'm not one to bother famous people. I figure they're just trying to have a good time same as the rest of us, so I walked by her at first. This is the Hoyas, though. I couldn't help myself and turned back.
"Excuse me — are you Jeff Green's Mom?"
"Yes, I am."
"I love your son."
"Well, I love you!"
Such a nice lady! I didn't want to overstep my bounds, but again, it's the Hoyas, so I said,
"Look — it's definitely none of my business, but I sure hope he'll be back next year."
"Oh, he will be."
She'd made me feel so much better! Man, with Jeff back for his senior year, a National Championship would be virtually assured for the Hoyas in 2008.
I started to walk away and realized I was being an idiot. This was a moment for remembering! I pulled my camera from my front jeans pocket and asked her if she'd mind.
Not at all, she said, and Jeff Green's Mom and I walked over to the counter to put down our beers. I handed the camera to her friend and put my arm around her. We smiled.
It may look like I'm saying, "I'm #1!" but that's not it. I'm actually thinking, "Yeah! One more year of eligibility!"
I was so happy back then. Not like today. That's the last time I listen to Jeff Green's Mom.