On the spot


By Nathan Tafoya
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Thursday, January 29, 2004

Freshman claims to be an "all-star," but can't even beat a Wildcat reporter at basketball

Wildcat: (walking up to a group of guys shooting hoops, and after some preliminary introductions ·) Hi, my name's Nathan and you're on the spot. Why were you so emphatic about this?

Garrity: The interview? Because I'm an all-star at life. I don't know.

Wildcat: All right, you're an all-star? I challenge you to a game of what · three · five?

Garrity: All right. I'm going to get killed.

(We squared off. Time slowed. Despite my docile moves and ballerina twists, Garrity led me, 3-0. With mounting pressure to represent the Arizona Daily Wildcat, I took it to the next level, and came away with the win. Final score: 5-3)

(Friend on sideline shouts to Garrity, "You're off our team.")

Garrity: (with hands on knees) Good game, man.

Wildcat: (between breaths) Nice game. I thought I was going to suck like Texas. But hey, you're an all-star. You've got a girlfriend and I don't so · I saw you kissing her on the court earlier.

Garrity: Oh. Right on.

Wildcat: So what are you guys doing out here today?

Garrity: It's just the most beautiful day it's been in like, two weeks, and we just came to play ball.

Wildcat: Definitely. Are you in the ROTC right next door?

Garrity: No, no.

Wildcat: Man, I've always wanted to just · I always have this terrible urge every time I see a Navy person in their whites · to put my dirty footprints all over their clothes. Maybe we can attribute your loss to your shorts sagging down really far.

Garrity: True. (examining himself). You can do the shorts ÷

Wildcat: See, I already had excuses prepared. I was going to use my sprained ankle.

Garrity: My shorts, definitely ÷ the wind, the sun, smoking. It's all just a huge ball that's coming against me.

÷ Interview by Nathan Tafoya