After stealing the glass slipper from Cinderella Davidson, then toppling the mighty Tarheels, the Jayhawks faced off with the Memphis Tigers last night, and you all know the story from there. For the first time since 1988, when Danny Manning led a 6-seeded Jayhawk team to victory in the National Championship, the Hawks cut down the nets and are bringing the trophy home to Lawrence once again, where we’re all in a state of suspended euphoria.

In a game that was as exciting as any I’ve ever seen, our emotions were on a rollercoaster ride until the final buzzer sounded, sending Lawrence into a frenzy.

Things looked pretty grim in the final two minutes of the game, as the Jayhawks were down 60-51 with just over two minutes remaining in regulation. We were with friends, watching the game, and you could feel hope trying to slip out the back door. But the Jayhawks ended up taking a gamble that worked, slowing down the game by sending Tigers to the free throw line and and banking on misses by a team famous this year for their poor free-throw percentage. It worked. Superstar guards Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts missed 4 out of five of their final free throws in regulation, giving the Jayhawks the only window they needed — a three point deficit and 10 seconds to tie the game.

Even so, people were starting to leave the party, camcorders packed up, coats on, tears in eyes.

“Guys, 10 seconds is plenty of time. This is the National Championship — they can do something with 10 seconds. . . ”

And, as people started filtering toward the door, the rest of us watched the final possession in regulation unfold. After Sherron Collins bobbled ball, and then got enough control to get it to (Super) Mario Chalmers, I just knew that when Chalmers launched his shot, it was gonna go in. It had to!

And it did.

Out party erupted, grown-ups and kids running around like fools, hugging and kissing each other, like we had just won the game.

In fact, we had. The wind went out of the Tigers’ sails, and the Jayhawks took advantage, jumping out to a six point lead in overtime and controlling the pace in OT. Looking back, I can see the outcome in overtime was never really in question. But we all held our breath, doing superstitious things like standing in the exact place we were in when Chalmers’ shot went down, willing the Hawks to victory.

When the final buzzer sounded, we all jumped into cars and headed for Massachusetts street, along with 40,000 other people, where controlled and joyous chaos reigned.

I walked the streets with my son, Anthony, a kid who plays basketball and would love nothing more than to someday have people rioting in the streets after HE wins a national championship. We were with another mom and three of her kids. We lost my husband, and our teenagers were on their own, but that was OK, because the trip up and down Mass. Street was nothing but constant entertainment. Music was blaring; people were dancing on top of cars; huge groups were breaking out into chants and cheers; random strangers were hugging, kissing (and I mean REALLY kissing). We let the boys lead the way, and they got their fair share of college girl hugs and kisses, plus all sorts of high-fives and “bro’s” from guys.

It was all good, too. Everyone was just happy to be there, and no one was causing any trouble or grief. Even the cops were high-fiving and taking pictures with fans. And I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many drunk people who were so NICE to be around! In fact, it was almost hard to tell who was drunk and who wasn’t.

Anthony and I ended up hitching a ride home with our friends at 1:15AM — the rest of the family filtered home over the next hour, all curfew rules suspended for the night.

As you may suspect, school attendance is waaaaay down today in the Lawrence public schools (KU just flat-out cancelled classes). And plenty of people took the day off work to recover and/or welcome the Jayhawks home. Me? I’m going about my normal day, because those of us who are out and about can’t talk about anything else and I’m lovin’ every minute of it!