As a long-time resident of Peachtree City, I was delighted again this year to attend the annual Starr’s Mill-McIntosh basketball extravaganza held on Jan. 4th at McIntosh High School.
This intense cross-town rivalry provides some of the best pure entertainment and visuals to be found anywhere on the unfashionable southside of Atlanta. Some of the highlights from this year’s event:
• The McIntosh student body assembled at the home end of their court in various fashions of green and white. One student was dressed as a blind man complete with walking stick obviously mocking the shooting skills of the opposing team.
Assembled at the other end of the gym was a huge throng of Starr’s Mill students dressed in their classic baby blue and white colors. Several boys in the front row sported blue and white basketball warm-up pants, a throwback tribute to days gone by.
In total, it was a spirited, colorful and fun-filled group of students proudly representing their respective high schools.
• As has become the pre-game tradition, the entire McIntosh student body stood in unison boldly chiming, “And the Home of the Chiefs” during the singing of the last line of our National Anthem.
Before any controversy begins to swirl here regarding this subject (see last year’s game), everyone should know that this is done in good spirit and with no malice or ill will toward the Anthem or the McIntosh student chorus singing the Anthem. Lighten up, folks; these are wonderful kids having good, clean fun.
• One student on the McIntosh side wore a tight-fitting lime green body suit stretched from head to toe. In coordination with his fellow students (they politely sat as he took center stage) he gyrated wildly behind the McIntosh basket whenever a Starr’s Mill player attempted a free throw.
I’m sure it was a distraction to the opposing player (as was intended) but it was funny, ridiculous and entertaining all at the same time.
• The incessant chanting between the two student bodies was a flat-out hoot.
The Chiefs initiated things with a strong chorus of “Chattahoochee!”, an obvious reference to Starr’s Mill’s tough loss to Chattahoochee High School during the recently completed state football playoffs.
The Panthers responded with a deafening “48-0!”, a reference to their pounding of McIntosh during the past football season.
This exchange continued for several rounds with the Panthers finally chanting, “Let’s play football!”, an obvious reference to McIntosh’s less than stellar football tradition.
It was all done in good spirit and fun with both parties grinning from ear to ear as the cheers echoed throughout the building and over the large crowd.
• The most serious and noteworthy entertainment of the night came at half-time compliments of the McIntosh female dance team known as the Chiefettes. In a word, outstanding! These young ladies put on a show the likes of which I have never seen at a high school sporting event.
Smartly dressed in classy Broadway outfits complimented by black fishnet stockings, they gave the Radio City Rockettes a serious run for their money with high precision leg kicks and outstanding dance moves. Their timing and coordination were impeccable. The crowd rewarded them with a richly deserved standing ovation following their performance. It was a resounding “10” on all of the judges’ cards.
In the end, the actual basketball played by both teams proved to be as entertaining as the crowd activities noted above. It was an intensely fought, nail-biting thriller between two proud and spirited teams with the McIntosh Chiefs squeaking out a victory over their arch rivals in the final 5 seconds of play. It was a wonderful finish to a truly entertaining night.
I can’t wait for Act II when the two teams square off again at Starr’s Mill on Jan. 28.
There is a reason why overflow crowds flock to attend this heralded, southside basketball classic: It is called pure entertainment.
John Murphy
Peachtree City, Ga.
