HOOP DREAMS

The lesson in Bangor this week is to never underestimate the value of entertainment to our economy. As high school boys and girls play their hearts out in do-or-die battles on the basketball court at Bangor Auditorium, the regional economy is gulping down some much-needed financial Gatorade. Hotels, motels, restaurants, gas stations and other businesses are all benefiting from the influx of thousands who come to town to see their teams play.

Setting aside the financial calculations for a moment, it’s worth noting that the annual basketball tourney is a wonderful community tradition that must be the envy of other states. Moms, dads, siblings, grandparents, cousins, friends and neighbors make the trek to this Eastern Maine basketball Mecca to witness an appearance in the big game.

And what a game it is. While parents fret in the bleachers, nervously tapping feet and gnawing on fingernails, the players trot through the pre-game lay-up drill, the knot in their stomachs betrayed in their wide eyes.

So much is at stake. Countless hours of muscle-aching practice. Long, dark bus rides to and from games. The thrill of contests won and the dejection of those lost, stretching all the way back to Thanksgiving. And so much to take in. The huge space of the auditorium, so much larger than the school gym at home. The bright lights, the TV cameras. The hundreds sitting on one side, urging victory, and the hundreds on the other side, wishing for the opposite.

And let us also sing the praises of the sport. Say what you will about overpaid NBA stars, who at times reduce the beauty of the game to auditions for sneaker deals. Basketball is as exciting and passion-filled as sport gets. Unlike football, fans get to see facial expressions, the sweat dripping from foreheads, the shouted instructions and interaction among the players. And unlike baseball, the team is a living thing, reacting as one: a player darts through the lane, another sets a screen, a third threads a pass, a fourth readies for a rebound and a fifth retreats on defense.

Back to economics. Thriving paper mills, manufacturing plants and call centers are easily understood as financial gains for the region. But what about softer, harder to quantify phenomenon like the basketball tournament, the American Folk Festival and the millions who vacation here from out of state? These are just as critical, must be nurtured and encouraged, and should generate as much VIP attention as the ribbon-cutting at a new business.