The Retired Shows: Final Four Fun!

Thursday, April 11, 2019

Final Four Fun!

Amazing memories were made at the Final Four this year in Minneapolis. Birthday gift this year to Landon and Owen was a trip to the Final Four with Papa and Nana. Landon has anticipated this from his 13th birthday in late January and Owen actually celebrated his 10th birthday on Sunday of the Final Four weekend.

Melissa and Scott drove to Minneapolis with the boys Friday after school and work. They joined us at the Embassy Suites downtown.

Saturday Landon, Owen and I took an Uber to watch Don and the USAB Junior National Teams scrimmage the NBA International Academies. Landon and Owen knew many of the 2020 group.
The Kahlers met Scott's brother and family for the afternoon at the Final Four Fan Fest. Then is was GAME TIME. We walked to the arena and cheered on the four remaining teams: Auburn, Texas Tech, Michigan St. and Virginia.

The boys had mid-court seats!

Sunday - Owen's 10th birthday!
We planned a fun and busy day for Owen's birthday -
We went the the Final Four arena to watch the 2020 USAB players practice on the floor and got to tour the Virginia locker room.

On the Final Four floor!

The USAB 2020 players

The next sports announcer

In the Virginia locker room

The media room and USAB players

Sunday afternoon we attended the Timberwolves v Thunder NBA game. OKC won in a close game. The boys got to go into the Timberwolves locker room at the end of the half time and met Derrick Rose and L Deng who were rehabbing.

Back at the hotel Owen opened presents and then we headed to Fogo's for a delicious dinner.

Monday
Melissa and Scott headed back to Iowa on Monday morning after a walk through the downtown area celebrating the Final Four.

Fun on the Nicollete Mall

We found Iowa on the bracket.

We spent the afternoon at the Fan Fest. Besides all the fun sports activities, Landon won a shooting competition (starting with about 40-50 people of all ages) and won tickets to the final game.