Near the end of Sunday’s Holiday Clinic, some of Kansas University’s basketball players sang Barney’s “I Love You, You Love Me” to a group of hooting and chortling elementary children.
At least they were singing while in a defensive stance.
The song was the penalty for a lost bet between the children and Kirk Hinrich, Wayne Simien, Brett Ballard, Lewis Harrison and Michael Lee, who all failed to make a half-court shot and had to pay the price.
The tomfoolery was par for the course at the annual Holiday Clinic, where KU basketball players and coaches taught some serious skills and had some serious fun with more than 300 third- through eighth-graders. The clinic cost $55 per child and included an official camp ball, T-shirt, 2002 KU basketball calendar and a ticket to the game Wednesday against Valparaiso University.
“The best part of it was meeting the players,” said Lindsay Messenger, 10, Ottawa. She joined her friends Meghan Cahill, 11, and Eliza Allegre, 11, as they waited in line for autographs after the clinic.
“I liked it all,” Allegre said. “I love basketball, and I’m a big fan of KU.”
Molly Lacy, 20, Kansas City, Kan., watched her brother, Jimmy, 11, for part of the afternoon. The clinic was her Christmas gift to her brother.
“I wasn’t going to get him video games or anything he could sit down and do,” she said. “I thought this would be a lot cooler.”
Jim Bowen, Lawrence, watched his grandson Aaron Gile, 8, as he participated in defensive, passing, dribbling and shooting drills.
“I think the players may have about as much fun as the kids do,” he said.
Korab Eland, 11, Lenexa, said he came to the clinic because he wanted to meet Roy Williams and all the players.
“I didn’t expect the players to talk to me that much,” he said, “but they did.”
Even Keith Langford’s mother, Charlene Taylor, enjoyed the afternoon. In town for Saturday’s game against Tulsa, she brought Keith’s younger brother, Justin, 10, to the clinic. She said it was good for the players to interact with their young fans.
“It’s a break from basketball, and they can have a little fun with the kids,” Taylor said. “It actually puts a personality with the names.”