By Brendan Ulmer
Ulmer Uninterrupted
The NJCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Championship has been in Hutchinson for the last 78 years.
I really need it to be here for at least 78 more.
I had the privilege of covering it for a few days last week, learning about the people involved, doing some light coverage of the games, and documenting Howard College’s championship celebration. Every second of it was a joy.
One thing in particular that really tickled me was the repeat attendees. I would venture to say that more than half the number of attendees I saw, I saw on multiple days, and I saw many of those people every single day. These people, the everydayers, are my heroes.
One of the things that I miss about growing up in northeast Kansas is the ability to spontaneously attend high-level sporting events. There were many times in college when I would notice I had nothing to do all afternoon, buy some Royals tickets, and treat myself (and hopefully a friend or two) to some Major League Baseball. Kansas Basketball and Chiefs games were a little to cost prohibitive to be so impulsive, but I attended my fair share of those as well.
As silly as it will sound to some, I was really feeling that gap in my life leading up to the NJCAA tournament. After attending a few of those tournament games, the burning has gone away, but I could’ve easily gobbled up so much more.
That’s why when I get to retirement age, if retirement is still a thing that exists in the future, I will grab my blanket, a water bottle, and a hot dog and join the ranks of the everydayers.
There is no greater sports pleasure in Hutchinson than to show up to the arena shortly before noon and watch some competitive junior college basketball, free from responsibilities and sunlight for about 10 hours. I’m getting chills just thinking about it.
By the way, the hot dogs at the Hutchinson Sports Arena are unreal. I am somewhat of a hot dog connoisseur. I spent many summers working the concession stand at Creekside Baseball Complex in Parkville, Missouri. During this job, I ate a truly gluttonous amount of hot dogs. Jalapeno cheddar dogs, nacho cheese dogs, pulled pork dogs, I got experimental with it. When I was in college, I went to the nearest QuikTrip for hot dogs so often that it’s a miracle that the QT employees and I didn’t know each other by name.
Even after all my years and all my dogs, I think I can comfortably say that the hot dog at Hutchinson Sports Arena is the best, pure hot dog I’ve ever had. I’m a big believer that the best hot dogs do not require condiments, and the Hutch sports arena dog certainly falls into that category. One bite into that dog and the juices are practically spilling everywhere.
Their dog is also massive. Normally, I think the size of a hot dog is overcompensating for a lack of flavor, but with the Hutchinson sports arena dog, I don’t think that amount of flavor could be contained in a smaller package.
Those 10 hours the everydayers spend at the arena are worth it for the hot dogs alone.
Brendan Ulmer is a reporter with The Hutchinson Tribune. He can be reached at brendan@hutchtribune.com.