La Borgata cheers, stomps and laughs through end of losing season

Chris Roser-Jones '02 and Michael Chiswick-Patterson '02 sat together at dinner scribbling strategies and suggesting possible rotations for their Dillon Youth Basketball League team's upcoming playoff game Friday night.

La Borgata finished 0-6 in the regular season, losing its final game by two points. This was the team's last chance. The coaches were determined to get it right.

An hour later La Borgata was dancing off the court, darting over to parents and friends and grinning. But Roser-Jones stood on the sidelines, arms crossed and his mouth set in a straight, sad line. They had lost.

"I thought we were going to win," Roser-Jones said. "I was sure coming in today that that was our game. We were getting better and I thought this was — we were due. I wasn't ready for the season to end. I was having a lot of fun."

But even Roser-Jones had to smile as parents approached and shook his hand, thanking him and Chiswick-Patterson for being such caring coaches and providing their children with a wonderful season. Who cared about the record?

Nine-year-old Alex Plattner ambled over and peered up at his 6'0" coach.

"Can I have your autograph?" he asked and beamed as Roser-Jones, a defensive back for the Princeton football team, signed his name.

Despite the loss, he was still a star to the kids.

"That was nice," Roser-Jones said. "They just bounced back. It was a great group of kids. They worked hard, they just were all over the place. Although we didn't win any games, they just really liked to play basketball."

But Roser-Jones walked slowly back to his dorm after the last player had scampered out of Dillon Gym. He entered his room and sat on the futon for 20 minutes, thinking. Was there something they could have worked on more in practice? Was there something more he could have done?

The answer was no.

If Roser-Jones had any doubts about his performance, or the season, he could have remembered moments from the game. First there was the young fan running across the sidelines, holding the banner screaming "Go La Borgata!" Then there was the new cheer, which had grown since its inception three games ago into a rhythmic chant — "Bor-Ga-Ta" repeated over and over, reaching a crescendo until the entire team was bellowing.

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There were players standing on the bench in the second half shouting and hollering, howling and stamping their feet in support of their teammates. There was Chiswick-Patterson, hopping furiously up and down after a questionable call as though he were on a pogo stick, almost drawing his second technical foul of the season.

And then there was the most beautiful play of the season — Jesse Mostoller streaking down the left side of the court, drawing defenders like flies to a flashlight. Peter Callahan ducked down to the basket, pulled in a perfect pass and banked in the lay-up.

Picture perfect Princeton play.

It was a good season.

"Well, I know I had a great time," Roser-Jones said. "But I can't handle being 0-7. We need to come back next year so we can get some wins."