What the French shout during Basketball games!

And: Somehow I got striped?

Dear Reader,

I was in a sea of French fans when I saw a familiar face.

He was on the big screen briefly, just for a few seconds, and it took my tired brain a few moments to connect the dots.

Mark Few.

Look people, in my defense, I haven’t been paying that much attention to Team USA basketball.

I didn’t know until yesterday evening that Mark Few, the coach of the Spokane, Washington Gonzaga University’s men’s college basketball team was also named an assistant Olympic coach for Team USA.

I’m a Zags fan! I should have known this!

But there he was, somewhere in the back of the arena watching the final minutes of the France vs. Germany Olympic basketball semifinal, which was an absolute nail-biter for France.

And frankly, for me too, because I was seated amidst hundreds of French fans in the La Terrasse da Jeaux fan zone watching the game on a big screen while they swilled down beer and ate giant waffles that looked delicious.

I even got striped on the face with French flag colors when I walked in!

It wasn’t a time to resist.

What do French fans cheer during basketball games?

It sounded a lot like “de-fense” to me.

The French word for defense is quite similar, défense, which is pronounced dee-fahnce.

But honestly, I’m not sure.

They cheered for every basket made and rebound taken. Often jumping up and down.

They sang the German techno band, Kernkraft 400’s Zombie Nation chorus (Whoa oh oh oh oh oh) which is also very popular at American basketball games.

We did “the wave” a lot.

There was a lot of booing when the announcer at the venue came on and said, first in English, then in French, that there was going to be a Belgian comedy group on the center stage starting in five minutes, whether the basketball game was over or not!

It sounded like a threat.

At that point, there were only 5 minutes left in the game.

The French were ahead, but not by a lot. Everyone was tense.

I felt like the theater kids in high school were having an argument with the jocks, and the jocks were just not having any of it!

A lot of booing went on.

The game was then briefly paused while something happened with the drama team on center stage, much to everyone’s dismay.

Including mine!

I was actually into this game.

Deutschland kept coming back, making it interesting.

The German basketball team confers with their coach at 38 seconds left in the game with only a two-point difference between them and France. Paris City Hall in the background.

The atmosphere was electric at the second biggest fan zone in Paris.

It’s one of 20 fan zones that are set up in each district of Paris with entertainment, big screen televised broadcasts of the game, and food and drink for French fans who want to see the games without the big ticket price tags.

What would it cost to see a final game?

I checked today and the tickets for the basketball bronze medal game start at 510 euros. Not exactly cheap!

But at the free fan zone there were grandstands and floor seating. Two large screens for televised games, and one main stage for live entertainment.

Everyone could see.

Look! Waffles at night! How do we eat them? I don’t really know.

As the clock whittled down to zero, Germany got closer and closer to making a comeback.

Each team had its chances at the free throw line. Opportunities were missed. Some shots were made.

But, when it was clear that there was no chance for Germany to come back and win, the crowd around me lost their minds, and cheered as one for their country.

I couldn’t resist. I did too.

France is going to the gold medal game on Saturday night. Against the USA.

And Mark Few.

I hope I’m watching.

Your Olympic correspondent in Paris,

Janelle

P.S. I made it to Men’s Marathon Swimming event LIVE this morning. More on that and the rest of the games and action in Paris in tomorrow’s edition!