THE SKIP SHOT

The 'What If' Series Part I:

DirecTV Announces ‘Illinois Water Polo' Package

By Aaron Brown

PLAINFIELD, IL -- As soon as I get home from work on Monday, I plan to grab a bag of chips from the pantry, crack a cold Pepsi, recline my chair, and flip on the television. I have DirecTV so I have access to more than just the regular channels. I have signed up for the new Illinois Water Polo package for $12/month, allowing me to access nearly every water polo game being played in the state live during the season. Here is what would be available on television based on tonight’s game schedule:

Showing on channel 461 at 5:00pm is the Catholic League matchup between Fenwick and Brother Rice. I’ll switch over to that from Channel 462, which is currently showing the girls’ Chicago Public League game between Lane and Mather that started thirty minutes earlier. On channel 463, I’ll be recording the girls’ game between Mundelein and Stevenson. Plus, I have the option of checking out the pregame show for the late game between Naperville Central-Hinsdale Central when the Fenwick-Rice game reaches halftime.

Later tonight, if I switch to Channel 470 (Illinois Polo Classic), I can watch the last five minute of the 2005 title game between Fenwick and Naperville Central that went down to the wire; later I will record the 2008 girls’ title game between McAuley and Fenwick that ended with a game-winning shot at the buzzer. And at 10:00pm, I can watch the Monday night highlight show and catch up on all the scores and highlights from around the state and find out what happened in the 16 games that were played.

Later this week, I will be hosting a get-together for a variety of coaches at Buffalo Wild Wings for the Sectional Selection Show and the state quarterfinal draw. The program will feature previews and analysis of the upcoming state tournament both before and after the selections are announced.

All of the above is fictional of course, but just imagine the possibilities of seeing everything water polo related during the high school season on television.