Magician J.P. Wilson waves the state flag during his performance at Magic Maryland Madness on Saturday.
The scene was marked by a mass migration of students flocking to the Xfinity Center for the main attraction, which had something to do with the basketball team … and … um … magic.
It was my first time at Magic Maryland Madness, as it was for many attendees; the crowd seemed to be made up predominantly of freshmen expecting to bear witness to something other than what we all saw. No explanation had been provided, but no explanation really could have made clear what was going to happen. I’m not certain anyone who attended could state precisely what he or she saw.
There were positive aspects. The basketball game was cool, watching our new heroes take the court for the first time in an athletic competition somewhat resembling a basketball equivalent of the NFL Pro Bowl. It was exciting and at times chill-invoking to see players bursting onto the stage and dunking (or attempting to — looking at you, Varun Ram).
However, after every great moment was an awkward pause. A backdrop of incoherency plagued the entire evening. The dancers who didn’t dance can be chalked up to a technical difficulty. The shortcoming of the kids’ dunking competition, which led to a child Slip ‘N Sliding right over a mini basketball hoop, can be chalked up to overeagerness or perhaps a generally bad idea for an event. But these were small factors contributing to a night of confusion with a lack of flow.
The featured Magic Maryland Madness event was billed as starting at 6 p.m., which was when seats really began to fill. What followed was an introduction of the women’s and men’s basketball teams and coaching staffs in a style reminiscent of a much higher energy high school pep rally. This was expected and did an adequate job of garnering hype. For moments, you could almost get lost in it and forget about the lack of relevancy.
But then a wizard, blue pointed hat and all, would enter the arena and attempt to seize control of the crowd.
The pre-pep rally magic show, during which conventional tricks were performed for basketball fans, would return and make me wonder what was going on. The magic in Magic Maryland Madness would again seem significantly out of place. The rotating basketball in the massive white orb — most likely supposed to be an enlarged crystal ball — would make me question what any of it had to do with the sports teams I was there to cheer on.
Don’t get me wrong; the main takeaway from the evening was that these players can ball. Even in a relaxed 10-minute scrimmage, it was apparent what they can do. This season is going to be unique. You could say it’s going to be special. Exceptional. Remarkable.
But next time, let’s not say it’s going to be magic.
