By David Heiller
Argus News Editor

Sheís a big fan, and sheís an old fan.

No disrespect intended. But 94-year-old Lydia Burmester of Caledonia is in a league of her own when it comes to following Caledonia High School boys basketball games.

Last year, at a sprightly 93, she didnít miss one game, home or away. Sheís back at it again this year. Warrior basketball fans see her in her front row seat every game, watching the teams move up and down the court. If you look closely, you might see a proud gleam in her eye.

Thatís because her grandson, Bob, is on the team. He is a very talented player on a very good team. He might have picked up some of that dedication from his grandmother.

Last week Lydia started arriving at games in a wheel chair to save the long walk from the parking lot. Her friend Jerry Backman brings her to all the games, home and away.

Lydia isnít sure why she is such a big fan. Of course Bob is a big part of it. She has a box full of newspaper clippings about him. The day I stopped in for a visit, she was reading the basketball story from that weekís Argus. It will get cut out and added to her box, where it will be read again when she needs a shot of basketball.

ìAll my life, I guess basketball has been my favorite,î she explained on December 8 while sitting at her kitchen table. ìBoth my sons coached basketball at one time or another.î

Her son Reuben lives in Rochester. Don, Bobís father, is a farmer in Caledonia, and coaches at St. Johnís Elementary School.

Bobís older brother, Chad, was a basketball player in the 1990s, and Lydia followed his games. And Bob has a younger sister, Jenna, who plays basketball at St. Johnís Elementary School. She is in eighth grade, and Lydia tries to get to all her games too.

ìIf I go to Bobís, I canít go to Jennaís,î Lydia said, referring to the fact that they sometimes take place at the same time. ìI try to make them all, as much as I can.î

One time last year, Jerry and Lydia went to New Ulm to watch Jenna play in a Lutheran Elementary School League invitational tournament. When that game was over, they drove to Wabasha and watched Caledonia play.

That trip illustrates Jerry and Lydiaís common love for the game, and perhaps for each other. Jerry thinks of her as his mother. He lived with the Burmesters since he was about 10 years old.

ìI enjoy it and I know she does,î Jerry said on December 10 from his job at his job at Bonanza Grain in Caledonia. ìShe said sheís learned a lot about basketball.î

Lydia remembers Bob shooting baskets in his home at age three. ìIf he couldnít make it on the floor, heíd stand on a chair,î she said with a smile.

The Warriors have a very good team this year. But Lydia put that into a simple perspective: ìTo me theyíre all good games, especially if they win.î

Yes, they have good players, and some really tall ones, Lydia said, no doubt referring to 6-5 players Matt Frank and Lucas Nelson. ìBut that donít always do it either,î she said, showing some of her basketball knowledge.

I asked Lydia if Bob likes her coming to the games.

ìHe thinks Grandma has to be there,î she answered proudly. ìHe always tells me, ëAre you going to watch me play?íî

Bob soundly confirmed that. ìItís encouraging,î he told me later that afternoon. ìI like it a lot.î

ìShe knows what sheís talking about,î Bob added, referring to Grandmaís basketball knowledge. ìSheís 94 years old but she still knows the game.î

I asked Lydia if that was the case. She said she thought so. But one time during a car trip, Bob explained a lot of the finer parts of the game to her, and she realized she didnít know quite as much as she thought. ìBecause I always heard the boys talk about it. As I watched it, I thought it was just play. But I do know they like to win.î

Bob summed it up his grandmotherís loyalty better than anyone with two words: ìItís unbelievable.î

Lydia said she knows some people might not understand such passion for basketball from a woman who was born when William Howard Taft was president. ìI think they maybe think Iím crazy,î she said. ìBut I love basketball and Iím not going to miss it unless I have to.î

As I left, I thanked Lydia for her time. ìIíve got all the time in the world,î she replied.

I couldnít help thinking that she is using it wisely.

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