AT 6 P.M. THEY gathered inside an elementary school gymnasium, located on San Antonio's westside, to watch Game 7 of the Western Conference finals.
Kahlig Auto Group, a local car dealer, had sponsored the watch party with a meal from a local taqueria to feed the nearly 200 attendees, who feasted on enchiladas, rice and beans, chips, guacamole, salsa and four colorful jugs of aguas frescas.
Rows of folding chairs faced a projector screen set up on a stage that was lined with black and silver balloons.
Some kids made signs -- MAKE SOME NOISE, GO SPURS GO, DE-FENSE -- and ran across the room with them in glee.
The environment was raucous, game-like.
GO, SPURS, GO chants echoed off the gymnasium walls. Whenever the Thunder controlled the possession, DE-FENSE... DE-FENSE did too.
All the while, some other attendees chanted something else entirely, over and over:
"Mary Help of Christians, pray for us."
"Mary Help of Christians, pray for us."
"Mary Help of Christians, pray for us."