On a Saturday night in January at Great Southern Bank Arena, nearly 10,000 fans annually pack the stands and cheer as loud as they can. One of southwest Missouri's great sports traditions, "The Final Countdown" blares before the ball is tipped off at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions.
It's the area's main event and it feels that way. A pair of star-studded rosters take the floor with the arena's music turned up, the powerful voice of the public address announcer calling the action and some type of fun going on over the scoreboard at seemingly every break in the game.