This is Why you Play.....

It doesn't matter if you win or lose it's how you play the game, I am sure you have heard that before. It's always been a running joke around our house that that old saying is a complete joke because winning or losing definitely matters if you're married to the Coach; however, just recently a 6 year old taught me that isn't necessarily the case. In today's society we often get too caught up in other things to remember why, myself included.  With technology being as advanced as it is today and the growing use of social media we've went away from the basics, the simplicity of things. We've lost sight of why, why do you love this game? Why do you play? It's time we get back to the basics, the wooden backboards, the dirt courts, the neighborhood pick up games all the things that basketball was built on.  

 

That Little Tikes goal you had when you were little sitting in your Play Room or in our home,the Living Room, remember the fun you had with it. Think of all the battles you had on that little goal whether you were playing your parent (whom had to play on their knees so they didn't have height advantage) or your someone pretending to be your least favorite NBA player while you were pretending to be your favorite. Remember the 8 yr old version of yourself shooting hoops in the driveway, the young you who hated to lose so much that you cried, even if it was just your Kentucky Wildcats losing on TV and you hadn't played a minute. The first time you stepped on to the court as part of a team and that sick feeling in your stomach, you realize now was just excitement, remember your first pair of basketball shoes that you'd just die without and how you just knew they'd help you play better, even if that was just a point to backup your argument with your parents. Think about your first heartbreaking loss that just gutted you and your first hard fought win. Remember when you realized how much joy this game brings you. And all of this, is why you play. 

 

During a Junior Varsity ballgame this past season my daughter and I were sitting with some of her friends when one of our Juniors stopped to speak to us on his way to the locker room, as he walked off I heard one of the kids say "you really know him?" It wasn't what he said but the way he said it that caught my attention, with awe in his voice like his very own version of Kevin Love had just walked by. What may not seem like a big deal to one person is a very big deal to someone else, to the little kid sitting in the stands, you are somebody. 

You're sitting in the stands at a neighboring high school for a season game, a kid makes a beautiful move into the lane and finishes through contact, the next thing you hear is the complete stranger sitting beside you say, "wow he's so good."  It is that statement that compels your daughter to say, "yeah he just scored his 1000th point this year, I know him, we're practically family" then proceeds whip out her phone and show off a picture of herself and said player as proof, like he's her very own version of John Wall. In that small gym in a small Kentucky town that kid, that player, he is a big deal. 

The smallest youth league player on the team gazes up at you like his very own version of Shaq just because you took the time to sit beside him on the bench and high five him at the end of the game, you've just made his day, in that moment you're an AllStar.  How about the 6 year old that watches your AAU game in complete concentration and amazement like he's sitting front row at The Garden, win on lose he asks each of you to take a photo after the game, his day is made each time he smiles for the camera.  The little girl that asks for a picture with you as you come off the field for Homecoming Court, she's smiling ear to ear like she is on the red carpet at her own version of the Espy's, she's another reason why. 

All these kids, they're why you play.  At a moment in time you have made a difference, you can make the day of someone who looks up to you, you can make a difference everyday. Little eyes are always watching you and with every obstacle you overcome, every mountain you climb you give them hope that one day they'll do it too.  Remember this why you play.  

 

Those teammates that know you better than you know yourself, those long car rides and inside jokes that's part of you.  Those that have stayed true to your friendship, those guys that go to war for you on the court and you do the same for them, they're why you play.  The two hour trip to watch a new AAU teammate play for the first time and another teammate for the first time this season and as a bonus they both just put on a show that has you thinking maybe basketball is better in the mountains, just a another reason why you play. How about the short trip to support an AAU teammate in the Regional Tournament or arriving early to catch the JV action in support of a teammate, all reasons why you play.  The hotel stays, team breakfasts or dinners, the relationships you have and the friendships you would never have had without this game, this is why you play. 

 

While it may be easy to get lost in the "noise" created by social media, your peers, community or those with ill intentions it is important that to remember why....You play for those who aren't physically able but wish they were, you play for those that can't because life just sometimes gets in the way, you play for your the parent or mentor that does everything they can to put you in a position to succeed. You play for the young you with butterflies in your stomach, you play for the little kid who looks at you like you're a celebrity, you play for your teammates who've become family, you play because you just love type game, you play for every version of you. You play for those taken from us to soon, you play for those that would have given anything to take the court with you....this is why you play. 

 

Guest Post: To the Girl Who Just Wasn't and That's Okay

GUEST POST from my daughter, whom surprises me more and more everyday with her courage, spirit and persistent resistance to be who everyone says you should be and just be her.  This kid is going to move mountains and I am beyond lucky to be along for the ride.


"To the Girl Who Just Wasn't, and That's okay."
My first Writing Piece. I know it's not the best, and it still has Flaws, but Hey, I'm not Beyoncé.  I hope You enjoy!
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To The girl who just Wasn't:

I am Just like you. I don't really know where I belong. I feel like I'm just kind of there. I don't fit in with the Jocks. I mean, I'm good at basketball, but not "Sporty" exactly. I'm not a girly girl. I can't keep Lip Gloss on my Lips for the life of me. LIP GLOSS. I see 6 year olds wearing that! That's Kinda Outrageous. I'm not a Geek. I don't know who Stan Lee is. I do know Mark Twains Real name, Samuel, because of a Academic Team Meet (Which I was the Captain of). I'm Not at Nerd. I can't Spell big words like them. Heck, I have a hard time Spelling Dinosaur sometimes.

I may not be one, but I'm a little bit of all. I don't Consider myself to one category. Us as a Human Race should never do that. Just Because I'm good at Sports don't mean I'm a Jock. I probably won't make it into my High School's Basketball Wall of Fame, and that's okay. I've accepted it. I'll Most likely never dance at Radio City Music hall. That's just not me. I'm not going to be a Neurosurgeon or a Paleontologist. I don't know what I'm going to be. I feel like we get caught up in label and forget who we really are. To The Football Player Who Annoys me, I know you just want attention. I know it's mostly about your brother at home. To The Dancer who thinks she's better, I know you aren't really a brat. We all Really need to just accept it already.

Albert Einstein one said, and I quote, "You can't Judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree. It will live it's whole life believing it is stupid." I guess that dude was pretty smart. And Listen, I'm not perfect. I'm Clumsy, Laugh at my own jokes, and even if I don't want to admit it, I sometimes like my own Picture on Instagram. I don't like a Specific Genre of Music, and I still have acne, but that's okay. You were made exactly how you needed to be made. Just be Awesome and be you!