What are your favorite sports to watch and play?

I love basketball. I was just watching the latest Saturday Night Live episode and I stood up in utter disbelief as the skit basically insinuated that there is nothing left to do now that the NFL is winding up until next fall. WHAT!!! Obviously, this could be true for a subset of deranged people, but for true sports fans, March is just around the corner. March Madness! An entire month of regional championships and then the tournament of tournaments!  Nothing to do? Obviously the writers at SNL have lost their minds. 

Ever since I was a wee child, I remember sitting and watching basketball and then playing basketball with my dad, brothers, friends, and whoever would play at the park. I think I literally played basketball every recess in 4-5th grade. In middle school, I was then introduced to interscholastic sports. I played every year and we royally sucked, but I loved it anyway. Just to be out there playing and having fun was a thrill! In high school we sucked even more, but so what! I showed up every year, every game, and spent countless hours in our driveway shooting free throws. I was never that great, and I think my two high school letters were basically earned by coming off the bench, running smaller guys over, and finishing our embarrassing games. I wish I would have practiced my ball handling skills more, but it was the 80’s, and I only knew what I knew. I was a kid and just loved to be playing, practicing, and enjoying the sport. 

Every winter, the Seattle Supersonics would play and I would watch or listen to my local heros, and some of my earliest TV memories are of the championship years, and being amazed at Jack Sikma shooting his legendary baseline shots. Then came the 80’s and the Lakers and Celtics. Oh, the wonder of Bird’s threes, and Kareem’s skyhook. Then came Jordan. Yikes. Who didn’t play the ‘nothin’ but net’ game with their friends from every angle of the empty gym? 

In college, I figured out that I had a long way to go to even play the pick up games down at the IMA at the University of Washington. I worked out, practiced a lot with the guys on my floor in the dorm, and then figured out that there was a whole new level of fun. Throwing assists for a dunk was an awesome new thing! The pick up games had REAL athletes, some of whom went on to play in the big leagues. I’ll never forget the time Lincoln Kennedy landed on me, and almost ended my life. 

My 20’s, 30’s and 40’s can all be characterized by the basketball played in various arenas: church friends, school teachers who opened up the gym early, and then with my own son who I taught a few things. In the end, he would school me, me knees would hurt like crazy, and I decided to stick to HORSE. The 50’s aren’t really for basketball. I can still watch though…

Favorite tournament: PK-80 in Portland.  That was the ultimate basketball weekend of all time. Let me know if you were there, and we can have a collective sigh together…

I learned a lot playing and watching basketball. I learned the amazing lesson that working out will allow a higher level of play. I learned how to lose gracefully. I learned how to control my temper. I learned how to interact with boys and then men who came from all different worlds, joining together to play a game, work towards a common goal, and be real friends on and off the court. It didn’t matter your ethnic or cultural background, it didn’t matter how much money was in the bank… as long as you loved the game. These lessons stick with me today, and help guide my interactions with others at work and in the other areas of life. 

I am thankful for the game of basketball and I have no sadness that the NFL is done for the season. We’ve got months of hoops to enjoy!