Even for those who love basketball it is sometimes easy to forget the obvious: Sometimes basketball is just plain entertainment.
Basketball was invented in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith, a Canadian physical education instructor, as a solution to keep his students active during the winter months at the International YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts. Naismith sought to create a new indoor game that would be less rough than football and more engaging than existing indoor sports. He devised a set of 13 basic rules, hung up a peach basket at each end of the gymnasium as goals, and used a soccer ball as the first basketball. The objective was to score points by throwing the ball into the opposing team's basket while adhering to the rules of the game. Over time, the sport gained popularity and evolved, with the introduction of dribbling, backboards, and the development of organized leagues and competitions, ultimately becoming one of the most beloved and widely played sports around the world.
I love basketball.
In the heart of upstate NY, where, before the climate was disrupted, and winter's icy grip would hold the land in its embrace, my young soul would often find solace on a frost-kissed court. Me and my friends would tirelessly shovel off the snow-cloaked surface. Our hands, numbed by the cold, held not just shovels but dreams and an unwavering dedication. That is where my hoop dreams began. I never actually dreamed of going pro. I wanted to make varsity and get my team to states, and become a legend. None of that happened. Football was where my glory and destiny lay, but basketball, to this day still has a special place in my heart.
We all love the pros and the elite college games but basketball, like soccer, is a sport for all humans. It isn’t just “Naismith's game” it is the game of every boy and every girl with the focus to work on their dribbling before leaving for school, who is trying to put up shots as the day light dims in dusk, the blurry eyes of millions who watch their team get so close but only come to fall short.
And that brings us to today.
In the region-wide rec league that my sons compete in and which I have coached a bit we had perhaps one of the most entertaining games that show how fun the game can be. It also showcased the love and dedication there is for basketball. There were three divisions, 3rd and 4th grade, 5th and 6th, and 7th and 8th. I coached my two eldest sons in the 5th and 6th grade division and we had a brilliant season - one for the ages - but it ended early - too early. Today we came to see the championship games and participate in the skills challenge (for the kids) and the coaches game!
This is where it got really fun.
There was a very large man. A coach named Arman and he was selected as one of the captains to pick the teams. He picked me. Turns out this brother is a trick shot specialist. He has videos online of him pulling up from crazy distances. He came out firing in our game and the kids, all the young players watching their coaches and dads, went wild. He hit NBA, logo, half court, and ¾ court shots. The kids were screaming for him to shoot and at one point he hit 4 threes in a row. Towards the end of the game we decided that we could rotate and get everyone's time but, for the sake of the kids, that big Armani, who the kids dubbed “ShaqCurry” , absolutely had to have his hand on the ball. He had ball handling skills, passed like Jokic and playing with him was one of the funnest times I have ever had on the basketball court. With the big guy we had the crowd on our side. We ended up winning. Another highlight of the game was my sons yelling at me from the sidelines giving me tips - coaching their dad.
It was pure love.
Hearing the cheers of the children, the oohs and aahs of their parents, the gym was electrified. It was a celebration of basketball, family, love, and the dedication that everyone put into the season. Hats off to January and her tireless team at All-Star Youth Basketball. We will miss playing in this league and I look forward to the future when we see a kid on basketball’s biggest stage that we remember from these humble beginnings.