So there is this boy he’s funny, he’s extremely street smart, athletic
and tries to stay on a path that will lead him in the right direction. He is clean cut, lives in the hood of a large city. He comes from a
family that is not together and he has several siblings.
So there is this ball. There is this court. There is this
game of basketball. There is this team.
These two 15year old boys from totally different backgrounds
come together for the sake of nothing other than to play basketball.
So there is this boy, he’s huge. He’s comes across rough. He’s
pushy, bossy, aggressive and loud. He’s not there to do anything but play ball.
He doesn’t want to get to know the other boy or anyone else he just wants to be the star. He’s
not there for anyone but himself.
So there is this boy, he’s huge. He comes across like he
doesn’t know what to do. He shuts down. He’s intimated. He can’t even
understand what the other boy is yelling at him for because he uses so much “slang”. He wants to play ball as a team. He wants to
feel comfortable. He wants to win.
So, then there’s practices twice a week and up to 4 games
every weekend.
Then all of a sudden there is this "TEAM".
So, then there is this one particular game with these 2 boys in at the same
time instead of in for each other. They work that court like nothing else and fight
for that win to the very end. There is butt slapping, direction being given
instead of being shouted at, pats on the back and high fiving. There is
teamwork.
So, then there are these 2 boys, teammates.
So there is this boy, he’s huge. He’s rough. He’s pushy, aggressive
and a leader. He’s there to play ball. He
opens up. He now smiles and laughs. He wants to be the star. He’s on a team.
So there is this boy, he’s huge. He’s no longer intimated. He’s
playing the way his parents know he’s capable of playing. He opens up and
learns what he can from the other boy. He now smiles and laughs too. He’s comfortable. He wants to
win. He’s on a team.
So there are trips, hotels, dinners and get togethers. There are games and practices. There are wins
and losses.
There’s this boy who has a parent at each game, trip and
dinner. He has clean clothes and matching socks. He has Gatorade and water. He
has a Mom who is his biggest fan. He is happy to go home at the end of a tourney
day to shower, eat and relax.
There is this boy whose parents have NOT come to one single game. He
sometimes wears his sweaty clothes more than once or mismatched socks. He has Gatorade
and water only because Coach or another parent supplies him with it. He has a
Mom who came to the door when Coach was picking him up and asked “So is my son a
good ball player” He’s grateful for the ride home at the end of a tourney day, that
includes a swing by a drive thru so he can grab something to eat but he’s not
happy to be going home to relax.
So then there’s this boy. Who still doesn’t understand all
the slang. Who can’t understand how this boy’s Mother doesn’t know whether or
not her son is a good player. Who couldn’t understand how or why he would buy a
necklace with a machine gun on it off a homeless dude for a $1. Who has said
more than once “He should come over to our house, I can teach him how to talk
properly and he can help me with basketball”.
So then there’s this boy. Who still doesn’t want to go home.
Who brought home a video that Coach made for him to show his mother. Who vocally
expresses and hints around to things he needs. Who opened up, talks, laughs and
enjoys every moment with not only the team but with the families too.
So then there are two boys, Friends.
and then there were 11 boys, teammates now all friends all
different yet all the same just 15 year old boys with a great love for that orange
ball.
