Yest I went to a big retail store to do my last minut shopping.I knew one of my former star players worked there for the past 8 years.
I asked a worker there if A was working today.He said he was but was outside on a forklift.I thought I would do my shopping and then go outside and find him.I hadn't seen him in almost 3 yrs. That worker went outside and informed him someone was inside asking about him.He came over and found me in an aisle.
"A" was a special kid.In my 23 yrs of coaching he always had a special place in my heart.
Born in the Bronx,he mother was institutionalized when he was 2 yrs old. Father died of aids when he was a baby.He was sent to St Dominics Home in LI,and group home to group home until I met him in 7th grade.
He was tall for a Puerto Rican and starred for our Jr Hs team.He could play basketball.He grew into a 6'4 210 lb stud.
He was my leading scorer as a jr and senior and led us to 2 regional,sectional and one state finals.
In his last game in the NY State finals with 20 seconds left we were down by one.He made a steal and took off for the basket.He was on a breakaway and by the time he was near our basket no one had crossed the mid-court line.
He went up for a "jam"but midway thru he remembered he wasn't suspposed to jam."No styling,no finger rolling layups,no jamming,etc. His coach had embetted that in his brain.He altered his shot in midair and missed the half jam and layup.The ball hit the rim went it got pushed down and the ball catapulted 20 feet up in the air.It was a loose ball and a pile on occured.They called one of my players for a foul fighting for the ball.The other team hit both ends of the 1-1 and we lost by 3.
In the lockerroom the press,TV,etc were all blaming 'A" for the loss.In fact the next day it made the back page of our local paper.
I knew he didn't lose the game.He had 27 pts,17 rebounds,8 or 9 steals.We wouldn't be down by 1 with 20 seconds left.
But that loss effected him more then anyone can imagine despite us telling him over and over he didn't lose the game.
"A" graduated and had many schools intrested in him.He went to a local juco to play ball but his academics were hurting.He was a classified student with many reading problems.We all knew just getting his HS diploma was a struggle. He dropped out in 3 days.
He never had a family.He ate eating out of a tray since he was in 2nd grade.He was instituionalized his whole life.
He got a job at this big retail company after he graduated and has worked there for the past 8 yrs.He is a foreman on the dock making pretty good money.He met a beautiful girl and married her.They have 2 kids and he does everything for them.
Yest he was describing his children and how he does everything with them.Something he never got growing up.
I'm embarassed I haven't met them.We kinda lost contact yet he still lives near me.
He hear stories about me everyday because some of my current students work there. And I always tell those students what a great basketball player he was.
But I'm wrong.I should be telling them what a great person 'A" is.
I got a nice gift yest.I saw a kid who had nothing in life and made something out of it.
I'm not sure if I can get a better gift this X-Mas season
I wish everybody here a Merry Christmas...
I asked a worker there if A was working today.He said he was but was outside on a forklift.I thought I would do my shopping and then go outside and find him.I hadn't seen him in almost 3 yrs. That worker went outside and informed him someone was inside asking about him.He came over and found me in an aisle.
"A" was a special kid.In my 23 yrs of coaching he always had a special place in my heart.
Born in the Bronx,he mother was institutionalized when he was 2 yrs old. Father died of aids when he was a baby.He was sent to St Dominics Home in LI,and group home to group home until I met him in 7th grade.
He was tall for a Puerto Rican and starred for our Jr Hs team.He could play basketball.He grew into a 6'4 210 lb stud.
He was my leading scorer as a jr and senior and led us to 2 regional,sectional and one state finals.
In his last game in the NY State finals with 20 seconds left we were down by one.He made a steal and took off for the basket.He was on a breakaway and by the time he was near our basket no one had crossed the mid-court line.
He went up for a "jam"but midway thru he remembered he wasn't suspposed to jam."No styling,no finger rolling layups,no jamming,etc. His coach had embetted that in his brain.He altered his shot in midair and missed the half jam and layup.The ball hit the rim went it got pushed down and the ball catapulted 20 feet up in the air.It was a loose ball and a pile on occured.They called one of my players for a foul fighting for the ball.The other team hit both ends of the 1-1 and we lost by 3.
In the lockerroom the press,TV,etc were all blaming 'A" for the loss.In fact the next day it made the back page of our local paper.
I knew he didn't lose the game.He had 27 pts,17 rebounds,8 or 9 steals.We wouldn't be down by 1 with 20 seconds left.
But that loss effected him more then anyone can imagine despite us telling him over and over he didn't lose the game.
"A" graduated and had many schools intrested in him.He went to a local juco to play ball but his academics were hurting.He was a classified student with many reading problems.We all knew just getting his HS diploma was a struggle. He dropped out in 3 days.
He never had a family.He ate eating out of a tray since he was in 2nd grade.He was instituionalized his whole life.
He got a job at this big retail company after he graduated and has worked there for the past 8 yrs.He is a foreman on the dock making pretty good money.He met a beautiful girl and married her.They have 2 kids and he does everything for them.
Yest he was describing his children and how he does everything with them.Something he never got growing up.
I'm embarassed I haven't met them.We kinda lost contact yet he still lives near me.
He hear stories about me everyday because some of my current students work there. And I always tell those students what a great basketball player he was.
But I'm wrong.I should be telling them what a great person 'A" is.
I got a nice gift yest.I saw a kid who had nothing in life and made something out of it.
I'm not sure if I can get a better gift this X-Mas season
I wish everybody here a Merry Christmas...
