November 10, 2018: Winning is Fun

Let me just take all the suspense out of it…  Saturday was our 6th game of the year.  We had lost the previous 5 games, plus all 10 last year.  Would the 4-6 year old Timberwolves bring this losing streak to an end?

I remember when I played a lot of basketball.  Coming home from school, I’d immediately change, and meet at the park.  I had about 90 minutes to play before I had to be home for dinner; a simpler time no doubt, yet I still look forward to dinner with my family today.  Sometimes it would be 2 on 2; my buddy and I had an impressive winning streak there.  It took some kids outside of the neighborhood to come in and beat us; I remember that loss.  It was hard fought.  Other times when we had enough kids, we’d play full court.  The court we played on for a while there at good old Barrett Park was so small that you could get a long rebound, turn around and take a long distance shot.  That small, crowded court was the site of many great games.  To get pumped up to play, I used to watch basketball highlights.  My go-to was the Michael Jordan part of the original NBA superstars video.  The highlights, played to Take My Breath Away, would get me in the mood, wanting to imitate every MJ move.  I’d walk to the court with a pep in my step.

Fast forward to Saturday morning, we had the later game, so we had a little time in the morning.  I decided to introduce that same concept to my son.  We had practiced this week downstairs on one of those rims you can hang over a door.  It’s a perfect size for him.  Although there’s really no room for an arcing jump shot, he can jump and dunk it; in this small room, we’ve already had some good battles.  The night before even helped I think.  We were invited to this Bulls season ticket holder event at the UC.  We used to go when we had tickets; this time it was because my son was part of the Bulls Kids Club, thanks to my wifey.  It was an absolute blast.  He ran around there so excited…first player he wanted to go see was Wendell Carter Jr; he had him sign his Jimmy Butler jersey.  The only bad part about it came when we got to take a shot on the court.  He grabbed the ball and confidently went out there; I was recording it.  He threw up that shot and… it was just short.  Looked good too, right on line, but just short.  He was upset…only one chance per person.  Side note: I missed my shot too.
Erectile dysfunction is a well known disorder which is said viagra purchase uk to be a nightmare for so many years. It helps to eliminate free radicals vardenafil price though urinal excretion. For the side effects of these drugs, which are meant to promote nitric oxide production, do not work well on people with a normal 20mg tadalafil sale level of nitric oxide. It indirectly makes a man believe in his manhood strength, which can boost the self-esteem and confidence in undertaking romantic activity. buy levitra online
Back to Saturday morning, I dialed up YouTube and we watched some basketball highlights; the choices were highlights of Game 5 of the 1991 Finals and a Michael Jordan highlight video played with I Believe I Can Fly.  One other thing, he got an airbrushed tattoo the night before at the event: a 23 jersey.  It was still on his arm as we headed to the park.

We won the game 10-6.  My son had all 10 points.   He came out in the first quarter and gave us a 6-0 lead before his customary 2nd quarter on the bench.  When he came back in at the half, it was 6-4.  He scored 4 more points in the 3rd quarter, while we gave up one basket.  Then I sent out the dobermans for the last quarter; our defensive specialist actually tackled a kid…he apologized.   After the final horn, my son was jumping up and down; we finally won.   I didn’t want to get too excited, but I was; I grabbed him and kissed him on the head.  Yes, we won!  Good game, I’m proud of you; then I told the team the same.  Winning is fun.  On the way home, he told me that he wanted to meet Michael Jordan.  I told him I did too.