MOC6-26

Credits Go To:
KAagard: Sporty Basketball Papers and Elements
KAagard: On The Lake Alpha

Word Count: 416

Journaling Says:
My late 90’s where spent in this gym, basketball in hand, at all hours of the day. The chill of the air during the early morning practice, the smell of the building, the squeak of the gym shoes and the sound of dribbling basketballs all come flooding back as I return to the gym with my daughter as she kicks off her basketball career. As my Dad shows up for shoot around with my Daughter on a Saturday night, I’m reminded that my Grandpa Jerry never missed a game. I could always find him in the stands enjoying some popcorn and keeps stats of the game on his program. He would cheer and clap, but he never complained about the refs, coaches, players etc, with the exception of one game. I was fouled and pushed into the bleachers by a player and that was the one and only time I heard Grandpa vocal about a call. I remember thinking, oh my that’s Grandpa…. guess it really was an overly aggressive foul. Our 1998-1999 basketball season was a season like none other. Our team was fortunate enough to end up in extended tournament playoffs. In one of the games, I happened to make the winning basket. Grandpa was quiet throughout the game as usual, kept stats on his program and ate popcorn like normal. He was all smiles at the end of the game. I got my hug like usual and everyone was on their way home. By the time I got home that night, Grandpa had made me a sign out of the back of his desktop calendar and taped it to my garage door that said, “great game tonight…even shed a few tears.” I will never forget it. Little to my cousin’s dismay (I’m the oldest grandchild out of 11), anytime they stopped over to visit Grandpa for months after that night, he made them listen to the call of the game off his cassette player. You see, Grandpa had called the radio station the next business day and purchased an audio copy of the game on cassette. Every time I walk into the gym, pick up that basketball, I think of Grandpa and his love for the game and love for his family and on the plus side, I’m still able to make my free-throws and bunny shots, they win games you know. Grandpa Jerry isn’t with us anymore, but my hope is that my daughter gets to experience a similar love and support!