A piece I had written as encouragement for a friend...
6’1” Shooting Guard on Space Jam Dream Team, from Palo Alto
California
Ironic, your name has 3 L’s in it, probably because you Love
to Live Life.
So live it. Live it big, make stats that will get you in the
Hall of Fame in the book of life.
Keep your viral like smile with mamba scented breath cause
your contagious energy spreads to those around you
Keep your head up, cause putting it down should only be a
sign for mourning
Focus eyes on the basket to remember where you’re going, but
use your peripherals cause they prevent ignorance
Jersey tucked so they
know you’ve got class, and shoes tied to prevent trippin.
Don’t just go through the motions until 4th
quarter.. regrets are for the weak, who don’t want to make the right decision
when the pressure comes.
But they do happen, cause we all have our weaknesses, and that’s
what teammates are for. Their strength supports your Achilles, so choose wisely
who you pick to protect them.
Cause when lungs are burning, muscles aching and sweats
dripping, look in their eyes and you’ll see you’re not alone, like the number
on your jersey .. they’ve got your back
Keep in mind that who you want to be isn’t going to happen
without the decisions you’re making now, so make your moves carefully, dribble
with purpose cause once the buzzer goes off you can’t change the plays you’ve
made.
The time comes when the lights turn off, the fans are gone
and the court is empty, so don’t take advantage of the little things because if
you learn to notice them, you will always have the sound the net makes with a
shot, the squeaks from shoes on the court, the rhythmic bounce of the ball, the
shriek a whistle makes, the sound of your coach clapping, and the voices of
your teammates.
Until that time, realize a man of character can still be
young at heart, not to confuse young with foolish though. Make sure you’re
proud of the name on the back of your jersey every time it is announced.
Now here it goes.. lights flashing, heart beating, mind
focused, hands in… Go get it.
