I’m a weepy man. When it comes to my ten-year-old daughter and the magic of love, I’m a weepy dude. One night last week as we were going through our bedtime routine, close to falling asleep, my daughter asked me if I’d come play four-square with her at lunch recess. Her heart was heavy because kids weren’t playing four-square with her, so of course I vowed to be there for a two person game. Sitting in a coffee shop writing the next morning, I shot a Hail Mary text to two of my former basketball players at Manhattan, both student athletes at Montana State University, and both outstanding young men.
“I’ve got a big ask.” After explaining the situation their response was unequivocal, “Oh yeah, for sure, let’s do it Coach.” When I received the ALL IN texts from my boys—busy boys, student athletes with jobs—my eyes welled with tears.
The kids at the school know I’m the dad that comes to play four-square at lunch, but today I came with reinforcements, two beautiful young men, so we could fill all four squares for K-bear. Before we knew it, there was a line of fifteen+ kids, eager to enter the fray. My daughter got her game of four square.
Love and basketball. It’s a beautiful game that fuels deep and lasting connections. I owe so much to the game of basketball, but it’s the relationships that are the game’s greatest gift. So grateful for these two young men, for their character, conviction, commitment and big hearts. This was a good day for my bountiful little daughter. This was a good day for Daddy Coach.
WNBL, mwl