Every hood I know, there's hoop dreams. Brothers on the court, ladies, teens, adults, disabled, black and white men can jump. And although I have no game, basketball and I go way back.
From the pretty boy athletes I dated, the high school games I cheered for, or watching Jordan make threes look easy laying in bed with daddy and some Chip Ahoys, I love basketball and the love it has bought to our hoods.
Today is just one day that reminds me of my love for basketball. It’s the day of the NBA 2011 All-Star Game. NBA has done an exceptional job with teasing us all weekend with celeb slam dunk contests where Justin Beiber, Common and Trey Songz showed out on the court opposed to the stage, three point contests, rookie challenges and other boosters, all leading up to today.
With starters from the East including D-Rose, Amarie Stoudamarie, LeBron James, DeWayne Wade, and Dwight Howard and starters from the West including Kobe, Paul Gasol, Tony Parker and Kevin Durant...fans are front and center.
The whole world is waiting for the East and West to show their asses on the grain stained court tonight in LA. And inside of each fan, whether they’re in LA, CHI city, or the nearest sports bar getting lit, the love of basketball lives. It's one of those quintessential things in our culture that connects us, on and off the court.
Kobe Bryant, Carmello Anthony, LeBron James, Paul Pierce...in their hearts it's still the same dream they had on courts of cracked concrete and milk crates mounted on garages. The same dream is what keeps them hooping; for the love of the game.
Wherever you are in the world, whether you're literally in front of the screen waiting for tip off, or pretending to give a damn because everyone else around you does, know that basketball is a stamp in our culture that speaks to what it means to have drive, tenacity, fight.
I know when we look on the court and see Kobe making it look easy; it's hard to remember that running thru his heart is that same dream. The same dream that lives in that girl on the B-team. That boy being observed by college scouts. The dream and love of basketball that gets a player to practice every day, gives a coach the knowledge and wisdom to make wins. The same dream you have for whatever it is you love.
Enjoy tonight's game,
Love,
Vee
Vee
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