I just had a flashback, sparked by seeing Major in his Harding Bison basketball ball uniform. He and Mary Alice have been with us for a couple of days, and will be going home on Saturday. I had been back in my office for a few minutes, and when I went into the kitchen to get another bowl of gluten free rice chex, I saw that Major had gone from his pj’s, a pair of super hero underwear, to his B-Ball uniform. I ask him why he had put on a pair of pajamas now that it was morning, and he informed me that he was wearing his cloths. He said, “This says Harding, and I am number one!”
Major loves to play basketball, and does so a few hours everyday. If the weather is nice he will be on the nice long driveway at his house, dribbling and shooting. If the weather is bad you will find him in his bedroom playing with a smaller ball practicing his shooting at a plastic hoop and backboard. He also loves other sports as well. He is all about the Texas Rangers, the Dallas Cowboys, and of course the Mavericks. He and I have watched several innings of baseball together. I remember the first time we watched a game together, Major was still in diapers, and still talking in chopped up sentences. He saw that I was watching a Rangers game on TV and said, “Hey Grumpy, sit by me, we watch baseball.”
The memory that was sparked this morning was how Major had said the words, “…and I’m number one,” as he proudly pointed to the number on his chest. I don’t remember how old Josh was when he and I were driving through Austin Texas. I do know it was during his stage in life when he was all about the Texas Longhorns. (Sure glad he out grew that stage.) As we were driving on I-35 I pointed out the baseball diamond where UT plays, and he said, “Wow, that’s where I’m going to play my college baseball.” Then I pointed out the drum, where UT plays basketball and he said, “Great, that’s where I’m going to play college basketball.” You can probably guess what came next. Sure enough, I showed him the football stadium, and proclaimed his excitement at seeing the field where he would play his college football.” He had dreams and aspirations of being a great athlete, and now Major is pointing to the number one on his jersey. Major also dreams of great accomplishment on the field of play. He talks most often of playing for the Texas Rangers when he grows up. He even plays imaginary games of baseball, and when he does, he is Josh Hamilton.
That takes me to the other generation involved in this story. I can’t say I ever dreamed of playing college sports. I did play sports in school, but I must be honest, it was only because I attended a school where anybody was a body, and sometimes we didn’t have enough body’s to fill all of the necessary positions. It is much easier to make the team when a coaches main concern is having the proper number of players in the game. I’ve told you before about my not playing football until my junior year because of my size. So once I did start playing my position was defensive safety…of the bench. I must have been very good at playing bench defense because the coach put me there and never looked back until less than thirty seconds remained on the clock of an already determined game. Once he was sure the bench could be protected by someone with less ability he would send me into the game just in time to nail down the last play, and proclaim the game was over. Mom and dad went to all my games, but I don’t think mom knew much about the game of eight-man football. All she knew is that once I got on the field she could start gathering her things, and head to the car.
So friends, here’s the story of a want to be boy, an, I have done young man, and an, I never was guy. I see in my grandson Major the desire to play sports. He loves watching sports. He can eat a whole meal without looking at his plate if there is a game on TV. (Hint: This is a great way to get your kid to eat their vegetables. Start with a plate loaded with the junk they want to eat, and once they tune into the game slip in a plate of “healthy” weed looking stuff. They will just keep on shoveling the substance in and never be the wiser.) I am looking forward to watching him play, he shows the signs of being a decent ball player; and I know I will have fun watching him play.
Josh, did play high school sports, and was pretty good at it. He was a starter in the three major high school sports of football, basketball, and baseball his junior and senior years. He was a varsity player on the basketball and baseball teams his sophomore year. Man, as Archie and Edith used to sing, “those were the days.” I don’t live in the past, I’m a dreamer. I think about what might happen, and things my children and grandchildren will be and become. But, if someone told me I could re-live a part of my life, I’m sure my choice would be to go back and re-experience Josh, and Miranda’s high school accomplishments.
As for me, I played because of the situation I was in. I even continued to play basketball and softball while in my twenties. I enjoy playing sports, and have heard friends say, “Smith’s pretty good at anything he does,” I like that. I read an article in Golf Magazine a while back that made me feel good. It said the average score for men who play golf in the United States is 92 to 93, no matter the age group. Guess what? I’m an average golfer, most of the time, and even an above average golfer if I play regularly. I can still bowl a decent game too, but only if don’t count the first game. You see, it takes the first ten frames just to get me warmed up and loose. Then the second game is usually my best score, and I will roll anywhere from 145 to 180. By the third game I’m beginning to wear out, and the score starts to reflect it.
In some future post I’ll tell you a couple of stories that illustrate nicely my prowess as a high school athlete. Just so you’ll know what to expect, there won’t be any Sports Center music involved in these stories. I hope you all have a great weekend.
Till next time,
Grump