Wow.
The NBA All-Star game is tonight. I'm sure most of you won't watch it -- but I will. I watch it every year. Because before I became a full-time student, before I blogged like crazy, and before politics was my life -- I loved basketball.
I grew up a Houston Rockets fan, but with a strong devotion to (as many young kids my age) Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. I played basketball in city and school leagues for the better part of nine years. I still am an ardent fan -- I "play" in two fantasy leagues, one of which I'm well positioned to win, and watch games as much as I can.
There are certain things that are a part of basketball games for me -- all sports, of course, but basketball in particular -- that really make be believe that "anything is possible." Like the Golden State Warriors run in last year's playoffs. Or any game involving Lebron James. Or when the Rockets, as a 6-seed, ran through the playoffs to win their second straight title game and remind everyone that you should "never underestimate the heart of a champion."
And then there's just times that are pure fun, and make you feel like a kid. Like Dwight Howard's dunks last night -- how does the picture above not just make you smile and feel like a kid?
As we go forward, we'll keep working hard, because politics is serious work and the consequences are real -- we're talking, most of the time, about what policy directions our city, state, and national government should take in making decisions for the betterment of its citizens. But we need to smile, too.
Tip-off is soon. I'll be watching. |
