If you were to drop in on a random family on any given weekend, there is a high chance that you would hear whistles blowing and sneakers squeaking coming from the TV in the living room.
If you dropped in on my family on any given weekend while my sister and I were growing up, you would most likely find basketball playing on the TV, my dad lying down on the floor with my dog on his chest, my sister sitting on the couch next to a fire that my mom made, and you probably wouldn’t find me.
It’s not that I wasn’t interested in watching; I really like basketball. It’s just that I also liked being alone in my room watching The Office for the 100th time. If I was in the living room, you would probably see me sitting on my phone or on my computer, every now and then glancing up at the TV to check the score of the game or to watch a replay.
I’ve been to a few NBA games. They were really fun! But at the time, I probably just went to them for the chicken fingers at Madison Square Garden - they are so good there. I went to the high school games because it was something fun to do with your friends. Every March I would read up on the college stats and become competitive with the boys, trying to create a perfect bracket.
While some sports are hard to follow, like hockey - I can never follow the puck - basketball is one that I think anybody could just sit down, watch and enjoy without having to really understand what’s going on. It’s everybody’s game.
Whether you never played the sport and can’t name a single NBA team or you grew up rooting for the local team, sporting jerseys and hanging up posters in your room, it’s a game that brings people together.
I heard the news of Kobe Bryant’s passing and immediately got the chills and started to sweat. Being in shock was an understatement. I couldn’t tell you the last time I thought about him or ever watched one of his games. But I was upset. I called my parents and they were watching the news on TV. I saw tears start to well up in my dad’s eyes.
“Dad, are you crying?”
“It’s sad. I grew up with him.”
It’s not that my dad physically grew up with Kobe Bryant living down the street from him, but my dad watched him grow up to become a legend from the beginning to the end of his career.
Basketball is important to my family. My grandpa played basketball at Princeton University. Little Artie Klein, #33, most known for his 40-foot over-the-shoulder blind hook shot that led the Tigers to defeat Dartmouth in overtime in 1957. According to the sports broadcaster at the game, it was the most unbelievable shot he had ever seen.
Naturally, my dad played basketball. Little Gary Klein, #4. Although soccer was more of his strong suit, he excelled and was just as competitive on the court as he was on the field.
To keep the game in the family, of course my sister and I had to learn how to play. I remember my grandpa teaching us how to shoot a basketball. It was in the same driveway where my dad practiced his shot after school.
BEEF was the acronym he taught us.
Bend your knees.
Elbows bent.
Eyes on the basket.
Follow through.
Needless to say, I didn’t grow up to be a star on the court, but I played for a few years. I let my sister take the reigns in basketball, which was for the best.
Our weekends in the winter would be filled with my dad driving us to our rec or travel games at 9 in the morning. I think we all know the real reason why I participated - there was always a Dunkin Donuts run after the game, whether I rode the bench or made a couple baskets.
For me to try and imagine all four members of my family not making it to one of those games gives me a pit in my stomach.
Basketball is something that makes me proud when I think about my family ever since my grandpa’s passing. I wear my Princeton basketball hat and sweatshirt on days where I need a little boost and my sister wears his warm up jacket.
I have a feeling a lot of people will be wearing their Bryant jerseys today.
Rest Easy Kobe Bryant.
Rest Easy Gianna Bryant.
And Rest Easy to the rest of those who passed away in this tragic accident.