Thursday, February 23, 2012

Growing Up



Growing up, basketball meant everything to me.






I barely made the middle school team.  I was terrible.



The coach told my parents I would probably not make the high school team.






I spent hours and hours a day playing basketball in the driveway the summer before I started high school.








I remember sleeping with my basketball...and dribbling everywhere trying to become a better ball handler.






I watched college basketball and the NBA all the time.  I knew all the players and all their stats.  (Because that's important, right?!)




My parents would often suprise me with an NBA Digest on the end of my bed when I got home from school.




My favorite Christmas gift ever was my Lakers t-shirt and matching shorts.



I played basketball all four years of highschool.





Every summer my parents allowed me to go to an out of state basketball camp that they probably couldn't afford.





I held the all-time three point record at my high school for a couple of years after I graduated.




I would have done better in college if it weren't for my basketball distraction.





I vowed that the man I married would need to have a "shot" almost as good as mine.  (Can you believe I thought that was a quality I needed to have in a husband?)





It's funny, looking back all those years ago...I thought basketball was my life....and maybe it was then. 



But today, basketball isn't even in my top 50 list of favorite things to do in life. Unless of course you count shooting with this little guy or watching his basketball games.  Isn't it funny how our interests change as we get older....and smarter!  I can certainly understand Brady's passion for tennis.  I wonder if he will always love it...or if that will change for him too as he gets older.


By the way, my husband has a great shot!
I guess I got pretty lucky!





22 comments:

yaya said...

Ha! I was trying to figure out if your hubby was doing a guest post or if you really were the player in the family! I have 4 boys and 2 played all four years of high school. We ate, drank and slept b-ball games and practice. The younger 2 could care less about it..funny how kiddos from the same parents have all different ideas about what's important in life. But that's what makes being a parent fun and interesting!

Heather said...

That's so funny how it isn't even in your top 50 anymore. It really is crazy how things changed. I breathed figure skating growing up and now I barely ever watch it. Strange. I'm so glad your hubby has a good shot though. Thank God! ;)

Cathy M~(checkitoff) said...

i love that you honed your skills and became a great 3 point shooter! that says so much about you Kerri! I had to marry a man that could ski (and I did). good to have standards. i bet Brady loves playing hoops with his momma that has mad hoop skillz! hugs, cathy

Jill said...

Great post, I used to love basketball too, but dance was my life. Funny how that changes...
Have a great weekend!

sloan said...

wow, kerri, i had no idea this was so much a part of you - i love that!! i'm impressed by your perseverance and that it paid off with that 3-pt record in hs - that's really amazing - woot woot, girl!! and ps, for the record, i'm hoping brady sticks with tennis - he has such a gift!!

Jen said...

So cool to learn that about you...now we know where Brady gets his drive! Congrats on all 4 years and the record too! Its fun to see that you realized what your parents did to help you ...I often wonder if our kids notice the sacrifices that we make for them to play. Although, we love it too!

Kris said...

Well, well, I sure learned some things about you today! You and my husband would get along great!!!! And I think I do know where Brady gets it!!!!
: ) Kris
PS I was a spring board diver in high school! Now I hate heights...go figure!!

Megan said...

This is so great. I love your perspective and a glimpse into your childhood. The best thing about dedication is what it teaches us about life in general, not just about one particular sport or hobby. I see where Brady gets his passion from...what a legacy!

I am happy to hear you got your dream man...a girl's gotta have her standards!

Holly said...

I loved learning this about you... and can see where Brady gets his determination...

It was kind of like watching a movie-- I was thinking you were going to say you ended up going to college on a basketball scholarship or something!!

But what was even better, was that your husband met your standards!!

This was so fun to read!

Stef said...

Wow! Way to go!! I bet that is where your little guy gets his drive...YOU!

Nicolle said...

Great pictures. I know exactly what you mean. Just since having Boyd, some things that we used to be crazy for have fallen to the wayside. It's funny how things change. Loved this post!

Val said...

What an awesome post!!! I hope you and the family have a wonderful weekend.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Kerri....I know that determination all too well. As it was, I was on the receiving end of the cross-over dribble, pull-up and SWISH..too many times to count! I think I got by you a few times, though :-)
You're still a closet basketball freak...and that's ok!

Jenny said...

i had no idea you were into bball!!! That explains Brady and tennis, I get it now! I think you should try to find an adult league, that would be so fun!

Esther Joy said...

Priorities do change... My husband lived basketball through high school and enjoyed "roundball" with various teams for years. After having bilateral knee surgeries, he finally gave it up - only to recently be named to a his high school's hall of honor!

Karina said...

How cool are you. I bet none of Bradys other friends can hang on the court with their mom. What a great story. We really do become different - better - more complex - people when we grow up. Love this bit of info about you.

Cindy said...

What a great story about perseverance! Brady certainly has the talent and support to go far!

Dana @ Bungalow'56 said...

This was such a great post Kerri. I've been thinking about B-Ball a lot. I too loved it, and played up until the end of grade 10. The high school coach was a real whacko and I wanted nothing to do with him. I just over the past few weeks started coaching Middlest's middle school B team. The teacher was so disinterested I couldn't not step in. It was so much fun. I can't believe how much I enjoyed it. It is a great game.
Dana

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KM said...

Now add this to the list of things I would have never imagined you did!! I see where Brady gets his determination from!

Susan R said...

It's nice to see Brady playing b Ball once in a while too.
I felt the exact same way about tennis when I was in high school.
I played for the high school varsity team and it's partially how I paid for my college. Funny thing is...I don't remember the last time I picked up my racquet. I go through stages where I get back into it and play for awhile then it always fizzles out.
I don't think I ever slept with my racquet though. I would have slept with R Feds racquet though. However, I love the smell of a fresh can of tennis balls and the hissing sound the can makes when it's first opened. Ahhh nirvana.

Kim said...

Now it all makes sense! Brady got his drive and passion for "his" sport from you!!!!!! WOW! You are one focused individual. I wish I had that drive and passion for something. I guess I do these days. And like you...it's for my family. :)

 
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