If you had told me as a 14-year old that I would fail at making it to the NBA, I would have caught an attitude, and some very profound language would have followed. Basketball meant a lot to me as a sport, and it was more than just a game for me; it was an escape, an escape from drugs, violence, and a way to just get off the streets. I started swimming at the age of four and started playing basketball at the age of Five. If you let my father tell it, I was a much better swimmer than I was a basketball player; Ultimately, I chose to give up swimming and focus solely on basketball. It wasn’t for lack of talent. I excelled at Freestyle Backstroke and Breaststroke, and as far as I was concerned, there was only one person in the state of Michigan that could beat me, and he was on my team. I think it was my personality that made me give up swimming. I was outgoing, I loved the big crowds, and I loved the attention basketball brought; swimming brought none of that. Basketball started as just an outlet for me. I would get bullied in school because I was too poor to afford the latest fashion; my diary became basketball.
I told myself that if I became good at basketball, then people wouldn’t judge me, my clothes or on the way I looked. I would practice, practice, practice or, “dribble, dribble, dribble as my late grandmother would say; and eventually, I became an outstanding player, but it came at a cost. You see, becoming good at something you love while longing for other people’s approval will quickly turn it into something you hate. There was no question I was the best basketball player at my high school. Over 20 points a game, eight-plus rebounds in one of Detroit’s best divisions, but I didn’t love basketball anymore. I just love what came with it. That was the girls, the popularity, the high it gave me; I no longer was being teased anymore; I was doing the teasing. I quickly became someone I hated.
I’ve always loved to write, and I find it just as challenging as a game of basketball sometimes. Although I gave up playing the game, it has always remained in my heart. It has taken me until my senior year of college to figure out that it would be my pleasure to become a Sports journalist and report on this game I love. Transitioning from being a player to reporting has been extraordinary. I love watching the game from a bird’s eye view. I love to critique players and coaches and give my perspective on the game from a fan’s standpoint. It has been amazing getting to know couches and their philosophy on how they see the game. Going forward, I want to improve on my analysis and get to know the athletes more. I know I’m in for a wild journey, but reporting on the game feels just as good as playing it.