I have
to say that the feedback I received from last week's blog was overwhelming. It
made me realize how selfish I was for not sharing my up and down journey. Many
of you readers have reached out to share your journeys with me. I was so
blessed by each of you and the part of your life journey you shared with
me. I have learned that whatever I am going through, somebody else is
going through worse. That helps me put things into perceptive.
Thank you.
Last
Saturday I got to watch the rerun of the Basketball Hall of Fame Ceremonies. It
was an amazing show. All the inductees shared their stories; some of them were
very emotional while others were simply funny.
It is
quite an honour to be chosen to be in a select group of elite players, coaches,
executives and many others who have impacted the game in many ways.
As
there is little chance for me to be a Basketball hall of famer (the chances are
almost zero, but I am keeping an open mind), I am glad I have a platform on
which I can share my Basketball journey (don't change the channel please).
I
started watching the NBA in 1985. Oh yeah. Some of you were not born yet.
We would gather at my friend's home to watch games on VHS tapes (Google that
one if you don't know what VHS is) while their parents were away. I fell in
love with the game and became obsessed with Michael Jordan. I remember a bunch
of us deciding to cut our hair so that we could look like Mike. Crazy stuff
man.
I
later joined a Basketball team and played in the local league for over 10 years
(among which 5 were spent on the bench haha).
I was
still obsessively watching the NBA. I don't think I have ever missed watching
the NBA finals or the All-Star Game... at least not in recent years.
While
playing for the University team, I started coaching a local ladies team and,
boy did I have the time of my life. I can surely say that those have been the
best days of my life so far.
Basketball
opened so many doors for me.
I got
a chance to work with amazing people like Eugene Nindorera (what a mentor he
was!). Ziaddy became my best friend. I travelled to many countries in Africa
and Europe, had the honour of being part of the Board of Directors of the
country's Basketball Federation, landed my dream job as a sports reporter in
one of the local radio stations, travelled with the National team that went to
compete in the Central Africa tournament and for two straight years I organized
a summer Basketball camp that impacted over 2000 young people across the city.
The list can go on and on. Along the way, the team I was coaching won 15
trophies in 7 years! What a blast!
I will
never forget the NBA Finals at my friend Kennedy's home. Fifteen to twenty of
us would gather to watch the games late at night. I am talking about 1 am or 3
am depending on where the game was being played (time zone difference). Reine
(Kennedy's wife) would cook for us and some of us would even sleep at their
home before the games. The neighbours wondered what was happening as the
trash talking went on and on. All of us would go to work, or to school in the
morning having slept for only two hours. That is what I call commitment.
The
funny part was that, almost all of us would go to visit Kennedy only when the
games were on TV. When the finals were over, Kennedy would say, "See you
all in June next year," haha.
Fast
forward.
In
2002, I landed in Canada, and I couldn't wait to go to the Raptors game.
Michael Jordan came to town, but I couldn't afford a ticket to watch him. I was
so mad as I knew he was about to retire for good. It was a missed opportunity.
I have
been to the games since then, and every time I am at the arena, I have tears in
my eyes. It has been a long-time dream of mine to witness an NBA game live.
Then,
something special happened last week...
To
make a long story short, this NBA season that is about to start, I will be
reporting on the games on behalf of a local Toronto Radio Station! Did you see
that? Yes. I will be attending games and interviewing the players, coaches and
so on...
I have
witnessed a few things in my life, but for me, this is a BIG deal. Never in my
wildest dreams have I ever thought this would happen in my life. My love story
with the NBA started in 1985 in a remote central African country, and now I get
to interview the players 33 years later!
I
think it is a hall of fame story. Don't you think?
Dreams
do really come true!
Moral
of the story? Do you want to see your dreams come true 33 years from now? Just
watch a game on a VHS and you will win trophies.
Always
a pleasure
Patrick
The
journeyman
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