Slice of Life: The Winning Shot

(This is for the Slice of Life challenge for March, hosted by Two Writing Teachers. We are writing each day about the small moments in the larger perspective … or is that the larger perspective in the smaller moments? You write, too.)

sol16The youngest of our three boys is the only one still playing basketball, and his youth basketball team — which struggled at the start of the season as individuals on the court and then found its groove as a team working together near the end, just as you would hope would happen — had his first playoff game yesterday.

It was one of those sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seats game that exemplifies youth sports. The game was up and down, and then went into overtime after a gutsy player make two foul shots by the other team. Actually, he missed the first one because someone on our team shouted when he was about to shoot, and the referee rightly gave him another shot, and educated our player about sportsmanship. (We had a long talk about that kind of behavior on the way home. It was not my son but still …)

In overtime, our team’s defensive energy hit overdrive, and my son hit a basket with less than a minute left that sealed the game, as we won by two points. He was giddy with emotion, but suitably humbled by the experience. He did none of the bragging and fist-thumping that you see in the NBA at times.

Even at home, when we told his older brothers — who have played on high school basketball teams — he spoke low-key about it. They were congratulatory, which was good because their attitude toward him as the younger brother can often be unpredictable. He both wants their attention even as he worries about the Big Brother-itis that can come along with being the youngest.

Peace (it’s a win),
Kevin

11 Comments
  1. Your writing has so much depth. I found sportsmanship, coming of age, sibling relationships, humility, and so much more. It’s the layers of life that make it all so interesting.

  2. Congratulations to your son for the winning shot. It’s impressive he was able to be low key about this. He knows how to win.

  3. It is so neat to read this slice about your youngest, especially after reading your very first slice from 2008 when he wasn’t born yet. Wow!

  4. Your use of technology with a moment is quite delightful. Winning shot, huh?? Must have been a proud moment for him!

  5. Your son exemplifies that sportsmanship spirit and pure love of the game that school sports should be all about. Well done.

  6. Kevin, it is so refreshing to read a story about high school sports where the scorer is not overly-enthralled by himself. I also love your dynamic tech images that create excitement.

    I have been following your breadcrumbs of poems at a couple of slices. Very cool!

  7. I love that your piece is all about the sportsmanship that was the real win of the night. A lovely mentor for the sports-writing kids I know, who would like to bring more depth to their writing!

  8. Hooray for your son! I miss the excitement of high school sports, and although my boys were swimmers, your slice took me right back the pool.

  9. Funny that mind mind assumed this was going to be a post about a photograph that won a competition. Boy was I wrong! How fun for him to have these experiences, both of the winning shot and of his brothers acknowledging his accomplishment.

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