Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Nike loves Chicago

On August 14th thru 16th, Nike held the World Basketball Festival in my city, Chi-City. This festival wasn't on the north side; it wasn't downtown. No, this festival was held on the best side of the city...the south side, at the 63rd street beach.
Of course I had to throw on the #8. 
I didn't know what to expect at the festival; I just knew I had to go. I checked out the Tournament of Champions, watching some of the best in the Chi play against some of the best in NYC. I saw hella Chi-town basketball legends. Current NBA players, retired NBA players, and plenty of movers and shakers of the city.

But the highlight for me was the exhibit that gave a history of Nike basketball shoes. From the very first pair of basketball shoes made by Nike, to Forces, to Flights, To Jordans, to Lebrons, to Kevin Durant's...I wish I would have taken pictures of everything. What was so dope about the exhibit was how it was customized for Chicago. When I saw pics of two parks I've frequented as a kid and adult, I couldn't help but to smile.

Seeing these pics took me back to when I first started playing basketball. I didn't even have proper basketball attire, but I was in the alleys on the milk crate trying to establish my game; pretending to be Scottie Pippen in a game we made up called "The Passing Game." When we got older and were able to ride to the parks, we'd go to Avalon, Cole or Tuley Park; wherever we could find a pick-up game. Then, as an adult, I was at Cole, and then 63rd & Hayes when I moved to the South Shore area. Some people got their suntans at the beach. I got mine on the basketball court.

I truly do love this game of basketball. I'm sitting here typing right now with my left forearm on fire after it caught a serious elbow this morning. I don't know. Maybe it's not meant for me to wear heels until I'm 75 like my grandmother. But I do know I can't let this game go. Whether I'm playing or watching...it's in my soul. And it's nothing I can and will do to stop it.


K to the...

Monday, August 18, 2014

The more things change...


Usually when on Instagram, I scroll by the posts with words because a lot of it is common sense being posted for likes. But one day, a fellow WY Dolphin by the name of Jarquetta posted the pic above and it really hit me. Because I was torn, at the time, as a result of jumping back in a situation with someone I had no business dealing with again. But I did.

Because we're 10 years older.

Because there was an apology.

Because I saw changes.

So after a couple months of courting, I gave in. The wall that was up finally came down and I was happy.

Then...I wasn't happy. I was mentally drained. Things really didn't change. I asked what was going on. I was told it was nothing...but my gut said otherwise.

And then I came across the pic above.

After a lot of thinking and crying, I decided I had to let that situation go. And regardless of how much others liked him for me, or the fact that I'm going to be 32 with nobody with whom I could settle down...I made the right decision for me. And there isn't an ounce of hesitation in me as I type this.

I made the right decision for me.

But, there is this feeling of hurt. Because I put up a fight for us. I communicated. I was an open book. I was patient. It wasn't until after I stated that I couldn't be with him anymore that he communicated his feelings; that he answered questions that I had been asking.

Too late.

I'm not going back to that situation again.

The wall is back up.

Damn, that was quick.

K to the...