The best part of the covid pandemic for Ruth and me was the ability to livestream Brady’s basketball games. We started watching the moment they became available. We had to pay for some but were able to watch most via YouTube. I was happy to pony up a few dollars to watch the history of our grandson take place. It was a fun ride and decidedly less expensive than flying back and forth from Michigan to Florida.
Last year, as Ruth and I discussed Brady’s senior year, Ruth wanted to fly back a time or two to watch a game in person. I told her that wouldn’t be advisable. When she asked why, I said, “Because you drop a dozen f-bombs a game. You can’t be doing that in a gymnasium. It’s ok in our living room, but they’ll ban you from the gym for such action.” She protested, smiled, and knew I was right.
I can’t count the times she’d jump up from her chair, go to the television, and tap Brady on the head. She couldn’t do that in person, and if she had, he’d have dozens of welts. It was her way of saying, “I see you. Get your head in the game!” Other times they were congratulatory taps for an awesome play.
Brady’s senior year team was very successful. They finished with a regular season record of 18 and 4, winning their conference championship, and they won three more games in their district title run. They accomplished something that hadn’t been done since 1987. I flew home for the last two games and watched with pride when they cut down the basketball net on Friday, March 10th. It was a heck of a way to help celebrate his Aunt BZ’s forty-sixth birthday.
They went on to regionals, won their first game on a buzzer beater tip in, but lost in the regional finals. Winning the league championship and district titles were probably the highlights of Brady’s year. They were outstanding accomplishments he’ll remember the rest of his life.
His dad, David, did the same thing during his junior year of high school. They both have district title metals to commemorate their accomplishment. Once David digs his out of retirement, they’ll be able to compare the two. That’ll be a fun day.
When I see people accomplish great deeds, I sometimes say, “Minstrels will sing songs about this day.” It’s my way of saying, “This is special.” Minstrels will sing songs about Brady’s team and its accomplishments. They’ll recount the team’s historic record, league championship and district title. They’ll also sing of a team that made the highlight reels of Jimmy Kimmel, Fox News, Good Morning America, and dozens of other news outlets. No other team in the world can boast of that. And while the highlight is owned by a young man named, Aiden, it wouldn’t have happened if the team wasn’t playing that night.
One of the things I’ll remember most, was that Ruth wasn’t sitting with me to watch the run. I teared up more than once while watching and thinking of how she’d celebrate each moment. I’m sure she saw them, and she may have helped the team make a final shot or two. I just couldn’t hear her hoot and holler.
I’ll remember too the smile on Brady’s face as they reached each milestone. He and his group of very special friends accomplished their goals by working together. They were a team in every sense of the word. They supported each other through the highs and the lows. That’s what good teams do.
I watched Brady make his way through the final handshake walk at the end of their regional loss. He hugged two players from the opposing team. That’s when I remembered them from Brady’s AAU basketball games. They were opponents then too. They knew one another on and off the court and respected each other’s talents. That’s what good men do.
Ruth would agree.
Hawkeye News – Our District – Hamilton – Stories (hamiltonschools.us)