The one dream that I really put in a lot of work
in order to achieve was that of becoming a
professional basketball player.
I was always better at contact sports such as
wrestling and rugby but the sport that truly
had a place in my heart was basketball.
I'd read countless biographies of the greats such
as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, and I would
imitate the signature moves of former stars
such as Kareem Abdul Jabbar. I even got a tattoo
of a basketball on my arm when I turned 18.
That was the last year that I still really
dedicated to basketball. When I turned 19
I gave up on that goal, I realized that it
was never in the cards.
Some people might say that I was never built
for it anyways. But even at 5'5 165cm, I thought
I could.
Even now I don't think it was a matter of height,
I was just never that good.
I remember being really happy when I was scouted
by the coaches son to be on the High School
Basketball team.
"Hey man, I really respect your high work rate,
come down to try outs, I'm sure my dad would like you."
I was really happy when Craig said that to me.
But I never become anything more than a benchwarmer.
Even on intermural teams, I was used mostly as a
benchwarmer, only allowed to play in the final minutes
of a blowout type game.
