Actually how I feel about this NBA season is familiar, I just haven’t felt it in sometime.

Over 20 years ago my then young, rather large eyes caught a glimpse of something special of which my ears had already become acquainted.  I saw Michael Jordan for the first time do things that I couldn’t believe were possible and I felt that way prior to even attempting to play basketball myself.

Jordan, as I’ve mentioned in the past, fueled my first steps into the game of roundball and as you can tell if you’ve been following along on my journey, MJ continues to do so today.

Back when the only thing keeping me from basketball was grade school, the ending of one NBA season was sealed with a long deep sigh, as it meant I had to wait months before I saw another game.

That also meant that the beginning of the NBA regular season thrilled me like it was Christmas!

In those days, at my parents house, I would flip to the inside page of the sports section daily and see what games were going to be on TV.  This was before cable networks had channel lineups for days at the convenience of a remote button.  It was even before the internet boom (wow, is that even possible…haha)

Basketball grabbed me like a Rodman rebound and never let me go.

I let basketball go though and I regret it.

The Best Part of Waking Up

Last Friday I began a journey, within My Journey to Jordan Camp, to make 100 Free Throws in a row.

This whole week I have leapt out of bed, jumped into some basketball shorts and shoes, thrown on a shirt and gotten to the court by 6:45am to get some shots in.

I ABSOULTELY LOVE IT!!!

Honestly, my shooting hasn’t been going as well as I expected.  I made 16 in a row on the first day last Friday and haven’t made more than 14 in a row since.  While I have seen my overall shooting confidence go up, the free throw is being a stubborn friend and that’s ok.

It’s ok because I’m having a blast every morning!

Before the Sun decides to stretch itself over the horizon, I am already hoisting one shot after the other.  In the peace that is the morning, every sound screams Hallelujah!!!

The ball pressing itself from the concrete court and back to my waiting hands.  The sweet sound the chain net makes when I make a shot.  The birds chirping (seriously), the small gentle gusts of wind, every car that passes.  My Jordans growing familiar roots behind a white line painted 15 feet from the goal.

I hear it all.

Being there on that court truly makes me so happy.  I had lost that feeling towards the game.

me vs. MJ, this journey…has brought that back.

Game Time

Later tonight, I will be sitting 14 rows up in the new, plush, home of the Orlando Magic, the Amway Center.  It’s game one of the regular season for Orlando in an NBA season that is now just three days old.

It may not be Christmas, but it’s pretty darn close for this 33 year old kid.

As always, thank you for following along.

Sometimes I dream

That he is me

You’ve got to see that’s how I dream to be

I dream I move

I dream I groove

Like Mike

If I could Be Like Mike

Again I try

Just need to fly

For just one day if I could

Be that way

I dream I move

I dream I groove

Like Mike

If I could Be Like Mike

Now two years down the timeline.

Soaked with sweat, the result of playing hours of basketball in a high school gym with no air conditioner, amongst the sweltering heat that is Florida’s life companion, I would throw myself into my car.  Imagine Patrick Ewing a few minutes into any game when he was with the New York Knicks.  Did anyone ever sweat more than Ewing?

I would drive down East Avenue, which was the width of two normal streets in most towns today.  It was a reminder of a slower time, when space and land weren’t at a premium.  Just a mile or two from the gym was an oasis or what is commonly referred to as a convenience store.  I would pull my then 16 year old, thin frame, out of my car and mosey into refreshment.

The cool wave of air from the opening of the store’s metal and glass doors would welcome me like Festus would U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon (Gunsmoke).

I though, was there for one thing.

Citrus Cooler Gatorade.

I had read somewhere that Citrus Cooler was Michael Jordan’s favorite flavor and it just so happened to be mine as well.  Merely a coincidence.

Sliding open the refrigeration case door and not finding the Citrus Cooler Gatorade was the equivalent of opening that beautifully packaged Christmas gift and seeing some socks.  You needed the socks and were thankful, but for Christmas?

More times than not though, the Citrus Cooler was there.

In those days, I was probably Gatorade’s number one individual consumer of their Citrus Cooler flavor.  It was my go to drink.

In those days, just like the lyric in the jingle, I would imagine waking up and having MJ’s abilities for just one day.  The ability to take off and soar to the hoop Like Mike.  To be the best basketball player in the World for a few hours Like Mike.

I was a dreamer then and now!

Some 19 years after its original release, Gatorade’s “Be Like Mike” commercial is still one of my all-time favorites.

Anytime I hear that marketing jingle I immediately want to grab a basketball and work on my game.

I know at this point, I won’t be Mike Jordan.

My goal is to merely push Kenny Eller (already thinking more like an athlete with my 3^rd person reference…haha) to be the best that he can be.

I’m now less than a week from Impact Basketball training!  I’m hoping to get a glimpse into what MJ did to become Like Mike!

Sometimes I dream…that he is meeee….

Gatorade’s “Be Like Mike” Commercial

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0AGiq9j_Ak

Note:  I woke up Monday with a sore throat.  Everyone around me has been sick.  Pray for me and my health…please!  I need to be 100% for Impact Basketball training on the 18^th. Thanks!