Practice

At the beginning of my 11th grade year in high school they integrated the public high schools. There was a lot of uncertainty about what would take place.

My biggest concern was basketball. I knew if I was going to play I would have to work a whole lot more than I ever worked before.

I also knew I had to work a whole lot more than everybody else.

I had three problems.

I couldn’t jump. I wasn’t very fast. And I was white.

Now all of sudden I would be competing against athletes who could jump very high and who could run very fast. They also happened to be black.

In anticipation of the new competition at the new Peach County High School, I got a key to the Reynolds gymnasium. As usual I worked at my dad’s grocery store until 6PM every day during the summer.

After work every day I went to the gym and shot basketballs.

1000 shots every single day.

Daddy helped me out and let a few of the guys who worked at the store earn some extra hours. Many days somebody from the store would go to the gym with me and throw balls back to me.

I shot basketballs until I got blisters on my hands. And I kept a chart. I kept up with how many I made and how many I missed.

I did make the basketball team. I still couldn’t jump. And I didn’t get faster. But I could shoot the heck out of a basketball.

I decided to practice something else today. I had a 400 mile drive and decided to stop in Birmingham for a few minutes on that journey to break the trip.

In a few months(the good Lord willing) I will have a real live grandbaby.

I got a little practice today holding my great nephew, Will Dobbins.

It seems like just yesterday I was a young kid trying to figure out how to be the best basketball player I could be. And I worked hard at it.

Now all of a sudden I am going to be a grandpa. I cannot believe life has passed so quickly.

And making the basketball team doesn't even compare to making the grandpa team.

One thing is for sure. I will work hard at it.

I got a few minutes of good practice today.