IT'S THE SHOES! Air Jordans

                   

                       This is what a genuinely happy man looks like. Air Jordan XI Space Jams on my feet on a Saturday night. Doesn't get any better than this.

(Air Jordan XI Space Jams)

                    I will never play the game of basketball Like Mike. I can't dunk, I can't hang in the air, stick my tongue out, and sink-dipsy-do layups after like 5 seconds, and I topped out at 5'7". The closest I will ever be to Jordan is in NBA 2k where I own all challengers with the '96 Bulls. But hey, I may not be able to rule hard like Jordan, I can most certainly try and dress up Like Mike.

                   It's the shoes. Whenever I lace these bad boys up, I feel like I'm legit-ly reppin MJ. I feel like I'm wearing a piece of basketball history. I've only worn Js on the court twice in my life; once in the 5th grade wearing OG AJ XIIIs during P.E., and a month ago rockin white/red XIIs for my last game ever as a GMA7 employee. I don't think I'm worthy of playin in my Js, I just rock 'em to look fly.

 

(Air Jordan XII White/Reds)

                        Any Jordan fanatic must have felt that at least once in his life; flashing that smug look as we count the heads that turn in the mall when we walk past them rockin our Js fresh out the box. The satisfaction in our hearts whenever we have Jordans on our feet, as we swish a fadeaway J with a hand in our face on the playgrounds. The genuine joy we feel as we watch re-runs of our favorite Michael Jordan moments on TV, with stacks upon stacks of Air Jordans in our rooms. The pride in being able to say, hey, I got those exact same Jordans that Money wore when he played in (insert memorable Jordan moment here) 

                        

(Air Jordan XIII Flints)

                Aside from the second three-peat Js (XI, XII, XIII), I got white/red 1s, and the Black/White/Maize XX3s (are they the Stealths?) Hit y'all up soon with those and the kicks I use to ball in.  

The Sanctuary

Whenever I'm on the court, I leave all my worries out of bounds.

The basketball court has been my sanctuary since I taught myself how to play. My own Fortress of Solitude. On the court, under the summer sun, wind in my face as I race down to finish coast-to-coast layups at 5:30 in the morning, sweat dripping down my arms after shooting my heart out at 1 in the afternoon. Heck, if the village turned the lights on I'd keep shooting under the stars.

I don't claim to be invincible around these parts, but I hold my own. I've won and lost my fair share on the court. I can't remember how many times I've played 1on1, 2on2, 3on3, 5on5 pickup ball, but I can remember the faces of the guys I've played, beaten, lost to. Some of em have become friends. Dear friends, in fact, that even if we don't know each other's numbers or connected on Facebook and Twitter, we talk as if we've known each other forever. Then we go hard at each other in character building games, laughable games, rain or shine we be ballin', son. If I win, I get to gloat all the way home and tell everyone - my little brother, my mom, my dog - how I nailed the game clinching hoop.

The game has always given me sanctuary. For a few precious minutes or hours, I forget all of my problems, worries, and heartaches. I am granted an opportunity to sort things out as I set my sights on that orange hoop with the rock in my hand. I get to block out distractions, filter my thoughts and focus on my goals as I launch jumpers again and again. I get to talk to God in my own little way, and He gets me to listen in the only place other than the church where I feel most at peace.

If I were to physically meet God anywhere other than the church, I would like to meet him on the court. We can shoot around, play one-on-one (hopefully he'd let me win a game but I doubt it - ever since I was a kid God wanted me to appreciate my blessings through hard work which is cool), because I believe He was right there with me, during those early morning shootarounds, teaching me how to survive life through the game of basketball.

I learned that I should never force the issue and let the game come to me, take what the defense gives me. I learned how to play hard and smart. I learned when to defer and when to take over. I learned how to earn victory and accept defeat. I learned, that when life gives you a shove, you shove back. You never back down.

Whenever I'm on the court, I feel at peace. Whenever I play, that's when I feel the most alive.