In 1957 when my Dad died, it was November and high school basketball was just beginning. I remember thinking about whether I wanted to play the '57-'58 season. My Dad had always come to my sporting events and even coached my baseball teams. My resolve was to play the season in his memory. In fact I quietly adopted the declaration "this one's for you"!
The season turned out to be memorable. We were League Champions, something the Plymouth Panthers hadn't done in 20 years. I'm sure he was watching!
Last week, a senior named Johntell Franklin for Milwaukee Madison High School lost his Mom to cancer. It was the day of a game with Dekalb, Illinois High School. His coach offered to cancel the game but the young man, Johntell wanted his team to play without him.
The game started and Johntell showed up at the game during the second quarter. He was surrounded by team-mates and members of his high school class. I can only imagine the out-pouring of sympathy. It turns out Johntell not only showed up but he wanted to play. His wish was honored and he quickly "suited up".
Here is where it gets tricky. Coaches have submit their list of players before the basketball game. Johntell was left off the list because he was not anticipated to play. By showing up and then entering the game, Madison High was guilty of a technical foul. Dekalb was entitled to two penalty foul shots. Nobody in the gymnasium felt the techical foul shots were fair but the officials were required to uphold the integrity of the game.
The visiting Dekalb team knew Johntell's situation and really didn't want to shoot the technical foul shots. So the Coach of Dekalb instructed his shooter to miss the shots. The first ball went half way to the basket and fell innocently to the floor. By now the crowd understood what was happening. The second short didn't go as far as the first and again fell softly to the floor. The crowd stood and applauded in tribute to the missed shots and there wasn't a dry eye in the house.
Johntell scored 10 points in the game but his team, Madison High lost. Somehow that it didn't matter.
The lesson Grasshoppers is that the essence of being involved is sports is to build character. Johntell's loss was shared by many and winning or losing didn't seem so important.
Love,
Dad
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