Dear Basketball,
Our love affair has been going for twenty-five years strong now, and I have no intention of ever leaving you. I want you to know that I’ve grown tired of our current relationship status; you’re always giving and all I do is take.
That stops here and now.
For years you have done nothing but open doors for me. You introduced me to all of my best friends, you took the time to show me to work on both hand lay ups, you gave me a chance to get a college education for free and then you decided to give me a chance to go explore Europe as a pro while hanging out with you.
Do you remember when I was five years old and walked into a YMCA practice and you decided to introduced me to Monty Sanders and his Harlem Globetrotter dad Twiggy Sanders? Funny story he’s doing great and I got to stand up in his wedding this summer, beautiful ceremony!
Remember when you gave me a compound dislocated finger ? As soon as it happened I thought that it was the worst thing every! A whole six weeks without playing a game of basketball, I didn’t know what I was going to do with myself. But you had a bigger plan, you gave me a chance to take the time and learn how to use my other hand, thanks it paid off big time!
What about the time you convinced me to give up a scholarship in college and transfer to walk on at UNC?
That first summer I thought we made a huge mistake and we were in deep trouble. But I just kept working hard and leaned on my brothers, eventually that scholarship came back to me along with a national championship thanks to Coach Roy Williams and 13 brothers from another mother…by far the best gift you’ve given me.
Your gift that helped me grow the most into the man I am today was European basketball. There were more hard times than good, but I think that’s how you wanted it. You gave me a chance to grow up, see the world and find out how much I really loved you. The things I did to keep you in my life for those years weren’t easy but I made it happen because I couldn’t give you up.
Thank you!
But all that is about to change. Like I said, I’m done just taking from you and I’m ready to give something.
Thanks to partnering with my former teammate, Danny Green, of the San Antonio Spurs we give back to the game with GCHoops.
I’m going to show players what you can do for them, show them that if you are treated with respect and intelligence that you can open doors that they didn’t even know existed. I’m going to show them the skills they need to play you the right way. I’m going to show them how you have to know simple before you can do complicated. I’ll show them that you are poetry in motion, a mix of fundamentals, creativity and fun. I’ll show them that the only currency you know is sweat, the only language you speak is hard work and the only race you see is human.
But I’ve also noticed you can be physically neglected in some areas; I’m going to work on that too. I’ll do what I can to patch you up. I’m no doctor but I’m going to try my best to make sure that I fix you up enough where others like young Marc can have a place to try to start their dreams.
You are my oldest friend and I want you to know that I appreciate everything you do for me. You’re one of a kind.
I love you.
Forever yours,
Marc
After winning an NCAA Championship in 2009 with the North Carolina Tar Heels, Marc Campbell spent the next four seasons playing professionally from Estonia, to Italy and Germany. Along with fellow Tar Heel and current San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green, Campbell is now focused on growing GCHoops and making a positive impact around the game.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
