April 5th, 2016
My Own One Shining Moment
When Kris Jenkins buried a 3-point shot at the buzzer to give Villanova its first national title in 31 years last night, I couldn't help but smile. Not because of the great game I had just watched. Not because I thought back to the last Villanova title when I was 10 years old and didn't watch the historic upset over Georgetown because I thought it would be a Georgetown blowout win and went to a movie instead. No, I smiled because I had just watched a memorable sports moment with my 7-year-old son.
He struggled to keep his eyes open down the stretch but managed to stay awake until the final shot went through the net. He watched the trophy presentation and then said goodnight and told me he loved me. Shortly after he fell asleep next to me,
"One Shining Moment" came on. It's one of my favorite sports moments each year. Although I was disappointed he didn't get to see it, I smiled as I watched tournament highlights of some of his favorite teams and players--- the Mountaineers, Buddy Hield, Marcus Paige --- and thought about my own childhood and watching the tourney with my dad.
It seems like just yesterday I was next to my dad, trying to not fall asleep and making sure I made it to the final bucket. No matter what, I always wanted to be sure I stayed awake long enough to see "One Shining Moment." Now, life has brought me full circle doing the same thing with my son. Sports has always been something that I have enjoyed with my dad. So, I couldn't help but enjoy this "One Shining Moment" just a little bit more as I looked down at my own son, happy to know that the little boy lying there had once been me and that perhaps some day, he will have a son of his own who will enjoy the tournament with him. It will certainly be his own "One Shining Moment." Even though he didn't make it long enough to see this year's rendition, it was the best one yet for me.
;)
