My love affair with all things Texas has always hit rocky territory when it came to the subject of where my basketball loyalties lie. Though I will always pull for my fellow native Texans to succeed in the league like, Grandmama, LaMarcus Aldridge, David Wesley, Gerald Green, Chris Bosh, S-Jax, Boobie Gibson, T.J. Ford and Daniel Ewing(both of whom I got to play against in AAU ball, we got torched), and too many others to mention I've always pledged my allegiance to the Lakeshow. My earliest NBA memories are sitting in my Grandfathers lap and watching Magic Johnson playing with a charisma and flash that made me fall in love with the game. My Grandpa would always tell me "Brad, I've seen alot of basketball but I've never seen nothin' like Magic".
Still basketball was always treated like a second class sport in my home state. Not only am I from Texas, I'm from the part where football is considered religion. West Texas. That Friday Night Lights shit(the movie, not the homo ass series) is real life here. I had a Boobie Miles Permian jersey when I was in grade school. He was the next Bo Jackson to me. Going to a high school football game in Texas is really not something that you can describe, it can only be experienced. That being said, lucky for me I had people around me who always had a eye open to the basketball world.
In 1982, the year of my birth, a 5' 5" point guard by way of Dallas, Texas would lead the local Juco team, Midland College to the national title four years and a couple seasons at North Carolina State later he would shock the world with a slam dunk title. I would hear legendary stories of his Midland College days throughout my childhood from my Gramps. Then in 88, when I was 6, I got my first chance to see a basketball legend first hand while sitting on the shoulders of Grandpa Bill. Larry Johnson, Grandmama in the flesh, blessed the cross town team, Odessa College, with his presence and posterized the competition on his way to a scholarship with Tarks Runnin Rebels and then to stardom with those absolutely nasty Hornets squads. This connection eventual launched my addiction to SLAM magazine with LJ gracing the cover of the premier issue. Wish I would've kept up with that issue when I was 12. I think my crazy evangelistic stepmom burned it with my comic book collection but that's another story for my therapist.
Right before LJ's goldtoothed assault on the league, the man who made me fall in love with the game, Magic was diagnosed with H.I.V. I remember hearing our P.E. teacher at the time talking to a teacher's aide about it and how he was probably gonna die. Then I remember going home and asking my grandmother what H.I.V. was. She was shocked to hear this question coming from a 9 year old and did the best she could to explain something she didn't even really understand. I spent the rest of the day crying in my room looking at my trading cards. Then later that week while I was wearing my worn out Lakers #32 jersey a kid said told me his dad said Magic Johnson was gonna die because he got the "faggot" disease for being gay. That was the first time I would have to go to the principals office, but damn that black eye was worth it. That next All-Star game would always hold a special place in my heart because of what it meant for my favorite player and the way the classy players in the league (Fuck you Karl Malone!) treated him. It wasn't the official end of Magic's career given his first botched comeback attempt and then his 36yr. old power forward playing season but much like M.J. fans think of that last Bulls shot as the real ending of his career, I will always feel the same way about that game and Magic. Ever since then the all-star game has always brought back very heart felt memories for me and is a weekend that is strictly dedicated to basketball in the Long residence
Now this brings me to what seems like a personal gift from the Big Guy. The 2010 All-Star Game, is not only being played in my favorite city on Earth, Big D, where I spent my most of my incoherent early twenties, but it will be played in what will be the greatest sporting complex since the Roman Colosseum. If you haven't seen the new Cowboys stadium hit up www.dallascowboys.com and take a peak. Jerry Jones said it best when he exclaimed "They should've never given someone who loves football as much as I do this much power". Well Jerry, I for one am glad they did. Mark Cuban deserves a huge thank you for this too.
He could've easily been selfish and held it in his own arena but due to his creative and opportunistic thinking, not only will my favorite football team be hosting the event, but more people will be able to see the game live than any basketball game ever. I'm not always Cubes biggest supporter(far from it) but admist his Mavs struggling due to some questionable decision making in the front office and the Mama.com drama this is one of the best things Mark has done in a long time. I'm sure money has a lot to do with the situation but anything that gives more people a chance to see the game they love live to me is a good thing. You can be sure I'll be there, with my son, Caden, sitting in my lap. He may be to young to remember it first hand, but just like my Grandpa Bill did with me, I'll make sure he never forgets.
