Basketball.
I’m a 4’11.5″ female basketball fan- a statement that is often met with laughter or eye rolls. But to me, basketball goes beyond the mechanics of the game.
Basketball is family: I grew up with three brothers who loved to play and watch basketball, and this was one of the only times when we could all come together and really connect. They taught me all I know about basketball, and to this day, it is an experience that brings us all together.
Basketball is identity: Being the child of Mexican immigrants brought along its share of challenges; perhaps one of the biggest was finding the balance between being “Mexican” and being “American”. Basketball allowed me to become in tune with the “American” culture and relate to people who I may not have otherwise.
Basketball is peace: When things were less than simple back in the day, I would find solace going to my little brothers’ basketball games. It was a time when I could, for at least an hour, mentally run away from any other issues that were occurring. It was a time when I could feel pride and happiness at the hard work and progress of my brothers. It was a time when we could really believe that things were going to get better.
As I’ve grown older, I have continued to find peace and companionship through basketball. I have, however, found other interests- like traveling- which leads to me to my next adventure. I am setting off to visit every NBA arena for a game, to be completed by 2015. There are 29 arenas (but there are 30 teams.. hence the name “29AndOne”… get it? lol), and so far I have gone to 4 of them in my lifetime. That means that I have a about a season and a half to visit the other 25. To add to the fun, I’m going to make it a goal to take a friend or find a stranger in whichever city I’m in to take and share the game experience with me.
Now that we’ve warmed up, stay tuned for my tentative schedule of arena visits, follow the blog for updates on my adventure, and please feel free to add suggestions!
29 And One 