By It’s been awhile since my last entry and a lot stuff has happened since then in particular the passing of my aunt. This has hit me extremely hard because it happen so quickly and sudden as well as I lost someone who was influential to my life as well as my love for basketball.
Letitia Bullock-Gordon was my first my basketball hero, she introduced me to the game being a chubby 4-5 year old that went to her college basketball games basically being her mascot (laughs).
But she also introduced me to the NBA and my world opened up! My first game I remember watching was New Jersey Nets vs. New York Knicks on MSG in my grandparents living room after WCW wrestling at 6:05 ironically and I was hooked.
As I grew up she taught me how to shoot, tie my shoes and practice, practice,PRACTICE. We would play in the backyard and man she would beat me every time, I totally understood where Reggie Miller was coming from growing up because the best player I knew lived down the hall and never took mercy on me.
Then during a random 1 on 1 game with me on a Sunday she slipped and tore her ACL which was bad timing as she getting ready to play in Europe and I felt guilty for the longest time because I kept nagging her to play that day because I had finally gotten a move down and wanted to prove myself.
Everything happens for a reason and I had my basketball hero around for a bit longer before she got married and moved to Atlanta a few years which is a lot closer than Europe (laughs).
As time went on I had my basketball hero become 1 of my biggest influences in life as she always wanted the best for me despite my lack of confidence in myself and was always supportive.
This is a thank you piece, an I love you piece and appreciation to my first basketball hero, role model and person who helped with the foundation of who I am. Going forward every time I shoot around alone I’ll hold a conversation with you and probably break down like I am right now writing this.
When I play I can I do some of the stuff you showed and possibly pass on the knowledge you gave me to someone and continue to make the game fun. I love you aunt Tisha and thank you for everything.
