B Roy

Sunny, beautiful afternoon. The boys’ basketball hoop, recently disabled–due to a monster jam by yours truly–was put back together by Derryck and fully functional. As we barbequed and worked in the yard the boys continued to shoot baskets and mostly dunk the ball. They preceded each dunk by saying, “you want to see how Brandon Roy dunks the ball,” or “this is how Brandon Roy dunks it.” Over and over for hours. Yesterday I told the boys about the Brandon Roy basketball camp this summer. My children believe very little I say to them because of the amount of joking I do with them, so it took several reassurances before they believed me that this camp was real and yes, Brandon Roy would actually be there. They were very excited. The only problem: it’s $350 each. Any time something costs way more than I can afford I tell them, “better ask Grandma and Grandpa,” either ones and probably better to ask both with this price tag.

What could Brandon Roy really teach two six year olds? Would Brandon Roy really be there to teach them anything? Will they even remember or care later in life who Brandon Roy is? These are all valid questions, but really totally beside the point when considering the possibility of my children attending the Brandon Roy basketball camp. It’s Brandon fucking Roy, destined to be one the greatest Blazers of all time alongside Clyde Drexler as well a NBA hall of famer. So yes, it’s worth it. Feel like donating? Making their dreams come true?
One of the best moments tonight: Eban said, “Who wants to see me dunk the ball?” Derryck, Meghan, Lisa and I all sat at the table watching. “Raise your hand,” he said. We all raised our hands. He went up and hit the rim, missing badly. “Ok,” he said. “Who wants to see me try to dunk the ball?” That’s my boy.
Totally unrelated to basketball or Brandon Roy, we pulled up to the house yesterday and saw Frank the cat–my life partner–approaching with something in his mouth. Lisa said it looked like he had a bird in his mouth. Madee said, “It looks like Frank grew pig lips.” I don’t know. We laughed very hard.