Why I love the game of basketball

It's that time of year again.  The sound of a basketball bouncing against the gym floor is one that gets me excited.  Basketball is upon us in Santa Cruz County, and I couldn't be happier to write for Patch about the Santa Cruz Warriors and their upcoming season. 

My love for the sport goes back to fourth grade, when I played my first organized game in the San Lorenzo Valley.  Since then I've been a part of the league as either a player, referee, coach, and now League President, an organization that helps to serve nearly 200 boys and girls each year between third and eighth grade.  My goal is to provide a safe and healthy environment for kids to play and learn the fundamentals of the game while promoting teamwork and sportsmanship.

I love watching a kid pump his fist in excitement when he makes a basket.  I love watching parent volunteer coaches promoting a positive environment through dedication, leadership and an unbridled desire to bring the community together.

My mother instilled in me at a young age that it's important to give back to the community, which is why I'll be returning for another year to run the youth program (my sixth year to be exact).  That's why I am thrilled to be writing for Patch, a website dedicated to providing content for the community, by the community (anybody can start a blog if they want).  I love everything about the game of basketball, and at its core, is the most accessible sport to play in America.

Basketball doesn't require equipment other than a ball, some shorts and perhaps decent tennis shoes.  You can find a hoop just about anywhere these days, in contrast to other sports that require gloves, cleats, helmets, clubs, cups, bats, sticks, etc;. 

From the slam dunk that brings a crowd to its feet, to a timely defensive stop in the form of a block or steal, the big plays are nonstop on a basketball court.  I've seen amazing comebacks, buzzer beaters and plays made by young kids that I know I wouldn't be able to duplicate if I tried.

These are some of the many reasons why I love the Santa Cruz Warriors.  They are community oriented with their charitable work, they are easily accessible being downtown Santa Cruz, and it's a healthy environment for kids and family to watch and see what hard work and dedication lead to.

It is my hope that someday we see a local player make their way to the Santa Cruz Warriors.  A player who watched the team at a young age, and found their calling and decided to put in the time and effort to improve their basketball game, all because the Warriors gave them that desire to be a better player. 

The same values apply to myself when it comes to this opportunity here on patch.com.  If someone told me this time last year that I would be writing about the Santa Cruz Warriors instead of just watching them, I wouldn't have believed it either.  But through hard work, dedication and a desire to improve my writing ability, I find myself here now, with an opportunity in myself, because of what a youth organization provided me when I was younger. 

It was John Wooden who said, "Don't give up on your dreams, or your dreams will give up on you."