NO AUTOGRAPHS PLEASE

I didn’t realize it at the time but when I had the chance to play half court basketball last week with Laker legend  and former NBA Head Coach Byron Scott, I was being mentored. Somewhere someone is reading this and laughing because they’re assuming he can still go and took me to school, so-to-speak. To those readers I say, “Mind your business…” :-).

It’s rare to sit next to someone who is an expert in your field and not be awe stricken. The larger than life persona can paralyze and turn a teachable moment into nothing more than an autograph session. But how many of you know that it’s a breach of baller’s code to act like a gitty teenager when you’re playing defense – even if it is against a guy with three NBA championships?

Somehow my team beat Scott’s and the next thing I knew I was sitting on the sideline talking about coaching, character and diplomacy in the highest realm of basketball on the planet. It was about 20 minutes of rich conversation that verified much of what I assumed about the NBA. Byron Scott, while still an icon in my mind, sat there…one ball player talking to a younger version with respect and candor. I tried to listen and focus on the subtle lessons materializing. Given the location and circumstances surrounding the event last week, it’s likely to happen again but as doors of opportunity go, this one won’t remain ajar forever. So I’m intent on being the student, if only for a few weeks. I can be a fan for the rest of my life.