Iron Sharpens Iron: A basketball flashback

Surrounding one-self with good people, great friends, strong mentors and inspiring peers amounts to one thing---Iron sharpening iron.

My childhood friend and I battle 1on1 at JL Crowe Secondary School-- our old high-school gym in Trail BC. It's something we probably did thousands of times 20 years ago. That was back when we were bringing the city and the school it's first and only provincial basketball championship. No man has ever pushed me to the limits both mentally and physically like he did. I owe him a lot. Fast forward several years later---Professional and collegiate athletic careers are over and both of our lives have evolved past the athletic focus. Now we just stay in shape just in case we're in the same place, at the same time and there's a ball and a hoop! Then it's on. The picture was taken by his wife, who must have been shocked at how intense and reckless two grown men were competing against each other. We didn't prepare her... On the way up to the school we might have lied to her and said, "We're just going to shoot some hoops." It was all lies. A stranger walking into the gym would have thought we were bitter enemies. And in truth, while we we're playing, we are. I don't like him and I know he doesn't like me. The level of dirty-ness was obscene. Perhaps that's the reason his wife didn't want my innocent Godson watching the madness. Didn't matter I'm sure he felt it in his DNA. A crowd of high-school students gathered around, no doubt wondering what all the shouting and swearing was about. We don't play above the rim like we used to. Neither of us can fly anymore, I lost my wings years ago... in front of everyone. But there's still enough in the tank in both men, that you could get dunked on if you get caught slipping. Two best friends, 30 years of no holds bard competition---Still pushing each other to the limit. Too much fun. When it was all over we hugged, and congratulated each other...Just like we used to. Perhaps more amicably now than we did 20 years ago. Back then, we used to limp off the court from battle bruises. Now, we limp off the court from bad backs, joint pain and arthritic knees. Either way... Some things never change. Iron Sharpens Iron It's competition like this that inspired me to write sport fiction, and specifically, my latest piece, entitled "HUSTLE" for Lorimer Publishing Kids Sports series---HUSTLE is scheduled to be published in the beginning of 2014. I'll keep you posted when it's out!

ESPN Shattered Dreams Interview

Let me first begin by making a slight correction, I'm not actually 5'10, in fact in my college ball days I was listed at *cough* 6'0...I'm probably closer to 6'1, but my shoulders slope, and I've been told I look as tall as 6'2 on weekends, just to clarify...

So in the span of less than a week, suddenly this video goes viral... why? Was it because I broke the glass on a MISSED dunk while trying to show off/inspire the 14 and 15 year old St Patrick's HS team I coach?

They see me dunk it, and they see I'm not that tall, they think they can do that too, and I NEVER EVER tell them that they can't do or accomplish something/anything.

Maybe it's funny for other reasons...Wait, check that, not only did I break the glass and MISS the dunk, but I landed flat on my back and probably (if not for the grace of God) should have broke my neck...AGAIN! ...It's pretty damn FUNNY!

You know, I've been asked why this whole thing is so popular, and I don't know why. It probably means something different to everyone who watches it. To me, it's hilarious. I get a kick out of everyone's reaction to it. Perhaps one of the funniest reactions I've heard about, was apparently, someone wished that glass landed in my eye. LOL. It didn't, but I appreciate the love. Lol.

In all the inspirational sports screenplays I create and love there's always one theme that is consistent :

People love to watch someone try really, really hard to achieve something and then fall FLAT on their face...or in my case...my back. But you know what people love even more? They love it when you bounce back. Everyone loves the comeback. That's a fundamental part of every sports movie. Maybe people like it because my back bounced when it hit the floor.

Oh and btw, people have been asking me what I was thinking in mid air...Aside from expletives...At around 11 seconds, I was thinking

"I'm the biggest stud and loser all at the same time"

And then I remember I was slightly confused as to how that was possible.

But there was more to the story.

Back Board Breaking Dunk FAIL

When I'm not locked in my home office busting out inspirational sports screenplays, I coach a junior boys (Grades 9-10) basket-ball team at St. Patrick's Secondary school in Vancouver British Columbia. Great school, unbelievably awesome kids. But what happens when the team asks Coach Boateng, AKA Johnny SHOWtang, AKA Johnny Blaze to throw down one dunk for them? Of course he says NO at first..."He doesn't dunk on request"

"Please coach, just one. Please, you promised"

No, not today, sorry guys...Wait a minute...is that a SLOW CLAP y'all just broke out?

Trying to be like Mike

I was so thrilled to have the privileged to be in a commercial spot promoting the Jordan XX2 shoe. Like most kids born in the 80's, I grew up idolizing MJ, and wanted to be like him in every way. Minus the tongue wagging stuff, I was never about that.

By the time I got a chance to do this spot, I still had some hops, but they were slowly fading.

Jordan XX2 Evade Commercial Spot

Getting above the rim is easy. You just run and jump and it's simple...That is, until you get a little older. But you always think, you'll never get older, you'll always be able to do things like this...

Dream Hops

There was a time when the legs always felt fresh, there was always bounce in the stride and swagger in every step. There was a time when it didn't matter where that ball was, you just go get it, and bring it down...With Authority. Every-time. Let's take a walk down memory lane...