rubinville

Normally, these journal entries are hilarious little tidbits about life and jokes about whatever is in the newspaper on any given day. Today, I want to use this entry to thank and honor my childhood here, Clyde Drexler, who is being inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame tonight.

I became a basketball fan, ironically, not through playing basketball or even watching basketball, but by playing Sega Genesis. It was 1991 when I got the classic "Lakers v. Celtics" game and soon, me, my brother, and my friends we're all addicted to it. The game itself was a huge step up from Nintendo's "Double Dribble" in terms of graphics and sound, and it used real NBA teams and real NBA players. I don't really remember why I started using the Portland Trailblazers as my team, but I did, and soon I became familiar with all their players and knew more stats than I'd like to admit.

Clyde was the clear star of the team and his signature move was a one handed "glide" to the rim from the free throw line. Yea, Terry Porter could shoot the lights out from 3 point land, but nothing is better than the free throw line dunk. Soon after playing, my friends and I started to get into actually playing REAL basketball and watching it on TV. Something about Clyde's seemingly effortless moves to the hoop, and the way it looked like he was barely paying attention yet so in the game at the same time just awed me. That year the Trailblazers, led by Clyde, had the best record in the league but we're upset by Magic Johnson and the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. That season was in between two seasons which the Blazers made the finals but lose both times.

Ultimately, Clyde got traded to his hometown of Houston where he finally won his championship and got the recognition he had deserved for so long. His play throughout the post season was inspired and the Rockets became the first 6 seed to ever win a NBA championship. The next few seasons the Rockets were among the Western Conference elite, but never made it back to the finals. Clyde however continued to play at the high level we had become accustomed to.

Watching Clyde play those last few years were when I really learned to appreciate all his skill and dedication. While he couldn't jump as high as he used to, he learned to become a better shooter, rebounder, passer and overall team player. He was known as a true gentleman on and off the court, something pretty rare for any athlete these days. When he retired he still was putting up All-Star quality numbers and defintely could've played productively for a few more season. However, he chose to go out with class and while still playing with the passion and fire that he had always had.

I learned a lot from watching Clyde all those years. Not only did I develop a finger roll second only to his (let a kid dream, ok?), but he helped teach me how to be a team player and how to consistentely pursue my goals. Many said Clyde was too old to win when he was traded to the Rockets, and he proved them wrong because he knew he had more to prove to himself. Clyde finally winning that champoinship after all those years helps me feed my dream of whatever the championship is for me as a comic. His smooth-style, his quiet-reserved attitude and his competitive spirit are all things I think that I have incorporated into my life and continue to work on everyday.

So, thanks Clyde, and goodluck on your next adventure.