Game 15

​CHI 92                SA 89

My first day
Assisting with the team,
Coach walked in
Red mad
And pulled me aside.

I need you
To take Courtney
Somewhere,
So I can talk
To these fucking
Knuckleheads.

A couple of them
Stole his bag
As a joke.

Tell him
The meaning of life,
Or something.

That was when I first met Courtney

He was just a sophomore, at this point.

Six foot five
And a mystery.

I was nervous
Already--
First day and everything.

And this kid--
This giant stranger--
A granite statue
Erected to my insecurities.

Courtney and I
Were out in that hall
For fifteen minutes,

While the rest of the team
Was yelled at and
Ran.

We talked about basketball.

We shared the love
We have for our teams.

Him: The Spurs
Me: The Bulls.

From that day on
We would check in
Just about every morning.

Even in the
Offseason.

We would talk about our teams.
We would talk about other players
And storylines around the league.
And the olden days.

We would just
Chill for a minute
And get grounded
In something safe.

In this
Other world
Where we both
Seek refuge.

Basketball is important.

I hope
I never get to a point
In my life
That I can think about
The Spurs
Without also thinking about
Courtney Runnels.

Get the cookies, Courtney