Doug’s Dugout: Thank You, Jackson

We live in a world of competition. We live in a world swarming with a ‘Win at all costs’ attitude. Sad, really.

This past weekend I was ready to recapture some of my youth – the times I would spend all day playing sandlot baseball or shooting baskets for hours on end with the imaginary crowd cheering in the background.

The pace of the world has been catching up with me. I needed just a few hours on a Saturday afternoon to reconnect, and a young lad named Jackson did just that.

My grandson was playing in a basketball tournament in David City. He is a ball of fire with the desire to be a 6-10 all-star in the NBA. Alas, he was a good head shorter than any other player on the court. What he lacked in height he certainly made up with exuberating energy and excitement.

He didn’t fret when he wasn’t playing. He sat on the bench and cheered on his teammates with every ounce of energy that he possessed. It was so refreshing.

When he was on the court, he would toss blind passes that were easily intercepted, so he would run as fast as he could to the end of the court to prevent the opponent from scoring. It was an example of just pure fun.

Late in the last game, Jackson took the old two-handed set shot from the key. The ball rainbowed to the rim and swished through the net. He jumped up and down and headed back to play defense. His day was made. Quite possibly, that one moment in time made his whole season.