I pulled the coach aside after practice because I was tired of my son riding the bench. I knew he had the talent. I knew he could help the team. What I didn’t know was that the conversation would turn into something far more complicated.
At first, it was harmless. Helping him clean up the weight room after team lifts. Buying snacks for the coach’s meetings. Staying late after practice and helping him with things that had nothing to do with football. Every time I did, my son name seemed to move a little higher on the depth chart.
The more time i spent with his coach, the more I realized there was a game being played behind the scenes. Every favor earned another opportunity. Every opportunity made it harder to walk away.
By midseason, my son was getting the snaps I’d been fighting for. The crowd saw my son finally getting his chance. They didn’t see the conversations, the pressure, or the unspoken things I had to do to get him there.
Standing under the stadium lights, hearing his name called, I couldn’t help but be a proud dad. I always wanted to play college ball, so it felt good to see my son on that field balling at the HBCU I always wanted to attend.
I often think about everything it took to reach that moment. It’s crazy the things parents do for the happiness of their kids. Now he’s bound for the league and I have no regrets. Sometimes we have to do what we have to do as parents to ensure our kids succeed.
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After a few drinks and spending a short time out in DC night life, @KingKhiLavene2 follow me and @WassupSupreme back to the hotel. And things got a lil … well yall see