Make Us Proud, Boys!

05 April, 2015

I come from a family of sports fanatics. Football, baseball, basketball, tennis, swimming, gymnastics, triathlons... we watch it all. We absolutely love going to sports games, cheering on our home teams, our favorite players, and enjoying the camaraderie with other fans. As a family of Wisconsinites, we are obvious Packer fans. We go to a handful of games each season, reppin' the green and gold as intensely as any other fan of the Tundra. We're Bucks fans, although their team has been questionable recently. (after losing Knight, anyway) Brewers are huge for us, too; tailgating and grilling (vegan) hotdogs, turkey burgers, and sweet potato wedges... mmm, mmm!

But, out of all the teams in the state, the fan-base of the Wisconsin Badgers is (arguably) the most hardcore. UW-Madison alumni don't play; they want their team to win. Bad.

No one in my immediate family has attended Madison, but we've jumped onto the Bucky Badger bandwagon nonethelesss. How can you not love the Heisman nominee Melvin Gordon? Or, better yet, basketball superstar Frank Kaminsky? Wisconsin is the team America loves to love, keeping a friendly yet competitive mindset to win based on teamwork and mastering the basics.

Last weekend, my family and I took a trip out to Los Angeles for two reasons:

1. I wanted to see all my best friends from college whom have called Santa Monica their post-grad home.

2. My dad and brother desperately wanted to cheer on the Badgers at the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 NCAA games.

We planned the trip spur of the moment, just a few days before leaving. On the phone with his ticketing agent, my dad asked my mom and me if we wanted to accompany him and my bro at the games. Looking at each other, we both shrugged. Don't get us wrong, we love love love sports, but when it comes to my dad and brother at sports events.... you don't want to get in the way, especially at such high-stake games.

"You two go, have a little bro-mance, and mom and I will get play-by-plays through my SportsApp. We'll enjoy the beach, you boys have fun!"

He splurged, buying James and himself 2nd row center seats for both games. James was ecstatic.

Come the morning of takeoff, we woke up before dawn, doing our last minute packing for our 7 AM flight. Groggily walking through ticketing and security, we drudged toward our gate. Spotting the magazine rack at Hudson News, I told my family I'd catch up with them later.

After flipping through a pretty stale Better Homes and Gardens and buying a SmartWater and an apple, I dragged my way over to gate 31A. As I approached, I noticed my dad giddily talking to a man about a head taller than him - which is rare, my pops is 6'3''.

Waving me over, my dad called out after me: "Paige, come over here, I've got someone I'd like you to meet." Walking up to the duo, I noticed the man was wearing Wisconsin Badger gear from head to toe.

"Hi there young lady, I've already heard quite the story about you! I'm Frank Kaminsky," the man said, holding out his hand with the worlds strongest handshake.

"Soo, you're like... Frank Kaminsky's dad?" I asked, my eyes as big as a racoon's.

"Well, I'm the real Frank Kaminsky. But yes, Frank Kaminsky Jr. is infact my son" he chuckled back. At that point, my mom and brother walked up, McDonald's smoothies in hand, and we all chatted basketball until boarding.

We talked his ear off, asking him question after question. "Do you think Dekker and Hayes will go on to the NBA after this year?"  "Oh, without a doubt," he said. "It's hard to blame them with million dollar contract offers, what would you do?"

"What about the GoPro Frankie wears around his body after the games?" Laughing, he said, "Yeah, he likes videography."

Lastly, I asked how he felt about the instant recognition him and his son have experienced the last few months. "It's crazy. We get stopped on the street all the time. People even ask ME to take pictures with them. But, to be honest, I'm just glad Frankie's doing something he loves. He's loved basketball ever since he was a little boy. It's cool he's shining in something he has so much fun doing."

We boarded the plane, sharing magazines and newspapers with Mr. Kaminsky throughout the ride. We said our goodbyes after landing in Los Angeles, telling him to give our best to Frank Jr. "Will do, guys. Go Badgers!" And, he was off.

I still couldn't shake off that answer he gave: "It's cool he's shining in something he has so much fun doing."

It got me to thinking - what if we all followed that advice? What if we pinpointed that little voice in our heads indicating exactly what makes us feel alive? What can we do for hours without looking at the clock? What energizes us? Frankie sure found his calling, but what about the rest of us?

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Luke 12:34

Frankie placed his time (aka his treasure, so to speak) in basketball, and it paid off, big time, giving him an incredible platform and catapulting him into stardom. But, where am I placing my treasure? Am I placing it in things that uplift me? Things that help the world become a better place? Things that excite me and challenge me and give me a purpose?

Tonight, the Badgers take on the top-rated team in the country: the undefeated Kentucky Wildcats. Kaminsky, whom was just named AP's Player of the Year, will undoubtedly be the Wisconsin frontrunner. While you watch, remember: Frank is out there having the time of his life. Can you say the same?

Fight on, Badgers.