The swish

By Savio M

The swish the sound that can drown everything away the sound that can bring you back. The spin on the ball as it leaves your fingertips. Feeling all too familiar for me as ever since I was young it was the thing that made me feel alive and at the same time I was at peace. I have this confidence when I’m playing that I can just do anything and I’m comfortable at all times.

When I was 5 I made my first basket. My dad used to play every day after work and I used to just sit there and watch from the gym bench. I was inspired by what he could do. It was like watching Jordan in person. I imitated him in the way I played basketball. growing up and when I made my first basket it was such a huge milestone for me.

However that was just the start as I eventually got my first clean cross between my legs. I used to play with the adults because my dad would hop in with me but if there was anyone who I wanted to beat it was him. Year after year I couldn’t do it.

Until I was around 7 or 8 one day it was game point all I had to do was make it and felt like slow motion as I felt the sweat drip down my face swish I felt it in my core. 11 to 10 I won. I had finally beat him for the first time. I gained a 2 dollar bill that I’ve kept to this day.

Though there have been times when basketball has really helped me through hard times, for a period when I lived with my mom I had a hard time. I felt alone at home but there were things that saved me basketball video games and my friends which all connected.

I was and have always been friends with everybody and every group. But my main friend group was people I played basketball with everyday. They were my best friends and we were always there for each other and to think that this came all from a simple sport that we could so easily connect through.

There was a point in my life when I felt at my lowest. I was 11 or 12 and a lot happened but In the end I was confused, depressed and worrying about every little thing. I let my grades drop and resorted to an unhealthy life eating because it made me feel happy. But one of the few things that made me feel good was basketball. Any chance I had, during lunch, break, before and after school as long as it meant I didn’t have to go home yet.

When I got home I would lock myself in my room and play video games which ironically enough happened to be basketball games. But basketball was the reason I had a close group of friends. I had days that I would just cry but I would just pick my ball up and go to the courts and shoot.

All this just to say I believe that everyone has something. I believe that no matter what you're going through there is light at the end of the tunnel. You just have to believe in yourself and find your thing even if it only causes temporary happiness. So long as it causes no harm you can do anything you want.

For the Warrior Times, I am Savio Motha