americanlivedplaybasketballgrowingkidbillrussellbostoncelticsfavoriteteamplayedteamworksacrificecommitmentjoycamaraderierelationshipfans
I lived to play basketball. Growing up as a kid, Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics were my favorite team. The way they played, the teamwork, the sacrifice, the commitment, the joy, the camaraderie, the relationship with the fans.
My life changed irrevocably four-and-a-half years ago when my spine failed and collapsed. I spent two years on the floor, in excruciating, debilitating and unrelenting pain. I can only describe the pain as being submerged into a vat of scalding acid that has an electric current running through it. And you can never get out, ever.
I've had 36 orthopedic operations, have two fused ankles, my knees, hands and wrists don't work, I now have a fused spine, other than that, everything is great.
Being a broadcaster encompasses the business of sport, which is my life today, and it encompasses the skills of being a history student, and the ability of being a performer.
When you are in unrelenting, excruciating and debilitating pain that never goes away for years on end, your life is over.
I grew up in an non-athletic family, where my parents were interested in music, in literature, in education and art.
Basketball is one of those rare opportunities where you can make a difference, not only for yourself, but for other people as well.
A lot of people understand what not saying anything means, so, in effect, not saying anything is really saying a lot.
But you have to understand, my beard is so nasty. I mean, it's the only beard in the history of Western civilization that makes Bob Dylan's beard look good.