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Serendipity today in the Wake Forest football stadium parking lot. Saw Parker Friedrichsen hanging around with the rest of the basketball players.
“Parking Lot,” I said to him while walking his way. “Nice to meet you. I love the way you shoot the basketball, so smooth and effortless.”
“Thank you,” he said.
We had never met. Told him I went to Wake Forest 200 years ago. Told him his shot reminds me of Caitlin Clark’s, smooth and pure and a simple release.
“Yes, I’m from the Midwest,” he said. “I’ve known about Caitlin Clark since she was in high school.”
“Been working on your shot in the offseason?” I asked.
“Taking about 400 shots a day.”
“Love to hear that,” I said. “Can’t wait to watch you shoot this season.”
Handed my camera to his teammate asking him to take a picture of Parking Lot and me in the parking lot. We stood there, Parking Lot and me, smiling, new friends.
Our first encounter – in a parking lot.
Young man can really shoot the basketball.
Serendipitous this was. So was this. Nearby I noticed Anthony Teachy mingling among the tailgaters. Walked up to him.
“Anthony, nice to see you.”
“We shook hands.”
“What year did you graduate?”
“1984.”
“I was 1985,” I said. “We were in a Communications class together taught by Mayor Shirley. You and Danny Young were in that class.”
He said: “Oh yes, Communications.”
When I was a Wake Forest student I never spoke with “Teach.” The first time we ever did was today, 40 years after we took the same class together.
Forty years ago. Feels like 140 years ago and yet also like four days ago.
Where did those years go? Kids, careers, families. All of it. Virtually our entire lives without saying a word to each other.
Until today.
All six foot 11 inches of Teach. Stood next to him today. Snapped a photo.
Life – you never know what will happen next.
Got me psyched for the upcoming Wake hoops season. Hearing good things. Talent incoming.
Shifted my focus to the football game. Saw my guy TJ at the tailgate. I love TJ. Known him since my freshman year at Wake. He was a senior. Wish we had been the same age because I know I would have had many more good times with him.
TJ was a three-sport high school athlete; so was I.
He’s got charisma. He read Encyclopedias as a kid. How impressive is that, an Encyclopedia-reading three-sport athlete with charisma who is likable and funny and always gushing with enthusiasm and eager to smile and laugh?
Then off to the stadium. Bojangles chicken on sale, plus Nachos, Gatorades, and grape snow cones, and, of course, hot dogs.
Bought all that then entered the stadium. Sun was shining bright. Almost high noon. Players warming up in old gold and black. The field looking immaculate. Dazzlin’ Deacs dancing, band playing, Star Spangled Banner, Wake Fight song – a sweet-sounding routine. Art of the familiar.
All of which I am so grateful for, this day, this alma mater, this life I have. Grateful for the colors of the field. Grateful for the academic rigors of a Wake Forest education. Grateful it was wicked hard. Grateful I wasn’t given high grades I didn’t deserve. Grateful what I learned made me want to learn so much more for the rest of my life.
Grateful to be alive. Grateful to have lived. Grateful for everything about Wake Forest.
Grateful for this glorious game day.
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Sammy Sportface, a sports blogger, galvanizes, inspires, and amuses The Baby Boomer Brotherhood. And you can learn about his vision and join this group's Facebook page here:
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