BY: Malik Moore
My mom has been a big part in my life ever since I was a baby. She has always did her best to make sure I had everything I needed to be successful in life. Also she got me things I wanted even if I necessarily didn’t need it. My Mom introduced to the game of basketball at a very young age. I’ve always been involved in to some type of sport basketball was always my favorite. She always kept me involved in sports because my mom played sports growing up. She played college volley ball and basketball at Francis Marion college. The first time I played in an organized game of basketball I was 4 years old. I think at that moment in my life , I started to love the game of basketball. I also think my mom realized I was enjoying it as I Was playing.I continued playing basketball from that day. I would always ask my mom to take me the gym with her because she coached a team and I wanted to watch and also play but I was to little. But my mom always found extra time in her day to allow me me to just shoot around in a gym after practice or even days she had to work. My mom always sacrificed to make sure I could have the things necessary to play the game I love so much. As I got older my mom realized I was taking basketball seriously. She would drop me off at the gym after school almost every day and I would come home on school nights around 11 or 12 PM, sometimes even later than that. She knew I was playing basketball all day and night. She made sure I was always in a safe environment no matter what. Even when I played travel basketball , I noticed my mom would work extra hours at her job so I could have extra shoes for basketball because I needed the shoes from my older ones messing up or my foot just getting too big. She drove me back and fourth from SC and NC just so I could just practice basketball on my travel team. Being a single mom getting off work that is very difficult to do when you raising another child and looking after my grandmother at home too. My grandmother lived with me and my mom for about 14 years of my life. So my mom has had a lot to deal with while working and raising two kids. I really appreciate that because if my mom never worked extra hours to get me things I needed for basketball , I really don’t know where I would be now If she never introduced me to basketball.
While I was in high-school my mom was at every single one of my games even if she was sick or tired from work or even if the game was really far away she would be there. In the stands cheering for me no matter what. After every game my mom would tell me the Good and Bad things to my game, even if I never wanted to hear it. She is my biggest fan and also at the same time she is my biggest critic. I also know at the end of the day my mom has my back and will love me no matter what.
Even with me being in college my mom finds a way to be at all my home games on the weekend. She will always do her best to watch me play. For that I am so grateful and even with me being done playing college basketball. I know she will still be in my corner as I look to the next of playing professional basketball.
I just want to thank you for everything you have ever done for me. I really appreciate all you do for me and all the love you have showed me from raising me from a baby to a man. I love you .