Dear Editor:I thought I would share this essay with you.
My Two Questions to John StocktonBy Dave Nadkarni
I still can remember the time when I saw a basketball player for the first-time. I was six-years-old. My father took me to a Sizzler in downtown Salt Lake City. As we were standing in line a group of very tall men were leaving the restaurant and I was in awe.
I was dumbfounded by the size of these men, but among them was a man that was just as tall as my dad. His name was John Stockton.
I never spoke to him that day, nor did he speak to me. All I remember was that I stared at him because he was the only normal sized person in the general area, other than my dad. Stockton walked among a group of giants.
I had two questions: Why does this guy have perfectly combed hair after exercising? and Could I walk amongst these large people?
That first glimpse of John Stockton was pure magic for me. That was when I decided I wanted to become a professional basketball player. I wanted to “walk among the giants” and be “cool” like him. I also wanted answers to my questions.
The next day I started watching Utah Jazz games on the television. I wanted to be just like John Stockton because he was so “cool”. He had could run fast and put the ball between his legs.
When I turned eight, I still wanted to be like John Stockton. I practiced his poses from different posters. Yes, even the in-game photos of him driving to the hoop for a lay-up.
I also took one of my new white undershirts and cut off the sleeves. I took a permanent black marker and printed number 12 on the back along with “Stockton”. On the front I wrote “Utah Jazz”.
As the years went, my body and talents became less suited for basketball and more for other types of work. I still watched Jazz games either at the Delta Center or at home in front of the television.
When I was 14, my uncle invited me to see the Jazz play the Denver Nuggets. Late in the second quarter, Stockton passed the ball to Karl Malone, in the second quarter, 19,911 fans gasped. Malone shot the ball and the room quickly became quiet. Once he scored, Stockton broke history by passing Magic Johnson for the all time assist record.
Years later the Jazz played the Houston Rockets in the playoffs. This was when Stockton made “The Shot” that sent the Jazz to the NBA Finals. In that game his courage, passion, dedication and humbleness was put on a pedestal. He wanted his team to win so bad that he took matters into his own hands. For a 17-year-old kid that type of mentality was important for me.Fast forward to the May 2, 2003. John Stockton announces his retirement. Like many Jazz fans, I did not really believe this day would come. Our hero played 19 seasons in the NBA and played his heart out.
On June 7, 2003, the Utah Jazz held a special event for Stockton. My experience at the “Salute to John Stockton” was very emotional. I was also wondering if I will ever get my two questions answered.
The lights went out at the Delta Center. Smoke started to rise and the beats to “The Best” by Tina Turner pounded through the speakers. Fireworks went off.
John Stockton walked out onto the floor as long time Jazz broadcaster “Hot” Rod Hundley introduced him for the last time. Stockton’s eyes were obviously filled with tears and emotion as he waved to every fan in the building.
My emotions caught up to me as he waved in my direction. I remembered the Sizzler experience, the homemade jersey and the Houston shot. This man was leaving the game that made him a household name. It was time for him to move on.
After the various speakers were finished presenting him with gifts. Karl Malone made some emotional remarks. He apologized for taking Stockton for granted because he “thought he would play forever.”
Stockton was the last speaker. He looked around the stadium as he received a standing ovation. This was not the first time that fans cheered for him. All the buzzer beaters he made garnered cheers and praise, but not as electric as this day. He acknowledged the fan support, “We always played to a full-house and it has been a blast.”
After the program ended, I walked over to a press conference where Stockton spoke. Jazz officials made it clear that this would be the second to last press conference with John Stockton.
I was sitting in the front row of this press conference. Sitting at the table was Larry Miller, John Stockton, his wife Nada and Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan.
As Stockton answered different questions, he looked very comfortable. He talked about how he will miss, “the bus rides, locker room, being a part of a team.” He finished by saying “You can’t relive that at all.”
As one of the reporters asked Larry Miller a long question, I decided to look into John Stockton’s eyes. I wanted to know what he was thinking. Stockton looked back into my eyes.
We were not staring into each other’s eyes per se. As I looked into his eyes directly I started thinking about my childhood and the impact he had on me. In my mind, I was also asking my two questions: Why does this guy have perfectly combed hair after exercising? and Could I walk amongst these large people?
Sizzler, the homemade jersey, the Houston shot. He may not have understood what I was thinking or feeling at the time. However, I understood what he was thinking. I saw that he was content with his accomplishments.
He seemed happy that he had put effort into everything he did.
At that moment, I truly understood that emulating John Stockton much like my father or my best friend was a good goal. Even though I was not destined to be a basketball player like Stockton, I could still carry some of his traits.
Stockton once said, “All you can do is prepare for your best and lay it all on the line.” I will take this advice to heart in anything I choose to do.
The last time I saw John Stockton was very similar to my first. I was still in awe by his surroundings, but my two questions were answered.
Why does this guy have perfectly combed hair after exercising? Frank Layden, Stockton’s former coach, answered this question when he gave Stockton advice during his rookie year, “Never change who you are.”
Could I walk amongst these large people? If you work hard, you can walk among the biggest of people.
I think I am getting close, but my questions were answered.
Dave Nadkarni2003 GraduateMass Communication