This photo represents my youth. Idolized Kemp. When the SI article came out around the same time and presented the idea that Kemp fathered multiple children for multiple women, I denied it. Journalists aren’t always right. Besides, why am I subscribing to SI as a 10-11 year old? Nothing makes sense in this equation so Shawn Kemp is still the greatest power forward right now. 

And then you grow up. And then you deal with the Sonics losing to the Bulls in 6 in this series, never again making the Finals as a team in the city of Seattle. I always think that maybe if I was able to watch game 6, my life would be different. The Sonics would win 6 and then upset the Bulls in 7, denying Jordan of his first title since coming out of retirement. No hugging the ball with Randy Brown. In addition, I was the rightful owner of a Gatorade cap which read “Seattle Supersonics in 7.” There was a promotion going on that if your Gatorade cap had the team name and the number of games they won in on the cap, you win a bunch of money. In 1996 for an 11 year old, that means you quit school and get a bunch of Huffys or GT Dynos. This was my plan. I’d give my mom and grandma a good deal of money and buy my Shih-Tzu a bunch of dog treats. Plan foiled. For game 6 of the NBA Finals, I was in the great city of Cleveland…Georgia. Known for red dirt and a Cabbage Patch Kid’s hospital where you send your dolls when they die. Or get hurt, I really don’t know. Cleveland, Georgia was home to a Jewish sleep away camp called Camp Coleman. My cousins from Atlanta liked it the previous summer, their mom told my mom and she was sold. Game 6 was maybe the second night of camp. I woke up the next morning, walked to some place where the Israeli flag was and we sang the Israeli National Anthem. Never knew the words, just kind of stood there. I asked my counselor who had won the game and he said the Bulls did. I teared up a little. Next thing I know, my Nike Jason Kidd shoes are covered in red dirt. Finished. Muerte. The past 15 years haven’t been too bad. If I had watched that game, I think it’d be much better.