Saturday 23 October 2010

ESPN 30 for 30 - Once Brothers (1/6)




One of my friends posted this video on facebook the other day and I have already seen it twice. If you have not seen it on ESPN have a look on youtube. I loved it. It took me back to the old days when I was just a little girl and all these guys that appear in this video (Toni Kukoc, Vlade Divac, Drazen Petrovic) were my idols. That era, the era of Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan for me was when the best basketball was played.

I started playing basketball competitively when I was 9-10 years old. By the age of 13 I was already playing in National junior (U18) team and by the time I was 14 I was playing in my club's senior team with the girls who were at least 4-5 years older than me. I loved it. Basketball was my life and I loved my life. I trained hard and I trained every day. I used to go to practice an hour before everyone else and would stay an hour after everyone has left. I lived for the game. And I was good at it. Really good (without wanting to sound big-headed). I always thought that I would be a professional basketball player. For me nothing else was an option. But things happen in life over which you don't have any control and my basketball career came to abrupt stop.

I so often wonder what would have happened and where would I be now if I carried on playing. It is amazing how one event if your life changes your life altogether. Well, perhaps that's the beauty of it.

In more recent news, work has continued to be absolutely crazy. Hopefully the deal I am working on will complete this Friday and I can have my life back. And some more positive news, 15 days until my husband is finally back home. Huuuurrraaaay!!!

7 comments:

Pedergraham said...

I have tears in my eyes. Both Andrew and his older brother spent time in the former Yugoslavia, Matthew as a member of NATO forces in Bosnia and Andrew as a UN peacekeeper in an Albanian area of Macedonia (FYROM). I do hope that we get to meet some day and maybe you will share your stories (if you are comfortable) with us. I am very excited for both you and Marit, and wishing that the time passes safely and quickly until Shaun and Nate are home.

Maggs said...

wow. Thanks for posting. I spent time in Bosnia when I was first in the Air Force. (At the expense of sounding like a dumb blonde)...I never really thought about you being from Yugoslavia (okay, I knew that you were...but never thought about the war etc...) So again, thanks for posting this. I wouldn't have pegged you for a basketball player though.

Angela and David said...

Thanks for posting this (although I started watching it late on a Saturday night and am cursing you that I am still up). I was very into basketball at that time (although not as good as you, I was ranked as a point guard by the college scouting service but decided to focus on volleyball) and I knew who all those guys were. It really was a beautiful piece. I, also, like Maggs didn't put two and two together either with you being from Yugoslavia. It seems like so long ago and pieces likes this make you realize it wasn't so long ago. Thanks for sharing. And I'd love to hear more about your basketball days.

Beth said...

Awesome Angelina! Thanks for sharing! And I don't think I would have pegged you as a basketball player although I think that just might be because I think of you as a triathlete. :) Anyway, it is amazing how one small choice or event can really change the path of an entire life. I think of that all the time. And I agree, I do think that's the beauty of life!

15 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

D said...

Have you and Maggs met in person? You've got basketball player written all over you! Of course, being a midget I guess I think that of everyone, huh? ;)

That was totally my era of loving basketball too and I was a starter on the highschool team... until my midgetness got the best of me :)

Jennifer Harrison said...

I LOVE that you are a basketball person!!!! Thanks for posting this too - I loved it. :)
And YES YES for Shaun returning! SOON! :))

Heidi Austin, PT, DPT said...

thanx for sharing. loved it. and so glad your hubby is coming home soon. isn't it the best feeling in the world? soooo exciting. it's crazy how we can take that for granted. hope work calms down but at least it will make the time pass more quickly :)