Swagger
1
All this started about eighteen months ago. Back then, I was a junior at Redwood High in Redwood City, a suburb twenty-five miles south of San Francisco. In those days, I took things as they came, without thinking a whole lot about them. Maybe that’s because most of the things that came my way were good.
Take school. I didn't much like my classes at Redwood High, but I did like being the starting point guard on the varsity basketball team. And I loved seeing my name, Jonas Dolan, in print in the sports section of the Redwood City Tribune.
The main reason school never seemed to matter too much had to do with my father’s job. He made good money working for a sand and gravel company down at the Redwood City harbor. I liked visiting him at work--liked the noise of the cement mixers, the shouts of the men, the non-stop activity of the plant. I figured that once I graduated from high school, my dad would get me a job there. He thought so too; lots of times we talked about working together.
Not that I was a total slacker in the classroom. You can’t play if you don’t earn your credits, so I studied enough to stay eligible. Halfway into my sophomore season, I'd cracked the starting lineup on the varsity basketball team. For the rest of that season, I averaged eight points and three assists a game. During the first half of my junior year, I'd pushed those numbers up to eleven and six, making me one of the top four point guards in a decent league.
Then I had my breakout game.
It came in mid-January against Carlmont, a middle-of-the-pack team like us. Everyone expected the game to be a nail-biter, with one team winning by a few points. Instead, we trounced them. I scored fourteen points, pulled down five rebounds, and had nine assists, while turning the ball over only once. It was the best game of my life, but I didn't feel as if I was playing out of my mind. Instead, it was as if everybody else on the court was wearing lead shoes, while I was lighter than air.
2
That Carlmont game had been on a Wednesday night. I floated through the next day at school and through practice after school. As I was leaving the gym, I heard Coach Russell’s voice. "Jonas Dolan, come to my office."
He sat me down across from him, pulled on his big ears a couple of times, scratched his gray hair, and finally asked me what I planned to do when I finished high school.
"My dad works at the sand and gravel. He can get me a job there.”
"No plans for college?"
I didn't like the way Coach Russell said that, as if there was something wrong with people who didn't go to college. "Neither of my parents went to college, and they've done okay."
Coach Russell started waving his hands around, his face reddening. "Completely true, Jonas. I know your dad; I know Robert. He's a hard-working man. And I've met your mom, though I can't say I know her. There's nothing wrong with working with your hands. But you've got your whole life to work. If you go to college, you can be a kid for a while longer. That sand and gravel plant isn’t going anywhere."
As he spoke, I thought about what it would be like to work eight hours every single day. Was I ready to do that? Still, I shook my head when he finished. "I’m lucky to get C’s, Coach. I'm no student."
"But you could be a student, Jonas. I talked to your teachers; they all say that."
After that we both sat, the seconds ticking away. Then he leaned forward, a sparkle in his eyes. "If you could play basketball in college, would that make a difference?"
I was so startled by the thought that I laughed. "Sure it would, but there's no college that wants a six foot white guy who can't dunk. The worst player on a crappy team like Oregon State is way better than I am. You know that."
Coach Russell put his big hands flat on his desk and leaned back. "Jonas, Oregon State is a Division One school. I'm not saying you’re D-One material. However, there are two hundred Division Two schools that have basketball teams. Many are top-notch private colleges—great places to get an education. You're a hard-nosed ballplayer; you’re the most coachable kid I've had in years; your game is coming on like gangbusters. Those are all qualities D-Two coaches look for."
As he spoke, a strange thrill raced through me. I was a step slower than the black guys from Oakland and San Francisco I'd played against, but Coach Russell was right—those guys were headed to major colleges. Some of them might even end up in the NBA. They wouldn’t even consider Division II ball.
Then reality hit: college costs big bucks.
“Coach, my parents don’t have money for something like that.”
He smiled. "Ever heard of a scholarship, Jonas? And I mean a full ride—room and board. If you're not interested, then that's that. If you are, I'll help. Division Two coaches don't come looking for players. I'll need to get some game film of you and write you a letter. You'll need to request a copy of your official transcript. If we send all that out to fifty schools, you might get a call or two.” He looked at me from under his bushy eyebrows. “You’ll never know unless you try."
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Comments
alex benge.
I have many questions if you could reply to my email i completely understand if you cannot. I would just like to learn from you. Email- baseballcrazy033@aol.com. GLAD YOU LIKED THE BOOKS.THE IMPORTANT THING ISN'T WHETHER A BOOK IS A CLASSIC OR NOT, IT'S WHETHER IT SPEAKS TO YOU. I'M GLAD MINE DID.
Thanks you,
Eric Cowen
Why don't you write about golf it is your favorite sport? MIGHT JUST DO IT, SOMEDAY. I'VE BEEN THINKING OF A PLOT WHERE A KID CHEATS IN GOLF. I JUST WONDER IF THERE'D BE READERS FOR A GOLF BOOK.
thanks HEY, SIDDARTH, NICE TO HEAR FROM YOU. I'VE TRIED A FEW TIMES TO WRITE A SOCCER BOOK. I DIDN'T PLAY THE GAME, SO IT'S HARD. MAYBE WITH THE NEW SOCCER TEAM IN TOWN I'LL LEARN ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO WRITE ONE.
-Siddarth Gurajala@gmail.com
I'm in 7th grade and over the summer i read all your books. i couldn't put them down. your my favorite author, so please keep coming out with more books like before
HOPE YOU LIKE GYM CANDY ALL THE WAY THROUGH. PAYBACK TIME COMES OUT IN SEPTEMBER. CD
Hoops, Devil's Court) but I would like to read a novel on a really good player. This could be cliche but you could have like colleges try to pay him or somethin.THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. I'M WORKING ON A BB NOVEL RIGHT NOW--THIS TIME WITH A POINT GUARD AS THE MAIN CHARACTER AND A TEAMMATE WHO DOESN'T REALIZE HOW GOOD HE IS. BUT I'M GOING TO FILE YOUR IDEA WAY--THE TEMPTATION OF MONEY ALWAYS MAKES A GOOD PLOT.
I love your books and can't wait for your new one to come out. I think it's really cool because I live in Ballard so I know where everything is in most of your books. Keep up the good work! HOPE TO SEE YOU AROUND BALLARD SOMEDAY!
THANKS--I HOPE THE ENDING DOESN'T DISAPPOINT
GET THE RIGHT BOOK AND READING IS WONDERFUL. I'M GLAD MY BOOKS WORKED FOR YOU. CARL
i was wandering if you could write a book about a shortstop living in socal, facing many hardships but eventually reaching the highest of standards after being drafted out of highschool to the bigs. THAT'S A GOOD PLOT. I'VE LIVED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, SO I KNOW THE AREA. THANKS FOR THE IDEA--BUT PERHAPS YOU SHOULD WRITE IT.
TJ-14 years old
I HAVE A CLOSE FRIEND WHO HAS WRITTEN A BASEBALL BOOK WITH JUST THAT THEME. HOPEFULLY HIS BOOK WILL GET PUBLISHED. IT'S CALLED THE FARM TEAM. IT IS SAD THAT CANCER STRIKES ANYONE, AND DOUBLY SAD WHEN IT HITS SOMEONE YOUNG.
I WISH I KNEW ENOUGH ABOUT HOCKEY TO WRITE A DECENT BOOK. THANKS FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT
-Tanner c
THANKS. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU TAKE THE TIME TO WRITE AND THAT YOU READ MY BOOKS.
I HOPE SO. I HAD TO GO BACK AND START OVER TO GET THE MAIN CHARACTER RIGHT
- Chanse
I read Gym Candy and I really want you to right a sequel to it and also maybe a lacrosse book. I started lacrosse and it is a really fast growing sport
Thanks,Leo