Skip to main content

I am My Brother's Keeper (Part II)

So I finally did it. I finally wrote the note that only took me several months to do. For those of you who have no idea what I am referring to, I refer you to I am My Brother's Keeper (Part I). After months of either weighing what I was going to write or simply delaying the actual writing of the letter because of a slight nervousness amd fear of rejection, today, yours truly pulled a Nike. I just did it. While flipping between watching a Knicks Summer-league game and New York Red Bulls game, I suddenly and simply felt the urge to finally get this done. 

The tag team partner who suddenly saw me put pen to paper, reacted justly to the whimsical and random nature of my decision, "Ok, well alright! You're crazy."

And maybe I am crazy. I wouldn't necessarily deny that claim outright. 

However, it quite possibly could have been a subconscious effort after watch Chris Smith, brother of New York Knicks shooting guard, J.R. Smith, and the broadcasters chatting about them possibly being the first brother combination to play on the same team in the NBA if Chris made the team. 

Or maybe because I got off the phone with my mother a few minutes earlier.

Or quite possibly because I had just finished wrapping up the latest Pondering 10, Things I Miss as a Kid. 

Maybe it was all of the above. 

Whatever it was, I got it done. 

As per my worries in what I should write, I simply decided to keep it short, filled with small talk, and of course, provide the hook of leaving the ball in his court. E-mail information was given as well as my parents current phone number if he is interested in making a reply. 

If there is a reply, then we can move forward in rebuilding a relationship, and hopefully finding out one day why things played out the way they did. 

If not, then, I did exactly what my heart told me to do, and what my conscience urged me to get done. I can now cross this off a list of "what if's" in my life. 

Whether there is a Part III to this saga completely depends on his reply - if any at all. 

Either way, as I said in Part I, I broke the silence and made the first move. 

In this race called life, sometimes, putting yourself out there is all you can do.

Recently Read

Would You Rather: Questions 121-130

This edition of "Would You Rather" is credited to the NBA Would You Rather NBA Account on Instagram ( See Here ). Adding to the fun, this edition (and possibly future ones) are all NBA basketball questions.  121. Who would you rather have on your favorite NBA team - Giannis Antetokounpo or James Harden?  Seeing how I'm a lifelong suffering Knicks fan, the thought of any of these guys in blue and orange is hard to believe. With that said, I'm taking the Greek Freak for this reason - I enjoy watching him play a bit more. Nothing against Harden who is amazing as well, but at times, the ball sticks and that isn't always fun. Plus, I feel like we haven't yet seen a finished Giannis. 122. Would you rather have Giannis Antetokounpo with no driving ability or James Harden with no Three-Point shooting ability?  This is definitely a weird and unique one, but I'll take Harden. Giannis without his strength doesn't offer much. However, if Harden's d...

The Pondering 10 - Yankees All-Decade Team for 2010s

I thought I would stay away from the "all-decade" shenanigans, but I got suckered in after all. Around here, end of year rankings, reviews, and reflections rule, so why not compose a list that embodies it all? And why not put together a list around my beloved Yankees? Especially in a decade in which they DID NOT win the World Series. Gasp! With all of that said, please see below not only my list of the Yankees All-Decade Team (because everyone can filter by position), but also by importance and contribution throughout the decade.

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 9/13/26

The Sunday Sundown Rundown (formerly in the format of "3 Up and 3 Down") is where I share thoughts on three topics that piqued my interest, along with my favorite photo from the week. 25th Anniversary of 9/11 It is sort of hard to imagine that it has been twenty-five years since that awful day. It's been fifteen years since I've shared my experience as a High Schooler in Brooklyn, NY , and everything that came with that day (and the many to follow afterwards).  The world changed, and to this day, it still feels hard to grasp what happened (and what transpired with the health of so many afterwards). The lives lost, and the damage done. My son learned about 9/11, and his questions around it ignite some of that struggle with thought around it.  Daddy, how did they get the planes?  Did the building just, like, fall over?  On this 25th anniversary, it is even more concerning to see how the day is also politicized and sometimes weaponized in culture wars. I remember Americ...