While Ed, Dad, and I were gone the weekend of May 20th to help Uncle Marty move, Coach was scheduled to teach a class in Saint Louis. Reg had an AAU (travel/scout basketball) tournament in Chicago with the 'Prestigious' team, coached by Worm. This is the team that we were begging him to walk away from (remember: he wasn't playing much since they added 4 new players, 3 of whom will get high-level D1 offers).
The week before Texas, my brother, Mike, messaged Coach. A team he knew of had an opportunity/opening. Did Reg want to play for them? This new team plays in a lower bracket than Prestigious. Reg was previously uninterested in playing for a less fabulous team. Have I mentioned that he was drinking the Kool Aid that the Worm-coach was serving?
Reg was tuning into a false narrative in his head. "NO COLLEGES WILL LOOK AT KIDS WHO DON'T PLAY FOR PRESTIGE." Oh, sweet mother. Not true.
Reg REALLY wanted to play in Chicago that weekend, because a number of his Prestige teammates were injured or sick. Reg believed this was his moment to shine, because Worm kept telling him to be ready. He was gonna need him.
New 'Hope' team chatted with Coach and Reg. Guy (otherwise known as the coach, but let's not get overly confusing) explained that in order for Reg to join the team, he'd have to play THAT weekend, in Saint Louis of all places. Can you even?
That remained a sticking point for Reg. He had his heart set on playing with Prestige and didn't want to skip it to play with New Hope in St. Louis.
Me: You can bypass this opportunity with New Hope, but come July (high schools run their summer leagues in June, so AAU teams take June off) we are NOT travelling to Atlanta and staying in a hotel for 5 nights AGAIN. Plus Worm added a tournament in Vegas. We're not attending that either (too far to go for him to only play a few minutes), so consider that.
Coach and Reg met New Hope's Guy, who put Reg through a workout. They chatted afterwards and Reg decided to change teams. Note: I'd mentioned this team to Reg months ago when we were first blindsided by the reality of Prestige's lineup and how it didn't really include Reg. Reg initially said no because there were a few cocky kids on New Hope, who he didn't care for. If there's anything a Shenanigan CANNOT stand, it's a cocky athlete.
Guess which player/s left the team, leaving them with only 6 players? The cocky kids, that's who. BOOM- YA.
The Shenanigans needed this break and it still makes me laugh to think of how it all fell into place. 
Unrelated, but I drove behind this car the other day. Someone enjoys slasher movies. The bumper sticker at the bottom says: I HAVE THE PERFECT BODY, AT HOME IN MY FREEZER. There was a theme happening here and we were very entertained by it.
Me (to Coach): Are you driving to St. Louis or are you flying? *I don't typically track how Coach gets to his teaching gigs. He might tell me, but my brain only manages so much. I cringed while waiting for him to answer.
Coach: I'm renting a car -the company is paying. I'm driving. My hotel is paid for, because I'm teaching. He'll have to Uber to his games because my hotel isn't near the other players, but otherwise it's perfect.
*Coach was able to see one of his four games.
** Mini and I were a little worked up about Reg trying to Uber on his own for the first time. He managed. Do any of you remember the time Uber failed me when I was trying to Uber to court after I'd lost my license for too many speeding tickets in a year (really for me it was too many in a few months)? Now that I've revealed my sordid past, are we still friends?
Reg played a TON. His team won all of their games. He was 100% for 3 pointers, but he only took 4. Coach was bummed he didn't shoot more, but I reminded him - he's been through a confidence depleting ORDEAL between Ego and Worm. Give it time.
If I hadn't been going to Texas, I would've probably hopped in the car and driven to St. Louis with Coach and Reg in order to watch Reg play while Coach was teaching. Tank's best friend's parents live in St. Louis and I would've attempted to wrangle a few drinks with this couple who Coach and I really connect with. That was the only bummer, but in the grand scheme . . . can you believe an opening on a local team, cocky kids left, and the mandatory games were in a city where we were headed. Kismet much?
What situation have you had when all the pieces just fell into place? Ever had an Uber fail? Tune in next time for the phone call to Worm informing him that Reg would no longer be playing for him.
22 comments:
I'm glad things are falling into place, basketball-wise. It's time for some upside there, for sure.
I do believe that the Universe has a plan for us. I have experienced this many times- just when you think things can’t get any worse, the true purpose is revealed. Yay for Reg! So happy it worked out. True kismet.
I haven’t used Uber or Lyft since 2019, but it always stressed me out, even though there were no fails.
Oh I am so happy to hear this! What a confidence booster for Reg! How great that it all worked out like that.
I love when everything just falls together like magic. It's honestly the best feeling.
I have not had an UberFail. Admittedly, I don't use Uber that much, because I have children who are of driving age, and since I pay for their cars, they can find time in their schedule to take me places.
I am very much looking forward to the phone call blog. I hope it was cathartic for you to be able to make that call.
Nance - I agree. I hope that Reg's basketball dreams are realized despite the turmoil with these coaches/teams, so he can look back and feel like it didn't matter that he switched teams.
Pat - It is nice when things click. The Saint Louis tournie was freaky timing. I do think it was time for the universe to step in and set things straight. Hoping he ends up being pleased with the rest of the summer season.
bijoux - I'm glad that I don't have to rely on Uber very often, although I do think it is a super handy service.
Suzanne- Yep. It has to feel great to be playing on a team that fits his ability level. He played that one game and has the month of June to play with his high school league. I'm hopeful that the rest of the season in July will be a good experience for him.
Kara - It really was great how everything clicked. What were the chances that the full of themselves kids left that team too?
Our kids are great at dropping each other off at friends' houses so that they can enjoy the evening without having to deal with driving home. I find kids today are really good at choosing a driver or planning on an Uber together to get home.
The call was interesting. ;)
Yay! Such great news! I'm so happy for Reg!
Also, that car is hilarious!
Nicole - It was crazy how it all fell into place. It helped that my brother is a big Reg fan and he happens to be a connected b-ball guy who used to coach Reg.
We'd never seen anything like that car before. Hee hee.
Yay!!!! So glad everything fell into place!!! It's about time!!
Kismet. Serendipity. A win for Reg, as he deserved a good win!! I love this. I hope things continue to look up for him.
I don't know, sometimes things fall in place, but was I expecting them to NOT fall in place? Who knows!!
I can't with the slasher bumper stickers!! If I had bumper stickers they would be Butterflies, Bees and probably hello Kittty.
Beth - Thanks. Yeah - we are hopeful that the rest of the season with them, which picks up in July, will be a good experience.
Suz - Yeah, it was about time that thing worked out for Reg. I'm anxiously awaiting what the district decides about Ego.
The slasher stickers represented a very devoted collection. What on earth? I'm laughing at the butterfly stickers that would potentially decorate your car.
I do enjoy anyone who can create a theme and stick with it. That car is amazing, and amazingly weird, too.
What situation have you had when all the pieces just fell into place? Once a decade it seems that things fall into place without my nudging, but no more often than that.
Ever had an Uber fail? I have not, but I worry a bit about it happening. Kind of first world angst, really.
Ally - I glanced in the car as we drove by and I believe the driver had a tatoo that resembled nail scratches, as if she'd been attacked by a zombie, perhaps - going up her arm. Theme consistent, for sure.
My Uber fail was gut-pain inducing. That was one time I really couldn't afford to have an Uber fail me. First world angst indeed. ;)
I had to keep reading it again to make sure that I was correct that he would not be playing for The Asshole anymore. GLORY HALLELUIA. Does he still have to have him as a teacher? Can you still get him fired? Or possibly hire a hit man? Okay, never mind. You lost your license for unpaid parking tickets? That is hilarious. If I had six kids I'm not sure if I would have that many unpaid parking tickets, but I would probably run out of gas a lot - I never ran out of gas at all until I had kids, and since then it's happened...more than once.
Yay to good news!
I'm hoping Uber goes away and robot cars take its place. To be honest, that seems safer.
Ally - I'm so late in replying - sorry. So there are two different coaches in Reg's life - one is the high school dude, Ego. The other is his AAU or travel/scout team coach, who I call Worm.
He left Worm's team to play for another travel team because that dude added too many kids to his team and Reg was bench warming. Worm knows b-ball, no doubt - but he owed us a heads up that we were gonna pay out the ass to watch other kids play. So we left.
Ego is a whole other animal. Knows nothing about b-ball and is a bully in the classroom. He's the one we are trying to get fired at the high school. New development there - will share soon.
Also, not unpaid parking tickets, um. . . speeding tickets. I lost my license for speeding tickets. I got two the same weekend while driving in Wisconsin. Apparently it is a well known fact that WI police like to ticket out of state drivers. One of them, I was the slowest car on the road because my GPS device (remember those) was outdated and was telling me to exit where there was no exit, so I was slowing down to figure it out. I was a tad over the speed limit while all the other cars were zipping by me. I got pulled over.
I've run out of gas before too. I agree, something I never did before having kids.
Kari - Robot cars - you might be right. Maybe that is the next big thing. They might be safer, but will they show up when they say they will? That was my issue with Uber - where was this guy who needed to get me to the court house? Panic feelings crop up instantly as soon as I think about it.
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