As It Turns Out, Maybe I'm Not Going Pro?

I think a fair number of us sports fans at one time or another envisioned playing for our favorite pro sports team.

We all achieve different levels of success in our sporting careers. Some may have made it even as far as the Division-I college level, others got picked last in our sixth grade P.E. class. The point is, the D-I prospect and the kid who shoots hoops in his street twice a year, still share the same thought.

When am I going pro?

That is the dream in our heads while we play and compete growing up. Then it becomes a question of when.

The funny part is when does the point come where you have to admit to yourself, maybe I’m not going pro?

Some say your 18th birthday. It is clear at that point, because your high school career is over and you are either going somewhere on a scholarship, or you are joining a rec league.

However, for the stubborn non-collegiate athlete, there is still the dream— Maybe I will get discovered! 

Well I am here to admit, that I am rapidly dropping out of the lottery and falling into the late second round.

In 8th grade I was convinced I was going to play in the NBA. Not even a question. My parents gave me undying support, the whole, “you can do anything you put your mind to” speech.

It was all I could talk about, where I would play college ball, where I think I would get drafted, what city I would end up living in depending on who drafted me, where would I get the most playing time, etc.

Drove my parents bonkers. Until eventually my Mom snapped and said, “Dave dear, you’re not 6’8’’ and black.” Actually, I was quite the opposite— I was 5’8’’ and Canadian.

I didn’t let that phase me, never have. However….

David Stern has still not called my name. What gives? I think this is a phenomenon that most of us sports fans have to face.

The tipping point where reality sets in, and we won’t be giving any interviews to Stewart Scott about how we plan to help the Warriors next season, starts to become all too clear.

We have to face the point in our lives when we say to ourselves…

Maybe, I’m not going pro.

However, we’ll have to see how the 2010 draft goes before we jump to any crazy conclusions. I am after all, still in the top five on my best-available board.