How January 15, 2009 Changed My Life

This marked the day when I attended my first live NBA basketball game. The Bulls were playing the Cavaliers. I went to see LeBron, who's from my hometown Akron, and needless to say, one of the top players in the league right now.

Surprisingly, LeBron played poorly that night (I later read he had a cold). But lo and behold, the little rookie by the name of Derrick Rose blew the crowd away and led the Bulls in defeating the Cavs in overtime.

I had always enjoyed basketball but never really followed it intently until after this game. I instantly became a fan.

I started learning more about the game, different teams, players, coaches, etc., and watching a lot of the season games on TV. The more I watched and read about it, the more I loved it.

Now I am a basketball nut. I know more about it than a lot of my male friends (then again, I have some pretty nerdy friends who don't care much for sports). I love discussing it with people, reading opinions, writing about it in my downtime, and learning more every day.

So thank you, Derrick Rose, for singlehandedly both enhancing and ruining my life :) You sparked my love for the game and it brings me immense joy (and pain), but at the same time it's distracting me from my studies.

If only my professor would incorporate basketball in my econometrics course. I'd be all over that.