It's generational

As I was subbing at the school last week I overheard a conversation concerning the NBA playoffs. The young lads were talking about who they thought was the guy they would have playing on their team. Of course the names are relatable such as LeBron James, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and several others. It mostly comes down to what team an individual likes and the best player from that team is usually the favorite.

I didn't speak up and reveal my true age. I just thought about the great players I saw growing up and wonder how well they would compete against the high priced athletes of today. There were some greats such as Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Bob Cousy, Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. If you wonder who Jerry West is let's just say he is the NBA logo.

In another 10 years there will be another group of all stars and heroes and this group will be forgotten like Michael Jordan has too many. Or Karl Malone, John Stockton, Gary Payton, Jason Kidd, Scottie Pippen, Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird to name a few. Sure we see them doing commercials or on March Madness and NBA telecasts but how many young people would ever know how great these players were 20 – 30 years ago. How many of these youngsters know that the Seattle Supersonics were NBA World Champions with a victory in the fifth game over the Washington Bullets on June 1, 1979. It might as well be ancient history.

The same goes for so many athletes that preceded this particular group of high school athletes. Most of these young athletes would have no idea how good some of these elder statesmen who are now in their 70s and 80s, were when they were playing football, basketball, baseball and track back in the 1950s and 60s. I know that there were a lot of athletes that I wanted to be like in the past whether it was a running back, linebacker or a shooting guard I wanted to be successful because it seemed like they were having fun. And winning was certainly fun.

A friend of mine and I were texting back and forth a few weeks ago and one of the things we talked about winning some big games and how much fun that was. The fans supported their local team and it was certainly a great experience. The one thing I did tell him was that it was too bad the people that we wanted to impress were the athletes we tried to emulate. But most of those folks were away at college or fighting for our country in Vietnam or were in the work force 200 miles away. I don't think any of them knew how much of an impression they made upon us and that the best way to show them was by giving our very best in every game that we played representing RHS, the red and black and being a Bronco.

I was fortunate that a couple of my brothers came to watch my football and basketball games. It was important to know that family would be willing to travel to watch me play ball. My dad didn't miss a game no matter where it was and my mom missed just a few. I think she prayed the whole game that I wouldn't get hurt at every football game and it must have worked because the only injury I suffered was at practice and she wasn't there.

This week there will be the annual RHS/LRHS alumni banquet with class get togethers round town. I hope to see some of those great role models from years ago that helped motivate me to want to do my very best while wearing the Bronco uniform. I just hope I may have helped motivate others that followed our class at RHS.

It's certainly a generational thing when it comes down to who are the great athletes in pro ball today. But when we look at the local kids it is easy to focus on those that wear the Bronco uniform proudly and give it their best each and every day.

- Dale Anderson is a sports columnist from Ritzville. To contact him, email [email protected].