Yesterday, for some unknown reason, I received an email with an alluring offer: “Courtside Seats became available right next to the Warrior’s bench.  Not only do they provide a great view, but you can hear the interaction between players and you are really part of the game!”

I’m not sure how a guy in Arizona could really take advantage of season tickets to Golden State Warriors basketball, but the offer triggered pleasant memories of my first introduction to professional basketball, featuring an earlier version of the Warriors team.  

As a young boy growing up in southern Idaho, we didn’t have television in our home, but at night, our old tube AM radio could tune into faraway stations like KNX in Los Angeles, KSL in Salt Lake City and KNBR in San Francisco. KNBR was home to the San Francisco Warriors, who played in the Cow Palace and featured emerging star Nate Thurmond.  How I loved to listen to the games and imagine the fantastic plays of those talented athletes.

I don’t remember many details about those old games, but seeds sown back then grew into my great love for the game of basketball.  As I watched the Oklahoma City / Memphis 3OT thriller last night, it was great to think back across the years and realize again how much I love the game.