OFF TOPIC....but yet not...

HunterSThompson · Post #1 » by **HunterSThompson** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 5:44 pm

my parents divorced when i was one year old. their were very bitter feelings between them of course, which always put a heavy strain on my relationship with my dad, even as a young boy, my sister is who is 4 years older than me, was thourougly devastated , as she was daddy's girl.

he got married to a woman, who was resentful that he had children from a previous relationship and from then on made it very difficult to maintain a relationship with him, she hated our mother, etc yada yada...

when i could drive, as a teenager i started to make my own relationship with him,i had to, i needed to, wanted to know what this man was all about. he had always loved basketball. his very favorite thing in the world, it stayed with him from then on, his love of basketball, and especially being raised in southern california, the los angeles lakers. especially those cats.

as a rebellious young tween i decided i would hate basketball, because i wanted to hate him for all those reasons that kids from divorces do.

but then i decided at 18, that i would move in with him, this was 1994. and the worm , dennis rodman was coming on to the national scene, and mj would soon start his second three-peat. at the time for a kid who only cared about rock and roll, dennis rodman was the perfect bridge between counter-culture and professional sports.

i used that as a way to build a foundation, we used it as a way, to finally build our relationship into what it became, a great open and honest repoir that spilled into everything worth discussing,

but it always came back to the lakers, and the nba, and oh how great to pick his brain about hersey hawkins, or pistol pete, wilt, kareem(lew), west, the big o, the hated celtics, the fabulous forum..et al.

yesterday, july 19, 2009 i lost him at the age of 55, to a heart attack.

i dont have my laker buddy anymore. he wont grow old knowing my grandkids, or teach my son what he knew about basketball, or anything else.

guys, call yr parents if they are still around, hug yr kids. life is fickle and fleeting.

Magicontinues · Post #2 » by **Magicontinues** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:18 pm

Wow, sorry for your loss. At least you all were tight when he died, and will always have the Lakers in common, among other things, but it sounds like you have some great memories with him.

Post #3 » by **Danny Darko** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:26 pm

I'm sorry to hear that, man.

Thanks for the reminder

HunterSThompson · Post #4 » by **HunterSThompson** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:34 pm

Danny Darko wrote:I'm sorry to hear that, man.

Thanks for the reminder

and that, the reminder, my sentimental words aside, was the point.

hermes · Post #5 » by **hermes** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:40 pm

sorry for your loss man

DubaLakers · Post #6 » by **DubaLakers** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 12:00 am

as well, sorry for your loss.

laduane1 · Post #7 » by **laduane1** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 12:04 am

40 years ago we laned on the moon....go usa.

Rain_Maker · Post #8 » by **Rain_Maker** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 12:45 am

im sorry to hear that

TonyMontana · Post #9 » by **TonyMontana** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 12:50 am

Hey brah, from one Laker brother to another.
May God rest his soul and my deepest condolance go out to you and your family.
But dont ever forget we are a family here and feel free to share your heart out to us whatever it maybe good or bad and thank you for thinking of us to share that with us, you would be amazed at the brotherhood we have on this board and this proves it.

MAMBAEMD · Post #10 » by **MAMBAEMD** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:06 am

Sorry to hear about your loss.
I lost my dad less than a year ago. It has been very tough but getting better.
We also shared our love for the Lakers. I took him to a couple of Laker games the year before he passed and he loved it.
Although in my line of work, I see death frequently, I could never have prepared for the loss of a parent.
I really appreciate the reminder to love your friends and family everyday if you can.

I'm also happy you shared your feelings here on this board. As Tony said, the brotherhood on this board is unbelievable. I shared my devestation with these guys and they were very supportive.
Keep your head up, and may God rest his soul.

MAMBAEMD · Post #11 » by **MAMBAEMD** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:09 am

By the way, I think your father was very proud of his son.

Laker_Love · Post #12 » by **Laker_Love** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:46 am

Hey brah, from one Laker brother to another.
May God rest his soul and my deepest condolance go out to you and your family.
But dont ever forget we are a family here and feel free to share your heart out to us whatever it maybe good or bad and thank you for thinking of us to share that with us, you would be amazed at the brotherhood we have on this board and this proves it.

i second this. thank you and may God bless his soul.

Minhee · Post #13 » by **Minhee** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 7:12 am

Sorry for your loss

, but I'm sure he was proud to call you his son. I pray that you will get through this difficult time.

Desiderium · Post #14 » by **Desiderium** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 7:17 am

sorry for your loss. keep ya head up mate. im sure your dad wouldn't want u crying.

Post #15 » by **semi-sentient** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 1:51 pm

Danny Darko wrote:I'm sorry to hear that, man.

Thanks for the reminder