Obi Kenobi
During the evenings, we would have the NBA playoffs and finals on the tv. I rarely had the tv on when the kids are around, but my love of basketball cannot be completely tuned out during these times. Sometimes, the games would be so important that I would keep it on even when the kids were getting ready for bed. This year, my kids found their passion to watch basketball with me along we their passion to see my crazy reactions when things happen.
During one particular evening when the New York Knicks were getting clobbered by the San Antonio Spurs, I should have turned off the game. Something about the game still made me watch every minute of this game. I’m not sure if it was my curiosity to watch the Knicks fall into a hole they dug themselves or if it was the Spurs shooting a ridiculous amount of 3s thinking the game was in the bag. I had a feeling that the ending would be worth keeping the game on, so it stayed on.
All of a sudden, an almost 30 point lead dropped to 20, then 10, then it was tied. It was the most stressful and exciting finals game I’ve ever seen. Leading the comeback was someone named OG Anunoby. He was everywhere and making all the plays. My 7 year old daughter E got so excited watching the game with me. My 5 year old son C was sad he had to go to sleep, but he made me promise to tell him what happened. My 2 year old son L couldn’t care less and was playing by himself near us.
Then the game (and the finals) were on the line with the Knicks down 1 with the ball and a few seconds left. I was so nervous and E told me to say Obi Kenobi 20 times for good luck. That’s what she kept hearing on the broadcast, so that’s what she called OG. I gave her a crazed look and didn’t end up saying Obi Kenobi because I was focused on the ball getting inbounded.
Jalen Brunson launched a 3 that bounced off the rim and I thought the Knicks came all the way back from almost down 30 to lose this game by 1. It was heartbreaking…until OG Anunoby came out of nowhere to tap…the…ball…in! It was amazing!
E was so excited and I was shouting Obi Kenobi while hugging her! She was laughing so hard and saying it too! Said it was all her luck and her Obi Kenobi chants! I was so happy the Knicks won, but I was even happier to have that memory with E where she was right! Obi Kenobi was the hero and so was her manufactured luck right at the time the Knicks needed it most! What a memory and I will never doubt a 7 year old asking me to say Obi Kenobi 20 times ever again!
