I started as an immature young boy with a powerful, enthusiastic love of sports and a persistent, unrelenting dream to be successful. This passion constituted every active, conscious moment, and the dream consumed peaceful, subconscious hours. Both reinforced I could be the very best version of me, but I wasn't aware of the conveyance of how to get there.

My mind continually focused on dribbling, shooting, cutting, and driving to the bucket. The rhythm of basketball surged through my veins, but learning the basics of an education were the farthest from my thoughts. During my youth, there was a very fine line between being a leader and someone who was being chased!

I was a leader with raw athletic ability and profited from a robust social life, but I was chased by the inability to read and progress academically. In my case, it was confusing what were priorities and considered important. Both of my parents sacrificed their youth, where they were counted on for providing financial support-that cost them a high school education. My choices were ass backwards, and parental advise was nowhere to be found.

My order of importance were athletics, social life (with no concern for consequences), and school. The rigor of the classroom was not an easy task to achieve, but without meeting eligibility standards, basketball could not happen.

Basketball became the carriage that afforded me the acceptance needed for most arenas. However, exceling in sports did not have any bearing on learning how to read! The lack of knowing how to read culminated into being classified as "Not Recommended for College" stamped on my high school transcript. The lack of reading skills grew into an ordeal that almost cost me my redemptive, successful life.

Maturity is the key in growing up, and for those that are a bit late will pay the price in one way or another.

These adventures began in Brooklyn, New York, from the horse-led-carousels of Coney Island to the "Broncs" of South Texas. Life is not a lay-up when it comes to balancing education and athletics.

It has taken me five years to write these adventures, with the hope of motivating anyone that also matured late in life. Winning can be achieved, but not without the help of others—especially those who feel your pain!

The stories that I share are true and factual, and often told, colorful and humorous, to say the least! Despite my circumstances and lack of maturity, I am truly blessed throughout my schooling from teachers, school Janitors, NYC Police Officers (PAL), and others (in one way or another) stepping up to the challenge of assisting me and coming to my aid.

"God only knows" why intervention of my struggles played out and parlayed into a productive life through a "little piss-ant game of basketball!"