Fielder's Choice

For 21 years, basketball has been a part of the Burlesons' regular routine, particularly in the winter months.

All of our children have laced up the tennis shoes at one time or another ­ Emma, Andy and Erin.

When they were small, Pam and I signed them up. But at a certain age, it was their decision whether to continue playing or not.

As someone who learned to dribble and shoot a basketball as a small child, I wanted them to play. It's long been a sport I love.

Those days of playing basketball outside on a rock driveway, with a goal nailed to a pine tree, are the fondest of memories. Lots of evenings, I was shooting hoops well after dark, by the moonlight.

When I finally got to participate in youth basketball in an organized league, I thought I was in hog heaven. It was the most fun ever. And I quickly thrived on the competition.

I played all the way through high school, plus in adult recreation leagues after that.

Last year I returned to Hamilton, Ala., for a basketball reunion with my high school teammates. It was wonderful.

I am so glad that my children have chosen to participate in sports. They've done great in the classroom, but no doubt, education goes beyond the walls. And athletics teach valuable lessons, too.

Emma, at the junior high level, traded the basketball for a soccer ball. And that was OK with Dad. She picked her favorite sport and excelled at it.

Andy played basketball every year ­ from like kindergarten through 12th grade.

Erin followed Andy's trail.

Pam and I experienced high school "Senior Nights" for Emma and Andy ­ Emma in 2009 and Andy in 2012.

I recall being sad and a few tears forming.

But those "Senior Nights" were nothing like the one we experienced a few weeks ago, when Erin was honored near the conclusion of her final basketball season.

Erin, as you've read about her time and time again, was born three months early, weighing 2 pounds and 6 ounces. She was a fighter from the first minutes of her life.

That fight carried over to the basketball court and soccer field.

She has a lot of athletic ability. But beyond those talents, she gives it 110 percent. She dives on the court for loose basketballs. She takes her licks on the soccer field and keeps on keeping on. She goes down at times and gets right back up. She's aggressive ­ from the start. She cared. And that's what I admired the most.

Erin, at what would have been the start of her junior season, gave up basketball. She had sort of lost interest and really wanted to just focus on soccer. I encouraged her to play, but I wasn't forceful.

A few weeks into the season, she came home and said, "I'm playing basketball again."

The team didn't win a lot of games her junior and senior seasons, but I couldn't be more proud of Erin. She worked hard in practice and played pretty much every minute of every game. She didn't score a lot of points, but she was a hustler ­ always energizing her teammates.

This "Senior Night" was the toughest. Basketball, for the Burlesons, is on hold for a while. But, thank goodness, it has helped mold us. It's a part of our fabric.