Fundamentals

It was one of the best moments of fatherhood so far (and there have been many).

Let me set the stage for you:

I had just settled down with some pretzels and a Flat Tire to see if North Carolina would beat Louisville to keep what's left of my final four intact. After a few minutes of play, our 5-year-old daughter ambled in and climbed up on my lap.

And... ACTION:

"Is K-State playing?"

"No. Sadly the Wildcats won't be playing anymore games this year."

"So who's playing?"

"This is the North Carolina Tarheels verses Louisville."

"Which ones are the good guys."

"Well, there aren't really any good guys left since K-State isn't playing. But I'm hoping North Carolina wins this game."

"Which team is North Carolina?"

"The guys with white shirts are North Carolina. The guys with red shirts are Louisville."

"Which one is winning?"

"Well, North Carolina has 10 points and Louisville has 9 points. So North Carolina is winning by 1 point."

"One point!?"

"Yup. Oooh. There was a foul."

"What is a foul?"

"That's when you break the rules by playing too rough. See, now that guy get to try a free shot and if he makes it he gets another free shot... Now North Carolina is ahead by THREE points."

This is followed by about a minute of quiet as we watch the Tarheels stretch their lead to 14-9.

Then I get this gem of a question:

"Dad, why are those guys brown."

"What are you talking about?" I say.

"Those guys, some of them are brown. You know, like on their skin."

"Oh. Well, they just have a different color of skin. That's all. Like your friend Noah and his little sister."

"Oh. But why is it brown?"

"Well it's just a different color. You know how you have blond hair and I have brown hair? It's like that."

"Oh. Yeah... Daddy?"

"What is it kiddo."

"Can I watch a cartoon?"

End scene.

tagged: family, basketball, North Carolina, Tarheels, Louisville, parenting, sports