Got Shoes!

Nowadays, basketball shoes light up the court like flashing bulbs on a Christmas tree. Blue shoes, orange shoes, purple, pink, and red shoes. They’re fluorescent, multi-colored, and sometimes even mismatched. On purpose.

Not so back in my day. At Bendle High, basketball players didn’t wear mismatched shoes to express their individuality or fluorescent green to honor the legacy of a departed star or pink to support the fight against cancer. There was only one difference in the mandatory black-and-white Converse All-Stars—the size. It was skill that distinguished players, not shoes.

But in 2018, the NBA abolished color restrictions on shoes. And in the ensuing years, high schools followed suit, bringing a flood of color to the feet of players, including my grandsons.

And I’m glad.

Mostly, with their school being 500 miles away, I watch their games on my computer. It’s been hard—peering through my trifocal lenses to differentiate my grandsons from the other inch-high players.

But last year, Micah took to the court in new shoes. When I lost track of him in a game, all I had to do was watch the floor for neon green.

This year, at the start of his senior season, Micah had news for me—“Got new shoes!”

I’d been hoping he’d wear the green again.

“Not to worry,” he said, pulling the new shoes from their box. “You’ll find me when I wear these.”

And he was right. They’re electric blue.

For Micah’s first game of his last year, I was in Illinois. I had no trouble spotting him life-sized and in person. But even when I got home and booted up my computer, I was set.

He’s got the shoes.

And more, he’s got the skills.