Basketball Takes Courage

The book Blood and Basketball, by Janice Greene, helps readers understand who is a real friend and who is not. The author informs readers to not allow family to come between you and your dream. It’s really sad when family members try to come in between you and your future. The book Blood and Basketball is about a guy named Dale, who recently graduated from high school, was the M.V.P of the year and was chosen to play with the Jackson Eagles basketball team. The coaches of the Jackson Eagles believe another player on the team named Will, can be a brother figure to Dale and keep him out of trouble. Unfortunately, Dale’s older brother Bode is going to soon be released from prison and Dale eagerly awaits his return. When Bode was finally released and returned home he walked into a room and immediately focused his attention on Will. Later Bode suggested that he and Dale go to a party, but Will warned that they shouldn’t stay too late because they both have practice in the morning. Bode felt threatened so he pulled out a pocket knife on Will, threatening Will back; soon after Bode and Dale left. I know Dale only left with Bode because Bode would always bring up the, “family first” and “you can only trust blood” speech. Because of Bode, the next morning Dale was late to practice and was suspended for being late. However, Dale did not realize Bode was partly to blame for causing him to be late. Two weeks passed and Dale finally realized that Bode was going to get him kicked off the team, so Dale approached Bode and told him exactly that. Dale was heartbroken that he had to let his brother go. Dale is better off without Bode because at the end of the season Dale and his teammates went all the way to the finals and won. Also Dale was voted rookie of the year. Two weeks after that Bode was sent back to prison for selling drugs. Dale wrote to Bode many times but Bode never wrote back. It breaks my heart to see, hear or even read about someone that is ruining your future, especially your own family. Bode was just a bad influence on Dale and he almost cost him his future. It was good that Dale stood up to Bode and told him he was a bad influence because if he hadn’t he’d probably be in jail with Bode. So what Dale did took a lot of courage, something a lot of people are scared to do.