From a young age, I really enjoyed professional basketball. To be fair, I enjoyed all sports. However, pro basketball was always one of the top sports in my mind. Something about it drew me in from the start. Maybe it was the flashiness or quick pace of the game; maybe it was the polarizing personalities dominating the pro game like Kobe and LeBron. Neither. It was everything.

Basketball is unique to other sports because of the atmosphere created by the stadium and proximity of the fans to the game. Hockey has a closed small arena as well, but basketball has court side seats where you can literally reach out and touch the player; hockey has the glass for safety, creating a barrier between the fan and the action.

One of the more fast paced games as well, basketball really appeals to the younger viewer. Flashy dunks and high flying players are always entertaining, but what is more appealing is the speed of the game. In other sports such as football or baseball, the actual action feels less than the time spent planning or waiting. In basketball, almost all of the game is live action playing out rather than huddling and planning or waiting for a pitch to be thrown.

My first ever pro basketball game when I was eight years old was in the Palace of Auburn Hills back when they used to have the fire spit from the top of the stanchions. While I was scared of the fire, I was also excited by the loud music, people cheering and the fire in the sky as the players ran out onto the court, huddling up while Rasheed Wallace danced crazily in the middle.

After that, I went to basketball games more frequently than any other sporting event, and it quickly became my “official” favorite sport. One time in the car at about age 11 I announced loudly, “Attention everyone! Basketball is my new favorite sport! As if any of you cared.” Back then I couldn’t explain why, but I know now.

Just recently in November when I saw my favorite team the Celtics for the first time in person, the game came down to the wire. The feeling in the stadium was amazing. The tension was shared by all and when it got down to crunch time with the music blasting and the crowd cheering, it felt homely to me.

Creating a home-like feel is the most important thing to me as a fan, with strategy and the actual game being secondary. I want to feel like I belong. In a basketball stadium more than any, with constant music playing and proximity to the action, it feels like I’m a part of the action like the player or coach is.
Basketball will forever hold a special place in my heart, and there is no changing that. Some may write love letters to spouses, but this Valentine season, my love letters will be directly addressed to basketball.