Story Time!

Every once in a while at TD3Q we invite an older member of the basketball population to recall an experience from their past. Today's edition of Story Time is no different. Last Monday, editors Kim and Lacey were eating brunch at Greggo's Bistro in Temple, TX, as they were driving to South Texas for the South Texas Boogie, when they bumped into local basketball personality Doug Pots. This is his story. (Please keep in mind, Pots is neither a writer nor a spelling champion, but he wears his heart on his sleeve, and he wants what's his. I, for one, hope he gets it.)
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The Brian Skinner Story
by Doug Pots

Growing up in Temple, Texas is fun yall. A lot of people drive on through, looking ahead as if nothing ever happened, as if Temple, Texas is like Belton, Texas, or Nolanville, Texas, or Killeen or something, but they just need to stop once and eat a burger at old Greggo's Bistro to understand yall, we got us a little slice of paradise, right here off of I-35, smack dab in the middle of Texas. You don't believe me? Well then. Ask my best friend, former NBA great, and Temple native, Brian Skinner.

Before the money, the glory, the bleached-blond tipped beard, old Brian Skinner was just a fourteen year old boy living in Temple, Texas. We'd often eat burgers at Greggo's Bistro, which is located near the intersection of 13th Street and Cave Boulder Lane. We'd get into plenty'a hijinx, like sometimes skinning cats. Summertime was our favorite time of the year, our favorite season (other than basketball season that is). Brian was the best high school player I've ever seen. After a few years, my best friend was being recruited to play college ball, and he went to Baylor. I was too old for college at that point. I was 31 years old in 1995. I started cutting out all the clippings that involved Brian and the Baylor Bears, pasted them all in this little crawlspace I have in my room. He was playing just up the toad, at Baylor University, roughly 35 minutes north of good old Temple. His college numbers were good.

We're still very good friends. Brian is playing in Italy now, last I heard. He sure looked funny when he played in Phoenix. I'm an old man now (47 years old). Still eating burgers at Greggo's, still kickin dirt around at the local playground court. I'm behaving better these days. Life's been good to me. I just wish Brian Skinner would come back and we could go fishing again, one last time.
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A note from the editor:
Sorry.