The World According To Chris Brewer

Tonight I was doing my routine AT&T business at Wal-Mart on North Kansas Expressway in Springfield. My dinner hour came around 6, so I decided to walk a block down the street to Subway.

On my way there, I saw a large bus with the name “Kentucky Christian University” emblazoned on the side. Seeing as there was a McDonald’s, Subway and Buffalo Wild Wings in the vicinity, it was easy to see a sports team was at one of those fine dining establishments.

Turns out they were at Subway. I opened the door and instantly stood behind twenty or so guys of comparable height to, or taller than, myself. I knew it would be a long wait to order, but I decided to stick it out because I had already walked over. I was standing behind the players and coaches of the Kentucky Christian University men’s basketball team.

I was able to make some conversation with an assistant coach of the team, and their bus driver. They both shared how the team had made it to the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) D-2 Championship Tournament being held this weekend at Central Bible College. They both excitedly shared how they won their quarterfinal-round game last night on a buzzer beating 3-pointer, right after CBC had gone up 72-70 with ten seconds to go.

Seeing the players and coaches’ eyes light up as they recalled their win last night got the overused wheels in my head turning. These guys are part of a small Christian school in the middle of nowhere in BFE Kentucky, and they pay their own meals and transportation costs to travel and play basketball. No scouts looking for who could potentially make it to the NBA. No playing in front of 10,000 people. No players staying one year and bolting for the pros.

They’re playing simply for the love of the game.

Simply hearing the KCU basketball team share the details of their frantic comeback last night made me wish to God I could have been there to see it. I’m sure in person it looked exactly like a SportsCenter highlight-reel play, and yet it will never make it onto national TV.

After a short time, they gathered and left Subway to head back to the gym for practice, and I wished them all well as they left.

“God bless you,” “Thanks for the encouragement,” and “You’ll be in my prayers” were some of the parting words and well-wishes exchanged as they made their way out.

Tonight KCU’s run in the tournament ended with a 64-61 loss to Southwestern Christian University, but I am positive that the seniors and every other member on that team will remember their epic win over Central last night as a milestone in their basketball careers.

Basketball careers, that for all intents and purposes, won’t be continued on a professional path after graduation, but rather, simply for the love of the game.

And how I wish I could have seen those guys play basketball in its purest form.