Sports Shorts

By J H HOLLAND

Powerful Lessons

Sports Shorts is a collection of short stories penned by J. H. Holland, author of Link and DSI: Diddly Squat Investigation. His creative imagination and realistic approach to each sport come from his own experiences. Dr. Holland competed in each of the various sports, and developed an appreciation for the life lessons attributed to the world of athletics. He originally shared these stories with his own children as they were growing up, to encourage them to apply themselves and to find joy in competition. An individuals triumphs are found in the energy it takes to compete, and the rewards are ones personal achievements. It is the authors hope that as you and your family read these stories, you will not only be entertained, but also discover connections with the characters as they come alive on the page.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 30, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477220009

J H HOLLAND

J. H. Holland is a family man, a Doctor of Chiropractic, and a man of God. Through his travels and life’s experiences he has found a unique and profound manner of storytelling. Dr. Holland has enjoyed success in the athletic arena as a high school quarterback on a state championship football team, and lettered in four sports. He has found success in the classroom, earning five college degrees. For the past 25 years, he has achieved success as a business man and as a doctor providing service to the community. Dr. Holland loves people and has an intense desire to teach and inspire through his storytelling and writing.

Book preview

© 2012 J H HOLLAND. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 6/28/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4772-2000-9 (e)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-2001-6 (sc)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012910327

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Jim Ratt

Over the Line Cline

Billy Bob Jenkins

Darling Dimple

Jay Jell-O Lopez

Juan Moore

Juan Moore’s Piano Lesson

Juan Moore Discovers Wimbledon

Grandpa Magillicutty

Dedication

To my beautiful wife, Susan:

Thank you for your love, support, and encouragement. Because of you, and the sacrifices you have made, I have been able to pursue my passion for writing and publishing these stories.

To my wonderful children, Taylor, Britani, McKay, Brayden, and Madison:

Thank you for providing me with the inspiration for these stories. Your enthusiasm and appreciation are what compelled me to have this collection published.

To my editor, Mary Nyeholt:

Thank you for helping me to find the words to best express what I wanted to say. You have helped me, as a writer, to do my best.

To my illustrator, Heather Danielle Sauble:

Thank you for capturing the characters and bringing them to life through your artistic talent.

www.heather-danielle.com

Introduction

Sports Shorts is a collection of short stories designed to entertain the mind, lift the heart, and inspire the soul. Based in the world of sports, each story shares morals and values that empower individuals; allowing them to be successful and accomplished in sports and in life. The author’s hope is that his readers will find the lessons in these stories to be a source of light and inspiration. Written for readers of all ages, the stories are designed to be read many times, with each reading revealing more complex and enlightening messages.

1jimratt.jpg

JIM RATT

Jim was born into a family that loved basketball. His father and grandfather not only were fans of the sport, but also had played competitively. It hardly seemed a coincidence when Jim was born during the National Basketball Association championship series. During the labor and delivery, nobody was surprised to see Jim’s father carrying around a portable television so he could watch the basketball finals. Jim’s father loved to tell and retell the story that Jim’s head was shaped like a basketball when he was born.

Jim was provided with basketball accessories even before he was born. As an infant, a basketball mobile that his father made hung over his crib. Growing up, Jim’s pajamas were adorned with his father’s favorite basketball teams or players. His room was always cluttered with all kinds of basketball toys and memorabilia.

It was no wonder that Jim developed his own love of basketball very early in life. He was able to dribble a basketball before his second birthday, although not very well. By the time Jim was three years old, he could handle a basketball pretty well, and he could perform a number of athletic dunks on his Michael Jordan Little Tykes basketball hoop.

Jim developed his basketball skills with the help of coaches and older boys in the neighborhood, but nobody took more interest in him and gave more support than his father. Jim loved to practice his basketball drills and skills. Every day he would play basketball on the court that his father built when Jim was very young. Jim was signed up practically year-round to play in city leagues and in the National Junior Basketball League. He loved to arrive an hour early and stay an hour after practice and games, just so he could practice on a real hardwood basketball court.

When he reached high school, Jim’s parents requested a district transfer so that he could attend Jefferson High, a renowned basketball school in a neighboring city. He excelled on the varsity basketball team from his freshman year, and went on to receive many awards and honors from the league, city, county, and state. He was expected to be one of the best high school basketball players in the nation during his senior year.

Jim had grown and matured quickly; by his freshman year, he stood 6-foot-5 and weighed 192 pounds. Despite his size, because of the countless hours he had spent practicing, he could move with the grace and smoothness of a much smaller player. Spectators were surprised by Jim’s speed and coordination handling a basketball on the crowded court. At the tender age of sixteen, he could sprint up and down the court dribbling the basketball, always knowing where everyone was on the court. This is something only the best college players can do.

Jim’s father had also been an accomplished basketball player when he was young, but he decided to chase another dream when he went to college. Mr. Ratt became a lawyer and then a local politician. Eventually, he became a state senator. Jim and the senator would play one-on-one basketball late into the night in their back yard. His father always won, but Jim continued to develop his game. He finally beat his father for the first time during the summer after his junior year. Jim scored on a reverse, spinning, fall-away jumper, a game-winning shot that his father taught him when Jim was a small boy. That win in the back yard, without fanfare or spectators, gave Jim more joy and confidence than any other accomplishment or award. The senator congratulated Jim on his victory, and beamed with pride at his son’s abilities.

During the school year, Jim would wake up early and race to school so he could practice in the gymnasium before anyone else arrived. Sometimes other players or coaches showed up to get some early practice in, but usually Jim was practicing alone. Jim ran lines, ran the stairs, dribbled the basketball up and down the court, or just shot from all over the gym. He would bounce the basketball off the rim or backboard, learning the angles at which the ball would be deflected. He recognized that if he could anticipate the angle of the ball after a missed shot, he would increase his chances of getting the rebound. The athlete had a source of unlimited ideas and energy when it came to practicing basketball.

Jim wanted to do more than just shoot,