Young and Hungry: Reading between the lines of children’s books and finding basketball there
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The Grizzlies begin another year of Read To Achieve, the NBA’s league-wide literacy program, and I find advice for the Young and Hungry Grizzlies in the foodie scenes of children’s books
The Memphis Grizzlies kicked off Read To Achieve presented by International Paper this past Monday when OJ Mayo, Hakim Warrick and Rudy Gay visited A.B. Hill Elementary to talk about the importance of reading- and apparently according to the pictures, the importance of learning a new dance that will no doubt replace the Soulja Boy: the Dinosaur Stomp. I’ll be looking for Rudy to flash a couple Stomp moves after throwing down on an alley-oop this season.
A lover of reading myself, I would argue that it is as fundamental to one’s ability to take in and interpret information and be able to communicate back as each of one’s 5 senses. So I’m thrilled that over 13,000 students in 70 elementary schools will be participating. And who can say they didn’t at one point have a fascination with dinosaurs?
Much has been made about the youth and hunger of the new Grizzlies so in keeping with that theme and with the kickoff of Read To Achieve here are food moments from my favorite childhood books. (By the way, I’m kind of surprised that fellow blogger Chris Avisdidn’t beat me to the punch on this theme).
1.Goldilocks and the Three Bears- A story whose subtext reveals a courageous search for that which is “just right.” In this spin, I cast Coach Iavaroni as Goldilocks looking for the right combination of Mike Conley, OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay’s skills. Just for fun, I see Rudy as Papa bear (leader of the team, etc.), Conley as Momma bear (point guard seems like a nurturing position), and OJ as Baby Bear (who you’ll remember had all the “just rights,” OJ may be the best collection of skills. And he’s the newest.)
2.The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien- Trolls have captured the dwarves and are arguing about how they are going to eat them. Until Gandalf tricks the Trolls and they turn to stone. The Grizzlies new frontcourt looks interesting, but I’m concerned that the Trolls on other teams will initially trouble our bigs. We will rely a lot on the quickness, cunning and courage of our perimeter to make other teams’ defenses look like statues.
3.Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein- “Peanut Butter Sandwich” About a king who eats nothing but peanut butter sandwiches and finds one day his mouth stuck shut for 20 years. After prying it open, he asks “who wants peanut butter sandwiches?” A lesson of course on the dangers of overindulgence. We haven’t had a lot of what we want as fans-wins-to indulge upon lately, but I’d gladly overlook the lesson of this story for a few seasons of peanut butter sandwiches.
4.Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown- Bedtime story of a little rabbit. As a little kid, I always cracked up at the line “Goodnight mush” to the bowl of porridge. I have no idea how this relates to the Grizzlies, I just like the line.
Other favorite food moments from your childhood library? Let me know.
Where can I learn the moves to the dinosaur stomp???
I really hope there is something that replaces the Solja Boy. That dance was WACK!! A dinosaur dance might do it. Could you imagine Rudy and Hakim doing the “Dinosaur Stomp” in the player intro’s? CLASSIC!!
Excellent point, —thanks!
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