Look.
I have a sister. She was a collegiate athlete. She received all of the parental and family attention. She attended the same high school I did. Despite being two years younger than me, she was better known. During an 8th graders visit to my school, the tour guide passed me and said "That's ___ Mosby's brother." (I'm not including my sister's name, but you can imagine how insulting that was to a senior.)
So this clip hits home for me. I never lost to my sister on a basketball court (AND NEVER WILL) but this hits home.
I have a sister. She was a collegiate athlete. She received all of the parental and family attention. She attended the same high school I did. Despite being two years younger than me, she was better known. During an 8th graders visit to my school, the tour guide passed me and said "That's ___ Mosby's brother." (I'm not including my sister's name, but you can imagine how insulting that was to a senior.)
So this clip hits home for me. I never lost to my sister on a basketball court (AND NEVER WILL) but this hits home.
Cheryl Miller is probably the greatest female basketball player of all-time. At the very least, she's one of the most important (listen to the blatant sexism during on of her games. "She plays the game better than anyone before her. That's because she plays it like a man!" Holy sexism, Batman!) because of her relationship to Reggie and the fame the Miller name bestowed upon women's basketball.
But man, all that shit aside, it must suck to be Reggie Miller. Let's set aside all the feminism and boundary break-downs and look at life when the Millers were kids. This was the late 70s and early 80s (Reggie was born in 1965). These were pre-teens and teenagers. This was pride before brains were developed and we realized talent trumps all and women and men are equal. This was before all that. This was when casual sexism was totally acceptable (SERIOUSLY HE SAID SHE'S GOOD CAUSE SHE PLAYS LIKE A MAN, THOSE WORDS CAME OUT OF A PROFESSIONAL BROADCASTER'S MOUTH). So, getting regular beat downs from your sister is embarrassing. It's a rosy cheek, slouched posture, burning shame, never tell anyone situation. It's the secret shame boys carry with them. It's the whisper you let die on your lips before you pass from this life into a shallow grave. You never speak of it and no one ever brings it up to you.
Except Reggie Miller. Reggie's shame was broadcast to everyone. He heard it all day, every day. Seriously. Go back and watch that video. Look at his expression when that guy references Cheryl. It's dismay. It's the knowing that you will NEVER escape your sister's all powerful shadow.
And that feeling sucks.
Back in the real world though: kudos to Cheryl for breaking down barriers and props to Reggie for supporting his sister (and having a decent NBA career, or whatever).---CM
But man, all that shit aside, it must suck to be Reggie Miller. Let's set aside all the feminism and boundary break-downs and look at life when the Millers were kids. This was the late 70s and early 80s (Reggie was born in 1965). These were pre-teens and teenagers. This was pride before brains were developed and we realized talent trumps all and women and men are equal. This was before all that. This was when casual sexism was totally acceptable (SERIOUSLY HE SAID SHE'S GOOD CAUSE SHE PLAYS LIKE A MAN, THOSE WORDS CAME OUT OF A PROFESSIONAL BROADCASTER'S MOUTH). So, getting regular beat downs from your sister is embarrassing. It's a rosy cheek, slouched posture, burning shame, never tell anyone situation. It's the secret shame boys carry with them. It's the whisper you let die on your lips before you pass from this life into a shallow grave. You never speak of it and no one ever brings it up to you.
Except Reggie Miller. Reggie's shame was broadcast to everyone. He heard it all day, every day. Seriously. Go back and watch that video. Look at his expression when that guy references Cheryl. It's dismay. It's the knowing that you will NEVER escape your sister's all powerful shadow.
And that feeling sucks.
Back in the real world though: kudos to Cheryl for breaking down barriers and props to Reggie for supporting his sister (and having a decent NBA career, or whatever).---CM