Bye, bye, bracket. For those who were predicting Gonzaga to take it all, you might have been a little disappointed by the Wichita St. Shockers defeating them. It was an unfitting end for a team that earned their first No. 1 overall ranking in school history just weeks before.
Besides being a top-seeded team, my love for the Zag’s may have something to do with #11, David Stockton. Yes, he is the son of the talented, and athletic, Jazz Basketball player, John Stockton.
I got a little teary-eyed watching John and his wife in the stands, in the very arena John played in, rooting for his son. The sadness that was felt by his family as they watched the Shockers defeat the Zags was felt by those of us who admire him and his family, and of course the Zags.
My adoration for John Stockton goes beyond the basketball court. Yes, I watched him play from 1984 to 2003 with the Utah Jazz. Back in the good ole’ days, TSG had season tickets to the Jazz, which allowed us to get up close and personal with the Jazz.
Besides John’s phenomenal basketball record, he is an amazing family man. We got to spend some time with his family when we were invited to a 40th birthday party of a friend where the Stockton and Hornacek families were present.
It was 2001 when Mike and Mary invited us to his 40th birthday party. Mary, his wife, and my friend, hosted the party. Little did we know, that among the invited guests were the Stockton, and Hornacek families.
Mike was only 8 at the time, but couldn’t have been more impressed. John Stockton was one of his favorite players. Mary grabbed me and said, “You should see the look on Michael’s face.” It was priceless!
My older girls were busy being teenagers and didn’t want to come, so we took the younger 3. Ben had not joined our family yet, but I was contemplating adding one more to our family.
John Stockton’s wife Nada had just had their 6th baby, Samuel. I had a great time holding, and playing with him since, I secretly wanted another little boy myself. When John Stockton realized Mike was my only boy among 4 girls he stated, “Well, you have to have another boy.” I thought that might influence Steve, but it only made him laugh.
Ben was born in 2002, so I guess the joke was on Steve. I tell Ben, that it was John Stockton that persuaded us to have another baby. Not really true, but a good story.
Although we were probably just another face in the crowd to the Stockton’s, they were very memorable to us. Hopefully, for the Stockton family and Gonzaga, next year will have a happier ending for the Zags.
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