rting right tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai (knee) and wide receiver Dorial Gree | Forum

In October, espnWs weekly essay series will focus on heroes. Sale Nike Basketball Shoes .Even as a high school athlete, my father, Hannibal Ware, was known for his long shooting range. He and his youngest brother, James, were a fearless duo on the court. In Lexington, Kentucky, the two lanky teenagers were known as the Ware boys.In 1968, my father played collegiate hoops at the University of the Virgin Islands. When I was a kid in grade school, he loved telling me stories about those days as a young hoops star. An opponent once yelled out, Dont let the Yankee shoot! according to my father.My father could tell a story better than anyone I have ever met. And to this day, I can still see his lean brown form standing in my grandmothers living room reenacting his winning jump shot.I remember watching him stand behind the 3-point line on our neighborhood basketball court. He made so many baskets in a row, it felt like magic. He loved perfecting his basketball skills.He never made it to the pros, but he imparted his basketball knowledge to my sister, Saneda, and me. Be aggressive when going inside, he told me. Dont play with fear.In high school, I wore a jersey emblazoned with his number -- 14. Maybe, I thought, it would bring me luck. Or maybe I was just proud to wear the same number as a superstar. I was a pretty good player. Like him, I had a consistent jump shot of my own and was one of the star players on the Bryan Station Middle Schools Bearcats. I am very proud that both my father and I were part of teams that won championships for Bryan Station.Even though I chose not to continue my basketball career after middle school, I still feel proud knowing that I shared such an important interest with him. Basketball will always remind me of the special moments that connected us.But in my second year of college, I received a terrible shock. My father was diagnosed with throat cancer. What started off as a tiny bump on his neck gradually grew into a large tumor.My father was stubborn and unwilling to go for a checkup. My grandmother, sister and I watched as he slowly deteriorated. He began to forget little things. He was aware of his decline. I could see the fear on my fathers face at times. It was difficult watching my?hero meet his kryptonite. He spoke as if he would beat cancer, but deep down I believe he knew his fate.During the last stages of his illness, I dropped out of school. The stress of witnessing my fathers illness left me in a dark place. I remember lying to my uncle about still being enrolled at the University of Kentucky. I was too ashamed to say that I had failed.I watched my Dad -- my first love -- wither away in a nursing home. I saw the light fading from his large almond eyes and I knew that he was leaving me. He would stare off into space, listening to R&B. In his last days he seemed to find some peace listening to slow music. I can still see him breathing, gasping for air.My life will forever be changed by these events. I will always have the special moments we shared to bring me joy. His love for his children and basketball taught me compassion and commitment. Eventually, I found the strength to go back to school and graduate with a masters degree in social work.So Daddy, thank you for the wonderful moments we shared. Thank you for your kind heart and your dedication to others. Thank you for being my first love and my first encounter with a real-life superhero.Ebonie Ware is a writer based in Kentucky. She started the blog Ware Im Coming From.?Follow her on Instagram?for?inspirational nuggets.? Clearance Basketball Shoes Australia Online . - Blake Griffin had 30 points and 12 rebounds, J. Cheap Shoes Australia . Nigeria beat surprise package Ethiopia 2-0 in the second leg of their playoff for a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory. Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium. http://www.basketballshoesoutletaustralia.com/ . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles long snapper Jon Dorenbos had surgery on his right wrist and will miss the rest of the season.Dorenbos was one of several players injured in Sundays 27-22 loss to Washington. Running back Wendell Smallwood, offensive lineman Matt Tobin and safety Jaylen Watkins also had significant injuries that could sideline them the final three games.Running back Darren Sproles (concussion), tight end Brent Celek (stinger) and offensive lineman Allen Barbre (hamstring) are expected to return from their injuries.Smallwood has a Grade 2 sprain of his right medial colllateral ligament. Discount Basketball Shoes Australia. . Tobin has the same injury on his left knee. Watkins ruptured a tendon on the fourth finger of his left hand. Hes scheduled for an MRI.The Eagles (5-8) also were missing starting right guard Brandon Brooks (illness), starting right tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai (knee) and wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham (oblique) against the Redskins.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '