In August 2006, I was visiting Los Angeles, and had invited some friends over for a swim at my brother’s condominium building in Santa Monica. At some point that day, I noticed my friends Martin and Adam doing laps with a guy I had not yet met. After they swam a few laps together, the new guy came over to the side of the pool where I and my cousins were swimming.

We all started talking and the new guy eventually asked us what we did, and we each told him. Then, one of us asked him what he did, to which he answered, “I play ball.” Someone asked, “For what college?” The guy responded, “Oh, I never went to college. I play professionally.” Continue reading →