THE TOPICS. State hoops tournament a reminder of youth sports’ purity and unifying nature

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews. com

Think about the purest, most unblemished thing you can imagine. Maybe it’s a baby’s smile and the innocence of a child, or maybe the sweet smell of your favorite food. It can be absolutely anything. For me, that thing is – and always will be –the unifying and cleansing nature of sports. If I wasn’t in school or doing homework as a young child and teenager, I was on a court or field. Playing sports allowed me to take my mind off a fight with a friend, an upcoming test, or anything that was vexing or frustrating me on that particular day or night.

And as I’ve gotten older, that feeling has only intensified. It grows with each high school football, baseball, basketball, and softball game or soccer match that I’ve covered since beginning my journey as a reporter nearly eight years ago. There’s something so unifying, inspiring, and pure about seeing these young men and women competing simply because they love the game – and about the support they receive from the communities that they unite.

Last weekend, I had the privilege and honor of following the Booker T. Washington boys’ basketball team to the Alamodome in San Antonio as they embarked on their first trip to the state tournament as a member of the UIL. And though they would lose in the Class 4A final to Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy, the trip reminded me of something. It took me back to my days as a young athlete, and also to