PS3

I was placed on academic probation. During my junior year, I developed a fascination for John Madden football that resulted in a semester GPA of a 2.1. That was the lowest mark for me in any of my eight college semesters. My fixation with the game honestly felt like a drug habit at times.

My moment of clarity occurred one morning as I tried to follow a couple of classmates debating McGeorge Bundy's war strategy during the Vietnam War. In a matter of seconds, I went from taking notes to reading some quarterback's eyes as a linebacker dropping into coverage. It was pretty embarrassing when I woke up suddenly in class with my hands in mid-air as I was going for the interception...

On Christmas Eve in 1988 my parents bought my older brother and I a Nintendo. It was a complete surprise. Within weeks, I was hooked on Super Mario Brothers and The Legend of Zelda. When my brother borrowed Mike Tyson's Punch Out from a friend, it really turned my world upside down. I got so stuck on beating Soda Popinski that my homework didn't matter to me as much anymore. My father took note of my shift in focus and imposed strict rules on when I could indulge in my Ninento craze. I couldn't play after school, or vacation days, until I finished my school work, and the random homework assignments he'd devise for me. As early as the third grade, I had to write response essays to newspaper editorials...

Loco and his mother were very tight. She came to every game and called me regularly to check on his progress.  Loco's mother was one of two African American parents I've dealt with in four years who have attended every single game to support her son.  (Both happened to be women.) Whenever Loco would get out of line, I'd pick up the phone and he'd get the business from her. It was nice to have her in my corner. After a home game one evening, I walked by and caught an exchange between them. Other than my mother I'd never seen a woman make a 19 year old feel so small. Given how tough his mother was, it surprised me that Loco faired so poorly. He failed off the team with an abysmal .67 GPA that season.

Me: I like you a lot, man. I just don't get how you could fail off the team after all we did to keep you eligible.
Loco: Sorry. I tried. I really did. I just lose focus.
Me: So what now?
Loco: I don't know. Guess I gotta get my eligibility back. I wanna take classes here next semester.
Me: I'm not gonna give up on you. You have a good heart. Your mother cares a lot about your success. Do you realize how proud your mom would be to see you get a degree?
Loco: I know. I wanna make my mom proud. Shs's real good to me.
Me: Do your best. That's all you can do, and I know that .67 wasn't your best.
Loco: I know. It wasn't at all. Next semester I'll do better, Coach. I'ma try harder.

For Christmas that year, his mother bought him a PS3.