MY UNCLE, MY FRIEND

Since I was two years old, when I began to watch and love Duke University basketball, I have had a love of sports. I turned 21 on Feb. 1, and I still love to watch and play basketball, soccer, golf and many other sports. Throughout my sports career as a little boy, in high school and now in college, I have had an opportunity to meet many great coaches and lifelong friends. My coaches deserve a great deal of credit in my growth, but the person who has had a big influence on me and been a very strong supporter is my Uncle Bobby Dicks.

Uncle Bobby lives in San Francisco, yet he has been behind me regarding sports as long as I can remember. He was the one who suggested to my parents that they get me a regulation-sized, 10-foot basketball hoop when I was only four years old. He taught me how to play golf and even got me my first set of clubs as a Christmas present when I was 10.

The reason that my Uncle Bobby has been such a huge influence on my sporting career is because whenever I saw him, he always would play basketball with me. No matter how young I was, he would always win. But, being such a competitive person that I am, I would always want more and kept trying and did not give up. He also helped me with my shooting and taught me little tricks that added to my game.

Although Uncle Bobby lives 3,000 miles away, he is always someone I know I can go to for help in any situation. He has been a very good role model for me, not only in sports, but also life in general. He did not get married until he was 44 and had his children when he was 48, and he truly loves his roles as husband and father. He loves to laugh, run and play with his family, yet always has time for my family as well. For the past two years during my spring break from Radford University, I’ve been fortunate to visit him, my aunt and twin cousins in California. Both years we’ve had hours of playing basketball as well as played golf at two of the toughest courses in the whole country.

My uncle still loves to kid me about Duke basketball and the fact that I am a huge fan. I don’t mind at all because I treasure the moments I get to spend with a man who has an extremely strong faith and belief in God, his family and his country. I love him and am grateful for everything that he has done for me. I count myself lucky to have him as my uncle, my godfather and my friend.

— Stuart Rawlinson

Courtesy of The Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist