MEN'S BASKETBALL 2001-02 SEASONBrian Burke returns for his second season as a journal writer for GoLeopards.com. You can can get insight into the life of Burke as a Lafayette student- athlete through his weekly journals.
Dec. 4, 2001
Brian Burke Bio
Burke's Edition --
Journal Entry No. 2
I want to welcome a new addition into the Burke family. My brother Tom and his wife Barbara had a little girl on Nov. 9. Her name is Mary Grace and she weighed in at 8 lb 4 oz. It is Tom and Barb's third girl (Christina, 6 and Sarah, 4). My parents have one other grandchild. My sister Cathy and her husband Fred have a little girl, Catherine Marie (Catie). She got some ink in a journal back in February.
It is fun being an uncle. I find that the major role I play is that of a playmate. This past summer I showed Christina and Sara the finer points of Whiffle Ball. Yes, they are young, but one is never too young to learn about the greatest game ever invented. We spent time practicing the curveball, screwball, sinker, and riser. I couldn't stress enough to the girls how important a role the wind could play in where a pitch ended up. They didn't seem to care all that much.
Speaking of my family, it was great to see them on Thanksgiving. Rob and I went to my house right after the Penn State game (the day before Thanksgiving). I'm glad I only live an hour away and can get home whenever I want. The comic relief is much needed and a good break from the daily grind of the basketball season. My family doesn't care that I haven't been shooting the ball well so far in the season. That's why it is good to get home during the season. I can just be myself for a little bit, and not worry about being Brian the basketball player.
My mom did a great job once again. I don't know how she does it, but every holiday she seems to step up to the plate. The food was awesome. Every year it seems there are more and more people at the house for Thanksgiving, and my mom always handles it with ease.
The day after Thanksgiving we left for Miami. We went from wearing sweatpants, sweatshirts, and jackets, to wearing shorts and a t-shirt in a matter of hours. Miami weather is something I could get used to. As far as the game, it was good and bad. We were disappointed that we didn't win, but felt good about the way we had played at some points. Playing teams like Miami is good for us in the long run. It lets you know how you stack up against one of the better teams in Division 1. We were competitive and had a chance to win the game in the second half. That's all you can ask.
Even though we are 2-4, the team is still optimistic about the season. We knew it would take time for us to become a well-oiled machine. We are getting there. There are stretches in games where it looks like we have it all figured out, then the next minute it doesn't. It helps that our fans are so supportive. Win or lose they are always there after the games patting our backs and letting us know that they are behind us. I speak for all of our players when I say we appreciate it.
The most important shot for the Burke family in the past week and a half did not come from me. My dad was picked for a promotion at Penn State where he had to make a lay-up, foul shot, three point shot and a half court shot in order to win a brand new Toyota. I was sitting on the bench during a timeout when I heard "Tom Burke from Philadelphia" over the public address system. I peaked from the huddle and saw that it was really him out on the court. I saw the lay-up, but the other shots I couldn't see because teammates were in the way. My only basis for what was happening was how the crowd reacted to each shot. He made the lay-up, the foul shot, and the three. With each shot the crowd got louder and louder. The moan at the end told me that the half court shot did not go in. I did not know how close it had come. Afterwards I found out that he had gotten two attempts at it. The first one was short by a foot or two, and the second one bounced off of the rim. I was a couple of inches from driving around in a new Toyota. Oh well. The funniest part was that the consolation prize was a hat that said Toyota. After coming so close to winning a $20,000 car, the hat that they hand you just seems like a letdown, I don't know.
The basketball part of the journal seems to be the least popular from talking to people. I try not to say stuff that you can just read in the newspaper. My goal is to show you the other side of a basketball player's life. I'll try my best
