I have always enjoyed basketball. (Okay, for a while there one might say I was slightly obsessed, but that was years ago). This winter I get to help coach middle school basketball for a season—they needed someone to cover, and my son is on the team—and I have been trying to be intentional about naming and remembering my “Why”. If I can keep on, or at least close to, the forefront why I commit to something, it helps keep me focused and encouraged, ideally so I can help others feel encouraged.
So why have I always been drawn to basketball? I suppose there is just something about it. When I was a kid first learning the sport, I loved the challenge of building then honing new skills. When watching, I loved the space to not only engage in but to react to a wide range of emotions; I have still since found very few spaces where I get to jump and shout and fret and even cry. When coaching, I love getting to know more about who the other coaches and all of the players are; one of my favorite things is running into or getting a text or call from former players.
Now when I look back on my experiences of playing and watching and coaching, I am grateful for all the lessons I have learned and relationships I have made because of basketball. I have learned so much about myself from reflecting on and writing about being a part of different basketball teams. Sharing stories about my time playing as a kid and into college has given me the opportunity to consider who I was, am, and want to be.
My encouragement is to take some time and think about these questions:
- What are some life experiences that shaped me?
- What are some of my favorite stories to tell?
- What am I passionate about?
- Who are some of the people I got to meet by being part of a group or a team?
- What are lessons I carry with me learned through being part of those groups or teams?
- What do I learn about myself when reflecting back on past experiences?
I would love to hear your answers to these questions, so please connect!
And if you haven’t read my reflections about growing up and playing sports in a small town, please read The Yellow Sports Bra: A True Story of Love, Faith, and Basketball. (If you just contact me directly, I can hook you up with a signed copy.)
I love to hear what memories come up for readers when they hear about my stories!
Praise for Jamie Graham Duprey’s The Yellow Sports Bra
“Jamie’s great storytelling brought back very special memories of growing up in small-town Montana as a coach’s son. All the familiar names and places put a smile on my face. Jamie does an unbelievable job helping us realize how many life lessons we learn from high school athletics, and how much pride and energy sports bring to these communities. Great job, Jamie! I really enjoyed and appreciate this memoir and know others will, too!
—Tim Hauck, Philadelphia Eagles safety coach, former NFL player
“In the great tradition of diaries translated to books, Jamie Graham Duprey’s The Yellow Sports Bra is not only a vicarious thrill for those in love with small-town basketball and small-town life, but also a deep reminder of what these fast-disappearing cultures have to offer the world at large: a sense of community, faith, courage, interdependence, and strength in numbers. You will love it as I did.”
—Philip Aaberg, Grammy- and Emmy-nominated composer
“Duprey’s delightful memoir is a nostalgic look into small-town sports. Her honest, engaging, and often humorous voice takes the reader on a moving, exuberant, lighthearted adolescent journey. Anyone who recalls and cherishes ‘small-town’ life, athletics, love, and friendship should greatly enjoy this book!”
—Alan K. Simpson, former US senator (WY)
“The detailed play-by-play action sent me back in time to my days as Jamie’s coach. The vivid descriptions of the basketball games brought back butterflies, nerves, frustration, intensity, laughter, and triumph. Jamie Duprey depicted a powerful story focused on her love of basketball, her team, and her community. This story will describe to young athletes the importance of work ethic, grit, and teamwork. The pride of small-town sports and small-town living resonates in this amazing story.”
—Linda VanDyke, coach, entrepreneur, fitness instructor
“This book is such a great read. It brings back lots of great memories that I had forgotten about. Jamie tells a real story of the teamwork, identity, character-building, and life experiences shared by thousands of young athletes who have grown up in small-town America, like Chester.”
—Casey FitzSimmons, rancher, former NFL player for the Detroit Lions
“This story will resonate with anyone who played a sport, especially those of us fortunate enough to grow up in a small community. I found myself smiling, nodding, and even cringing as I recalled similar experiences to those artfully described in the book. Thank you, Jamie Duprey, for highlighting the beauty and value of sports, friendships, and life lessons in the context of small-town Montana.”
—Greta Koss, coach, former WNBA player
“Jamie Duprey paints an inspiring picture of small-town pride and commitment toward an ultimate goal of winning a state championship. Whether you grew up in a small town or not, Duprey’s memoir will give you an understanding of what sports means to tight-knit communities and the positive effects they have on them. Her story reminds us that lifelong relationships along the journey are the ultimate prize!”
—Mick Durham, men’s head basketball coach, MSU Billings
“Small-town basketball breeds small-town character. Especially in remote and cold places like the Montana ‘Hi-Line,’ there is no other sport that allows kids to bond as a team, mature as adolescents, compete on a high level, and move on as mature adult leaders. Jamie Duprey’s heartwarming story of life, grief, and victory reminds us all of the treasure of youth sports.”
—Sherry Winn, two-time US Olympian, NCAA coach of the year, CEO/founder of The Winning Leadership Company
“Nothing beats small-town America. A fabulous collection of fun, inspiring, and action-packed stories, Jamie brings to life a dream that was kindled in her heart since the third grade. She truly shows that you can become you own champion and achieve your dreams on your own terms.”
—Duane Martinz, professional speaker, sales trainer, life coach, entrepreneur, and author of Becoming Your Own Champion
“I felt transported back to a time where emotions ran high, life seemed daunting and marvelous all at once, and the biggest concern was what to wear! I laughed, I cried, and I laughed some more. This story offers a glimpse into the quintessential small-town teenage experience. I knew Jamie was a remarkable person when I met her at four years old, and now she has proven to be a remarkable writer as well.”
—Emily Repnak, former Chester Coyote, wife, mother, teacher