What better way to say ‘Happy Mother’s Day? then with a free throw contest and dribbling drills?
More than 110 moms in red jerseys and sons in white gathered in the Clarkston Middle School’s gym on May 7 to spend a Friday evening sharpening their basketball skills at the Mother and Son Pistons Basketball Clinic sponsored by Clarkston Community Education.
‘We were looking for something special for moms and sons around Mother’s Day,? Chris Smith, youth enrichment supervisor for Clarkston Community Education, said. ‘The Pistons said they’d do it.?
Lead by Steve Moreland, director of basketball camps and clinics for the Pistons, the ‘recruits? were drilled on everything from speed trials, free throw practice and even the meaning of what it represents to be a Piston.
‘If you’re unselfish, you’re the kind of young man we want on our team,? Moreland told the young players.
Moreland provided the moms and sons with four guiding principles to make as a Piston for those hoping to be on the team’s roster in the future: be on time, be a good listener, do your work and be a good person.
In addition to the motivational lecture on being a good person, Moreland reminded the young men of the important roles their mothers play.
‘Without your moms in your lives, they tend to spin out of control,? Moreland said. ‘When I think back to the person who guided my path, I think of my mom.?
After the pep talks, the trainees hit the court. Moreland had the recruits do laps around the CMS gym while dribbling, in both directions, to get the playing under way.
‘I think I’m better than my mom,? Michael Stile said.
Sue Hickey kept up with her son while doing laps around the gym as a unique way to spend time together.
‘Oh, just an evening with Tommy,? Hickey said about her favorite aspect of the evening.
The evening meant something different to each person who attended.
‘Hearing the coach’s philosophies and teaching us things outside of basketball,? Michelle Christensen said about what she took away from the experience.
The event was so popular that community education had to put a limit on the number of people at the event. The group brings the Pistons out for two different clinics a year for students.
‘This is our first time doing it, but I think we’re going to make it an annual event,? Smith said. ‘Whenever we have the Pistons out here, it’s always successful.?
As if spending time together wasn’t enough, the participants went home with a Pistons poster, Ben Wallace collector card and other Pistons prizes.
When the night was done, both moms and sons took away a whole new approach to shooting hoops.
‘Me and my mom, I think we’re tied,? Matthew Blake said on skills comparisons.