Every Kid Deserves One Hero Moment
Bryan Carmel
Co-Founder, Oakland Ballers
I wanted to share something personal.
This Saturday, before our Metal Night game, my 11-year-old son Arlo will walk onto the field with an electric guitar and play the National Anthem.
As a dad, this Saturday means a little more to me than most.
As parents, we spend years helping our kids chase the things they love.
Maybe it's baseball.
Maybe it's guitar.
We drive them to practices after work. Sit through tournaments in the middle of nowhere. Stand in the rain. Celebrate the little improvements nobody else notices.
We do it gladly.
Because that's what parents do.
Every player on our field got here because someone believed in them long before there were crowds.
This Saturday, it just happens to be guitar instead of baseball.
Arlo has been playing since he was five. For the last six years, our house has echoed with For Whom the Bell Tolls, Master of Puppets, and The Unforgiven. This is his thing.
On Saturday, he gets to do something he's dreamed about for more than half his life.
Like any 11-year-old, he's excited.
And he's nervous.
You can't do the hard part for them.
In my case, I definitely can't play the guitar for him. My contribution has mostly been transportation and learning, against my will, that "Dave Mustaine wrote that riff" is fighting words in certain circles.
You can't take away the nerves.
But maybe a community can.
Saturday is Metal Night. Legendary Metallica tribute band Immortallica kicks off the party at our 2:30 p.m. block party before first pitch.
If you're with us, I have one small favor to ask.
When my son walks onto the field carrying a guitar that's almost as big as he is, I hope you'll cheer for him the same way you'd cheer for any kid brave enough to step into the spotlight.
I hope years from now he won't remember whether he played every note perfectly.
I hope he remembers what it felt like to have thousands of people he'd never met cheering him on.
Because every kid deserves one hero moment.
See you Saturday.
— Bryan
