MY FAVORITE SPORT : BASKETBALL
My favorite sport is basketball. I love basketball because of the 3-point shots and the awesome dunks. My favorite play is, and will always be Michael Jackson. Basketball is a team sport to teach you that there is no "I" in "team". I enjoy basketball and it encourages me to play. For 20+ years, you've been my favorite athlete of all time, the reason why basketball became my favorite sport, the reason I shoot almost 200 free throws almost every day for 6 years, and the reason I run 5 miles a day in the summer. You never needed me to, but I felt the need to defend your name and honor against anyone who questioned how great or tough you are.
It wasn't just about basketball; it was more than that to me. You were all the things I wanted to be that I felt I didn't have. You had the confidence I never did, the toughness I didn't play with. You could carry a team, and I could barely carry the burdens I'd made and carried. For me, there were glimpses of promise and potential, and for you, there were glimpses of vulnerability or failure. But that was all it was: a glimpse. More than that, a driveway with a goal or an empty gym was the place of solace for me. When I was struggling through depression or anxiety, I found peace in front of a hoop. When I was going through a breakup or had a rough day at school, when someone was talking about me behind my back or when I was just trying to get through another sleepless night; when I missed James Lee or felt like I couldn't do anything else right, I was usually outside imagining myself scoring 81 against the Raptors, or hitting a game winner against the #1 Seeded-Suns in the playoffs, or hitting two free throws after tearing my Achilles' tendon. You inspired me not to quiet, to ignore all the excuses I could've easily used to give up. It didn't always feel graceful or heroic, but I felt stronger for it every time. You've always been my hero (outside of my mom of course) so when you walk off the court tonight, it's going to hurt. I'm going to put on my Mamba face and be glad I got to enjoy watching you play for this long. Thank you, and good luck in your next endeavor.
COMMENT :: way to go!! i really hope you go somewhere in life, because you sound like you're amazing at basketball and i think you could go far! the grammar had a few mistakes but i've fixed them, and i'm honestly impressed with the meaning and the tone your letter sets. i wish you well in the future.