The news these days is often depressing at worst and frustrating at best. It’s easy to let it get us down. Never fear… The News Blender has you covered. Once a week we feature Something Good and, in return, all you have to do is tell us something good that has happened to you this week, something you are thankful for, a joke, a cute animal story, an inspiring tale of heroics, a Random Act of Kindness… SOMETHING good.
This week’s something good is a basketball hoop.
Anthony Muobike is a Canadian teen who recently moved into an Edmonton neighborhood. He’s constantly dribbling a basketball in his driveway, practicing basketball four hours a day. Having no hoop, he uses branches of a tree as his basket.
When his Edmonton neighbors showed up at his door the 14 year-old thought they were going to complain that his dribbling was disrupting the neighborhood. They were, in fact, not complaining, but surprising an enterprising young man, according to GlobalNews.
Ian Ray, Anthony’s neighbor, has watched the hard working teen trying to play basketball without a net. Ian put out a request to neighbors on Facebook to help Anthony out and noted that when Anthony isn’t in the driveway practicing, he’s walking his dog and taking care of his siblings. He asked if anyone might have an unused hoop they’d be willing to gift Anthony.
The post garnered a lot of attention and Ian soon raised $750. Then Canadian Tire saw the post and donated a new hoop. The donations were used to purchase a gift card from Sport Chek, so Anthony can get additional basketball equipment.
Anthony was stunned when he realized he wasn’t in trouble with his neighbors and that they were rewarding him. He said, “I thought that whenever I dribble it made a racket and people want to sleep or something like that.” He continued, “I did not know that dribbling that ball, practicing at least maybe two or four hours a day, would actually have an influence.”
He was also stunned when LeBron James, Anthony’s hero, saw the story and posted a message of encouragement on social media, saying, “Anthony keep working kid!! You have another fan in me.”
If that wasn’t enough, Royal Crown Academic School in Toronto heard about Anthony’s story and has offered him him a chance to participate in their elite basketball program.
Leticia, Anthony’s mom, is overwhelmed by the kindness shown to her son. “It’s a lot to take in,” she said. “My heart is full of joy. I’m overwhelmed… all I can say is thank you so much. Thank you north Edmonton, thank you Canadian Tire, thank you to Mr. Ray and his family.”
Kindness is always something good, especially when it involves seeing the good in others instead of something to complain about. Now it’s your turn… Tell me something good.
