23

When you mention the number 23 most people think of Michael Jordan, who with little doubt is the greatest athlete to ever don the number. While MJ was fantastic, we have our own 23. Wadell Blackwell. “Del” as he is known by friends and family was so Jordan-like, he was even born on the 23^rd of June. He was every bit a younger (yet a bit shorter) version of MJ.

Wadell and I met in second grade, reaching for the same basketball at recess. He has been my best friend ever since. We were young teenagers when Jordan arrived on the scene, first at North Carolina then in the NBA. Del was a great basketball player, modeling his game after Jordan. I got to play alongside Del for many years, and once even had to play against him (something I wouldn’t recommend). He was nearly always the best player on the court from age seven up into his college years. He would defend the other team’s best player. He would take the big shot. He was never afraid of the moment. On the court he was the most competitive person I’ve ever known (he even had that Jordan stare).

On a typical Saturday in our house, my wife Sharon works on her real estate business and I take our son Brock to the gym. Once we finish there, Brock and I go to lunch, just us boys. Then the afternoon is usually some sort of sporting activity, pool time, grilling out, all with games on the TV in the background. Our little Saturday tradition is always great family time for all of us.

This past Saturday, as Sharon was driving to an open house and Brock and I were pulling into the gym parking lot, the call came. Over the car’s speaker phone, Sharon asked if I was somewhere I could talk. I’ve only heard her use those words in that tone two other times in the 20-plus years we have known each other. Something was wrong. I asked Brock to go inside the gym and wait for me in the lobby. Once he was out of the car, she told me.

Wadell was gone.

My friend of nearly 50 years had passed away suddenly in the early morning hours. His sister, who works with my wife, called Sharon to give her the news. 56 years old with decades of life ahead of him.

Del was the best man in our wedding. He was a trusted brother. I cannot even estimate the amount of time we spent on the basketball court together growing up. As we got older we would play cards together, travel to watch college basketball tournaments, and once I even got him out on the golf course (probably the only thing I was better at than he was). His mother even gave me a nickname around age eight that still sticks to me today. To say we go way back with the Blackwell family would be a gross understatement.

Wadell and I just had lunch together a few weeks ago. Del had recently retired from his second career in university administration after a few years coaching DI college basketball. We were talking about a new business he was developing and how our team at HUG may be able to help. A few days later we had a Zoom call with Kevin on our team on how Del could build out the technology to support his new venture. That was the last time I saw him, on a computer screen.

Since this is so fresh to all of the families involved and the mourning process has just begun, I appreciate those of you that have read this far. While this event has nothing to do with the sports tourism industry, there is a lesson here…..

While we did our best to stay in regular communication, Del and I could have done better. We can all do better. We can all make more time for the special people that have walked with us in the journey of life. Today, pick up the phone and call one of those people in your life. Tell them how much they mean to you. Tomorrow, do it again with someone else. Make the intentional outreach to those that have been in your corner a regular thing. Someday, you may not be able to make that call.

We will close out this week’s Huddle Up on a positive note…..

Over this past summer, Del said something like, “Man, we need to get the guys together, it has been too long.” So we planned a Las Vegas trip to watch our beloved Arizona Wildcats play basketball against Florida. With the help of some industry friends, we lined up hotel rooms and game tickets. Once we sent a note out to all of our old friends and teammates about what we were planning, our phones blew up. 22 people in all have made plans to go on the trip. People we have not seen in decades will be there this November.

What started out as a gathering of old friends will now be a memorial for our brother Wadell. There will surely be some great stories shared, the great games we all played with him, and the many times he showed his big heart as a friend.

Del will be missed. 23 will never be the same.

Have a blessed week.

Yours in Sport,

Jon