“Yessir” I told him. “Straight-off-the-boat-Mexican!”
I had to defend him on the basketball court and I wasn’t looking forward to it. I had noticed earlier that he had a sick handle and an amazing shot from long range. He couldn’t have been taller than 5’6″.
I had just finished lifting weights and was super tight and don’t like being embarrassed. I knew he was going to be a tough little booger to keep in front of me. Oh well! It’s the only way I’m ever going to improve my basketball game.
Let The Game Begin
After I stripped the ball from him the third time, he looked at me and asked, ” Where you from?”
His reaction to my response is pretty typical. I could tell he was respecting my game and my hustle and was dying to know my origin and make a connection.
Each time I stripped him he would congratulate me on playing good defense, which I pride myself on. Even his friends were teasing him because it was obvious, he had the best game of all his buddies.
Up until then he had assumed, I was one of his people.
However, he assumed I was of Middle Eastern descent. (and frankly I may very well be of his descent according to this article and as I have argued for a while with some of my fellow Mejicanos)
He looked shocked and the look in his eyes was pretty interesting. Then he apologized.
I shook his hand and told him not to worry about it. I have come to the point in my life where I accept it and not offended one bit. Why should I be?
“I get mad love from your people all the time” I say. To which he had to let out a laugh. I do though, it wasn’t a joke. 🙂
However, it also has added an element of… what’s the word I’m looking for? An element of suspense and drama. It seems only appropriate since my name is Teevee, eh? More on the specifics of the added drama for another post.
When I was a kid, I would get offended if anyone assumed I was anything other than Mexican. Brown and Proud!
Well, I am still Brown and Proud (I even have the Mexican eagle and snake inked on my rib cage) but not to the point where being offended is an issue.
North Paki, Right?
So, I was improv class a few years back and this guy in the room screams at me: HEY! What part of Pakistan are you from?
Me: I’m not, man. I from Mexico!
Him: Bullshit!
Me: No, seriously.
Him: Bullshit! You have to Paki!
(insert laughter)
Him: Dude! You have to be from North. They’re darker there like you!
(insert more laughter)
And Now Back to My Regular Programming
I told Alex, my new basketball rival, that I am Universal.
He laughed again. And on that he gave me a fist bump and we commenced to kicking each other’s ass on the court.
