“I Want to Dunk”

“Hi, my name is Joel Lava, and I want to dunk.”  That’s how Joel’s quest began, on March 18th, 2007. He was 37 years old, 6’2″ and 200 lbs. (I can relate, minus 2 years and few inches.)

Joel worked hard, trained daily, experimented with different techniques. The guy was committed. He documented every step forward, every step back, and every step in between. He improved his vertical leap, and he almost dunked.

Then Joel’s wife gave birth to their beautiful daughter…and Joel suspended his journey to dunkville.

You gotta love this guy. I think we need a broader platform where we can follow stories like Joel’s. Biggest Loser has us all ready for some raw aspiration like Joel’s. Is there any better antidote to pro athletes doping than the sisyphean struggle of a white guy on a mission to dunk?

Here at work, new shows like The Buried Life give me hope. In the series, which premieres in a few weeks, four guys put off college for a year and set out together in an RV to accomplish the things they want to do before they die. Everytime they get help from a stranger, they’ve got to help someone new accomplish something they’ve always wanted to do.

I don’t know if Joel Lava will ever dunk. But Joel, if you’re reading this between diaper changes, will you try again?