(Intended for viewing at the 20th Anniversary celebration of our High School Basketball championship team. I was lucky enough to be point guard of this team (All CIF get at me ;), as well as captain.)
It's hard to believe it was 20 years ago that we were out there, deep in the throes of hoop dreams in San Dimas. Back then, ball seemed like the end all, be all of everything (at least for me), and I was so insulated in that world that I never really took the time to appreciate everything that was happening around me. I had teammates that were like brothers, an actual brother tat sacrificed his teen years and taught me how to play, an entire community full of positive support and encouragement, and a family of diaspora looking for cultural footing in America that couldn't have been prouder that I even had a seat at the table of San Dimas High School basketball, let alone one of importance. And, perhaps at the center of it all, a coach that was like a father...a fire breathing father that would bite our heads off and put em back on again and again. It was a time as memorable as it was impactful, though I honestly didn't let myself feel any of that during those years. Luckily for me, though, my father taped of nearly all my games, starting in 8th grade. That's 5 years! I tell ya I was not the one to be deserving that kind of service, but there he was, sitting high up in the bleachers with his tripod and Hi8mm camcorder, barely ever forgetting to rotate that handle swivel and focus on that 1 square inch screen instead of the game and all that surrounded it. The closer I get to this side of things... the side where I look at these kids with envy at their stupid decisions and spinal integrity...the more I realize that it truly the whole city that made that thing happen, and we were just an end result of a string of sacrifices, support, and care that allowed us to blindly pursue our dreams. I can't say enough how thankful I am to have been part of it, and I hope this video shows that gratitude.
This video is dedicated in loving memory to Mr. Shelby Grundy, our biggest fan, and a father figure to myself and so many others who learned the true meaning of enjoying life, welcoming people into your home, and living with a freedom that allows difference and uniqueness in all its splendor. May there be free lunches and turned up notches for all your eternity, Mr. Grundy.
Special thanks to Mrs. Rita Kear for organizing and giving me the chance to create this, Erik Waage and his students with the amazing sliding shots of the current SDHS, Susan Grundy and Mrs. Marrieta Family for allowing my small tribute for such a great man, Benjamin Thurn, Dorian, Josh Smith for the digital video save of OLD tapes, Ate Cathy for the amazing slow motion shots and the chance to work with and also record your son Nathan, Nathan for learning how to D up so fast, Tedric Williams, Eric Ingram, Richard Ramirez for their clips and helping me find highlights, and of course my dad Antonino "Tony" Malana for making this video possible with his tireless devotion and support to my youthful passion.
It's been a lovely trip down memory lane and as a video editor, a true labor of love in trying to find ways to show what that time and experience meant beyond the game. Enjoy!
This video is dedicated in loving memory to Mr. Shelby Grundy, our biggest fan, and a father figure to myself and so many others who learned the true meaning of enjoying life, welcoming people into your home, and living with a freedom that allows difference and uniqueness in all its splendor. May there be free lunches and turned up notches for all your eternity, Mr. Grundy.
Special thanks to Mrs. Rita Kear for organizing and giving me the chance to create this, Erik Waage and his students with the amazing sliding shots of the current SDHS, Susan Grundy and Mrs. Marrieta Family for allowing my small tribute for such a great man, Benjamin Thurn, Dorian, Josh Smith for the digital video save of OLD tapes, Ate Cathy for the amazing slow motion shots and the chance to work with and also record your son Nathan, Nathan for learning how to D up so fast, Tedric Williams, Eric Ingram, Richard Ramirez for their clips and helping me find highlights, and of course my dad Antonino "Tony" Malana for making this video possible with his tireless devotion and support to my youthful passion.
It's been a lovely trip down memory lane and as a video editor, a true labor of love in trying to find ways to show what that time and experience meant beyond the game. Enjoy!
