Homecourt Advantage

by Rita Ewing

  “Sounds crazy? Casey, it is crazy. That woman is nothin’ but crazy.”

  “Come on, Trina. Don’t be nasty. She’s not crazy; maybe a little pretentious and misguided, but she’s not crazy,” Lorraine said.

  “Listen, Trina,” Casey said soothingly. “I know you’ve been supporting Rick’s career for years, but can’t you just look at this as another way of supporting your man? I know this is a new team for you all, but in New York … well, things are done a little differently up …” Casey realized her mistake too late.

  “Oh yeah, different than how us country folks down in North Carolina do things. That’s right, things are more sophisticated up here, Miss Casey. I’ve supported Rick in every way imaginable, but this is ridiculous.”

  Trina could be so impossible at times.

  “Trina, that’s not what she meant,” Remy finally interjected. “I hate to tell you this, but it is different for the guys playing basketball in the number one market in the country—just like it is for any entertainer working in New York City. They’re under much more intense scrutiny than any other place in the United States. The critics are tougher, the fans are tougher, the pressures are more abundant. It’s endless. And you know who else is included in that invasion? Us. The women behind the bench. I know you all aren’t public figures in your own right, but the media considers you fair game whether you like it or not, even those of us who aren’t even married to the guys,” Remy said, walking toward Trina.

  Casey gave Remy a silent smile of thanks for coming to her rescue. Remy was her girl. Casey had begun to feel as if she was in over her head, and she was glad to have an ally.

  “Look,” Casey said, “I know it may seem stupid on the surface, but think about it. How many times have any one of you gotten into an argument with your man before a game and it ruined his concentration and he ended up having a bad game? I know that’s happened to all of us at some point. And even if the argument was his fault, hell, we’re women, after all. We know we’re really stronger than men when it comes down to it. Is it going to hurt us to hold our tongues just until the play-offs are over? There’s a lot riding on this season.”

  “Casey, that’s a lot to ask someone. It’s not like anyone plans to get into an argument with their man, but things happen, and when they do, who can hold back their feelings? I know it’s almost impossible for me,” Dawn said.

  Dawn, the young fiancée of the hot rookie Michael Brown, had abewildered expression on her face. As Casey looked at her, she knew how bright Dawn was and she was also certain that Dawn admired and trusted her. Since the season had begun, Casey had, in a sense, taken Dawn under her wing. But Casey realized that a few of the wives resented Dawn because she was white and Michael was black. For some, that alone was enough to dislike Dawn. They blamed her for stealing one of their good black men, especially a wealthy one. And as much as Dawn respected Casey, she did not want to misuse this trust by manipulating her. Yet this was for the greater good of the team, wasn’t it?

  “Think of it like this, Dawn. I know you’re doing a psychiatry residency, but you’re gonna have to do a surgery rotation too, right? If you had a big operation scheduled and Michael started an argument with you the night before this surgery, there’d be two ways to look at it. True, he may have had something on his chest that he couldn’t wait to get off, so he decided to tell you exactly how he felt and he goes off on you like there’s no tomorrow, and sure, he has that right. But him cursing you out might also be considered selfish as far as your work is concerned. Sometimes, when you truly love someone and want what’s best for them … it’s not always about being right and getting the winning point across … it’s about being selfless, too, for the greater good of the relationship, not the quick-fix, self-indulgent point you might be trying to prove for the sake of your own ego. You follow me?”

  “Makes sense,” Lorraine said, nodding her head in agreement.

  Casey looked at Trina lying back in her chair; she had her eyes and lips turned up to the intricately plastered ceiling in an “I’m not buying it” expression.

  “So all I’m saying is, maybe we can be a little less selfish during this time and realize how important the play-offs are for the Flyers. Let them have their full sense of concentration. If you wanna curse them out the entire off-season, that’s your prerogative, but in the meantime we really could help them keep their minds on the game.”

  Dawn seemed to be digesting everything Casey was saying to them all.

  “I hear what you’re saying, Casey, and I understand not needing to stress out our men,” Lorraine said, sitting forward and snatching upanother one of Trina’s miniature cakes. “But Alexis wants us to be at all of these games on time. She knows some of us work. I know my job at the hospital is unpredictable sometimes, especially when I get a critical patient in ten minutes before my shift is supposed to be over. She’s gonna have to cut us some slack there. I mean, I’m not about to start missing work, play-offs or not.”

  “Me neither,” Dawn chimed in.

  “Well, neither am I, and I think even Alexis understands that, and if she doesn’t, that’s her problem,” Casey started. “But when we do go to the games, we can at least arrive on time.”

  “Unless we’re running late and we’re coming from work,” Lorraine said with a satisfied smirk.

  “Well, whatever the reason, just make sure you get your butt there whenever you can,” Casey said, glad that the mood had turned lighter even though she knew she had not gotten through to Trina, at least on the conservative-clothing part. As far as the games were concerned, Trina rarely missed them and was always early.

  “I’ll be there like I always am, but I’m gonna be comfortable, that’s for sure.”

  “All right, Trina, but—”

  “Excuse me, ladies.” Martha, Casey’s live-in housekeeper, interrupted Trina. “The doorman just telephoned up and there’s a Kelly Tucker downstairs to see you, Casey.”

  “Kelly?” Casey questioned, turning toward Martha.

  “Yes.”

  “Okay, thanks.”

  How did Kelly know she was having some of the women over?

  “Do you want me to have the doorman send her up?” Martha asked, standing in the library’s doorway.

  “No, thanks. Tell him that I’ll be right down.”

  “Sure.”

  Martha hurried out as Casey stood up and looked around the room suspiciously.

  “Did anyone mention to Kelly that we were getting together?”

  Casey watched as everyone shook their heads no and looked around, staring at one another, confused. All of the women had witnessed Kelly in action at one time or another and they knew what a loose cannon she could be.

  “What’s up with the ‘Tucker’ last name?” Trina demanded. “When’s that girl gonna learn? Didn’t Steve have his new girlfriend at Alexis’s house for the breakfast?”

  “Yeah,” Casey answered. “Her name’s Stephanie. I’ll be right back.” Something had to be up for Kelly to crash in on her like this.

  Riding down in the elevator, Casey hoped Kelly didn’t come over to confront her about being snubbed today. Casey knew that Alexis had not included her in the breakfast at Steve’s request, but Kelly considered Casey her friend. How could she explain not inviting Kelly to her own home?

  As soon as Casey arrived in the lobby, she noticed Kelly and Diamond sitting on one of the guest chairs. Kelly looked uncharacteristically demure as she held her adorable twenty-month-old daughter in her lap.

  “Hey, Kelly.”

  “Hi, Casey! I’m so glad to see you, girl,” Kelly excitedly said, standing up to greet Casey as if she were her long-lost sister.

  “Were you just in the neighborhood or something?” Casey asked after a long, tense silence.

  Casey watched as Kelly cast down her eyes and then quickly looked back up and rubbed Diamond’s small back.

  “Is it possible for us to go upstairs and talk?”

  “Kelly, it’s
not really a good time and—”

  “I understand, I understand,” Kelly quickly said. “And I’m really sorry for just coming over like this, but I need to ask you a favor.”

  “Well, you can ask me right here. Let’s sit down.”

  Kelly followed Casey’s lead and took a seat on the lobby chair across from her and started to speak. She stopped several times before finally uttering a sound other than a sigh.

  “Casey, I know that you know that me and Steve have been having some problems lately.”

  Truthfully, she didn’t think they were still together as a couple to even have any problems. Casey, like everybody else, knew they had a child together, but Steve behaved as if he and Kelly were history.

  “I suppose I’ve heard that.” Casey hesitated.

  “Yeah, we’ve been having some difficulties, but I think we’re gonna be able to work everything out real soon,” Kelly said, playing with one of Diamond’s short braids.

  What was she getting at?

  “I … we, me and Diamond haven’t seen too much of him lately, and I know all we need is to have a little more family time with him. Then we’ll be able to get things back on track. You know what I mean, Casey? Like when you tryin’ to work things out with your man?”

  “Yeah,” Casey said defensively. She wondered just how much Kelly knew about her issues with Brent.

  “Well, that’s what I’m tryin’ to do with Steve. I want us to be a family again. I mean, I am still his fiancée, after all.” The real Kelly peeked out, flamboyantly waving the rock Steve had given her in Casey’s face.

  Casey had no idea what was really going on between the two of them, but she had no interest in playing mediator. All she knew was that Steve had asked Alexis to invite another girl to the breakfast. Someone who was a polar opposite of Kelly.

  “I see,” Casey said, afraid to find out the favor Kelly wanted from her, but her guests were still upstairs and she was anxious for Kelly to get to the point. “Well, what do you want me to do?”

  “You know Diamond is finally old enough to understand what her daddy is doing out there on the basketball court.”

  Casey looked at the little girl, who was under two years old, and very much doubted that she knew what her daddy was doing running up and down the court.

  “And with the way things have been between me and Steve, I don’t know if he’s even gonna invite me to the first play-off game,” Kelly said as she began to sniffle. “This might be Diamond’s only chance to see her daddy in the play-offs.”

  The truth finally came out. Kelly wanted a ticket to the first play-off game, and the closer the seat was to the court, the better. Of course, Casey’s seats were better than any of the other wives’ as Brent was the franchise player for the New York Flyers. Not that any of the other women would have even considered letting Kelly sit with them at the

  Mecca Arena. They’d all seen her act out on numerous occasions. Casey was certain none of them wanted to be bothered and she had to admit to herself, neither did she under the circumstances.

  “So … I was wondering if we could maybe use your tickets.”

  “I’m not sure if Brent is going to need them yet.”

  “I’d only need one, Casey. Diamond could sit on my lap … or yours,” Kelly said as she coyly giggled, completely out of character. “And you know how she loves to be up under you, Casey.”

  Yeah, right. Flattery was obviously Kelly’s tactic for the day.

  “I’ll have to check with Brent,” Casey lied. The seats were really hers to do with as she pleased.

  “Come on, Casey. Doesn’t he get other tickets? Diamond and me will only need one, right next to you. Please, come on, Casey. For the baby’s sake. I just want her to see her daddy play.”

  Casey didn’t know what to do. She knew how resourceful Kelly could be, and she would probably get into the game whether Casey gave her tickets or not. But she’d probably make a scene in the process, while trying to sneak in. At least if Casey let Kelly sit with her, she could monitor her behavior and prevent anything embarrassing for the team from happening. Especially if Kelly came into contact with Stephanie, Steve’s girlfriend.

  “Dada. Daddy,” Diamond suddenly said, with a huge smile on her cute face.

  “No, Daddy’s not here right now, baby. Maybe you’ll see him tomorrow. Hopefully,” Kelly said, hugging Diamond tightly against her silicone-enhanced, protruding bosom.

  Kelly looked at Casey pleadingly with a pathetic expression on her face.

  Casey hoped she didn’t regret what she was about to agree to. “I’ll probably be able to get you one ticket, Kelly, but that’s it.”

  “Ooohh, thank you, Casey! Thank you so much! Diamond, can you say thank you to Auntie Casey?” Kelly said, beaming at her daughter.

  Oh, so free Flyers tickets are the going price for being named an auntie these days?

  “I need to get back upstairs, Kelly.” Casey began thinking once again about her guests. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

  “All right, Casey! Thank you so much, girl. I really appreciate it, and so does Diamond,” Kelly said, jumping up and snatching her Moschino purse over her shoulders. She hitched Diamond up on her hip. “I’ll see you tomorrow, girl. Go, Flyers!”

  Casey shook her head in disbelief as Kelly scurried out of her building. She watched as Kelly virtually tossed Diamond into the backseat of the white Mercedes-Benz double-parked in front of her building on Central Park South.

  What have I gotten myself into this time?

  Chapter 6

  “Boy, you can’t check me.” Paul, the Flyers’ starting point guard, taunted his teammate Collin as he dashed past him, making an easy layup.

  “Yeah, that’s not gonna be what you sayin’ when Eddie Jones throws up those three-pointers over your short ass.” Collin laughed as he walked off the court toward the bleachers to grab a towel. Even at small forward, Collin was one of the taller guys on the court, standing six feet eight inches. Paul, at five eleven, was considered short, at least in basketball terms. Collin was not a great ball handler like Paul. It wasn’t really required in his position, but he could shoot the ball well and defend even better. Paul was a great defender, too, and he distributed the ball as well as any point guard in the NBA. But a great shooter, Paul was not.

  “Hardaway ain’t got nothin’ on me. You had enough ass-whippin’ for one day?” Paul said, running out past the three-point arc and sinking a shot. “Nothing but net, boy!”

  “Let me see that when it counts,” Collin said as he wiped the sweat off his face with the soft white cotton towel.

  “Skills, baby, nothing but skills. I’ll do that with one second left in the final championship game.”

  “The proof is in the pudding—plus we got to make it there first. But I guess we’ll be on our way tonight.” Collin wrapped the towel around his neck and began walking toward the locker room. They were the last two players at practice.

  “Oh, so you’ve had enough? You gonna wimp out on me again?” Paul said, throwing the ball directly at Collin.

  Collin reflexively caught the brown leather sphere that had been so good to him and began tossing it back and forth between his large hands. He felt slightly torn looking at Paul’s expectant face. They’d only been out on the court for fifteen minutes. Normally they’d play one-on-one for at least an hour after practice, and then go to Zinger-man’s Deli and talk trash or politics, depending on their mood. At least that used to be their routine.

  “Man, I’ve got some work to catch up on.”

  “You cuttin’ out on me again?” Paul said as he snatched one of the folded towels resting on the courtside cart.

  “Yeah, you know, business calls,” Collin lied.

  “Sure, man, you just wore out, you know how you old men are.” Paul slapped Collin on the butt as they entered the locker room together.

  Collin and Paul headed straight to the shower. Collin felt terrible being dishonest with his friend, but he didn’t
know how else to handle his situation. What was he supposed to tell Paul? At this point it was more than Collin’s ego that was hurt by Flyers management. His pride was deeply wounded. He was going to be a free agent at the end of the season, and management had not even approached his agent. He was a three-time All-Star and they had so little respect for him that they were making him play out his contract. Collin used to think he was the man. Management’s nonchalant treatment was a rude awakening.

  Collin jumped in the steaming hot shower in a whirl of confusion. The stinging streams of water temporarily cleared his mind. He knewhe couldn’t go on like this forever. Something had to give. There was no telling what was in store for him after the play-offs were over. Truthfully, Collin could be seriously injured playing his ass off during the play-offs and his career would be over. One torn ligament and his basketball days might come to an abrupt end. And Collin still hadn’t gotten that superlarge NBA contract like Paul, Steve, and most of all, Brent.

  “Yo! Yo! Collin!” Paul shouted as he slapped Collin with his wet twisted washcloth.

  “What’s up, man?” Collin said, snapping out of his reverie.

  “You coming to Zingerman’s at least?”

  Collin felt the stinging in his chest where the washcloth had just struck. He hesitated before answering.

  “Uhh, not today, man.” He was beginning to feel worse. Collin could not help but notice the look of disappointment on Paul’s face. It had been almost a month since Collin accompanied Paul to the deli. He was beginning to run out of excuses.

  How could Collin explain to his friend the range of emotions he was feeling? Anger. Confusion. He felt jealousy too. He was feeling resentment that Paul’s life was packaged up so neatly. Everything was settled for him and his wife, Lorraine. Paul was set for life. He had a wife he adored and a strong spiritual base. Things were definitely not so perfect with Collin’s life. Even if he did sign a multimillion-dollar deal, it wouldn’t resolve the other issues.

  Collin turned off the shower faucet and slipped past Paul to his locker. As Collin began to dry off, he sensed a presence behind him.