Keeping the Faith: Nichae Blume finds out about Steph Curry
"Trust, love and care" are words of the wise
By Bob Jones
On Tuesday Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors visited the White House. Bob Jones writes about a special connection Steph Curry and a friend’s grandson.
Nichae Blume has been a good friend for over fifty years. She’s lively, very much up on what’s going on here and around the world, and a hard-working home gardener. She was also a feared poker player in the regular games her husband Mike arranged with other Guerneville notables in days gone by.
Mike Blume was our brilliant, philosophical, classical music loving attorney in these parts. His deep acquaintance with a wide range of human endeavors made him a wonderful fellow to chat with. He and Nichae raised two boys, Thomas and Steven, who are now well on their way to making their mark in life.
Maybe twenty years ago, I had the privilege of conducting the wedding for Thomas and his wife Arcel in their home in Redwood City where they still live. Now, I just learned, their thirteen-year-old son Andrew is much taken with basketball, so they put up a basketball hoop in the driveway, and Andrew spends many hours shooting shots, dribbling the ball, and improving his skills. What better thing for a young lad to do?
One afternoon some weeks ago, Andrew was shooting shots there in the driveway when a shiny black Porsche pulled up in front of the house and a young man with a neat little beard stepped out, walked over to Andrew, and asked if he would like a few tips on shooting a basketball. Yep, it was the Warriors’ sure- shooting guard Steph Curry who lives just a few blocks away in Atherton. Curry is considered the best shooter of a basketball ever to play the game, and it’s hard to imagine there will ever be anyone better.
Andrew was in awe. Curry worked with him for a while and then asked if he had his phone with him. Andrew pulled his phone out of his pocket, and Curry took a selfie of himself with Andrew, said goodbye, got into his car and drove off.
Andrew sent his Grandmother Nichae an email about this gigantic event in his life and attached a copy of the picture. Up to that point, Grandmother Nichae had no idea who Steph Curry is. Well aware of most everything else, she had not been interested in sports. That’s all changed now. Nichae had the photo enlarged and framed, sent a copy to Andrew, and kept one for herself.
Telling us all this on the phone, Nichae said, “Steph Curry must be a really nice fellow.” We enthusiastically agreed.
I recalled the game for the Western Conference Championship I wrote about for Sonoma West Times & News back in 2019. The Warriors were without three of their best players and fell behind by 17 points at the end of the third quarter. Still, they won the game by two points in overtime, and Curry scored 37 that night. A reporter asked him how the Warriors did it, and Curry said, “Trust, love, and care.” He didn’t mention his 37 points. He did acknowledge the sterling contributions of his teammates, but the key to the victory, he said, was “trust, love and care.”
Over the centuries, great spiritual teachers of the world have said a similar thing. Many of them have spoken about life in the way Steph Curry spoke about the Warriors that night. That he would stop and encourage an aspiring young basketball player, take a picture with him, and leave an everlasting memory for him and his family is evidence that Curry practices what he preaches and, yes, that this Warrior is a really nice fellow.
What a sweet story - especially since it’s real, actual. Thanks to Bob Jones for sharing!
Rev. Jones, I remember Mike the way you do although we weren't close. I was just a dumb young hippie and didn't quite appreciate him well enough I think. I do remember though that despite being a dumb Young hippie, I sure appreciated you. I sure hope you're doing well and please give my regards to Mike's wife who may very well remember me. I did visit them at their house once and found them warm and hospitable. This is a great story. I love how it teaches just as well as any of the Great writings of the Glorious teachers who proceeded the eminent Mr Curry.