Reggie Miller made me a believer in 8.9 seconds.

One iconic moment in Madison Square Garden turned me into a lifelong Indiana Pacers fan. But nearly 30 years later, it wasn’t a buzzer-beater that brought me the most joy—it was watching my daughter fall in love with the same game, in her own unexpected way.

In this episode, I share the full-circle story of how basketball became a bridge between generations. From my childhood admiration of Reggie to Rae’s obsession with Victor Oladipo (complete with a stuffed doll and fan art), and now her newfound love for Myles Turner, Tyrese Haliburton and Coach Jenny, this episode is packed with the memories, milestones, and magic moments that make sports so much more than a game.

I talk NBA League Pass rituals, Rae’s hilarious take on “private shots,” our family’s first trip to Indianapolis, and the Sunday morning when she surprised us all by asking to play basketball. Now, I’m not just her dad—I’m her coach.

Whether you're a parent, a sports fan, or someone who knows the joy of sharing your passions with your kids, this one’s for you. It’s a love letter to the Pacers, to fatherhood, and to the slow, beautiful way fandom is passed down—not forced, but found.

Because sometimes the best stories aren’t just about who wins the game… but who’s sitting next to you while you watch it.

Go Pacers!

Read the story here: https://ryanrucker.com/writing/the-year-my-daughter-fell-in-love-with-basketball

Let’s be real—weekends kind of suck sometimes. You work all week, juggle homework, activities, and dinner disasters, and just when you think you’ve earned a break, the Saturday baseball tournament and Sunday birthday party hit. In this episode, I’m diving into the real reason parents feel like they're running a never-ending marathon—and how we can finally start reclaiming our weekends.

I’ll walk you through five practical shifts you can make starting this Saturday: using your PTO without guilt (yes, even if you don’t have big vacation plans), saying no to things you don’t have the bandwidth for, letting yourself be a little "lazy" without the guilt trip, outsourcing tasks like grocery shopping, and even—hear me out—scheduling rest.

There are no trophies for "Best Burnout." It's time to slow down, protect your peace, and build weekends that actually fill your tank instead of draining it. Society may not be built for parents yet, but inside your four walls? You get to set the rules.

If you’re tired of hitting Monday already exhausted, this episode is your permission slip to do weekends differently.

From the article Parents — Reclaim Your Weekend. Here’s How.

On this episode of Courtside Forever, I sat down with Jen Cohen Crompton—a Philly mom, entrepreneur, fitness coach, and host of the Say It In Sports podcast. Jen started her show to amplify stories in youth and women’s sports, and we dove into why that mission matters more than ever.

From committing to fitness as a way to honor her dad to crossing the finish line of an Ironman, Jen’s journey is all about resilience, community, and purpose. We talked about how the pandemic reminded us of the importance of movement, how women fans often connect through the stories behind the game, and why small, consistent changes can lead to big life shifts.

Jen’s also an author—her children’s book encourages kids to get moving and feel included, and she’s a big believer that modeling healthy habits starts at home. We also talked about parenting in sports: the pressure to win, the role of coaches, and why being a good teammate is just as important as scoring points.

Whether you're a parent on the sidelines, a fan in the stands, or someone just trying to move more and live better, Jen’s story is a reminder that sports can teach us way more than just how to play the game—they can teach us how to show up for each other.

Jen's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/say-it-in-sports/id1794616974

Jen's children's book: https://a.co/d/5X4ZCPP

Jen's 90 Day Challenge: https://a.co/d/hrJl4MQ