You know what, I saw somethin’ the other day, reminded me of that TJ Ford shorts. You know the basketball player? I seen a picture, this boy, he’s wearin’ these shorts, these basketball shorts. Lord have mercy, them shorts, they were somethin’ else. This was back in, oh, 2003, I reckon. He was a rookie, just startin’ out. Playin’ for the Milwaukee Bucks, that’s the team.
Now, these ain’t your regular shorts. These things was huge! Like, down to his ankles, almost. Baggy, like a big ol’ sack. I swear, you could fit another whole person in there with him. I don’t know who gave him them shorts, but they done did him wrong. Made him look silly, poor thing. TJ Ford shorts were a joke back then, everybody laughin’.
They say it was for some photo shoot, you know, for the new players. They call it a rookie somethin’ or other, where they take all the pictures. And this boy, TJ Ford, he got stuck with these giant purple shorts. Purple, mind you! With the Milwaukee Bucks colors. Looked like he was drownin’ in ’em. And this was 2003, when the shorts were gettin’ longer anyway, but these were extra, extra long.
- He was a rookie.
- The year was 2003.
- TJ Ford shorts were purple.
- They were for the Milwaukee Bucks.
- They were so baggy.
I remember back in my day, shorts was shorts. You know, up above your knee, like they should be. Then that Jordan fella, Michael Jordan, he started wearin’ ’em longer. Said he liked ’em that way. And everyone started copyin’ him, like they do. But even then, they weren’t like these TJ Ford shorts. Those were just somethin’ else. A sight to behold, I tell ya.
They say he wasn’t tryin’ to make a statement, with them big ol’ shorts. Just tryin’ to be a good sport, you know? Didn’t want to cause no trouble, bein’ new and all. Just went along with it. But it sure did make a scene. Everybody talkin’ about TJ Ford and his big ol’ britches. He ended up retired, I think in 2012, after 14 games or somethin’. Said somethin’ about his back, how he could get hurt real easy.
Now, you see these young’uns today, their shorts are gettin’ shorter again. Not like they used to be, but shorter than they were. Makes you wonder what they’ll be wearin’ in another twenty years. Maybe they’ll be back to them tiny little things. Or maybe they’ll be even bigger than TJ Ford shorts! Who knows, these days. Fashion is a funny thing, it is.
I seen a picture the other day, I think it was on that Twitter thing, where they said that it was 15 years since that photo shoot, since TJ Ford shorts were so big. It’s funny how things come back to you, things you ain’t thought about in years. Makes you realize how much time has passed. That boy’s probably all grown up now, with kids of his own. Maybe they’re wearin’ them big ol’ shorts now, who knows?
It’s funny what sticks in your mind. You’d think I’d remember somethin’ important, but no, I remember TJ Ford and his giant purple shorts. I reckon some things just make an impression on ya. And those shorts, well, they sure did that. I tell ya, I ain’t never seen anythin’ like it, before or since. They were truly somethin’ to behold. A real spectacle, them TJ Ford shorts were.
I don’t know why they did him like that. Maybe they ran out of the right size. Maybe it was some kind of joke. Or maybe, like they said, he was just tryin’ to be a good team player. Whatever the reason, it sure did make him stand out. You couldn’t miss him, that’s for sure. Not in them shorts. He was a good player too. Played for a few teams, the Bucks, the Spurs. I don’t recall all of them. But I remember them shorts!
I wonder if he still has them, them TJ Ford shorts. You know, tucked away somewhere, as a reminder. Or maybe he burned ’em! I probably would have. Wouldn’t want to be reminded of that every time I opened my closet. But then again, maybe he thinks it’s funny now. Maybe he laughs about it, like everybody else did. I guess some things are just too big to forget, no matter how hard you try.