Griesch's The Word: One Big Thank You

In my second day as a 38-year-old I wanted to thank all of you who wished me happy birthday in person, through Facebook, e-mail, phone call, text message or mental telepathy on Wednesday.

I honestly spent the entire day reading birthday wishes, and unlike a lot of old people like me who start to dread birthdays because the big 4-0 is looming large, I love 'em.

At a relatively young age (13) I realized I could die at any moment. I was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect that had slipped past doctors for my first 12 years, but was detected in a routine physical examination that I had to take to play junior high basketball.

I got the news in the summer while I was playing Pony League baseball, and I can remember being scared to death. I competed in baseball and basketball for four years until my heart enlarged to the point where doctors feared it would literally explode. Instead of having a heart the size of a fist like most normal people, mine was more than double in size, and you could actually see it pushing out on my sternum.

On May 1, 1990, just four days removed from my 17th birthday and two days after I took the ACT test for the first time as a high school junior and the date of my junior prom, and just one day after my mom's 40th birthday, I had open heart surgery.

Those were certainly life-changing days. As all of you know who have faced anything similar, your perspective on things changes pretty quickly. It definitely makes me appreciate things a little more - both little things and big things.

Baseball and basketball were so important to me that I had heart surgery so I could play my junior year of baseball and senior year of basketball. If I would not have had the surgery then, I would have lost all of those games and much more importantly, all of those memories.

Less than four months after heart surgery, I won a state baseball championship with my teammates and best friends. As a senior, I led our high school basketball team in scoring and assists, averaging about 12 points per game more than I did as a junior starting point guard.

I passed on some college scholarship offers in baseball to attend the University of Nebraska on an academic scholarship. That's how I arrived in Lincoln, and I haven't left. That's when my connection with Nebraska women's basketball began - way back in 1991. Playing pickup games with 1993 Wade Trophy winner Karen Jennings at the Campus Rec Center, along with former NU greats Nafeesah Brown (forward) and Meggan Yedsena (point guard) and so many others. I probably played more pickup games and practices head-to-head against Meggan Yedsena than any living person.

As my radio partner Matt Coatney will attest, I have long considered Meggan the greatest true Husker point guard in history, and their really hasn't been anybody close. Nicole Kubik played the point, but she was more of hybrid shooting guard. Nicole was awesome, but I can't consider her a traditional point guard.

That brings me to why yesterday joins the list of one of many of my most appreciated birthdays. Since I love statistics, I'll tell you that I received nearly 500 messages from well-wishers yesterday.

Phone calls from mom and my sister. Facebook messages from distant cousins, college friends, high school classmates and former co-workers. I also got a ton of e-mails and Facebook posts from great Husker fans. Of course, I also got a boatload of happy birthdays from former Huskers across several sports, from soccer All-Americans Jenny Benson, Sharolta Nonen and Kari Uppinghouse, to current Husker professional basketball players like Chelsea Aubry and just about every member of this year's current team and staff and most of the players from the past few years.

Since I love streaks, I'll tell you that my beautiful wife of 15 years, Emily, gave me a birthday card for the 21st consecutive year. She visited me in the hospital just a day after I woke up from being unconscious for three days. We had only been dating for about three months at the time, but I knew when I saw her in the hospital that day that I was going to marry her. We were married on April 20, 1996, in our hometown of Wayne, Neb.

I also received an outstanding card from my children, Hollan, Jackson and Brennan - signed by them. When I remember back to those days in the hospital, you can bet I appreciate every minute with them, even when my two-year-old Brennan has asked me his 90th question in a three-minute span; or my six-year-old Jackson decides its a good time to mock every word I say; or my eight-year-old Hollan decides its a good time to act like she's 16. I've got a birthday card from Hollan every year since 2003, and I love all of them.

But I also had a first yesterday, when my new vote-getter for the best point guard in Nebraska history - Lindsey Moore - and the newest member of a long line of great NU power forwards - Jordan Hooper - brought me cupcakes for my birthday.

They spent an hour being normal, goofy college kids in my office yesterday at Memorial Stadium. Showing me videos of Lindsey's trip to Jordan's home in Alliance, and criticizing me for not being quick enough at answering my text messages. 

Those two eat, sleep and breathe basketball in such a normal way. I love talking about both the game, and stuff around the game with them. It is so easy to see why all of you Husker fans love the way they play and are so excited about watching them grow up on and off the court together over the next two years.

You can believe I am going to appreciate every moment.

Thanks again for the great messages and Go Big Red!

Jeff