Sunscreen smothered his face. His daughter’s too. Red basketball shorts draped over his kneecaps, an untucked, unbuttoned polo on top, his arm around his girl, ready to ball.
Sunny Sandler, my new basketball protégé, and Dad were waiting on their new trainer to begin Lesson #1.
Let’s rewind a little. How does quarantine sound? Awful, I know. What was supposed to be a weeklong vacation with the parents in Nashville gave birth to a four month stay-cation. I hadn’t watched that many episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond in a long, long time.
Spirits were low. Blood-sugar was high. Hollywood was closed. LA was empty. I had nothing and no one drawing me back to the west coast. Until the phone rang.
Enter Mike Fisher. He’s done every sports movie you’ve ever liked— Remember the Titans, Moneyball, The Blind Side. You liked it? Mike made it.
“We’re looking for a ‘Nicole Kornet’ here in Philly. We’re making a basketball movie. Adam Sandler is the star. We shoot next month.”
Hot. Dog.
Fast forward a few months.
The country is still on lock down...and hopes of filming in Philly are looking grim.
The phone rings again. It’s Mike.
“Looks like we’re going to push the basketball scenes off until next summer.”
Poop.
“BUT, I have another job for you in the meantime if you’re up for it...”
(Wait for it)
“Adam Sandler is looking for a basketball trainer for his daughter.”
Say less, Mike.
“Are you interested?”
AM I INTERESTED???
“He has a court at the house.”
Pinch me.
“I’ll give Adam your number. He’ll reach out to you.”
Fast forward.
Adam texted me. The most Adam Sandler sounding text only Adam Sandler would send.
I was at his house that night.
My favorite part about this man is his love for the game. So much so that most of our lessons turn into Adam and me playing 1-on-1. Or 5-5 with Sunny’s friends mid-sleepover. Or 1-1-1 with Adam’s dad-friends in heated games of 21. Yet the best comes when it’s just Adam and me battling it out in the backyard in a 7-game series for our ego’s sake.
For a 53-year-old man with a broken J, that thing is CASH. But let’s be real, so is mine. 😉
There was that one day, though…he beat me.
First to 4 wins. Games to 11. By 1s and 2s.
I destroyed in Game 1.
And Game 2.
Couldn’t buy a basket in Game 3.
Lost again in Game 4.
Found the stroke in Game 5.
Adam with the game winner in Game 6.
BACKED ME DOWN IN THE PAINT AND USED HIS MAN GUT TO OVERPOWER THE GIRL IN GAME 7.
“I had to!!!!” Adam laughed. “You better tell your dad!”
I would call my father after each lesson and explain which way, how badly, and which moves I singlehandedly used to take Adam to the woodshed.
Adam wanted to let my old man know he’s still got it. And he does.
We have a lot of fun. From horse with the security guard, to cheering on Sunny’s 3-point heaves, to jumping in the pool after a hot day, or joining for dinner after a late-night session— the Sandler family is just as advertised, the best in the business.
My time in LA has been hilarious. It’s why I feel as if I could never leave. It truly is the land of opportunity, even in the midst of a pandemic that has sent the city into a nearly year-long shutdown. But what always seems to bring this broken world together is the beauty of sports. Even as a C-list actress.
