Last Castro Report

[Corso]

Entry 4: March 8, 2005

Hello everybody. This is Eric Castro with the final chapter of the Castro Report. It's been a long road, but you guys have stuck with me and laughed about my racoon problem, cooties, and the great apartment flood. I'm glad my hardships cause you guys so much happiness. Just kidding, I laugh about the stuff that happens to me just as much as you guys do. I have to admit, a lot of funny stuff has happened to me over the years. I've just been blessed the last two years to have an outlet where I can relate all of this funny stuff to the general public.

All in all, my college experience has been a good one. Although I have to admit, the first year was pretty hard. Homesickness almost drove me to go back home; and I did, every weekend that I got a chance. I probably put 50,000 miles on my car that year alone driving to and from Oklahoma City. I'm just glad that I had, and still have, a roomate like Patrick Simpson that could make me laugh and forget all about home.

Well the date today is March 8th, and we played in our last home game just three days ago. It was great to see almost 6000 people in attendence; that's the most since Moody was sold out my freshman year when we played Texas Tech I think. I still remember the first "game" I played in at Moody. It was against the Lithuanian team in an exhibition game. The first time I touched the ball I threw it straight at the ref who luckily dodged it and it went out of bounds. What had happened was that I saw him out of the corner of my eye and thought it was a teammate. My actual first shot in that game was a free throw that go stuck between the rim and the backboard. Now usually you see that happen when a shot is taken from the side at an angle to the goal, not when it's a straight shot at the goal as a free throw is. I can honestly say that is the first time that I have ever seen that happen to anybody, and I wander what the chances are. It's probably something like 500,000 to one, so I think I should have won some money or something for my accomplishment.

It's funny, I've never really had a lot of luck with free throws. My first real free throw ever in a game took place in fourth grade in a church league. As little kids we always shot our free throws from well inside the real freethrow line, so this was the first time that I had shot one from the real line. Well, let's just say that it was an airball, but not the one you are thinking about. Instead of being short, the shot was too long, like over the backboard long. Everybody in the gym started laughing like crazy, thinking that I must have done it on purpose or something. Well, I actually shot the ball over the backboard with the sincere goal of making the shot. I just thought that I needed a little extra push to get it that far.

In conclusion, I would like to thank everybody that has touched my life these past four years. Whether it be the fans, coaches, teachers, or even the racoons inhabiting my apartment ceiling, you are all appreciated. Hopefully I have provided you guys with as much entertainment as you have given me. My tenure at SMU is almost done, so now I am going to relax the last month and a half and live as the average college student does. I still have no idea what I am going to do next year, hopefully the right opportunity will present itself somewhere. When it is all said and done, I have enjoyed my time here, but all good things must come to an end. I would like to finish by giving a couple words of advice. A wise old man once told me that everything happens for a reason. No matter how small or big, everything has a purpose for being. So no matter what happens to you or doesn't happen to you, know that it happened for a reason. And don't worry or fret about what you did or didn't do as a result, what you did was the exact thing that you were supposed to. No use feeling bad, just go with the flow and laugh along the way.

[Buddha]

They need to hire him to write after he graduates.
He's obviously a very good player, but he's also a smart, thoughtful, funny guy. These Castro Reports have been fun.

[DiamondM75]

Thanks Eric!

That is all that needs to be said. We will miss you on the court, however, I hope we don't miss you around campus and at the games as a pony alum.

[HorsePower]

My son (who's 6) met Eric at a post-game autograph session, and Eric was as nice as he could be. My son immediately started saying that one day he wants to play "as good as Mr. Castro" and that Eric is his favorite player "for forever." As much as I like watching Eric play, I am much more appreciative of the way he talked to my son and the way he represents my alma mater. I'd take a team full of Eric Castros any day. Good luck in the future, Eric, wherever you end up.

[me@smu]

Thank you Eric for the memories and the way you have represented yourself and SMU.