Tim Cook

Alumnus, Noon Hoops devotee

If I’ve got something bothering me, and I get on the basketball court, when I get off the court I can’t even remember what was bothering me before.

I’m a full-time pastor. My wife and I are church planters and are opening up HUB 214 Coffee House in Hammonds Plains. HUB 214 Church will gather at the same facility. I do have a degree from Dal: a phys-ed degree, graduated in ’87. Started playing lunchtime ball in 1983. Loved it, fell in love with it, played it on a daily basis for decades. I’ve made a lot of friends out of noon-time basketball, including Dr. Herb Gamberg and Dr. Sandy Young. Sandy and Herb started lunch-time ball back in 1970, and I’ve really enjoyed that and made a lot of friends through it.

If I’ve got something bothering me, and I get on the basketball court, when I get off the court I can’t even remember what was bothering me before. It’s an incredible outlet for me. It’s a chance, twice a week at lunchtime ball, just to turn everything off and enjoy playing ball.

Just the fact they make a place for us to play and it’s consistent: it’s there every day, it’s there every year. I can’t remember a time when I’ve gone to lunchtime basketball and there hasn’t been a game. There’s always a game. You can count on it.

I was addicted to basketball in the 1980s: I played seven days a week and could not wait to get on the court. The difference now is that I still can’t wait to get on the court, but I know it’s going to hurt. [laughs] But I still do it, even though I know it’s going to hurt, because I love it so much. The years where I’ve been injured for a few weeks out of the season, it drives me bananas not being out on the court with my friends.

I’ve preached sermons where I’ve used analogies from the basketball court. I’ve had people show up at our church who I’ve met through basketball. And likewise, I would hope that I bring church into every part of my life, including the basketball court.

I still have my Dalplex membership card from 1992, and I’ve got hair in the picture. It means a lot to me to know that it’s there, that I can adjust my weekly schedule and go. Typically, I go Wednesdays and Fridays, and then play at Studley on Sunday nights. Three times a week is what I play now, but if something changes in my life, then it’s good to know I can go play ball any day I want at noon hoops.

← Talia ↑ Home Raghav →