This is an old, out-of-focus picture of my boys, Ryan Eckert, at left, and Howie Eckert, at right. And that’s me behind them — the Christmas tree is behind me. Yes they have matching shirts (my daughter Kelly bought them), but when it comes to sports — they disagree on matching up teams.

We have had legendary battles between the Green Bay Packers (Ryan) and San Francisco 49ers (Howie). Howie assured me this Miami Heat versus Oklahoma City Thunder will not reach that proportion. Only because it will all be over pretty quickly — unlike football season which begins in August and ends in January, or is February? They have been watching the NBA Finals together, and it brings back a lot of memories for me. This is the first time they have lived together for a long time, and it’s right here at home.

Hoops has always brought my kids together. They’ve played together and watched one another play since they were tots. They all played in the driveway, in grade school, at MYAA, Lakewood Park, in basketball camps, middle school, high school, and a game still gets going in front of the house on occasion.

If your kids play, enjoy every minute.

Pam Parker, mom of three and stepmom of three,  is an award-winning writer and editor for Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.