Syracuse Basketball: Orange fan’s son turns five, inches closer to SU zeal

Prospective future Syracuse basketball fan Kethan Reddy Adler, my adorable son, turns five years old today, and I can’t believe how the time has flown by since the day that he was born.

Kethan is my treasure. He’s bright, curious, precocious, sweet, sensitive, loving, handsome, kind, caring, silly – the list goes on and on.

Of course, every parent says this about his or her child, but I’m unbelievably proud of Kethan. He primarily lives with his mom, about 700 miles away from me.

It’s certainly a challenge being that far away from Kethan, and only getting to see him every few weeks. But Kethan handles it like a champ, and we are two peas in a pod when we’re together.

Now, my main concern with Kethan is that he isn’t already a Syracuse basketball fanatic, like his dad. I say this in a joking manner, of course.

It’s never too early to share your passion for Syracuse basketball with your children.

Over the years, Kethan and I have watched many, many Orange games together, although at his age, he really doesn’t care all that much about what happens to the ‘Cuse on the court.

Still, I talk to him about legendary head coach Jim Boeheim, the 2003 national-title team, the Carrier Dome, the Boeheim brothers, Carmelo Anthony, my favorite Orange players over the seasons, and how I got to see the ‘Cuse in-person during Elite Eight and Final Four games as part of the 2013 Big Dance.

The best part about all of this is that Kethan is fully aware that my favorite color is Orange – and he talks about it all the time. When we buy new toy cars or play race-car games on my phone, he selects Orange ones quite frequently, and he’s very proud of that fact.

When I ask him why his daddy loves this color, he quickly chimes in, “Syracuse.” It tickles me inside when he says that word, because I’m such a passionate alum of the ‘Cuse, and I adore the Syracuse basketball squad.

It will take a bunch more years before Kethan really gets into Orange hoops games themselves. Case in point, when the ‘Cuse beat San Diego State and West Virginia in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, I certainly watched, but Kethan wasn’t really into it, so we spent more time playing with toys rather than rooting on the Orange every second of each contest.

When he’s much older, I hope that we can go together to a game at the Dome. I hope we can cheer on the ‘Cuse in ACC Tournament and March Madness settings.

I’ll never push Kethan into choosing my alma mater when it’s time for him to go to college. I’d prefer he head somewhere without such brutal winters.

But the Orange, and most specifically Syracuse basketball, will hopefully always serve as something special between Kethan and I. He knows I’m fanatical about the ‘Cuse. Maybe one day he will become a fan, too.

Not yet, though. He’s only five. Happy Birthday, sweet boy, from your proud papa.