“My bad”

The answer was repeated over and over 60 years ago at Brookside Park.

Pickup basketball games were played every day, year-round. When one of us grade school “stars” would mess up (drop a pass, commit a hard foul or accidentally throw an elbow while going for a rebound), he would just tap his chest and say, “My bad.”

It was great. In two words, the offender acknowledged his misdeed, took responsibility for it and apologized to all the players. The game continued. No guilt, no pouting, no vengeance, no hurt feelings.

Wouldn’t it be super, as adults? When we screw up, we can just tap our chest and say, “My bad,” and the day moves along without anyone making a big deal out of some minor blunder.

Let’s toughen up when minor transgressions come our way and celebrate the made layups and three-pointers we’re all shooting for.