Mother of Jayhawk hero explains feeling when son hit three-pointer
10:48 p.m. Sunday, April 13, 2008
If you think you were nervous when Mario Chalmers released that 3-point attempt at the end of regulation last Monday night, imagine being Mario's mother. Almarie Chalmers has had more than her fair share of excitement this year, and at that gut-wrenching moment, she found the faith to be confident in her son.
“I've seen that play run before but as it was transitioning and the shot was released, I knew it was going in,” she said. “You could see the release that it was perfectly lined up and you could see that it was a confident moment that he knew that he had to do what he had to do, and he's done it before.”
Almarie says Mario had been practicing for that moment his entire life.
“He's created these moments for himself even when there wasn't a crowd around, when he used to play in the living room and he would be the one taking that winning shot,” she said. “You know, in the backyard, he would be the one taking the winning shot.”
This particular shot, of course, tied the championship game, sending it into overtime. And at the final buzzer, mother and son made a bee-line for each other.
“I didn't see him at first because I was trying to work my way through the crowd because they were trying to get me down, and that moment when we finally embraced he just, it's almost like it was a sigh of relief, this is a safe place that I can just let it all out and just say, "Mom, we did it!" she said.
As for her son's future plans, to stay another year at KU or declare for the NBA draft, Almarie says no decision has been made, but it will be Mario's choice to make.
“We instruct him and guide him as parents should always do, but the ultimate decision is he has to do what he feels is best for himself,” she said.
Like all mothers, Almarie Chalmers just wants her two children to be successful and happy in whatever endeavor they choose.
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