How to Turn 60
What should you do to celebrate turning 60 years of age? Maybe a black-tie dinner at a fancy restaurant...or, perhaps a mellow round of golf, followed by a reception at the country club?
Not if you're John Tuttle. In the process of hoisting his middle finger at Father Time, the Seattle basketball aficionado gathered a dozen friends in their 30s and 40s and played two solid hours of full-court basketball! Shortly after receiving a bevy of pre-game gifts making light of his milestone, Tuttle showed that his participation was hardly ceremonial: He buried his first three shots of the game, wearing a custom jersey emblazoned with #60 and his 1949 birth year. Throughout the marathon session, which included four 20-minute quarters, Tuttle did what he's been doing for decades -- hitting an array of outside shots, diving on the floor to chase a loose ball, and mixing in a couple of nifty drives to the basket. That his blue team was behind by an NBA-like combined score of 145-132 when the horn sounded mattered nada...both teams sported jerseys similar to Tuttle's, with 'JT 1949' on the fronts.
In true Lard Butt fashion, the teams downed three containers of birthday cupcakes immediately after the game and repaired to a nearby tavern to enjoy celebratory dinner and beers. Tuttle, an early owner of a Lard Butt Athletics hoodie, was customarily modest about the whole affair, laughing and saying only 'Sorry guys...I have no plans to retire!'
Happy birthday, John. Word on the street is that the teams are already plotting a similar run for your 70th!