Father Of Terps' Blake Drives Thousands Of Miles to See Son Play
3/28/2002 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 28, 2002
By JAIME HERNANDEZ
Associated Press Writer
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - Richard Blake loves to watch his son play basketball, hates flying, and apparently doesn't mind driving.
Blake has logged thousands of miles following his son, Maryland guard Steve Blake. First, to schools in the Miami area, then to Virginia where his son transferred in his senior year of high school. And for the last three years, to College Park and wherever else the Terps might be playing.
"It's a lot of driving, but you know what's on the other end of it - watching great basketball and watching my son play," he said. "It's awesome."
Blake says he has attended almost all of the Maryland games his son has played in, except when they travel to the West Coast or Hawaii. He considered flying to last year's NCAA West regional, but the ticket was too expensive.
Four years ago, the elder Blake sold his house in Miami Lakes, Fla., and moved into a nearby apartment so he could afford the trips. He said he spends up to $20,000 a year to watch his son.
"I've been going to all of his games since he was 5 years old," Blake said.
This basketball odyssey has put about 150,000 miles on a conversion van Blake bought last year that includes a bed and a television set. He said it takes him about 18 hours to drive from south Florida to College Park, and most of the trips are made alone.
Last weekend, he drove more than 28 hours to Syracuse, N.Y., to watch Maryland advance to the Final Four in Atlanta, getting back to Miami on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he left for Atlanta for this weekend's games.
"I've always been there and (Steve) expects me to be there," Blake said.
Blake said he is reluctant to fly because of a near-miss in 1986, when a company plane he was on crash-landed in the Everglades after both engines failed during a severe thunderstorm.
"I wasn't hurt, but that cured me of flying," Blake said.
Blake is a maintenance director for the Graham Companies, a Miami Lakes-based development firm founded by U.S. Sen. Bob Graham. He has been with the company 27 years and said they graciously give him the time off to watch Steve play.
"They watched Steve grow up and they're very happy for us," he said. "I'm very lucky."
When Blake can't make it to a game, he and some friends throw parties at a restaurant owned by former NFL coach Don Shula.
Several relatives and friends that couldn't get Final Four tickets will be at the restaurant Saturday watching the Maryland-Kansas game, he said.
Blake went to Atlanta with his wife, Cindy, and both of their fathers. He said they planned to return to Miami Lakes next week and "celebrate a Maryland championship," but admitted he was nervous about this weekend.
"I'm a wreck until the game starts," he said.
