Ok, let me start off by saying, I played highschool basketball. By no means was I the best player on the team… however, I was fortunate to start most of my career. That was waaaaaay too long ago. And as time has eaten away at my vertical leap, it has also eaten into the amount of time I can set aside to playing ball.
College was the first time in 10 years when I hadn’t been on an “organized” basketball team. I played intramurals and loved doing so, but that is a poor substitution for having strategy, plays, a game plan for your own players strengths, a game plan for the opponents strengths. Practice. These are all things that go out the door during intramurals. Now, some intramural geek will probably comment saying that they were hard-core and had some crazy 1-2-2 press they ran when they made a basket. (These are the same nerds that tape a playbook to their arm for football intramurals). Meeting people, joining organizations, school work, staying up late… all these things got in the way of playing basketball.
Once I graduated college I went into the work-force and had to work two jobs to make sure I could pay rent. I didn’t live in some pimped out palace, my jobs just didn’t pay. So between two jobs and staying out late, and of course, meeting people, basketball suffered. Now I would play an occassional pick-up game or in a rec league, but once again, it pales in comparison to actually playing on an organized team.
That brings me to today. I have an awesome family which I want to spend as much free time with as possible… Jack, my 4 month old son, Jack, just learned how to blow a razzzberry with his mouth. Yes, I’m easily entertained. I also have a job that I love with a great BASKETBALL organization. Funny how things come back into your life. Today I will be playing with some of my fellow teammates here at One Center Court (the home of the Portland Trail Blazers) in a 3-on-3 tournament to benefit Oregon Special Olympics. Great cause and a TON of teams enter. We have over 500 this year! I’ll be playing in the Corporate Challenge against other corporations. I’m not sure if these other teams have practiced… but we did at the Practice Facility and are ready to take it to them. Of course, my hand is bruised, I already have blisters, and I think my left ankle might become dis-attached at any moment, but at least, I get to play basketball.
If I would have know you were playing, I would have put together a team. You would have been assured at least one win.
I hear ya loud and clear. I’ve been playing in a weekly game at UC Village and luckily they don’t pick teams, or I’d be the last one to go on a regular basis. It’s a win if I toss in one or two garbage baskets a game. Thursdays the walk to the coffee machine is especially gingerly.