Shoelaces for Josie

Basketball=Love

February 13th, 2007

I don’t see how people can’t love this sport. Basketball is amazing. Sure, sure, I know – it’s 10 guys running up and down a court, throwing around an orange ball and trying to get it through a hoop. Pass the biscuits, please. But that’s not how I view basketball. Of course, I am biased. I am in love with it after all and I’ve always been told that love causes one to be blinded. But, really, keep an open mind and hear me out.

I went to watch one of my favorite area high school teams play tonight. Plain and simple, they kick butt. Majorly. They’re undefeated this season, including some match-ups against bigger schools. Tonight, plain and simple, they sucked. Majorly. At the end of the first they were down 21-10 and at the half, they were in a 35-19 hole. More like a canyon with perpendicular sides. By the time the end of third quarter came, they had cut the deficit in half, trailing by 42-35. And the final buzzer? Oh yeah, they won 57-56!

And that’s why I love basketball. Because it’s intense, it’s emotional, it’s a huge adrenaline rush. How can you not love it when you see guys hitting the floor trying to get a loose ball, going for the steal and end sprawled out five rows up in the bleachers, blocked shots, last second buzzer-beaters and painful agonizing misses?

These guys, my guys, they were so excited after they won. This is the first test they’ve had all season. A couple weeks ago, I went to one of their games and they were up 50-14 at halftime. Yeah – a little bit one-sided I’d say. But this time – being snowed under, none of their shots falling – they proved to me that they can come from behind and that they can play four full quarters. I wasn’t sure they could. I was wrong.

That’s what it’s about. Playing with all you’ve got within you. The NBA? Psh – I haven’t much use for it to tell you the truth. It’s a bunch of overgrown sissies who spend more time fighting for a higher salary than for a jump ball. Even at the major college level – it’s still fun but when you get down to the nitty-gritty, the Division II’s and III’s and the good high school teams…that’s where I fell in love and that’s where I’ll stay.

Entry Filed under: sports