Nov 12 2008
Why Didn’t I Excel at Basketball?
Why Didn’t I Excel at Basketball?
Now it may seem like there could be a simple answer here…I am under six feet tall. However, the really answer is somewhat more complicated…as well as embarrassing.
I did play basketball for my school teams in 7th and 8th grade. I was the “sixth” man on the team, which meant that I didn’t start but would be the first substitute into the game and I would play a decent number of minutes. Considering that we played 8-minutes quarters in 7th and 8th grade really means very few minutes at all, but even so, I did manage to completely screw up my career very quickly in 8th grade.
I made a basket for the other team.
Yes. My position was normally at forward, but for some reason, the coach wanted me to bring the ball down the court like I was the point guard. So, after the other team made a basket, the other guard on our team (the “actual” guard), threw the ball in-bounds to me, whereupon I immediately made a jump shot from six feet away…into the the other teams basket!
The crowd was still. My teammates just stood there and “looked” at me. The ref…well, he indicated two points…for the other guys. I looked at the coach. He stared at me for a second or two and then shook his head and turned away.
It wasn’t long before I was back on the bench. Soon or later, I knew, I would have to face the music. The locker room was not a happy place that afternoon.
To add insult to injury, a cheerleader, one of our own, (Jeez, I remember so distinctly, her name was Diane) came around to our bench where I was sitting and told me that if she had legs as skinny and knobby as mine she would never show them and that I ought to wear pants when I played.
After that game my heart wasn’t really into it any more and I spent most of the remaining games on the bench. I can remember the Coach would ASK ME if I wanted to go in, and I only said “yes” when we were playing “away” games so the cheerleaders weren’t with us.
Tomorrow: Why Didn’t I Complain of Age Discrimination?
Yesterday: Why Didn’t I Check My Shoes for Dog Poo?
