So I played some ball tonight. Just a church ball game, but I felt good. I’m not in great shape so I was trying to conserve energy when I could. We lost, I’m not sure by how much. The score board wasn’t working right and they were putting a score up on a chalk board, but you had to be within 5 feet of that to see it because the writing was so small. I tried to be a good sport and give everyone their chance but in the end I guess the gunner in my may have taken over a little. I think as a team we scored in the neighborhood of 45-50-ish points. I didn’t count up the points for the whole team on the score sheet after the game, but I did of course count up my point total. I scored 28 points which included 66% shooting on 3 point shots.
I didn’t keep track of all my misses, but I do know that my field goal percentage was pretty high all around, made me wish I had the legs to push it every time down the court. And this was with the other team focused on my as their main target on defense for most of the game (yes I am impressed with myself, I would like to think all the time spent playing basketball to get as good as I could over the years wasn’t a total waste). It makes me want to get in shape, but not enough to get up in the morning and do anything about it…
I don’t know about those I played with on my team, but I know I had fun and that’s all I’ve ever played for.
Now here’s a little thing, I’m competitive. Not as much as I used to be. But I am and I know I don’t play with the greatest players on earth, but each time I step on a basketball court I believe (whether it’s true or not) that I am the best player on the court. Some nights that changes when I suck and I realize that I’m not that great. But I read a long time ago that athletes engaged in competition, especially elite athletes, have to believe they are better than those around them. Sports are psychological as much as they are physical. If you act like you are better than the person guarding you there is a chance they will read your body language and it will make them play differently. Now that doesn’t mean act like a but head, and really I play as clean as possible and try to be a good sport. There is a difference though in being a good guy and being a pushover. John Stockton was about my height and weighed a few pounds more than me for his whole NBA career, but still he was able to get to the likes of Charles Barkley. With Sir Charles complaining about him setting illegal picks that he couldn’t get through when the Round Mound of Rebound had more than 100 lbs and 5 inches on John. So those are things I have taken to heart, when you step on the court or where ever it is you may be act like you belong and you’re good at what you do. Also don’t let people push you around. You can be a good person, a good sport and have fun. You also may just score 28 point as an out of shape, under six foot white guy who still sometimes falls asleep dreaming about playing ball against the best in the world…
