Print Version
Email this story
Comment
Have ball, will travel ... won't let you call it
For years I have fancied myself something of a basketball player. During college, I would toil away on a concrete outdoor court outhustling and outclassing the legions of frat boys who dared to challenge me. Granted, I have no jump shot, very little height and, by now at least, something of a gut to carry around with me. Nonetheless, as I've joined a couple of weekly games around the Basin in recent months, I've worked to restore myself to the glory of my college days. I thought I was making some progress — the shot was coming back, I was no longer grabbing my shorts and wheezing after just a couple of games and I was starting to find a rhythm and rapport with my fellow hoopsters.
Well, that all came crashing down in a humbling hour and a half stretch on Monday night at Henley Middle School. Playing in a game that has been going on since the late 1960s, I was only a couple months in and finally establishing myself as a decent option. Then, Monday, I played atrociously — missing defensive assignments, throwing up brick after brick and fumbling away easy passes.
All that was merely a prelude to what was in store. In the final game of the night, after partially redeeming myself with a couple of nice plays and some crisp passes to open teammates, I felt the night would not be a total loss. On defense, I stepped in front of a pass and had nothing but hardwood and a hoop in front of me. I steamed downcourt with only one defender blocking my path to an easy lay-in. And better yet, this defender was no taller than 5'6" (I'm at least 6-feet tall) and, to boot, she (yes SHE) was sophomore in high school. This would be a breeze, and it was — FOR HER. As I rose to put the ball in the hoop, she rose with me and swatted my shot harmlessly out of bounds. I say harmlessly in the context of the game, as far as my ego goes, who knows if I'll recover enough to show my face next week.
Well, Basin, there is my story of a hoops junkie turned into to hoops junk. Have any of your own? Be you hero, goat or mere role player, we would love to hear about your adventures on the hardwood. If you play in, or know of, a regular pick-up basketball game please e-mail or call the Herald and News sports staff (sports@heraldandnews.com, or 541-885-4411) so we can include your game in a package we are currently working on.
—Ryan Johnston
Humbled Herald and News copy editor
Well, that all came crashing down in a humbling hour and a half stretch on Monday night at Henley Middle School. Playing in a game that has been going on since the late 1960s, I was only a couple months in and finally establishing myself as a decent option. Then, Monday, I played atrociously — missing defensive assignments, throwing up brick after brick and fumbling away easy passes.
All that was merely a prelude to what was in store. In the final game of the night, after partially redeeming myself with a couple of nice plays and some crisp passes to open teammates, I felt the night would not be a total loss. On defense, I stepped in front of a pass and had nothing but hardwood and a hoop in front of me. I steamed downcourt with only one defender blocking my path to an easy lay-in. And better yet, this defender was no taller than 5'6" (I'm at least 6-feet tall) and, to boot, she (yes SHE) was sophomore in high school. This would be a breeze, and it was — FOR HER. As I rose to put the ball in the hoop, she rose with me and swatted my shot harmlessly out of bounds. I say harmlessly in the context of the game, as far as my ego goes, who knows if I'll recover enough to show my face next week.
Well, Basin, there is my story of a hoops junkie turned into to hoops junk. Have any of your own? Be you hero, goat or mere role player, we would love to hear about your adventures on the hardwood. If you play in, or know of, a regular pick-up basketball game please e-mail or call the Herald and News sports staff (sports@heraldandnews.com, or 541-885-4411) so we can include your game in a package we are currently working on.
—Ryan Johnston
Humbled Herald and News copy editor
 |
 |
|
| What's your favorite sports movie? | BCS mess |
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of HeraldAndNews.com. Comment Disclaimer: The editors of heraldandnews.com reserve the right to refuse publication of any comment posted for consideration. We may refuse for any reason, including use of profanity, disparaging comments, libelous comments, etc. Any reader who notices a comment they believe is particularly offensive, should notify us at webmaster@heraldandnews.com.
Jon wrote on Oct 27, 2008 1:33 PM:
" Basketball is a good way to try and get an old body in shape. After a winter of playing weekly and loosing some weight a feeling that youth has returned creeps forward. My last "season" resulted in an unscheduled ACL replacement. I still tell the group it was because of my jumping abilities. They don't believe me. "
Junior wrote on Oct 27, 2008 12:22 PM:
" Since I've moved here I've been looking for some open gym games what time and where are these games held? "
Eddie wrote on Oct 27, 2008 10:07 AM:
" I am very interested in a "these" open gym games. Can anyone go? Where and when? Has anyone heard anything yet on a Basketball league this winter? The YMCA did one in late Spring this past year and it was all riight but timing was bad because of Little League and it was the first time. I know they are going to do it again this year and as I understand it, it will be earlier in the year. Also, there will more advertising to get max participation. Looking forward to playing... "
wayne johnston wrote on Oct 21, 2008 7:57 PM:
" I think that our young people need to learn the basics in school and particularly learn manners over sports. Sure sports are great but so are our young people. Dion't forget..the young grow old! "
Susan Cantrell wrote on Oct 20, 2008 8:53 AM:
" I am a KCC student going for my MedicalOfficef degree. It will be my second deree from KCC. I feel this degree combined with my AAS in Business Office Systems Technology will be a much better asset to any employer in the office systems ares. Currently i am the student representitve on the Klamath Connunity College Board of Education. During my secind term on the KCC board of eduction, I have enjoyed being a part of KCC at the level above the classroom. From this view, I can see how much we need this bond to pass. The needed addition to our current facilities that we are asking for willnot only benefit our community but will bring our school up to the size to fulfill the demand of today and the futute.
Sincerely,
Susan Cantrell
KCC Student "
Sincerely,
Susan Cantrell
KCC Student "
ehh wrote on Oct 17, 2008 10:17 PM:
" It's unfortunate that these games aren't more public and open to anyone, especially young people not good enough to play on their high school teams. "
Ray Miller wrote on Oct 2, 2008 7:36 PM:
" I have to say your story caught my attention merely because I too am a hoop junkie. But as I read further into your tale it occurred to me that, "Hey, I saw that!". As it would have it that girl, my daughter, has been a member of that game for many years and is herself a basketball junkie. Besides, give yourself a little more credit, she's actually 5'8". Go ahead and show up next week, we hardly ever laugh at anyone too long. Mostly for fear that we will be the next one to fumble a seemingly easy assignment. "
FELLOW ATTEMPTED HOOPER wrote on Oct 2, 2008 4:49 PM:
" WELL JUST AS YOU ARE DOING I HAVE TAKEN UP THE CHANCE TO RESTORE MY YOUTH THROUGH THE GAME OF BASKETBALL. AND JUST LIKE YOU ON A WEEKLY BASIS HAVE BEEN GETTING SCHOOLED AT THE OPEN GYMS AROUND THE BASIN BY ARE YOUTH MALE AND FEMALE ALIKE. I THOUGHT I COULD ROLL(AS THE YOUNGER GENERATION WOULD SAY) WITH THEM.
NOT!! BUT I'LL KEEP TRYING AND HOPE FOR THE BEST. "
NOT!! BUT I'LL KEEP TRYING AND HOPE FOR THE BEST. "
RSS
Eddie wrote on Oct 27, 2008 3:52 PM: