Yesterday I did something I haven't done in almost 9 years...and something I never thought I'd be able to do again at all - I played basketball...full court basketball with guys half my age and one other gent at least a decade my junior. And it was an effing blast. Yes, my knees are creaky today and my back is a little sore, but I played for two hours straight (winners kept the court, losers shot for next) and didn't embarrass myself too much. Now, I didn't dunk on anyone, got beat on rebounds I used to snag routinely, and missed all four of the long jumpers I attempted (getting one swatted with the ferocity of a grizzly tearing into a honey drenched beehive), but I helped my team win...and had a blast doing so...
The secret to playing pickup basketball with guys 1/2 your age is knowing your limitations and theirs. The kids want to play hero ball by taking impossible shots and beating their man and going one on five. After a couple of minutes of play I told the teammate closest to me in age that if we did nothing but play pick & roll and screen & pop ball, we'd give the much taller and faster team fits. Which is exactly what we did...kids can't defend the pick & roll, they get lost on the switches or over commit. That's why John Stockton was able to play until he was 40...he understood that the most fundamental play in basketball was difficult to defend...it's the crane kick of basketball...if done right, no can defense...
Anyhoo, young guys on break from college are also in terrible shape. I'm in no condition to run a 10k yet, but a 5k is on the horizon. At about the hour mark of playing, one of the fellas on the other team asked if I ever got tired. I think he was surprised that he was still chasing me around a bit on defense and that I got back in transition. When we were done playing I was offered a ride home (I walked to the park with The Better Half and the girls, they left after about a 1/2 hour), but I told them I'd run home. Sure, the park is just shy of a 1/2 mile from my house, but I felt good and wanted to jog it out....
So, yeah...that was a good time. I finally started hitting jump hooks and turnarounds about two games in, but I still missed a lot of chippies and even blew a layup..remember, I haven't played basketball in 9/10 of a decade. The best part was when I was invited back to join them next week, an offer I think I'll take up...but I do have some concerns about playing again. Tabata has done wonders to strengthen my legs, so they feel strong. My knees are sore though, nothing excruciating, but a lack of cartilage is a lack of cartilage and it doesn't get better no matter how much glucosamine I ingest. If I play again I'll need to wear a brace to at least keep my knees warm. However, the risk is there that I will injure one of my knees again, which would royally, royally suck a mountain of drunken orangutan ass...but I love playing ball. I was horrible at organized basketball, but I have always been able to hold my own at playground ball...it felt good to get back out there and dish a few dimes, start a fast break or two, and hit some shots in the lane...once a week should be okay, but I'll need to sit out when/if my knees feel wrong...I'll keep you posted...
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