Basketball Jones
This is the first prolonged section of my young life that I have been absent from basketball, and physical activity in general. Last year I was in the flow of things, and I could play two or three times a week. Then I missed out on the summer men's league because the guy who runs it decided to throw the whole thing together on a night when I was working, so I was passed over. So I didn't get to run a whole lot this summer, and last semester was pretty hectic. So I am out of the loop.
I have recently cleared the time in my schedule, and I've been popping in to the URI gym once or twice a week trying to regain my legs. My shooting is still with me, but my defense has sucked up until now, and my wind is gone. For the first time since freshman year of high school, I can't run in the gym for 2-3 hour sessions (fueled by 25% stamina 75% stubbornness). I am getting old.
But I got some wind back Thursday night after my Grad class. And this is a big deal to me. I was feeling pretty good when I went out there, but I had failed to take into account my lagging head cold. For the last two weeks, my health has been comparable to that of a normal person, except I go through a box of Puffs every other day (and that just using them for their intended purpose. You don't want to see the figures if we get into the grey area).
Anyways, I get out there to run around, and I was matched up against this quick guy who I've played with over the past 2-3 years. I was pretty amped because I was hanging with him, I knocked the ball away a few times and blocked him and some other kid when he tried to take me to the basket. Then I started to sweat. Body temperature rose. Mucous began to melt. Like a latex condom in an oil based lubricant.
Instead of flowing out of my nose and all over my face, the mucous decided it would be better, in the short run, to reverse flow and ride it out in my lungs. I played the rest of the game with the kind of post nasal drip God inflicted on Egypt's first born, effectively suffocating me to the point where I left immediately after the game.
I walked to the gym in -30 degree cold wearing a hoody because I am paranoid my jacket would be snatched if left unattended, waited 20 minutes for a spot to open, played well for 5, choked for 10, and then drove home while trying not to asphyxiate myself.
I love this game.
And Lil Bow Wow.