Advertisement You see, nothing gives you all three of those quite like having a man in his 60s school you on the court.
Now, in no way am I saying a 60-year-old man isn’t supposed to be able to play basketball. Quite the opposite. I’m saying a 26-year-old should know better than to assume his age gives him an advantage over years of experience.
About a year ago, I was lucky enough to get an invite to a semi-regular game of pickup basketball. I had known about the game for a while, and when I was asked if I played at all, I acted as cool as possible and said, “I rode the pine for three years in high school!”
Humility. I have never been overly cocky — my sports column in college was titled “Bench Warmer” — but I’m one of those “It all happens for a reason” guys, so if life feels I need more humility through basketball, all the better.
My skill level when I started playing was such that every day offered the chance for improvement. When I played defense, my feet usually were rooted to the floor, my arms were waving wildly and the guy I was defending was cruising past me. Offense didn’t offer much improvement. I missed layups as though I were paid to blow the game, and my jump shot usually involved one or both of my feet being on the ground.
It’s kind of nice when in life you find a situation where you really have nowhere to go but up. Sure, my defender was blocking my shot much the same way a big brother toys with a younger sibling, but each time it happened, I learned from it.
Growth. I went through college with a diet based on the idea that if something was tasty, it should most likely be consumed. That being said, I have spent most of my time out of college looking for new and different ways to work a college degree’s worth of indifference off my body.
Basketball provides another outlet for that goal.
I’m lazy. I really, and I mean really, enjoy couches. They are right up there with microwaves as far as things I know I could live without but don’t make me prove it. So, I really need to say a few more thank yous to the deity of my choice that I am lucky enough to stumble onto a court a few times a week.
When I started playing, I was like a deer in the headlights. It was all too much to take in. But thanks to pointers, tips and words of encouragement from the guys, I have blossomed into a totally OK ball player. Well, maybe take out the “totally.”
Perspective. Life is full of moments and tasks you want no part of. Obviously, then, when you find something you enjoy, it’s important to cherish it. I didn’t really understand that until recently.
And when I shoot a three-pointer only to see it miss the hoop entirely, I hope I remember to view that as an opportunity to practice anger management and refocus my energy on doing better, instead of going to a standard default of a curse word and a joke.
Personally, basketball helps remind me I’m still growing as a person. That’s hopefully something I can continue to do until the day I die.
For many of us, life consists of work, family and a little free time here and there. Nothing wrong with that.
But if you get the chance to: 1. Take up an enjoyable activity; 2. Create more free time or; 3. Win the lottery; I suggest you do it.
Curt Trnka can be reached at ctrnka@lacrossetribune.com or by seeking out the sweaty guy gasping for air on the court.
