What
a difference a win makes
Saturday 27 May, 2000
If you play a competitive sport, one of the best feelings you can have is to win a close game. One where you and you team played really well. One where you're probably the underdog going into the game. A game like we won tonight!
Some people have a Jekyll and Hyde personality when they play basketball (or, I imagine any other sport). Off court they're mild, good natured, friendly. But put them on the court and they're mouthy, aggressive, obnoxious. I'm not that extreme at all, and I certainly don't have this overriding drive to win that top sportspeople do.
But I do play hard when I'm on the court. I'll take the knocks and dish them out. I'll try a little gamesmanship with the referees. I'll occasionally give a little push to the guy marking me, to see if he'll react and I can milk a foul off him. I do give up a little sometimes, but that's always through lack of fitness. When I'm fit, I keep trying no matter what. I rarely trash talk, or even talk to players on the other team. If I know them I might joke around a little, but otherwise it's a sign I'm angry if I talk to them. And what I say probably isn't pleasant! My elbow connected, not too hard, with a guy's nose today. It was a little over the top, but, on the other hand, he was right up in my face marking, and I did have the ball. All I did was pivot myself around. Sure I lead with the elbow, but if he hadn't been so close …
The team was happy after the game. Most of us went down to the pub for a beer. I like the concept of a team. I like it when people meld together in a common interest, and try and use their strengths and minimise their weaknesses for a common goal.
Today was our first win. We'd lost the four previous games. That's not a big deal this early in the season, but losing five in a row would start to set an unwelcome trend! I'm captain in the team. I talk the most, I'm certainly the most experienced. It's a role I like, and one I've had in most of the teams I've played on.
There's probably a lesson for me there somewhere. How can I lead so confidently on the basketball court, and yet, at times, lack confidence in other aspects of my life? But, screw it, it's too nice enjoying the win to worry about that tonight.