A “White man can Jump” and it makes him Feel Good

Mar 19

Currently, my midterms are whooping my butt and I won’t lie when saying I’ve been seriously procrastinating.

The same can be said for my posts. Not to mention, I’m still figuring out how comments work for the site so bear with me.

My boring routines sometimes feel like they are catching up to me. I definitely live a simple kind of schedule. The trade-off you gotta face is not doing many fun things, and being very focused on your routine.

There’s the lifting of weights, the bulk stress, and the pressure to create. I’m adjusting to everything while trying to maintain my easygoing nature. It’s working, but I need to find a good balance in order to continue enjoying what I’m doing. At the end of the day, that is all that matters to me.

My worst habit lately is scoffing. Scoffing is basically coughing or clearing your throat but you're doing it because you are tired or annoyed. For me, it’s because I often feel physically spent.

I really want to go get one of those therapeutic massages. I’ve only ever gotten a massage one other time and it made me feel like a new man. It made me feel emotions I’ve only felt in dreams.

Nowadays, or as of this springtime, and to help my boredom, I’ve really gotten back into basketball. I haven’t seriously “balled” since last year at ASU. Man those were some good times.

One year ago, some of my buddies and I would hit this one private basketball court every night outside our dorm. Other students who knew about the amazing court would come to play pickup games. There were some regulars, some terrible dudes, dudes stringing along their other friends, tryhards, and weenieheads. The best part was you could practice off these kids. I know that sounds messed up but it worked for us and as it should for you too. Just keep it friendly champ.

We always had a good time (unless you were having an off night, and around that time my temper was hot to trot).

Basketball at that time was basically my return to an active life. It was my segway into caring about my health and being fit again. No more binge drinks. No ciggies behind the lecture halls. I wanted to change. It was also a great way to blow off steam and build up a heavy-duty appetite to go eat like 30 wings.

This one time at that court, I agreed to play pickup against the college football team. I put up a good fight and a few buckets. At one point during that game, I idiotically tried defending the post against this 6’8, 275lb behemoth, and he went to dunk over me. He viciously plowed into me, and I fairly, about took him out coming down. Instead, in midair, I barrel-rolled off the court, bounced off a tree, and landed alright.

I’m a tough cookie and can endure a physical challenge. That is a quality trait, my friend. But still, at the time I was built like a wacky-waving-inflatable-tube man.

“Get tough, not act tough. Embrace frequent acts of toughness not to be the toughest, but to find physical succession in yourself.”

Flashback to today and I can say it feels good to hit the courts again I have about 15 pounds on me now and I can feel a difference moving around. I’m still quick, and I slink like a snake, but I’m a little clunkier moving through the paint.

Pros:

I am more centered during post-plays due to my increased size.
I am slower which allows me to calm down my game.
I can press more, and use my increased space to my advantage.

Cons:

I have too much strength behind my midrange shot.
I can’t move as fast or quietly as I once could.
It has been windy every day we’ve gone.

All in all, it’s been super fun to get back to shooting hoops. Aside from stressing about school, my grocery job, and some days my workout routine; basketball has got my back. And I got my hand on my balls. My ball sorry.