For the Love of Basketball

Ask Kim. She’ll tell you I’m addicted to basketball. Even the kids now greet me at the door each evening asking, “Are you going to leave us AGAIN to play basketball?”

I don’t know when the switch flipped. I played in basketball leagues from the time I could dribble a ball up through high school. This was before the three point line was introduced so I spent my time at point guard pounding the ball inside to our big men. If I could get a steal or fill the lane on a fast break, I might get an easy layup.

When I moved to Salt Lake to attend the University of Utah, I began playing ball at the Deseret Gym. It didn’t take long before I realized I had a decent outside shot. I practiced and played pickup games five days a week the last two years of college.

And I was totally hooked. I love the competition and the camaraderie. I love the swish of the net on a 3 pointer.  I love the exercise and sore muscles the next morning. I’m addicted to the flow of the game. The games to 15 by ones and twos, the fast breaks, and the high fives and needle threading passes. I even like coming home and collapsing on the couch from sheer exhaustion.

Tonight I shot hoops with Luca. She can granny it off the backboard and into the cylinder now. I can’t wait till we can play H-O-R-S-E or one on one together. I’ll be happy if my kids learn to play an instrument or participate in scouts or make the honor roll. But I’ll jump for joy if if they take to  basketball!

The game tonight ended when this kid darted out of the stands and ran off with our ball.