SuperNova Afterglow: End Of Days

2 ball, every pocket

I've bored people with my basketball stories in blog in the past. Let's do it again!

I haven't been sharing much about my basketball life. I should have an entire blog devoted to my current exploits. One little game a few guys at the gym enjoy, crow about, involves their 3-point shooting ability. I'm no slouch. In fact, because I'm much older than these guys about the age of my oldest (21), I should be at a disadvantage. The game is called 2-ball.

I watched them one day about a year ago. Four shooters formed two teams. One acted as rebounder and passer to the three-point shooter attempting to go around the world. That's five made shots around the court perimeter (shoot until you make from each spot, like NBA 3-point shooting contest, but with one ball, one make). When you hit all five, the rebounder becomes shooter and vice versa and he must reverse his way back to the start. Each team starts on opposite sides and cross paths in this quest. They try to be fair and not get in way of shooter or passer, except for a few hijinks, if they need a little edge.

So, the person who seems to instigate most of these contests graduated with the same class as my son. His name is Jayden. He can be described in many ways, but mostly feeds off a basketball/sports mentality with boasting, manipulating, a bit of a cheater, will talk you up, but a good baller for someone overweight (looks more like a football lineman). He's acknowledged my shooting ability in pickup games. We feed off each other at times. He let me in on their games.

It always comes after we've run pick-up games (at least 2 hours). Sometimes, it's 21, a game that would take a lot of explaining, but basically a free for all. I've grown to love it, but am enjoying 2-ball more. I've teamed with different people. It usually doesn't matter. But I see strategies forming now within these games. And by playing these games, I've improved as a shooter, rebounder and especially passer. It all came together this week.

I had some back problems and had seen my chiropracter a second time when a kid named Anthony needed a partner and chose me to pair up against Jayden, and a good shooter, Dom. Before I knew it, we won two games to start. Little did I know it would be a marathon. I'd been in the gym for hours when these games started. Jayden just kept saying, "Let's go again." He never walked off the court without winning, having the edge, or just not acknowledge when he was beaten.

It turned into a seven game series. I could tell my legs were weak from the back. My only fortune, I put on bio-freeze and my back was as warm as laying on a heating pad. Between games, I stretched as much as I could. We won four games to three. I thought a game of 21 might break out when Jayden wanted more games. He said we were wiping slate clean. I didn't know it would be another seven games series. I had a few bouts with a few spots around the perimeter when I realized being the first to go was better than being a finisher. I'd press too much if might legs got tight.

It took only six games for us to win four. And it ended. It reminded that Jayden often mentally bullied Anthony, a small, scrappy kid I've often rooted for, looked out for. He was really rooting for me when we were winning these games, finally bonded over it. We had some pick up games again after that and all I did was launch a bunch of incredibly long three-pointers with confidence. It was an amazing spectacle, to at least me. You could have collected four people in that room who couldn't add up to my age. Running with teens at the end.

Just another feather in my cap. I guess I don't do the story justice. No true details of how those 2-ball games played out. I just know that my shooting stroke and ability to grab and pass a ball get better every day, especially now that I have full use of my left side, thanks to rotator cuff surgery, almost two years ago. It's been a game changer.

okay, enough,

4.21.22

"Life’s Little Misdirections 🥀🦋"