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Yoyo Brett Favre and his re-re-return to football...now last shot at glory corrupted? |
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Now an Archive: (Let's see how the Mississippi scandal plays out before I can properly comment. not lookin' good, Brett.) This blog chronicles the ups and downs since his tearful departure from Green Bay in early 2007 to his brief flirtation with the Jets to another renaissance in the land of 10,000 lakes. Little did I know this rollercoaster ride would have this many ups, downs and turns. And then there were the accusations of a bounty on Favre in that NFC Championship game against the Saints. This blog is mostly an archive but will be updated from time to time. There's no chance he'll come out of retirement now? Favre is still the NFL's version of Elvis. It's his 20th and likely final NFL season. Does the long trail end in Minnesota after one remarkable season? We wait again to see if Brett Favre is 'all in' for another Super Bowl run. Along the way, he still knows how to make headlines. Reread and recall the events leading up til now. It's on again...it's off again...now it's on with one last Super Bowl push in 2009-10 Stay tuned as the title of this blog changes with the mind of Brett Favre.}/hide} Move forward? How about trudge forward, with the indignity that clasps about your indifferent ankles. My old lead in...I had many purposes for this recent blog, but now it is devoted to the Brett Favre retirement saga and all the bull that Ted Thompson can fling at the wall to see what sticks. Clearly, we've moved away from that since the Packers were bounced in the first round of the playoffs. They got schooled by the master Favre who lead the Vikings to the NFC North division title. Putting up the best stats of his careers, people keep waiting for him to run out of gas. As of this writing, he's heading into New Orleans. Now, on to my bloggin' until this thing is done. Who's the yo-yo (Favre) and who's the string (Packers)? And who is yanking my chain (?!) I grew up in Upper Michigan and followed teams like the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Bucks and Brewers, because of the geography and what little sports programming the rabbit ears could pick up. But when I became a reader, sports took on all kinds of dimensions as I became a huge fan of Johnny Bench and the Cincinnati Reds or that college phenom 'Pistol' Pete Maravich. I followed the Packers since their mediocrity in the post-Lombardi days before another legend was born with the Mississippi mudslinger Brett Favre. I unwittingly started blogging about him in the wake of his retirement and little did I know I would still be writing about him now. I take aim at sports with a naive perspective, hopeful that the icons can still inspire little ones to follow the glory and dreams of tomorrow. I'd like to separate the intense media focus and remove the cynicism while avoiding the maudlin over-hype to see what's real and appreciable about players and sports today. I don't know what I just said...  but moving on...
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| It's a lot clearer to me now. After watching Brett Favre lay out his reasons for a comeback and publicly air some dirty laundry, it's becoming apparent why he is no longer welcome to the Packer organization. Plain and simple, it was Ted Thompson's job to clean house when he took over as GM. Favre was the last item on his check list. It made sense for Thompson to take his time. He eventually got rid of Mike Sherman and personnel after the 4-12 season. He took care of the environment of shoddy players to redevelop the team the way he envisioned. But his toughest task would be the ouster of number four. It took a long time. Favre had to suffer through some changes. This is especially true when Mike McCarthy took over as head coach. It's likely McCarthy had the job of teaching an old dog new tricks, to play a different way, to get on board with an overhaul of the team concept. But it could have been two fold -- to wear down the iron man or leave him to hang out in the elements to rust. Favre may have been resistent to some things, or, there were just so many flaws the old gunslinger could not change, like in the decision making department. The Packers could prey on Favre's weaknesses, like putting him in schemes where he could throw a lot of interceptions, to see if he would crack. It would seem there plan wasn't working with the incredible season in 2007. They actually had to focus on winning ball games, rather than running Favre out of town. And ironically, the playoff loss to the Giants seemed like the proverbial straw that broke his back. Those darn, nagging retirement rumors had kept surfacing year after year. It's like McCarthy was in Favre's ear to get the grizzled veteran thinking he had a lot of work ahead of him to return to former glory, maybe tried to take the fun out of the game. Favre may have seriously considered retirement each year. But it wasn't he who was alerting the media to a retirement watch, it was Thompson. And now, after three plus years of listening to it, Packers fans are getting tired of it all. And many want to blame Favre, but it's not his fault. Who's the manipulator here? He didn't fake those tears at his retirement annoucement. That was a player who didn't feel he could give the organization what they needed anymore, because they were pressing him. Pressing him to work harder, to commit to playing another season before he could answer. He retired out of an obligation to the team, because they wanted to plan for a draft and the future of Aaron Rodgers. At that time, he may have naively believed he would step aside for the franchise. But something stuck in his craw that made him want to come back. Watching Favre 'On The Record' with Greta Van Susteren just confirmed much of what I suspected. Packer management wanted a change and have been working tirelessly to get Favre out of the picture. I would go as far as suggesting they had the old man running for his life on the field. They may have gone as far as trying to stop his consecutive games streak and a career, but it wouldn't work. All that work in 2007 paid off, rather than snuff out a legendary career. Did McCarthy and Thompson want to squeeze more out of the future hall of famer, knowing he couldn't give anymore? Perhaps, knowing this year, yes, this year, he would have to retire and they could move forward with their plans for life without Favre? The Packer organization has a right to go in another direction. Even Favre said. It's the way they went about it. Thompson and crew thought they would catch it from fans and the media for running Favre out of town. So they've lied, manipulated and haven't been forthcoming. Brett is now exposing their hand. He hasn't had many cards to play with, while they've been working with a stacked deck. The Packers couldn't treat Favre like the Titans treated Steve McNair, by locking him out, because he was under contract for two more years. And if Thompson had been GM when negotiating Favre's contract, don't you think he would have gone for a much shorter deal. Favre was a marked man. Someone who you shouldn't mess with. At the end of the day, football is just business like everything else. It's unfortunate that they could not resolve these matters behind closed doors. It has soured things for the fans, causing people to choose sides. And, the devisiveness over this will never end unless Thompson does an about face soon. This will leave a permanent mark on his legacy. I don't think anyone will ever be celebrating it either, unless he thinks he has enough aces in the hole to get his team to the Super Bowl, and that's not going to happen, especially without a veteran like Brett Favre. |
| There may be more to learn that will leave Packers' fans tongues wagging in days to come. It gets uglier on down the line to hear this rift between Brett Favre and Ted Thompson or whomever is blocking the path to this return. The Packers GM (Thompson) is sticking to his guns, but he's going to lose in the court of public opinion. You don't step on Superman's cape. I don't think Favre is being unreasonable. I think he may have been hasty and the victim of one bad decision. You don't retire unless you are certain, but I can't blame him for wanting to play again. You just don't go and snuff out a legend like this, either. Thompson can't stonewall Favre, the media and fans like this and be so stoic. But from the sounds of it, the Packer organization has their GM's back. So, who's going to question him? Will the team's shareholders, or are they a bunch of yahoos that just want to schmooz and yuck it up when the get together for this upcoming shareholder meeting? Where is the unity of voices and who is trying to play down these stories and hope it doesn't get the collective tempers to boil and sing from the big tea kettle that GM Thompson started brewing some time ago? I think he's behind Favre's decision to pack it in and he probably also ticked off the QB who now wants to play somewhere else. Now that Thompson is playing this game of chicken, will number four go through with his demands? He has to show up for mini-camps and hold that clip board to start collecting his salary. He needs to pressure Thompson and cast a shadow on the heir apparent. Most important is that he's the man and needs to hear his fans echo in unison. How could we get tired of watching him play? Yes, all the retirement rumors and what-not got tiresome. But, did fans really want to hear him speak those words in March? I think that would be a resounding No. I think Thompson has been orchestrating this for some time. He wants Favre to look like the bad guy, at least to those who will back the Pack, the organization. He wants it to appear Favre is the devisive one. I look at this and see that Favre never had a strategy, a game plan for his retirement. He didn't have one for his decision to return. How could be deemed the manipulative one? On the other hand, Thompson has been holding all the cards while Favre has had to play along. But now the quarterback wants to trump his boss. It sounds like he's ready to blow the whistle and call time out here, and he's ready for some big interview that will lay out just what went into his decision to retire and return and how Thompson muddled things up. Thompson should wind up with egg on his face or do an about face fast, because the unborn poultry should come...and hard. |
| Use those little cheeseheads you've stocked with mounds upon mounds of Packer logic and ask yourself, 'just what is going on?' Brett Favre has been doing the retirement song and dance for about three years now. What does he really want? It seems like the quarterback and Packer GM Ted Thompson are caught on this carousel that spins faster and faster daring the other to jump off before it's too late. Favre seemed genuine when he retired. He hasn't publicly said he wants to come back and play, but everything being rumored now would suggest that he wants another year at the helm. And now it appears Thompson has a public relations nightmare on his hand. Does he wait it out and hope it goes away? Does he hope for the court of public opinion to come into play? The longer Thompson drags his feet, the worse it will get. It looks like the Packer boss forced Favre's hand to make a premature retirement announcement. Favre took responsibility at the time, saying it was his decision. But, did he have a sense of obligation to the organization? He owed it to himself to really take in what happened and make a better decision that the hasty retirement that now makes the situation more perplexing. The Packers took not one but two quarterback draft picks. Do we deem these wasted if Favre wants to return? Thompson might want us to think so. He decided to rush the Favre retirement ceremony to the first game of the season, which would have been heir apparent Aaron Rodgers big debut. Too big of a shadow and more grist for the mill that Thompson has been running Favre out of town since taking the apparent as his number one draft choice in 2005. For more on Favre, see my previous blog for reactions to his March retirement annoucement.."SuperNova Afterglow: End Of Days"  [18+] |
| From "Life’s Little Misdirections 🥀🦋" [18+] which didn't get any views in its first day, so I cut and paste it here: Ever feel helpless because you are just one person? Every day you hear about the atrocities around the world. You can pick out a sad story from the headlines any time you turn on the news, reach for a newspaper, or listen to the accounts of the lives about you. It's unfortunate that we feel we cannot unify ourselves to combat the elements that sadden us, weaken our hearts daily. But I'm reminded, as I was today, there is hope. I just have to trust in the Lord/God, in myself, to do the right things to bring about change. We could also just spread the love and infect others with the joy that could encourage change in our lives and to the surrounding world until all the walls that surround us can tumble down. Its like the little ant, that little locomotive, the one spark that could ignite a fire. Just as we could inflict pain with one little word, we could do so much good with one act/word that is good. Yes, I'm fresh from this Sunday's sermon. I have my pastor and my son to thank for some encouraging words that resonate in my mind as I type this message. In fact, I was jotting down my thoughts on the church bulletin when I was struck with another epiphany to bring it all home. The message today was about one little word and how it could have so much meaning and impact -- when words tempt tongues and teaching ourselves to spread love and not hate. And I was reminded how much time I dwell on the negative, the things I cannot change while ignoring the most precious assets in my life...my children. As my son and I walked up the aisle to take communion holding hands, he gave me a tug to pull my ear down to his level. He had wanted to walk up with his mother who opted to carry his sister and a fight could have broken out, but I had reached back and tenderly took his hand to show him I needed him by my side. The loving act inspired him to say, "Dad, do you think after church we could spend some time together? Just you and me?" How could I deny this request, even though I had planned to write. (I'm writing this now while he is in Sunday school so I do not interfere with our time together when he returns home) Thoughts were taking shape in my mind about Alex growing up and needing me. Would we still be close and share time together, have a bond so strong that it would do both our hearts good. I thought about the path so many other parents take with their teens, getting disconnected and never being able to properly communicate or respect one another enough to know each others needs, the common understanding of what each face and how they are really in this life together. When we had returned to our pews, I reached for my bulletin to write down this precious moment to recount in my blog here. I didn't want to lose its profoundness. I started by jotting 'could it be as simple as the precious gift of our time, giving them not only our eyes and ears but our hearts?' After I began to scribble down what Alex had told me, it was time to turn to our hymnals and the profundity struck again like a tidal wave...Hymn number 454: "Open My Eyes, That I May See". It was all there, discovering the words as we sang about the eyes, ears, and mind, and ultimately, the heart. Three simple verses resonated in my soul. I realized then God had a suggestion for me, telling me I was on the right path to understanding. The sermon about spreading those words of love, about sharing this kindness with my children, seeds of love to plant and watch grow, to carry on the message of His love. It's so obvious, and we all know right from wrong. But don't we need an eye-opener like this from time to time? Don't we need to feel that special connection to God to let us know he is listening? Timing is everything. It is key to helping us take a moment of epiphany and make it life changing. I have been tuning out my family to focus on this writing that just would not bear fruit for me. But with my children, I have true inspiration. The love I share with them will grow and return to me. I just have to be patient and give it a little time. I wrestle with not being a more productive writer with the limitations of my vision, mental and physical health, my shortcomings as a human who finds it difficult to interface with this alien internet society. I wanted more from myself, to feel fulfillment from something that would not give back. I looked for rewards, feedback, any message that would say 'yes, this is your calling. You've finally found what you've been looking for.' But I have nothing to reap from what I have sown. It seems a lifetime since I started writing again and found myself here. I lost my way. There has been so much ignorance to this renewed fire to write that I cannot see where it should be taking me. I need to take a step back and focus on family, on sharing my love with others, on taking care of this fragile psyche so I can be healthy enough to write again...when the time is right. I have to take these little words and invest them in a loving strategy. I need to plant these seeds where they will grow and ignore infertile soils and seek greater pasture. I'm running out of metaphors! Guess that's my cue to end it here for now. I really should end it here...take some time and really consider hard the choices I've been presented with today. If I never come back to write, I should still be happy. I have love...God and family. That's all I need to insure happiness. No more of the 'what if', doubting, trolling this empty wasteland to sate my need for some arrival. It's not here. It may never be. It's just a virtual reality. I've got something real. ~ Brian Open my eyes, that I may see Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me; Place in my hands the wonderful key That shall unclasp and set me free. Refrain 1: Silently now I wait for Thee, Ready my God, Thy will to see, Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine! Open my ears, that I may hear Voices of truth Thou sendest clear; And while the wave notes fall on my ear, Everything false will disappear. Refrain 2: Silently now I wait for Thee, Ready my God, Thy will to see, Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit divine! Open my mouth, and let me bear, Gladly the warm truth everywhere; Open my heart and let me prepare Love with Thy children thus to share. Refrain 3: Silently now I wait for Thee, Ready my God, Thy will to see, Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine! |
| The critics are sharpening their knives already, ready to jump on that deal that put Shaquille O’Neal in a Phoenix Suns uniform. Does it have the potential to be the worst NBA trade ever? http://www.helium.com/items/925145-the-worst-nba-trades-ever |
| Kobe Bryant admits he wanted to be like Mike http://www.helium.com/items/924198-kobe-bryants-workout-plan |
| Following college hoops on the tube provides a fan with so many options these days. http://www.helium.com/items/924023-best-ways-to-follow-college-basketball-on-tv |
| They call it taking care of the ball. You want to feel confident handling a basketball and knowing you can dribble helps the focus on other aspects of your game. Here are some trips to becoming a better dribbler. http://www.helium.com/items/923940-basketball-dribbling-tips |
| Vince Carter admitted he had lost his passion for the game during his last two seasons as a Toronto Raptor. http://www.helium.com/items/922729-vince-carter-traded-to-the-nets-your-reaction... |
| Sportswriters had a hand in shaping some of the legends of college basketball, before there was ESPN, video tape or instant replay. http://www.helium.com/items/921680-the-greatest-college-basketball-players-ever |
| There is such parity in the college ranks today, it is rare to find an athlete who rises among the rest as a proven scorer. http://www.helium.com/items/921620-top-scorers-in-ncaa-basketball-for-the-2008-s... |
| Among the best college basketball players entering the 2008 NCAA tournaments are some promising freshmen who could make their next leap to the NBA. http://www.helium.com/items/920768-best-2008-college-basketball-players |
| Parents, you might want to start teaching your kids to dribble a basketball. http://www.helium.com/items/919798-the-average-salaries-of-nba-players |
| It was the deal that never was. Should we belabor the point? Will Kobe Bryant remain happy as a Los Angeles Laker, since GM Mitch Kupchak couldn't swing a deal to move his unhappy superstar? It's moot, right? Oh, he was going to the Chicago Bulls alright. Fans in the windy city were channeling days of Jordan yore, hoping Bryant would don a blood red jersey and end the team's futility post 23. But Kupchak wanted more than the fat kid Jerry Kraus had in his lunch box. No deal! Of course, the New York Knicks could have landed Bryant, too. What with Isiah Thomas’ 12-man roster of guards, none of which could hold a candle to the former NBA and Indiana Hoosier great. Do you really think Kupchak was manning his phone, putting in the long hours to get some kind of deal done? Let’s see, yeah. Okay, Laker fans, what do you think? We jet Kobe to the east coast for David Lee, Channing Frye and Jamal Crawford? Crickets. This is the city of Los Angeles. You've got tinseltown and plastic people roamin' 'round. All the rumors about Bryant going somewhere else were just fantasy. But wait, they had a shot at landing Kevin Garnett before the Boston Celtics got him, because why? Bryant and Garnett both own homes in Malibu? Sure, the cost to fill the tank of a private jet is going up, but... Would that have satisfied the Mr. No MVP? You would have to think it was fantasy league owners and not NBA GMs shaking up rosters this season. The unusual truth about trade talks was that many of the far-fetched trade notions became reality -- a regular Wild West shootout, thanks in part to Kupchak engineering a deal to land Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies. All the while, Kobe was sitting in a corner booth, licking his chops and donning a steak bib. And then trouble came aknockin’. Shaquille O'Neal dared to shadow the Western Conference again and help resurrect the Phoenix Suns from the ashes. And Kobe, well, he’s got his swagger back. He doesn't need surgery for his damaged shooting hand, though it's going to be hamburger when his career is done. And looking ahead, you could say the biggest trade rumor that never was still has some legs to it. Bryant should be happy now, even if he hasn't exactly been contrite about his pre-season 'Get me outta Dodge' demands. Should Bryant's team dust a spot for another championship trophy? And if so, when the story is all said and done, you know they'll come back to number 24 and say, 'You remember when you wanted to be traded? How do you feel now?" Then, and only then, somewhere in the shadows, Mitch Kupchak will have the biggest laugh. |
| In what seemed like fantasy league transactions, the 2008 NBA trade deadline seemed like the closing bell on Wall Street. http://www.helium.com/items/922729-vince-carter-traded-to-the-nets-your-reaction... |
| Jordan, Jabbar, Chamberlain are names often heard when debating the greatest scorers in NBA history. http://www.helium.com/items/918569-all-time-best-nba-scorers |
| The only thing I've had control over since my ankle injury has been my diet. For the most part, I'm doing good. I've been able to cut back on the amount and frequency of my attempts to sate the appetite. It helps to not give in to temptation when grocery shopping, so my shelves won't be stocked with the stuff that I could go through in a matter of hours. I'm enjoying my snack of fresh cauliflower and broccoli spears dipped in a low fat dressing. But, I still drink more soda than I should. But, not as much as I used to. And, I drink only water when we are out to eat. The ankle is about 80 to 90% now. My toes are nearly done being black and blue. The stiffness has mostly subsided and I can apply pressure or bend without much discomfort. But to plant and pivot my foot still gives me worry, so I will wait one more week before making a slow return to basketball. I had hoped to return to yoga this week. The kids were a bit much to get going on Tuesday and decided not to rush them or myself, skipping class one more time. Today, I didn't have a choice. My sitter's father died and she is flying to Florida for the funeral, and she won't be available all of next week either. So, I have to make other plans. Fortunately, the YMCA can watch Maddie for basketball. I don't know about Yoga, but I can trade days watching kids with my neighbor who has a boy who goes to the same sitter. So, I have options. So, I just bide my time and wait again for my chance to return to the gym, to developing a consistent routine. I don't like the upheaval. I have my moments, but I have to stay the course if I want to succeed in the long run. Okay, time to sit on my hands again. |
| To say I'm sitting here cooling my heels is a bit of an understatement. Since spraining my ankle last week, I've come to learn the injury is going to more difficult to mend. After the weekend, the pain and swelling returned with avengance. I didn't overdo anything, but I didn't exactly elevate my ankle or ice it. After talking with my wife on Monday, it was obvious I needed to be aggressive in treating what appears to have been a ligament tear. My foot is bruising beneath the ankle bone, according to her. I really can't tell with my low vision. The swelling came down after taking some Alleve and keeping a frozen bag of veggies under my Ace-wrapped appendage. I still manage to stress it and feel sharp pain coming from the top right side of my foot. But better now than it was when my middle toes had numbed from the stiffness. I had hoped to be back on the court this week, or at least doing yoga. Now, I will wait another week. Maddie's sitter had to fly to Florida for a family matter, so I've had no time alone. Can't recuperate or write much, but I'll just bide my time like I always do. Life keeps throwing me these curveballs and all I can do is keeping fouling off these tricky pitches until I can find one to hit out the park. Yeah, I need to work on my writing. |
| There likely will be no weigh-in today. Yesterday, I injured myself playing basketball. I began this week playing pick-up games at the YMCA across town. First day went well. The second day was going great. I was mobile, making good decisions and some impressive shots. But on one play, it all went bad. The guy I was guarding got the ball outside the three-point line. I was lagging back to help pack the lanes and double down on anyone trying to get an easy look at the basket. When the ball kicked out to my guy, I ran at him and under him as he shot. I continued to run, anticipating my team would rebound and start a fast break. Only, their team got the carom and kicked it back out to my guy who attempted another three-pointer. I watched this from half-court. He missed that as I idled, but their team rebounded again. I started to head back in to defend my guy who got the ball a third time but had stepped in front of the three-point line. As he moved to step back for another three-pointer, I measured him up from behind to block his shot. I've done this successfully when I was a much younger player and the results would be just as good this time out. I got a clean block and was feeling pretty good about it until my feet could not find a level surface to land. My ankle rolled after I landed on somebody, probably their foot. I can only imagine who it might have been, since it was all a blur. My limited vision may not have allowed me to see a player from the other team trying to slide in front of me so I could not block my guy's shot, only got their late and to become my stumbling block. I pushed myself off court. I didn't want them to run and get me ice. I massaged my ankle for a few moments and then hit the shower. I stood under two showers, one icing my ankle with cold water. I alternated hot and cold for about 10 minutes, got dressed and went home. I was frustrated. I didn't want to stop playing. I actually wanted to get back out on the court, because I was exhilerated by the effort I was putting out and the results. I had their trust. We had effective pick and rolls. I was hitting the open man and the open shot. I even surprised them with a post-up move where I spun away from the basket to the baseline and launched a shot while falling away that went from behind and then over the backboard, landing dead center for a perfect swish. I had to tell them as we were running back up court that I actually practice the shot, so they knew it wasn't a fluke. I was just surprised I had a chance to pull it off in a game. I was happy that the physical nature of the play didn't take away from the effort to complete a gem like that. I was finally feeling like this basketball thing could be coming back to me. And then, on one play, I gambled and set myself back about a week. I'm still going to play as hard, but will make smarter decisions. I'm going to make sure there is enough spacing on the court before I leave my feet and/or look for a place to land. You always can tell when someone wants to play you tight. You can take the challenge and risk an injury coming down, or you can use their play against them by getting them to over commit with head and ball fakes or screens so you can free yourself up to work. I just don't want to risk another injury for the sake of old glory. I want to get in shape first. The more mobile I became, the better my chances of getting in shape and eluding injuries like the one I suffered on Wednesday. I'm actually getting a break at home from the kids, too. No horseplay, no riding on my back or grabbing my legs to be carried with my every stride. I got to put my feet up and watch a little TV. They could cuddle with me and we read stories. I expect more of this going into the weekend. I might be able to actually get my head together with this down time and think. I've already started to write, though I can't quite get in the mood. So, while the injury is a setback, it has it's benefits. I'll try to make the most of it and not worry about getting too far ahead of myself with my thoughts. I have the focus now and need to take advantage to complete some projects before the exercise thing continues. |
| Okay, so I'm really blind or I lost more weight this week than expected. The official weigh-in today at the YMCA, after two grueling hours of basketball, was 257 1/2 lbs. I stared at the scale in disbelief, wondering if I added wrong last week and should have gotten 262 instead of 272. I thought for sure I got 22, when I slid that tab across the top of that scale. But could it have been 12? I'll never know. But it's not inconceivable to lose almost 15 pounds in one week. So, I'm off to a good start. I'm at a weight that is as low as I've been in 2-3 years. If I can get down to 250 in a short time, that will take me back 10 years. Yay! I am having anger management issues on the basketball court, pushing myself to keep up with the 'kids' that are half my age and twice as quick. There was a big boy out on the court today that rivaled me in size, and he was giving some attitude. I think he still remembered from a week or so ago when I set a back screen on him, causing him to crumple to the floor in a heap. It was all legal and stuff, but he was unhappy about it. I think I showed him up too much that day. Today, he was pushing me under the rim with his body and calling for the ball to post me up. I cut off the entry pass a few times, but got burned twice as often for overplaying the ball. I got tired of him throwing his weight around and getting burned for not being more physical by denying him position on the block. He got around me with the ball and thought he was going to have a lay-up, but I shoved him in the back and two players got taken out on the play. I immediately apologized, but not as sincerely as I could have. Not long after that, another player was trying to get past me on a fast break and I cut off his lane while swiping at the ball. Because I lack mobility and couldn't slide with him on the play, he basically ran into a wall. I felt bad again. But then he started berating me for my tough play. I didn't care for his attitude and told him if he was worried about getting hurt, he shouldn't drive the lane anymore. I should have taken myself out of the game right then and there. But, I played it cool after that. Even after the big boy whipped his body into my lower back to push me out on a shot attempt under his goal. I figured that was his payback, but I wasn't backing down if I had to be physical if he tried to back me under the hoop again. Fortunately, the plays didn't run through him that much after that and he didn't score on me again. Now, I'm considering taking my game to the Y on the other side of town for a few weeks. I want to make sure I can work on my game some more where hostilities aren't as likely to arise. As my game improves and my footwork improves, I won't be in position to hurt people with physical play. I had come to the gym today hoping to work on finessing my game. Unfortunately, I let the big guy provoke me. With all this extra weight and the difficulty moving my feet, I've been in a position to hurt a few people. I've been fortunate not to be hurt myself. I took a pretty big hit on my shin about two weeks ago and think I suffered a deep tissue bruise. But, no muscle pulls or the like. That's rare for me. I really think yoga has helped me. So, next week I will take my basketball play to the east side of town. And, maybe for a few more weeks after that. Some of these young ones will go back to college and it will be the old dudes again. Although, I'm about the oldest out there now. And, the others my age have kept up their game and can run the court and move their feet. Once I get that back, I think I'll be fine. And no one will have to get hurt. And no one will have to throw me out of the Y for being a dirty player. Though, I'm not. I'm just slow and heavy and they keep running into me. |
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I hope that it feels better soon! *sends you lots of penguin luck* 
