Why Don't We Play More?

Sports in America tend to focus on either being a winner or making money. The biggest sports enterprises combine the two. I have been fortunate to have never been good enough to care about winning too much but being capable enough to get to play games most of my life. My mediocrity in tennis, basketball, softball, volleyball, ping pong (actually, I am pretty good at table tennis) and general athletics have enabled me to join teams, pickup games and join casual games over the years. That ability has kept me fit and helped me like myself when other aspects of my life had the opposite effect.

However, for the majority of Americans playing any game is something they don't do. You are either a jock or not.

I have tried to expose the kids to playing games and using their bodies. They are both gifted with size and coordination so playing games is easier than if they were short or weak.

Kyle plays rugby in the spring and football the rest of the year.

Colleen ice skates, plays softball and has recently started to play tennis. Both can dabble in other recreational pursuits, and do, because they are confident and decent athletes.

As anyone who talks to me for more than 20 minutes knows, I play basektbal. I love my two weekly hoops games.

Wednesday's game was started around 15 years ago by a few guys, the Piette brothers, who have since aged out due to injuries and family. Yoram inherited the game more than 12 years ago and we have cycled through 20 or so guys who have moved along. Robert and I left a more argumentative game around 8 years ago to join Yoram and rejoined a few guys who we had playing with for years in another gym. I became Yoram's "assistant" a long time ago and took over the game when he left for Sweden 18 months ago. Mark S. now is in charge (with my "assistance").

Got that?

The Sunday game has been organized by David Weintraub, who is close to 60 and still better than me (dammit!) for almost 20 years. I started as a young newbie a decade ago and am now an older veteran. The game includes all ages, including the ocassional son, and women as well. Not much defense and lots of movement, passing and respect for each other.

Anyway, getting sweating with a few guys (and gals) every week creates an intimacy and understanding between participants that is difficult to explain. When Vern (black guy on D, above) says "Don't let him get it over his head" when I am about too shot, its reveals an understanding of my approach to the game that few people have regarding to my approach to the rest of my life.

Recently, I have lost my two best basketball buddies, Yoram and Robert (below with another old b'ball friend, Josh). I am sad I can't share the antics and experiences in the games with people who share a history with me. Of course, others step forward for that place in the game. I share other things with the departed, who remain non-basketball friends. Most just fade away, though.

The games provide physical and emotional sustenance that will be difficult to replace when my back, feet, knees, or wrist finally give out. I will find a a replacement, though, and it won't be golf. I hope it is with Jeane.