Air Ball..

I’ve lived here in Oklahoma longer than anywhere else in this world (as I was reminded the other day by my wife). I’ve been an Oklahoma City Thunder fan since the team moved her from the great northwest a few years ago. That being said, i can’t say that I’ve ever played basketball, or for that matter, even owned a basketball. Recently, I took advantage of a good deal on a gently used basketball that i purchased at an estate sale and it rolled around, happily neglected in the back of our car for a month or two. Finally, after watching so many games and driving by local basketball courts where others played, I decided it was time for me to see if I could put the ball in the basket somehow. My first time out was nothing really worth mentioning but…here I am talking about it. In two words, “air ball” is the best summary of my first time on the court. I was the only one there fortunately. No experience, no training and no real knowledge of the basic mechanics of shooting a basketball. Regardless of where I stood, most of the time the ball fell short of even hitting the basket, never mind actually going in. To make matters worst, I was trying to shoot with an underinflated ball, a result of the many cold nights it spent in the car. The air pump that I keep in the car didn’t help without the availability of a needle. I think I accidentally put the ball in the basket a total of one time that morning before I called it quits. It’s kind of funny how easy those professional basketball players make it look, but not always. Even from where I sit (at home in front of the tv), it’s not unusual to see the “pros” miss the easy layups and free throws. For me, however, there’s nowhere to go but “up”. When you can’t get any worse, it stands to reason, you (meaning me, of course) can only get better. So, I’m doing my homework, if you will, and with the help of YouTube videos and studying the way the ball is shot during the games.. I ‘m expecting a gradual improvement and better results in the days to come. Actually, I have since returned to the courts and was able to find the bottom of the net, (so to speak) several times so my YouTube homework has already starting paying dividends. It’s a win win investment considering that any kind of exercise is good for the body and soul, even in a seventy two year old guy. Coincidentally, the OKC Thunder are playing the New Orleans Pelicans right now and lead in the second half of this game. Thunder Up!