Since I missed a day without a blog entry, I’m going to catch up today (since I’m not really doing much) with two blog entries. I highly doubt most will care to read this, but that’s all right.

When I was in third grade, I wasn’t much of a sports person. After playing basketball in P.E. class and watching some college basketball (back in the days I was an Indiana Hoosiers fan, now I hate them with passion due to going to Purdue), I started to get into it. I became a big Chicago Bulls fan for professional sports. I also started to play basketball more regularly. When 5th grade started, every single day at Recess, I’d play basketball hoping to be the next Michael Jordan. Whenever I’d visit friends, I’d be playing basketball. Many thought I would be the next Jordan based on how hard I worked. I was about middle height in my grade level. My dream was to play for the Chicago Bulls.

When I got to middle school, that’s when I increased my basketball interest to the highest level. I’d get to school at 7AM every morning just so I could play basketball. I’d play basketball after lunch. I’d play basketball in P.E. class (when it was a free day) and when it was a free day for homeroom in the gym. I was about the height of a shooting guard/small forward at the time. As a basketball player, I was known as one of the best defenders around, and I was a good shooter (especially when it came to three pointers). I was able to shut down the best players, since I had a small height advantage, could jump much higher (I was like the top 10 in my middle school when it came to vertical), and I proved to be one of the top sprinters in my grade level. Despite all the hard work, I did not make the basketball team my 7th grade year. I didn’t exactly get along with the coach, didn’t exactly have a define position (I was kind of a multiple position person), and I had an ugly shot (although I was good at shooting). I also went to a very big school and it was VERY hard to make the sports teams. I didn’t worry and continued to work hard. I did much better in practice in 8th grade, but still never made it. It kind of sucks that I was never able to show the coaches in practice, how I could shut down the best players on the basketball team. I still remember one game in gym class, one friend of mine on the team (He wasn’t the best) challenged the two very best players on the basketball team. We both crushed them twice. The point guard, who was the best on the team, I shut him down to 2 points, while I scored 13 against him (since I made a few three pointers). When I moved into a new house in 7th grade, I made sure my basketball was setup before I moved in. Although I didn’t make the team both years, I still kept playing indoors and outdoors a lot.

When I got to H.S., I was really debating whether to try out for the team or not and kind of decided to at the last minute (freshman basketball). Due to becoming unsure and didn’t seem to have the same motivation I use to (along with me not exactly having a good attitude towards the coach after he kind of angered me), I didn’t make the team. It was also my worst tryouts ever. What hurt me then was I stopped growing; while everyone else around me did (I was 5’5”). I could reach 9’9” to 10” when jumping straight up, but I was still short. I couldn’t play point guard worth crap (I was more of a shooter/defender). After those tryouts, I started playing basketball less and less, and eventually ended my career. My neighbors and some peers wanted me to continue trying, but I lost all faith I could ever make it again since the competition was just going to get tougher (due to it being the main Varsity/Reserve basketball team next). I still played every once in a while with friends outside. Come to think of it, last time I played basketball indoors was back in 2003 (away at college) and the last time I played outside was 2-3 years ago, since my basketball hoop rusted and had to be taken down. My shot improved a little, but still ugly.


Although I’m a little disappointed I never had a chance to get the basketball career I always wanted (I somewhat regret not investing time in football instead, where I had a chance), there is something that makes me feel good inside. While I was in H.S., there was one guy who I was friends with. His Dad was a sports agent for some NFL players, like Emmit Smith, Deon Sanders(sp), etc. He was a grade under me, but I played basketball a lot with him, and I became his toughest competitor. He refused to play when I wasn’t on his team. He ended up having a pretty good basketball career being one of the best players in my hometown, and he went to college to play basketball. Although he didn’t really get much play time, that’s kind of cool to know one person I competed tough with, went to college to play basketball. Another one, who was my neighbor until he moved (our age difference was a few years, but our heights and size were not too far off). I use to teach him a lot of things about basketball and became the person he just couldn’t stop at basketball. I was the one who would shut him down. We use to play basketball a lot and became close. He ended up being the top player on my old H.S. basketball team, and he was one of the top players in my hometown. He went on to play basketball for a school that’s ranked pretty high, and has done decent so far. When I added him as a friend on Facebook (when I was finally allowed to add people from H.S. on my buddy list) he told me “(insert real name)! whats up man?? remember the good old (insert my street name) days? you taught me everything i know when it comes to basketball man. do u still hoop?”. It feels good I did something, but I do still wish I was a basketball player now.

Anyway, that’s just a short story about a basketball career I wanted to have, but never worked out. However, I’m glad to see some I played basketball a lot, got to college to play basketball. Some of CAG might not have known I was big into basketball, so I thought I’d share.

Anyone else dreamed of having a career in a certain sport, but it never came together?