Tue - December 7, 2004

Failure


I watched two teams lose today.

The first played against a team that was quickly and obviously their better. They had little hope of winning tonight. The proceeded to play poorly and without any true inspiration.

The second team was well matched and most probably better than the team they were playing. It is hard to say for sure because, in the parlance of the trade, they never "showed up". They came out flat and stayed flat. Energy level was more or less there but not the balls out effort for 40 minutes that they often display. Today it was a lack of mental toughness, yes i know its a cliche, or focus if you prefer. They fought and drew close at the end, but when the time ran out they were down by 7.

The question is, which is worse. To realize that you are "beaten" and fold - now not obviously just to stop doing the little things and putting out the effort rather than to tank entirely - or to fail to live up to your potential and let a worthy but lesser opponent best you.

Coaches will always tell you, and most of them - all the good ones - mean it, that if you enter a contest and put for your absolute best effort - leave it on the floor, give a 110%, empty the tank, pick your favorite - that they will be happy with and proud of your performance. I personally believe that. Maybe its because i have been saturated with sports and the attached attitude for too long, but there is no shame in losing to a better opponent provided you did your damdest to stop him.

Invariably however it is the athletes who BRING this up rather than have it told to them that should not be using it as solace. The all american who has just lost the last game of his senior year by the slimmest of margins and is crying his heart out with regret and shame for not having worked harder, yet does not have the strength to stand and leave the court. He is the one, not the freshman who didn't play all year.

The apparent voluntary nature of the first case makes it all the worse to me. Although the lack of understanding and will to prepare to come ready to compete is not exactly a saving grace, it can be remedied. It is, after all, in our failures that we have the most to learn from.

Then again they could just be college kids trying to play a game.

Posted at 11:21 PM     Read More  

Sun - November 28, 2004

holy crap its 4AM


Its been a while since I showed up here. I have been watching basketball of late and that makes me happy because it is not football. Granted it is not particularly GOOD basketball but one cannot be picky. So that brings be to basketball etiquette. For those of you fans - parents, supporters, friends, etc. - who travel to games and watch from the sidelines I present a few simple but meaningful rules to try and follow.

Acceptable behavior from fans:

Verbal chatter throughout the game

Loud clapping
-synchronous/rhythmic - at any time but especially when your team is on defense and the rest of your fans are doing it too
-out of sync or just on your own - when there has just been a substantial or unique play made by your team

Stomping of feet
-when a TRULY FABULOUS (note emphasis) play has been made
-in the NBA or NCAA Div I during free throws of the visiting team

Teaching your adorable 2 year old girl to question the legitimacy of the opposing team's mascot. (seriously there is nothing cuter than a pristine and innocent voice cutting through the mild din of a small school hoops game with "mommy what IS a bearcat anyway?") This holds especially true if you are related to the staff at the home school and are pretty much given free reign of the facilities do to your daughter's cuteness

Unacceptable behavior from fans:

Maintaining a shrill over-loud screaming blow by blow commentary about how your team is getting screwed and your baby is obviously being fouled every time s/he touches the ball.
-You arent on the court - you are not a referee
-Your child ISNT that good - if s/he was s/he would be playing in an arena where s/he and I could not hear your shrill grating voice
-The quiet of a time out does not mean we have given you the OK to continue your tirade unobscured by the pesky chirping of shoes on the court

Women's NCAA basketball has different rules than Mens NCAA basketball which has different rules from NBA basketball. LEARN THE DIFFERENCES, KNOW THE DIFFERENCES.
-Ignorance is not an excuse to hold college referees to NBA rules SHUT THE FUCK UP if you dont know what you are talking about. (yes this rule is applicable to most parts of life too - so from here on we will take it as a postulate, Euclid got 5 i get at least that many)

Clapping when the other team makes an unforced error

Clapping continuously for 2 hours
-Seriously i have no idea how you can do this without your hands falling off, so just stop please

Stomping on bleachers at every routine offensive or defensive play

Leaving the stands to question the official score or the official time


So these are some pretty simple do's and don'ts for the college basketball game. There may be an upcoming segment on player do's and don'ts but who knows

Posted at 04:37 AM     Read More  

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