My Last Game?
You’ve heard of sports figures who retire from the game and then within months decide to UNretire. Let’s be very clear up front that I am not one of those sports figures and haven’t been for years.
But a few years ago I decided that the game of basketball had passed this old body by. I played tons in my younger years but after meniscus surgery, I decided that it was time to hang up the Cons (Converse – you’ve probably never heard that saying before – which testifies to my age).
This past weekend I was invited to play in an alumni basketball game at the college I played at 35 years ago.
I was the youngest alum that played – by 17 years – and so was a little worried about my ability to compete. The first time up the floor I realized I had no ability to compete.
But that didn’t stop me from having a great time playing the game I love. Once basketball gets into your blood, it really is hard to give it up. Let me be clear, you can never totally give it up.
So for an hour on Saturday afternoon I was back in my element. Up and down the floor, passing to guys who were much younger than me, who could actually do something with the basketball. And actually hitting a 20-footer in the fourth quarter (my only basket of the game). Yes, I was exhausted, not having played in years. (And, by the way, who lengthened the court when I wasn’t looking?)
I’m happy to report I didn’t get hurt and even though I was beat that night I actually wasn’t that sore the next day.
So was it my last game?
Prior to playing, I told the former coach who was there that this was probably the last time I would run up and down the court.
But now I’m not so sure.
Because when things get into your blood, you really have to do them. Sir Ken Robinson wrote a book recently called The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything. His point was that no matter how old you get or how incompetent you get at the sport or craft you used to be good at, if you love doing it, it is known as “your element.” And going back to it gives you life energy.
I had a doctor once who was an avid basketball player. One time, I went to see him complaining of a lack of energy – of a little sadness in my life – a little lethargy. The first question he asked me was not, “How’s your job?” Or, “How are your relationships?” Or, “What kind of medications are you on?”
The first question was, “How much basketball are you playing?” When I said, “None,” he replied, “Bill, that’s your problem. You loved basketball. The team. The smell of the gym. The feel of the ball. The optics of it all. How can you just give it up?”
