It’s been a while since I posted on here, and I realized that I don’t really have much traffic because of that, and the lack of my organization and the overall lack of interesting things on here. It’s kind of become a rarely used journal. If I wrote in here by hand, I wouldn’t be surprised if a reader could tell my age was progressing based on my hand writing changing between posts…
I’ve been playing fantasy basketball. Stupid, really, because I never cared much. It’s always been hard for my to watch sports in some ways because I’d rather be playing them, and watching is a way of reminding myself that I’m not. Not following through with certain ideas I’ve had could potentially return to haunt me-but I digress.
What I’d really like to gripe about right now, is the lack of mental and physical toughness of people, in general. I can think of a few specific people in general, but I don’t want to start name dropping because I’m sure in situations I could be accused of the same…it’s just irritating when some people consistantly have bad attitudes about everything and don’t realize they are the antagonist! Some people are just so oblivious to everyone around them…you would think they got a clue based on the looks people give them and things they say both to their face and back.
Maybe ignorance is bliss? I’m not so sure, I think it’s bliss until you are no longer ignorant, either because of your own revelations, but especially those revelations provoked by others. You can always count on a stranger to tell you the truth, by the fact that they remain a stranger after conversing with you.
I’d also like to add, I think it’s funny how some people call their own fouls during basketball games. I’ve noticed this a lot while playing at different places around. When I was in Europe, we played HARD, and even if you got bumped, slapped or shoved, you rarely got a foul. Being easy to knock over doesn’t help either…you end up just making other players mad at you, because that typically leads to a fastbreak. Anyway, toughen up a bit, I guarentee most people don’t know what a true foul is and what isn’t. Let me give you some examples of fouls that SHOULD be called while playing pickup basketball but which aren’t. Keep in mind, these actually change the flow of the game, not only for one defensive/offensive player, but the entire team.
Moving Screens - What is so difficult with being set BEFORE the player is moving towards you? The rule says you have to be set before the player initiates the step into your body, so if I’m stepping across and you slide in front, that’s a foul. I’m tempted to not try to avoid one next time and then call a foul.
Handchecking - If you want to play NBA rules, then play ALL of them. Get your hand off my hip when I’ve got the ball, especially while driving. That’s also a foul.
General physical contact in the lower box - You know those hash marks on the baseline? Those are there to outline the “lower box.” What that means is that you can’t have two HANDS on a player AT ALL who is posted up down there. One hand and a forearm is not two hands. Two palms is. Foul, genius.
Blocking - Most people are beaten really badly, so you moving over and trying to fend off the player with your legs and arms is also a foul. Use them before the move to fix that problem.
Charging - If I’m set, even if I jump, and you create the contact by coming straight into me, that’s a foul. No, you didn’t do it like you saw on TV, those guys are much quicker and stronger than you, so it just LOOKS like you can do that. You can’t.
I’m done complaining…for now, but seriously, let’s remember that there is a reason why YOU don’t play professionally. Whoever “you” may be.
