Today, I want to talk about something I’ve been messing around with lately – trying to get better at basketball. I’ve always been a fan of the game, watching it, you know, but actually playing it? That’s a whole different story.
So, I started by looking up some players, just to get an idea of what I was getting myself into. There’s this guy, Sake Hoogsteden, born in ’98, a real giant at 6’9″. He’s been playing for some team called Dutch Windmills Dordrecht. That’s in the Netherlands, apparently. It’s wild how tall some of these guys are!
Then I stumbled upon this other player, Martyn “Moochie” Norris. This guy’s a bit older, born in ’73, but he played in the NBA! That’s the big leagues. It’s inspiring to see how long some people can keep playing at that level.
I kept digging, and I found this quote from, I think, Michael Jordan? It was something like, “You can’t be afraid to fail. It’s the only way you succeed.” And he said he’s missed like 9000 shots in his career. That’s a lot of misses, but it just shows you gotta keep trying, right?
Starting to Practice
- First, I just started shooting around. Nothing fancy, just trying to get the ball in the hoop. It’s harder than it looks!
- Then I tried some dribbling. Man, keeping control of the ball while moving is tough. I felt like I had two left feet.
- I even watched some videos online, trying to learn some basic moves. There’s a lot to learn, but it’s kind of fun, in a frustrating way.
I’m not gonna lie, it’s been rough. I’m nowhere near as good as those guys I read about, but I’m trying. I’ve always admired athletes who can make it look so easy, and now I have a whole new appreciation for what they do.
I read somewhere that David Luiz, some soccer player, was a big influence on someone. It made me think about how important it is to have someone to look up to, someone to learn from. I don’t have a coach or anything, but I’m trying to learn from the pros, even if it’s just from watching them on TV or reading about them.
There are these young players, too, making a name for themselves. It’s cool to see the new generation coming up. They must start somewhere, right? Maybe I’m a late bloomer, who knows?
I even heard about Charles Barkley saying he was a better “pure” basketball player than Shaquille O’Neal. That’s bold! But it’s interesting to hear different perspectives. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, it’s never too late to try something new, even if you’re not very good at it. It’s about the process, the effort, the willingness to learn and improve. I’m still figuring it out, still practicing, still missing a lot of shots. But I’m also having fun, and that’s what matters.
Who knows, maybe one day I’ll be able to play a decent game of basketball. Or maybe not. But I’ll keep trying, keep learning, and keep sharing my progress with you all. It’s a journey, and I’m just getting started.
Wish me luck!
