When I’m not sleeping or eating, I’m playing basketball. At school, at the gym, or in a driveway. With a group of friends, with one other person, or by myself. It doesn’t really matter the circumstances, as long as there’s a ball, a hoop, and me. I’m on the school team, but basketball season isn’t when I have the most fun playing. Don’t get me wrong, I love playing on the team. I just enjoy playing pickup ball more.
For one thing, there are so many ways you can play when you aren’t limited by official IHSA rules. Playing without cheap fouls makes the game much more fluid, which improves my playing experience. Playing streetball is also preferable to organized ball because one can play with any number of people. With even numbers, you can play 2 on 2, 3 on 3, etc. With an odd number of people, you can play 21 or 32.
Streetball is also much more relaxed than organized basketball. By relaxed, I don’t mean people are calm all the time. On the contrary, almost every game I play involves some shouting and pushing. (Actually, when tempers flare, I probably enjoy the game even more). What I mean by relaxed is that people aren’t limited to doing what coaches want them to do. When I play during free periods, I often test out new moves I’ve been working on, and throw up trick shots that I wouldn’t dare to try in a real game.
Unorganized basketball is also very entertaining, due to the amount of trash talk. Talking shit about other people is something I love to do while playing with them, and nothing is off limits during a heated game. I enjoy being loud, and basketball with friends gives me a perfect excuse to shout as much as I want to.
One of my favorite things is when I make someone mad at me, just by beating them in basketball. It amuses me to cross them so bad that they start pushing me, or hit a 3 in their eye so they start swearing at me. Of course, laughing doesn’t really help, but conflict sometimes makes the game more interesting for me. And that pretty much sums up why I prefer streetball to school sponsored basketball-- it’s more interesting.
I can't really say much about basketball, because I don't play it, but I'm never quite so motivated without some structure, e.g. a school game. I could learn a thing or two from you about exercising rather than staying on the computer. I haven't seen any street ball on my street since last summer...
ReplyDeleteEzra,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that pickup games are more fun than in the season games. The way that fouls are called in high school games slows down the tempo too much and makes it hard to establish a rhythm. You should hang out at the ARC or the YMCA, there are always really good pickup games there. The one big advantage to organized basketball is the crowds that comes to support us. Nice post.
Although I hate basketball with every fiber of my being, I must say your post has impressed me to a limited degree. I say limited because that's as much as I'm going to allow.
ReplyDeleteYou come off - no offense - as a facetious person. Yet I like your sense of humor, so no big deal. I enjoyed reading this; it has almost made me want to attempt at street-ball, with emphasis on almost. Keep up the good work and trick shots!
P.S. You have the most interesting of backgrounds.
Although I am quite mediocre at basketball, I would dunk on you all day. Anyways, I see why you like streetball quite clearly through your post. Well-written and good examples.
ReplyDeleteI can't say much about basketball either... especially organized basketball.
ReplyDeleteThe only kind I've ever played is street ball (in Haiti)... yeah, try trash-talking in french. NBD.
It was fun though! I love street ball. We actually had a rim that was nailed to a mango tree for a while, until my dad (brilliant engineer that he is) built a super cool basketball court for the community. Then we started setting up legit street teams and had a ton of fun.
I like your attitude in this post... very funny.
Ultimately ALL SPORTS ARE BETTER WHEN PLAYED THE STREET WAY.
PLAY THAT ALLEY BALL, BOY!
:)
Keep up the good work.
Ezra, remember allerton? hahaha talking stuff is one of the best parts of basketball but I feel like you are on the receiving end of it more than you dish it out.
ReplyDelete1st of all, you never talk shit. you get shit on by moi. this is some weak stuff. i have never heard you ever ever talk shit in a game. lol. However, streetball is more fun bc theres no coaches. haha. good post.
ReplyDeletegood post though
ReplyDeleteyou totally do ball out!
ReplyDelete