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One fleeting taste of glory
The winning basket (a memoir)
1953. Less than 30 seconds to play against our arch high school basketball rival. Tie score. Crowd in an uproar. High drama for a sophomore shooting guard/very small forward. Cigar-chomping coach (unlit in his mouth"“ amazing that it doesn't fall out) has us call time and brings us together to diagram a final play.
It's all kind of a fog. The noise from the crowd is deafening. Coach is calling my name. Line up close to the left out of bounds line. On the in-bounds pass, cut off the center's high post, receive ball for a final shot.
Run as diagrammed. Ball comes to me as I reach the top of the key. Two dribbles, turn toward basket. Let fly with a jumper. Bangs through off the backboard. A moment of disbelief. We win. The crowd explodes. Loudest noise I've ever heard in a small gym.
For a moment I feel like "something else." No, it's more like I know I am special. I can work wonders. The sense of power is briefly overwhelming. Soon it evaporates and I am a mere mortal again. But I've learned a lesson that didn't really hit home until after my college years. What I finally understood was a bit about why very talented athletes feel privileged and empowered.
It's got to be super hard to not let that specialness creep into the rest of your life.♦
To read a response, click here.
It's all kind of a fog. The noise from the crowd is deafening. Coach is calling my name. Line up close to the left out of bounds line. On the in-bounds pass, cut off the center's high post, receive ball for a final shot.
Run as diagrammed. Ball comes to me as I reach the top of the key. Two dribbles, turn toward basket. Let fly with a jumper. Bangs through off the backboard. A moment of disbelief. We win. The crowd explodes. Loudest noise I've ever heard in a small gym.
For a moment I feel like "something else." No, it's more like I know I am special. I can work wonders. The sense of power is briefly overwhelming. Soon it evaporates and I am a mere mortal again. But I've learned a lesson that didn't really hit home until after my college years. What I finally understood was a bit about why very talented athletes feel privileged and empowered.
It's got to be super hard to not let that specialness creep into the rest of your life.♦
To read a response, click here.
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