I don’t particularly play the sport, I cannot say it is my all-time favourite. At the same time, I don’t know what it is about basketball that I find slightly addicting, making me want to continue playing. I grabbed my basketball, looking down to see the words SPALDING NBA written on the rough face. Bouncing my way out of the garage, I could smell the fresh air. In that particular moment, I felt so lucky, so fortunate. From where I was standing, about a metre and a half away from the net, I placed my hands and fingers in position. As the ball soared through the air, a loud *bang* came from the backboard. I missed, I missed the shot completely! I was so sure, I was sure I was going to make it. Frustrated, I stood there staring. Staring at the ball bouncing its way across the pavement, staring at the lonely, still rim. There I was, complaining in my head, frustrated with myself for missing. Suddenly, the thick scent of burnt plastic and pollution filled me. I was so fortunate though. I had this option, the option of shooting baskets. Maybe I would miss, I know I’m not the best player in the world. That’s for sure. It’s fun, and it reminds me of my childhood as well as how fortunate I am to even have the opportunity to play.
As a child, I would go to this amusement park: Canada’s Paramount Wonderland. I did not go frequently, I did not go often. I went once in a while. But every time I would hop in the car and smile as we drove to Wonderland, the thought of playing one of the games there filled my mind. Peach Baskets! Yeah, it’s lame. It really is. But for a 6 or 7 year old, it was so fun. “Step right up!” was all you could hear coming from the booth. Glancing over, the guy was just sitting there. Always young, every single time. I was a smart kid. I could see in his face, his eyes, attitude, posture that he did not want to be standing there saying “step right up!” every time a family walked by. His way of filling his wallet every summer was by saying “step right up!” and when a family came along, like mine for example, the guy would just hand us a few baseballs. Automatically, I knew what to do. I calculated in my mind where the ball should land. Therefore, how high to toss it, in which direction- more left or more right? Not all chances of throwing would be successful, but I tried. The same is with basketball. Why stand there, looking like a complete idiot because you missed a shot or two? Or three? Or four? Try. Try with everything. “If you do not succeed the first time, try, try again.” That’s kind of how I roll. That’s more like how everything is. Yes, some things come natural to some people. At the same time, it does not for others. You (anyone) cannot give up so fast at something if you fail. Overhearing my sister’s conversation with my other sister, the only sentence I picked up was “Do not give up so fast, especially if you’ve already been working on it. Don’t sit back and watch all your efforts go to waste.”