Opinion : Basketball

It's funny how the game of basketball conjures up memories for me, and not good ones. When I was a teenager, baseball/softball was more my game. That started in the backyard of the neighbor.

Being the chubby player in high school, it was assumed that for sure I couldn't hit a baseball. Every time I stepped up to bat, the players moved in. I knew that if I could get them to move up to the baseline, I had 'em.

Most of the time I did. Right over their heads, and that was my goal was to teach them not to underestimate me. I would grin during most games because every time they judged me by what they saw and every time they'd go to the baseline. Never learning, only assuming.

Now basketball is a completely different story. I hated the game. Chalk it up to a nasty coach whose idea of who was important was those that he deemed perfect. 6 feet tall or short and fast.

I went to a small private school where, there were so few of us in the school that EVERYONE had to play on the team. Our "coach" was a guy that was a runner, and had a pretty short fuse. I learned early to just be considered 5th string, as if we had that many players. So that's how I played. You think I'm bad at this game? I will be. I will give you absolutely nothing in return for your questioning why I was even there.

The game cost me a tooth. During one practice when I stepped off the edge of the court and the cement and my mouth met. The coach shook his head in disgust and walked off. I picked up the tooth, and tried to find something to soak up the blood as I walked up to the school. So yeah, basketball has all of those memories attached to it. I hated the game.

Until my cousin said, "Do you want to come over and watch the game with us?" Well, not really, I thought. However, it was something that he was excited about so I said, "Sure."

Of course, I needed all the explanations about how it was different in a college game. For the most part, I just enjoyed watching the cheering in the living room. At one point I'm sure I have hearing damage in my left ear.

Then this gal named Caitlin Clark stepped up to the plate, I mean onto the court. I watched as she was about to break her first record, and then she did. Then the second, and then I was on my phone. Which record is next? I was in. Mind you I still am not a fan of the game for the reasons above, but I was invested in Caitlyn.

Now I wanted Caitlin to break EVERY record! It's no longer about the game, it's about watching history. I've always loved history. So now, I'm not cheering for a basketball game, I'm cheering for a gal, that had a dream. I want her now to win everything!

I find the older I get the more I am rooting for any woman that can make a mark. Caitlin has done it.

Of course, there's a little bit of me that wanted Iowa to stomp LSU last night. Naw, there was a lot inside me that wanted to see that. I admit it, it was the desire for revenge. I remember the last game honestly, because there are so few games that I've watched. I remember being annoyed with the lack of sportsmanship and class on the side of LSU when they won.

The LSU coach insisted that her team would not be apologizing for their lack of class last year and consistently referred to the players on her team as children. "That child will not be apologizing" she said of her Angel. Therefore, in my mind, that "child" needed to lose, and to lose big time, and they did.

The Iowa women's basketball team is now in the top four. To all of the basketball fans out there, you can tell me who they play next. As for me, I'll be along for the ride.

I'm sure I'll be watching to the end because my cousin will make sure that I do! (But of course, I'll be watching for the next records) Maybe next week I'll have a different take on it.

Caitlin, it's all about breaking any record that is still left standing. If you're going to break one, you have to break them all! Let's go, girl...oh and of course the rest of the team!