Old School

I just can't quit playing basketball.  I should.  My body is telling me that I need to.  Two years ago, I had my 3rd surgery on my left knee.  The first was ACL and other two were meniscus.  I basically have severe arthritis in my knee.  Bone on bone.  I remember my surgeon saying, "You can think of your knee like an old sports car with a limited amount of miles left--you can use up all the miles right now, or spread them out for the rest of your life."  I tend to live in the now.  And Old School is now.


Old School is the name of my basketball team.  We have played together for about 8 years in the Portland city league www.portlandbasketball.com.  Our average age is 43.  We go 6'7", 6'7", 6'6", 6'4', 6'2", 6'1", and me, 5'7".  All but 2 on our team played College basketball, even if it was back when there was no 3 point line.  We routinely compete, and do quite well, against teams half our age.  There is something quite satisfying about walking in the gym, and witnessing our opponents sizing us up in our old school shoes and athletic wear, snickering all the while.  And then they soon find out that they have to play defense for more than 5 seconds, and witness a sky hook, and a backdoor cut for a lay-up, and ball fake after ball fake.  Old School style.


Old School always goes out after the game.  I would say 75% of that time is spent talking about the game.  Reliving shots, blocks, passes and plays.  There is often a bag of ice on a knee or ankle.  And we talk about the inevitable soreness we will feel the next few days.  But we keep coming back for more.  It feeds our soul.

Use your health, even to the point of wearing it out.
 That is what it is for. 

Spend all you have before you die; do not outlive yourself.

George Bernard Shaw