Might as well face it, I'm addicted to basketball
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Hi, my name is Stephen, and I have a basketball problem.
Since November, basketball has been a part of my life, and with the high school season over in Highland County, I can't seem to kick the habit.
Since the Lady Tigers became the final Highland County team to bow out of postseason play, I have either watched, played or read about basketball in some sort. Not to mention during the regular season I read what I call the Bible of the NBA: "The Book of Basketball," by Bill Simmons. Yep, I read all 700-plus pages of it. Took me until January to finish it, and I read every page. There were no SparkNotes for that book.
There is no chewing gum or meetings for me to attend for basketball addiction, and the habit seems even more enticing as basketball is all over the TV this month. Dick Vitale can make me fall into peer pressure. IT'S AWESOME, BABY!!!
Only thing I can compare it to is quitting a fast food habit, since I've never been addicted to cigarettes. I have pretty much kicked the fast food habit, but this basketball thing is kicking my butt.
Since the middle of November when I wrote the previews for the high school season and watched Fairfield and MHS play a scrimmage at Grandle Gymnasium, this game has been a part of my life for the past five months.
Now it is only getting worse. This year, I have rekindled my love for the NBA like it used to be in the ‘90s with Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan and even Otis Thorpe. Take, for instance, this past Sunday. I watched UK, Ohio State and the Cavs, not to mention an NCAA bracket show and an ESPN documentary on Reggie Miller against the Knicks of the ‘90s. (God, the NBA in the ‘90s was great.)
Now March Madness is here, so basically I might overdose on basketball and possibly tortilla chips and salsa with all these games played. (Can you think of a better snack to get through all of these games other than chips and salsa?)
Last year, I wrote about the Madness of March. I'd tell you to check it out, but since I am now at the Highland County Press, I'll just remind you of my work from a year ago.
So, for a refresher, last year I wrote about all the teams in a column on how the NCAA bracket was driving me mad. This year, I am just in a trance with all of the basketball that has been in the old life in the past five months.
Deciding not to keep track on how many games I attended or wrote about this year was a good thing, but let’s just say with games that were attended or called in by teams, the number was in triple digits.
So, you might be wondering: how did I spend my first weekday of being basketball free?
You got it, I attended what turned out to be the rare occasion that LeBron James didn't play this season in Cleveland. Yep, I traveled 3-plus hours and watched more basketball. Tim Duncan played, so at least one future Hall of Famer decided to take the court that day.
The funny thing about my love of the game is the fact I am pretty much the worst basketball player on the face of the earth, maybe the universe. I bet the team Monstars in "Space Jam" could beat me. (By the way, I used to love the “Space Jam” soundtrack growing up.)
On the court, I am a spelling bee champion. I guarantee you I can spell pig, horse, cow, pretty much any farm animal faster than anyone. Pick any word and on the court, I will be the first to spell it.
Sorry, I get off-topic sometimes, but let's talk about the NCAA and March Madness.
I don't know what flavor of Kool-Aid coaches and NCAA officials are drinking, but I don't even care even if it is Tropical Punch made with a half of package of sugar, extending the field from 65 to 96 is about nothing but money! They don't care about the student-athlete, all they want to do is save their job and make more money. Look at the teams that would have made it if the field was 96 this year. UConn, North Carolina, Mississippi State? I know UConn and UNC have top-notch histories, but this was a year to forget for both of them. As for Mississippi St.? Nope, they had a good three-day span, and that is about it. Where were they all season long?
Please, for the love of God, I hope they get off their sugar high and rethink their proposal to extend the field. It would be the NCAA tourney, plus the NIT, which would ruin the opening weekend, and in the long run, ruin the Madness of March. Now that might drive fans of college basketball mad! At least it would drive me mad!
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press[[In-content Ad]]
Since November, basketball has been a part of my life, and with the high school season over in Highland County, I can't seem to kick the habit.
Since the Lady Tigers became the final Highland County team to bow out of postseason play, I have either watched, played or read about basketball in some sort. Not to mention during the regular season I read what I call the Bible of the NBA: "The Book of Basketball," by Bill Simmons. Yep, I read all 700-plus pages of it. Took me until January to finish it, and I read every page. There were no SparkNotes for that book.
There is no chewing gum or meetings for me to attend for basketball addiction, and the habit seems even more enticing as basketball is all over the TV this month. Dick Vitale can make me fall into peer pressure. IT'S AWESOME, BABY!!!
Only thing I can compare it to is quitting a fast food habit, since I've never been addicted to cigarettes. I have pretty much kicked the fast food habit, but this basketball thing is kicking my butt.
Since the middle of November when I wrote the previews for the high school season and watched Fairfield and MHS play a scrimmage at Grandle Gymnasium, this game has been a part of my life for the past five months.
Now it is only getting worse. This year, I have rekindled my love for the NBA like it used to be in the ‘90s with Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan and even Otis Thorpe. Take, for instance, this past Sunday. I watched UK, Ohio State and the Cavs, not to mention an NCAA bracket show and an ESPN documentary on Reggie Miller against the Knicks of the ‘90s. (God, the NBA in the ‘90s was great.)
Now March Madness is here, so basically I might overdose on basketball and possibly tortilla chips and salsa with all these games played. (Can you think of a better snack to get through all of these games other than chips and salsa?)
Last year, I wrote about the Madness of March. I'd tell you to check it out, but since I am now at the Highland County Press, I'll just remind you of my work from a year ago.
So, for a refresher, last year I wrote about all the teams in a column on how the NCAA bracket was driving me mad. This year, I am just in a trance with all of the basketball that has been in the old life in the past five months.
Deciding not to keep track on how many games I attended or wrote about this year was a good thing, but let’s just say with games that were attended or called in by teams, the number was in triple digits.
So, you might be wondering: how did I spend my first weekday of being basketball free?
You got it, I attended what turned out to be the rare occasion that LeBron James didn't play this season in Cleveland. Yep, I traveled 3-plus hours and watched more basketball. Tim Duncan played, so at least one future Hall of Famer decided to take the court that day.
The funny thing about my love of the game is the fact I am pretty much the worst basketball player on the face of the earth, maybe the universe. I bet the team Monstars in "Space Jam" could beat me. (By the way, I used to love the “Space Jam” soundtrack growing up.)
On the court, I am a spelling bee champion. I guarantee you I can spell pig, horse, cow, pretty much any farm animal faster than anyone. Pick any word and on the court, I will be the first to spell it.
Sorry, I get off-topic sometimes, but let's talk about the NCAA and March Madness.
I don't know what flavor of Kool-Aid coaches and NCAA officials are drinking, but I don't even care even if it is Tropical Punch made with a half of package of sugar, extending the field from 65 to 96 is about nothing but money! They don't care about the student-athlete, all they want to do is save their job and make more money. Look at the teams that would have made it if the field was 96 this year. UConn, North Carolina, Mississippi State? I know UConn and UNC have top-notch histories, but this was a year to forget for both of them. As for Mississippi St.? Nope, they had a good three-day span, and that is about it. Where were they all season long?
Please, for the love of God, I hope they get off their sugar high and rethink their proposal to extend the field. It would be the NCAA tourney, plus the NIT, which would ruin the opening weekend, and in the long run, ruin the Madness of March. Now that might drive fans of college basketball mad! At least it would drive me mad!
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press[[In-content Ad]]