For The Love Of The Game (Book 1)

Chapter 6: You're Trash

I looked at the court that was in front of me, as I knew that it was all that I had left at this point, after I had told my mom that I was dropping out of the league that she had signed me up for. I knew that she was a bit disappointed for it, as she felt like I was giving up on my hopes and dreams, but at the exact same time too, I also knew that she was relieved, due to the fact that she did not have to take me to practice twice a week, and that she did not have to take me to the games.
I really did not care either way, as long as she had gotten her money back for it, which she had, luckily enough, all at the exact same time too. I was glad for it, as I knew that my mother was strapped on cash as it was already. I really did not want to be on a team that was going to treat me like trash, and not give me any sort of chance any ways.
My mother thought that I could not grow as a player if I was not in a league, but that was just not the case, as I more kind of felt like I could not grow in a league where they were not going to give me any sort of chance at all, what so ever. It was fine with me, as it was their own loss, and I hoped that some day I could prove to not just them, but to the entire world, that every one had a chance.
None of that really mattered at this point how ever, as I then all of the sudden got my mind, and my focus on the fact that I saw that there was a bunch of players in a court that was not all too far away from me right at this very moment in time too. I was quite glad that my mother had moved to a bit of a nicer part of town, as she now felt it safe for me to go out side now.
I was simply just walking to my closest court, that way I could practice with my shooting, all at the exact same time as well, as I had a basketball in my hands that was signed by DeShawn Glass never the less, which he had become a big name around the city as of late, after how well it was that he had showed him self off in the G-League all at the exact same time too.
I felt like I should be the one that felt pride in him, due to the fact that I had believed in him from the beginning. None of that really mattered to me at all right now how ever, as I knew that I was far back from the days where I would get any sort of chance at playing in the league any ways. I still had room to grow, both in my game, and to actually physically grow none the less, as I knew that I had just had my 14th birthday the other day, none the less.
I breathed in quite a bit to my self, as I then nodded to my self all at once as well, as I did my best to try to calm my self down all at once, as I knew that I was not going to be this short forever, and I hoped that my growth spurt was going to happen soon, so that I had an actual chance to play some basketball against some real talent, and not some rec league teams.
I knew that basketball try outs were a few weeks away, and I had been working out at the gym during the week ends, and some times even the weak days, that way I could go ahead and get strong at the very least, as I knew that I would get destroyed on the defensive side of the ball, if I was to not get at least some what sort of strong, none the less.
Now I simply had a day off of school, as it had been a teacher work day, all at the exact same time too, as I was glad that it was the case, as I knew that it meant that I had a 3 day week end, all at the exact same time too. I blinked my eyes a few times, as I got my mind, and I got my thoughts off of all of that, all at once, as I headed around the 1st court all at once, where I could see a 5 on 5 pick up game going on, all at the exact same time as well.
I went to head over to the 2nd court, all at the exact same time as well, so that I could practice some shooting skills, when I then all of the sudden stopped my self, all at the exact same time as well, and I then all of the sudden got my mind, on the fact that I saw that they were lining them selves up for the next game, as it was clear to me that they were about to start another game, all at the exact same time too.
I blinked my eyes a few times, as I then all of the sudden tilted my head a bit, all at the exact same time as well. I was going to go practice shooting, but for some reason I stopped my self as soon as I saw some of the players that were on the court all at the exact same time too, and some of the players that were waiting to hop in to the next game, all at the exact same time too.
It seemed to be nothing all too special what so ever to me, as I knew that I should go on ahead and go to the next court, all at the exact same time too, but for some odd reason or another, I did not do as such a thing, as I then all of the sudden decided to go on ahead and start to head over to where the rest of the players were at right now, all at the exact same time too, as I then all of the sudden stopped my self right when I saw the guy who seemed to be leading all of this.
The guy was paying me no such sort of attention what so ever, as I saw that he had his eyes on the court, and he had a big smile on his face, as I knew that there should be no such sort of reason as to him needing to pay me any sort of attention, all at the exact same time as well. How ever, I felt like I wanted to get the attention of the man, all at the exact same time too, as I then all of the sudden began to start to speak up to the man, all at once.
My voice kind of cracked at first, due to the fact that I knew that I was still a kid, and also the fact that I knew that I was very nervous right now. How ever, when the man then all of the sudden turned his head over to me, I did in fact continue to keep on speaking, as I ignored the voice crack that I had a few seconds ago, now that I knew that the guy was listening as to just what it was that I even had to say to him in the very first place any ways.
"Can I hop in to the next game with the rest of you?" I said to him, as I saw the guy seem to stare at me with a bit of a blank look on his face at first, as if he had not heard what it was that I had even said to him in the very first place any ways, which did kind of get on my nerves a bit, as I breathed in quite a bit to my self all at once, as I did my best to try to calm my self down, all at the exact same time too, such as my therapist had told me to do.
I breathed in quite a bit heavily to my self all at once, as I then all of the sudden saw the guy blink his eyes a few times, all at the exact same time as well, as it was clear that the guy was a bit surprised as to the fact that a kid such as I, wanted to hop in to a 5 on 5 game with a bunch of grown men who were all street ballers, all at the exact same time as well.
The man tilted his head at me, as it seemed like he did not actually think that I was the one that had spoken to him all at the exact same time as well, until he then began to look around him, all at once, just to make sure that no one else had some how managed to sneak up on him, and speak to him in a bit of a high tone of voice none the less, due to the fact of how young it was that I even was in the very first place any ways, as well.
After a little while longer, he then looked at me right in to my eyes, as I could still tell that he was surprised that I wanted to go play with the rest of the guys that were on the court, which as much as it might annoy me, I also knew that it would in fact surprise him to see a kid like me want to play with a bunch of grown adults on some pick up games, all at the exact same time as well.
I blinked my eyes a few times, as I did my best to try to calm my self down, all at once, as I then all of the sudden got my mind, and I got my focus off of all of those other thoughts, as I then all of the sudden began to start to realize, all at the exact same time too, that the main guy was not the only guy that I had drawn attention to, all at the exact same time as well, as it was clear to me that every one else that had been standing around us, had clearly heard what it was that I had said.
I heard a few people laugh, as if I was just joking about what it was that I had just said, which did in fact seem to upset me quite a bit, but I did my best to try not to get all too upset with it, all at once, as I just breathed in a bit of a soft sigh to my self, and I kept my attention on the main guy, who I had seen around this court several times, almost as if he lived here, all at the exact same time too, as I knew that he was the one that I needed to have my focus on right now.
How ever, I did in fact get my focus on some one altogether completely different than the main man, as I then all of the sudden heard the tone of voice that he was using, as it was clear that it was a grown man who seemed to be mocking a kid such as I, which was quite a bit low for the man if I was not going to lie to my self either, as I then all of the sudden turned my head around, over to the guy who was talking about me, all at the exact same time too.
I blinked my eyes a few times, as I stared at the man for just a few moments, as I saw that he had a big smile on his face, as it was clear that he thought that he was funny, and he thought that he was cool, with the fact that he was making fun of a kid like me, none the less. I got my mind, and my focus off of all of those thoughts how ever, as I just began to start to listen as to just what it was that he had to say to every one that was around him right at this very moment in time too.
"Come on! Kid... We are way out of your league... I can't tell if you are just a really young kid, or just a midget... There's an open court for you to play on, just over there..." He said, as he began to laugh, along with the rest of the guys that were around him, which they all seemed to think that what it was that he had said was for some odd reason or another, funny to them, all at the exact same time too, though it seemed like they were simply just sheep flocking to their leader, if I was not going to lie to my self.
I also was not going to lie to my self either, I had in fact gone over to this place to work on my shooting game, as I was not all too sure as to just what it was that I had been thinking on the fact that I had wanted to go play in a pick up game against a bunch of grown men, all at the exact same time too, as I let out another bit of a soft sigh to my self, all at once, as I did my best to try to not get too angry, as I did my best to try to stay as calm as I possibly could, all at the exact same time too.
Perhaps I should not have even tried to go and join up with the rest of these guys in a pick up game, as I kind of wanted to just dip my head a bit low to the ground, and give in to just what it was that the guy had told me to do, and just go on ahead and practice shooting the ball on the open side of the court, all at the exact same time as well, but I did not do as such a thing how ever, as I knew that was not the type of person that I was.
I knew that I was a rebellious kid for one thing, but also the fact that it made me angry that the guy was saying those sorts of things to me, as I was in fact a kid, and he thought that it was funny as to the fact that he was bullying me, all at the exact same time as well, as I had plenty of that to deal with when ever it was that I was in middle school, all at the exact same time too, as it did in fact hurt me, and it made me think of doing evil things.
That was the main reason as to just why it was that my mom had gotten a therapist for me, all at the exact same time too, as she knew the rage that I had up in side of me, and the amount of anger that I had as well, as I had blown up on her a few times, which I knew for a fact that I always hated my self for doing, as I said some hateful words such as 'I hate you!' and other things that I had told her, which were not true what so ever.
I actually did in fact love my mother, as I was in fact grateful for her as well, and all that she did for me, all at the exact same time too, if I was not going to lie to my self either, as I breathed in quite a bit to my self, all at once, as I did my best to try to calm my self down, all at the exact same time too, as I then got my mind, and I got my focus off of all of those thoughts all at once, as I then all of the sudden began to start to remember as to just what it was that was going on around me right now.
I had a bit of a blank look on my face for the longest amount of time, all at the exact same time too, as I could still hear a few people laughing, as it then all of the sudden reminded me as to just what it was that had just happened all at the exact same time too. I then let out the anger, all at once, at least not as bad as I normally did, as I then all of the sudden threw the ball at the guy, who seemed to be a bit surprised as to just what it was that I had just done, as he caught the ball at the last second, as if it was a pass to the paint.
I could tell that he still was in fact a bit surprised, and he was a bit confused as to just what it was that I had even done in the very first place any ways, as he then all of the sudden tilted his head at me, all at once. As I saw him do that, I then all of the sudden decided to crack a bit of a smile on my own face, as it kind of seemed like a different creature was starting to take over me all of the sudden, all at the exact same time as well, as I blinked my eyes a few times, as I did my best to try to keep my self as calm as I possibly could, as I then just continued to stare the man right in to his eyes.
I then nodded to the guy all at once, as I could tell that the guy was a little bit uncomfortable, all at the exact same time too, as I breathed in quite a bit to my self, all at once, as I did my best to try to calm my self down, all at the exact same time too, as I blinked my eyes a few times, and I then all of the sudden got my mind, and I got my focus off of all of those thoughts, all at once, as I then all of the sudden saw the man nod back to me.
Though, he was in fact a bit confused as to just what it was that was going on with me still, he did at the very least let me know that he was in fact paying attention as to just what it was that I was about to say to him in the very first place any ways, which I was glad for if I was not going to lie to my self either, as I then did in fact begin to start to speak to the man, now that I did in fact know that he was in fact listening as to just what it was that I even had to say to him in the very first place any ways, never the less.
"Well... If I really am a midget, than why dont you beat me on a 1 on 1? I said to the dude, all at the exact same time as well, as I could tell that he was in fact a bit surprised and he was in fact a bit shocked as to just what it was that I had even said to him in the very first place any ways, as I breathed in quite a bit to my self, all at once, as I got my mind, and I got my focus off of all of those thoughts, as I heard all of the guys around him stop laughing.
It was clear that it had all of the sudden got a bit serious, all at the exact same time too, as I was a little bit worried if I had said the wrong thing, all at the exact same time too, as I knew that there was a lot of gang and mob stuff that went on in Chicago, all at the exact same time too, and I did not want to be the next victim of a shooting, all at the exact same time too, as I then all of the sudden began to start to shiver at the thought of all of that, all at the exact same time too.
The guy looked away from me, all at once, as he then all of the sudden seemed to look over at one of his friends that had been laughing, and seemingly been cheering him on a few moments before, as it was clear that the guy still had a bit of a smile on his face, all at the exact same time too, as it seemed like the joke to him did not seem to be over to him just yet, as it seemed like he wanted to go on ahead and start to burst out laughing at any moment, all at the exact same time as well.
That was of course, until he then all of the sudden saw that his friend, who was the one that I had just challenged a few moments ago, now all of the sudden had a big smile on his face, all at the exact same time too, as I breathed in quite a bit to my self, all at once, as I did my best to try to calm my self down, all at the exact same time as well, as I then all of the sudden began to start to breath in to my self, all at once.
I could not tell if I had caused a bit of some tension in the area or not, all at the exact same time too, as I blinked my eyes a few times, as I saw that even the main game that had been on the main court had all of the sudden seemed to stop, all at the exact same time as well, as it seemed like their attention was now all of the sudden on just what it was that was going on over here, all at the exact same time too, as I saw that they all had their eyes over to where it was that I was at, all of the sudden.
Though, I kind of felt like that could also be due to the fact that the game could have just ended, because I knew that when I had first got here, all at the exact same time too, it seemed like they were getting ready to start up another game, all at the exact same time as well, none the less. I got my mind, and I got my focus off of them how ever, all at the exact same time too, as I then got my focus back on to just what it was that was going on in front of me, all at the exact same time too.
I saw that the guy that I had just spoken to, not all too much longer before now, all of the sudden had his eyes, and he had his attention back on to me, all at the exact same time as well, as it kind of seemed like he had said some thing to his friend, all at the exact same time too, who I still noticed did not seem to have a big smile on his face, much unlike the rest of the people that were all around us, all at the exact same time as well.
I got my mind, and I got my focus off of that guy once again, how ever, as I just kept my eyes on the main guy who was in front of me right now, who had seemed to step up to speak, as I saw that he still had a bit of a smile on his face, but I could tell that he was a little bit uncomfortable all of the sudden, as it seemed like I had said some thing that might have gotten under his skin not all too much longer before now, all at the exact same time too, as it was clear to me that he still seemed to be a little bit off due to that.
After a few moment longer, as he seemed to stare at me for a bit more of some time, he then all of the sudden nodded to me, all at the exact same time as well, to let me know that he was in fact about to go on ahead and speak to me, all at the exact same time as well, none the less. I blinked my eyes a few times, as I was still a little bit lost as to just what it was that was even going on right now, but eventually, in the end, I did in fact get my mind, and my focus back on to the guy.
The guy seemed to be a little bit on edge, as I decided to smirk right back at him, as I then all of the sudden did in fact nod back to him, to let him know that I was in fact paying attention to what ever it was that he was even about to say to me in the next few moments, all at the exact same time as well, none the less. Once it was that it seemed like he saw me do as such a thing, he then did in fact finally, after quite a bit of some time, decide that he was in fact going to speak to me, as I then all of the sudden did in fact begin to start to listen as to just what it was that the guy even had to say to me in the very first place any ways, never the less.
"Well... Alright kid... Hell... I'll even give you the ball first... But be prepared to get 21 skunked... If you even know what that is..." He said to me, as if he thought that I was some kind of idiot, and I did not know what it was that I was doing what so ever when it came to basketball, just because I was on the shorter side of basketball players. I was fairly certain that I knew more about the game than this guy did, but that was besides the point, as I let out quite a bit of a heavy sigh to my self all at once, as I got my mind, and I got my focus off of all of those thoughts, all at the exact same time as well.
I blinked my eyes a few times, as I just kept the same grin on my face that I had before hand, as I was fairly certain that so long as things went right for me, as I doubt that this guy was even going to be trying against me, as that was how big of an ego that it seemed like this guy had, than he was going to be the one that was going to be getting 21 skunked, all at the exact same time too.
I got my mind off of all of that, all at once, as I just reached my hands out, for the guy to give me my basketball back, so that we could go ahead and get all of this started, as far as I could tell, there was a lot of people that were quite a bit interested to see as to just how it was that this was going to play out, all at the exact same time as well, as normally, I was a bit uncomfortable to see such a big crowd around me, but this time I was kind of a bit excited to see this, as I felt like it might be a big chance for me to get my name up on the map, all at the exact same time as well, none the less.
I breathed in quite a bit to my self, as the dude then tossed the ball back at me, though not quite as hard as I had towards him, as it was clear that he still knew that I was a kid at the very least, never the less. Shortly after all of that, all at the exact same time too, we then all of the sudden began to walk on to the main court, which it was clear to me that the game that they had been playing before hand was now all of the sudden over, as I saw them all getting off the court, to see how this game that I was about to play 1 on 1 against this guy in, was to go.
I blinked my eyes a few times, as I then all of the sudden began to start to breath in quite a bit to my self, all at once, none the less, as I then all of the sudden began to start to get my mind, and my attention on the fact that we were getting ready to get this game started, all at the exact same time too, as we were getting up to our positions around the perimeter, as I could still tell that the guy was not taking this game all too seriously, all at the exact same time too.
I knew that was how it was that I was going to take advantage of him, all at the exact same time too, at least for the first few points that I was going to score none the less, as I then all of the sudden nodded a bit to my self, and I then nodded towards the guy, all at the exact same time too, as I then threw the ball too him, just as I had done before, though this time it was not quite as hard as it had been just a few moments ago, when I had tossed it over to him, none the less.
Once the guy had it in his hand, he then all of the sudden tossed the ball back over to me, all at the exact same time too, as he then began to ruffle up his shorts, all at the exact same time as well, such as every player did when ever it was that they were about to go up in to a game against some one, none the less, as I breathed in quite a bit to my self, all at the exact same time too, aa I quickly then began to think through my head, as to just what it was that I was going to do in this first possession against him, all at the exact same time as well, never the less.
I looked at the man, as I could tell that he was sagging off of me quite a bit, all at the exact same time too, as I knew that I could simply start it off with a wide open 3, all at the exact same time too. Though, I doubt that would impress any one for one thing, as I knew that just about any one could make a wide open shot none the less. Plus, there was also the fact that I was not the best at shooting the ball never the less, as that was the reason that I had come to these courts in the very first place any ways, none the less.
I had not come to play a game, but that was besides the point at this point, as I knew that it was too late to pussy out of this, all at the exact same time too, as I then all of the sudden got my mind off of all of those thoughts, all at the exact same time too, as I then all of the sudden got my mind, and my focus on the fact as to just what it was that was going on right now, as I knew that I had held on to the ball for quite a bit of some time, with out a single dribble of the ball.
That was when it then began to start to hit me, all at once, none the less, as to just what it was that I could do that might be able to impress every one that was here, all at the exact same time as well, as I knew that this move did not need me to dribble, at least, not at first, as to just what it was that I was going to pull on the guy, all at the exact same time as well, none the less, as I then all of the sudden blinked my eyes all at once, as I then all of the sudden got my self in to the game.
I the began to start to lift my arms up, as if I was going to go in to the motion to get ready to shoot a 3, all at the exact same time as well. Though, that was not my plan how ever, all at the exact same time as well, as I then all of the sudden saw the man jump up, and over towards me, in hopes of blocking the shot that he thought that I was about to shoot, all at the exact same time as well, none the less.
That was the problem for him how ever, as I did not have any sort of intent on shooting the ball, all at the exact same time too, as I then all of the sudden, as soon as I had him in the air, then seemed to drive past him, quite a bit easily, all at the exact same time as well, before he even had the chance to even realize as to just what it was that I was doing, and just what it was that was even going on in the very first place any ways, as I then went straight over to the paint, all at once.
I then felt like I should embarrass the guy even more than I had done before, as I knew that it was a very ballsy, and very risky play that I was about to do, all at the exact same time too, but I knew that I should go on ahead and do it, just to make it look even cooler as to just what it was that I had done, as I saw the guy sprinting over to catch up to me, all at the exact same time as well, to try to block my layup, which he would not have even close to a chance to do any ways.
I pretended to slow down, right as I got to the lane, as I then all of the sudden lifted my hands up, as if I was going to take a layup, all at the exact same time as well, as I saw the guy jump up to get ready to block it none the less, all at once. Just as soon as I saw him do that, I did not in fact let go of the ball for a layup, as I instead waited for him to fly by me once again, which he did in fact do, as he jumped up in the air, all at once, to try to block the shot.
As soon as he flew past me, that was when I then all of the sudden took the easy lay up that I had in front of me, all at the exact same time too, as I hit it right of the back board, all at the exact same time as well, as it did not even hit the rim, as soon as it went in to the net, as I cracked a bit of a sly grin on my face, all at the exact same time as well, as to just what it was that I had just done.
I then all of the sudden began to start to here every one all of the sudden all around me then start to freak out, all at the exact same time as well, as to just what it was that I had done to embarrass the guy that had tried to challenge me, all at the exact same time as well. I heard a lot of people laughing, but I also heard a lot of people cheering me on, as I looked over to the crowd with a big smile on my face, all at the exact same time too.
As I did as such a thing never the less, I then all of the sudden began to start to hear the main guy that was the one that seemed to be the leader of all of this, start to yell out to every one, all at the exact same time as well, as to just what it was that I had done, all at the exact same time as well, as I then all of the sudden tilted my head a bit, as I was in fact a little bit lost as to just what it was that was even going on right at this very moment in time any ways.
How ever, I did look at the main guy, right in to his eyes, all at the exact same time as well, as I then all of the sudden got my mind, and I got my focus on to just what it was that was even going on in the very first place any ways, all at the exact same time too. I looked at the man right in to his face, as I then all of the sudden began to start to listen as to just what it was that he even had to say to every one in the very first place any ways, none the less.
"Holy shit Michael! You're trash!"