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| (Photo: RF) |
Basketball's a team sport with two teams of five players who must be at least 13 feet tall with shovel hands; find it ridiculously easy to loop up-court in two strides, bouncing a ball once before popping it thru an 18'' hoop just 10 feet off the ground. You're not obliged to rim swing, but show-offs can. Now, you're permitted to dribble but it's a no no to travel or carry a Kit-Kat in your drooping shinny pants.Typically the tallest, which defacto means anyone, plays 'centre' 'small or power forward' but the NBA once allowed a 5' 3'' Muggsy Bogues to play 'cause he could run in-between anyone's legs completely unnoticed. There's also 'guard' and 'shooting guard' both very handy when the opposition threatens a four figure win. Girls/Women have their game too; and if you have a horse or donkey bring them along, though they won't be allowed to take part in the Basketpool version. You certainly can't fault hoop rim lovers for the variety of venues to go brain dead at. But really, it's the anticipation of much disruptive physical contact which loyal fans are keeping awake for. The preferred climax to an evening of amnesia is always a brilliant free for all punch-up and ass kicking rumpus, after which the near satanic away coach is chased from the arena before he's lynched on court. Is basketball popular? Well, it certainly is for those who don't blink much and like scores in the region of the number of grains of sand on an average beach. But, would I like watching it? Perhaps worth considering if you've already exhausted your bucket list and rigor mortis holds no fear. Chess it ain't.
