Hoopy Friday

wrote this last May 15, 2010.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24226200@N00/2577398394

Last Tuesday, my male friends in my former work invited me to watch the first-ever formal (and organized) tournament. They always play basketball every Wednesdays of summer after office hours. Due to the work load I had before, they sometimes served as my reminder that it was already midweek and it’s already thirty minutes past my official time. It was a bad indicator if I went home and they’re done playing; it meant that I really went home late.

I have been exposed to basketball since I was a kid. My cousins are glued to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) games, hooked to how their favourite team will win that particular day. I also got hooked on hoops in high school; I watched the game three times a week (as scheduled). I remember doing my assignments the minute I get into my school bus so that I could drop my bag and watch the game. I also read basketball news and later on, I got to update myself of National Basketball Association (NBA) stuff in the US.

So I looked forward to a hoopy Friday after I got out of work.

There was somehow nothing special about the organized tournament; the only goal is continue to get fit for the summer (and de-stress themselves from all the preparations for the coming academic year). I guess I have really solidified myself as a big basketball fan – I scream my heart out to cheer.

It was fun seeing them play again after a few months. I was the usual me – taking pictures and observing the game. After forty minutes of play time, they lost. We spent the rest of the second game talking of their game.

The conversation was focused on everything – guess what – basketball. The talked about how their opponents got confused with their play and how they will refine the play next week; who will they look after on the other teams (defense and offense). They discussed how they could have won the game (they came close to two points; opponent’s largest lead was 19 points) and who to call and remind the next week so that it won’t happen again.

For a woman to be surrounded with basketball enthusiasts it could be boring listening to their take on everything hoops. But because I am a fan of the game, I gamely joined – looking at whoever was talking (while looking at the second game that was on-going. Such is multi-tasking). I also got to ask questions. The only thing that I didn’t somehow get was the talk on the NBA Playoffs (it’s a shame to admit, but ever since Michael Jordan left the game, I’m no longer updated). During that time, I let them do the talking.

They get to do plays by just looking at each other – it’s like ESP or something. They are too passionate about the game; they could talk about it for days. And matter what you say, they will always have all the reasons why they either won or lost the game.

I think women could learn a lesson or two in basketball, in terms of getting to know men. How men are hooked to this game is something that women could never understand. But just like how they understand us if we need to shop to de-stress, women will have to live with hoops so that the game of life will always be played smoothly – no fouls; just strategic timeouts every now and then.

Lucky you if you’re a woman who understands the game. Like me, I guess.

Hoopy Friday, indeed.