For the Love of the Game

It's about 6:30AM early Saturday morning and I am grilling steak. The kids are up watching TV and waiting to eat. They had waffles with syrup and hash browns last night which was affectionately called "Breakfast for Dinner!!" and in a short while they will be eating steak and potatoes which is the total opposite.

I was preoccupied as I stood by the grill as I thought about the very valuable lesson I learned this past Sunday. My newly formed basketball team took on a squad that included my softball teammate, who is one of the most gifted and inspiring athletes I personally know. I mentioned to my team in good fun that if we won one game this season, this would be a nice one to have. We didn't really have chance against her (my softball teammate) more experienced team but you always want to perform well with and against someone you know.

But we had a bad day. We missed open jumpers, easy lay ups and our rhythm just wasn't there. I began feeling the burden of mentioning this game as we were still trying find our team identity. I didn't need to impede our growth and take away from the fun. And as the person who assembled this team, I felt that I was failing them.

After the game, I sat for awhile, head down. I got great hugs from my little fans who came out to watch. I thought about what I could do to make amends for subjecting my teammates to my misstep when my new friend/teammate came up to me and said that he was sorry we couldn't get this one for me. And then other teammates began expressing the same sentiments of disappointment for not getting the win.

I was floored. This is not the reaction I expected. I began seeing my team beginning to support one of their own in our short time together,

I helped form this team in less than week so I had no idea what we kind of squad we would be. We were made up of friends that knew each other for years, some we haven't seen in years and some we just met.

We quickly congregated at the bar after the loss to hang out for some laughs together. That made me smile because that was also unexpected. And I started to see how very lucky I was with the assembly of this team.

Growing up, I never had a chance to play organized sports as music took me in a different path. And I didn't get a chance to play in recreational leagues until later in life. When I did, I had no foundation of any fundamental skills taught when participating in youth sports so everything I learn was on the fly. And the only knowledge of teamwork was what I observed in the sports teams I watched.w

Some of the team who have basketball experience have volunteered to help us to get more out of this season and go over basics. My main goal in putting this team together was to consistently see old friends and get some exercise but I guess it has taken a life on its own. Though I may not know how to act as a teammate just yet, I know how to be supportive as they have with me and I continue to learn the game I love.

Steak's done and I let sit for awhile before wrapping them with eggs and home fried potatoes in flour tortillas. The kids chant "Dinner for Breakfast!" a couple of times before the youngest decides he's not hungry.  I wrap the steak breakfast burritos in aluminum foil (so they'll reheat quickly and evenly in the oven) and then store them in the refrigerator. The team will be hungry when they come over after practice.

I pack up my gear and head to the courts for our first practice and my first time being a student of the game, not knowing what to expect. But I am looking forward to it.