3rds basketball season reflection

I have always loved basketball and this season was a lot of fun. Though we missed four games (including our last one today) mostly because of snow days, we still played a good amount of hoops. Our overall record was 5-2 (I think). One moment in our season that I feel was a highlight was our overtime win against Fessenden. It was a close and hard-fought game throughout, and it felt good to beat our rivals. I was hoping at least one of our games would get rescheduled, but I guess it's just luck when it comes to getting to play. If I do stay for ninth grade, I feel I have a decent chance at varsity, but wherever I go, I definitely want to continue with this sport. Between this Friday (our last practice) and baseball, I probably won't play organized hoops until the summer. But I'll definitely squeeze in some time to shoot some free throws to keep my game together.

It is literally about an hour after our game as I am writing this. Unfortunately, we did lose, but it was an exciting game.

We started off okay, but at the half we were losing. I had turned over the ball a few times and didn't like the way I was playing. We got a lead early on in the second half, but the other team quickly got it back. They started rallying, and before we knew it they had double digits on us. It had been really low scoring the whole game, so the scoring was in moderation for the most part. There was around a minute and a half left when we started playing good defense. We got a few steals and we were within five. With around forty seconds left we got another fast break score and it was a three point game. Then things got weird. They had the ball and they passed it in. But the ref hadn't blown the whistle, so nobody really thought the play had started. Finally, the ref said 'no whistle' and they took the ball out again. But the clock had been running the entire time. For some reason they didn't set back the clock, so we were left with eleven seconds instead of twenty-five. This was stupid and we politely told the ref to set it back, but he ignored us. We pressed the ball but we didn't get a steal until there were two seconds left. I had stolen it at near half court and I saw Tyden running toward the hoop. I lobbed a pass up to him but instead of taking a three, he went in for the layup because he didn't know how much time was left. He didn't make it and that was the game.

After a questionable coaching decision that placed me on thirds, the season has been great. I have started every game (in the past I have not been one of the better players on my team), and for the most part have put up solid numbers. I just hit double digits on threes for the season with two today against Applewild, and with the exception of the Fessenden overtime game I haven't had too many turnovers. It has been fun running the perimeter with Tyden, as we naturally work pretty well together. With just one loss on the season against a different Applewild team that included a 6'4" monster named Hans who didn't miss a shot (he had eighteen points), we are undefeated and are looking ahead to next week where we will take on Pike (either again or a different team) and BB&N. Also, it has been fun making announcements at ASM, even if I haven't exactly been the greatest at them.

Okay,the title of this might make me sound like an idiot. But really, I just mean to ask what the definition of a 'sport' is. Because you could go in a few different directions.

The first way is probably what most people would immediately think without a lot of consideration. Instinct tells us that a sport is organized physical activity. This makes sense until you find exceptions. Using this terminology, yoga is a sport. I don't want to seem biased by the fact that I have never looked into yoga or participated in it, but on my opinion, yoga isn't a sport. It is great exercise, and it's probably pretty fun, but I don't think it should be considered a sport.

Another way to look at it is that a sport is something you can 'go pro' in. Meaning, you can be paid just to play. This seems flawless at first glance as well, but the edges of this are a little blurred because some jobs involve lots of physical activity but definitely aren't sports. I'm not quite sure where I stand on this.

One more perspective is this: if it is or was in the Olympics, it's a sport. This is kind of a narrowed-down version of the previous one. The only problem is that some sports are only really played in one country, like American football or cricket. Both of those are obviously sports in my book. So you have to have exceptions, which could go on and on.

Feel free to leave your opinion in a comment.

This isn't going to be a recap of the game because we all watched it. I just want to tell the half of the eighth grade that thought the Seahawks had it in the bag: you were wrong. While I appreciate you expressing your opinion, how can you say that about your hometown team? Unless you're from Seattle, you have to not only root for the Patriots but have faith and confidence in them also! I'll admit, I had my doubts when the Seahawks were on like the three yard line and Marshawn "Beastmode" Lynch was playing like a gorilla, but hey: they decided to mix things up and my new favorite person Malcolm Butler picked it and they won. The one aspect that annoyed me was the fighting at the end. Yeah, I get it must be really frustrating to lose such a significant game like that, but take your rage out on your pillow, not the other team! And now the NFL is piling on the fines for the players who were involved. I really hope it will actually teach them something.

But the real standout is that New England football is world champs again, finally. Those two losses to the Giants were devastating. It feels pretty amazing that I can remember all four major Boston sports teams winning it all. One last note: Brady shouldn't have been MVP. Russell Wilson played better than him. On my opinion, Julian Edelman should have been MVP.

Here's a 'Rik's Sports Update' post that could definitely be filed under 'Rik's Rants'.

Today's controversial question (nothing to do with the CIP): any of you following the NBA right now? Personally, I feel like college and professional football are the prominent sports. Even though we have a two-week break until the Pats win the Super Bowl (knock on wood), I feel like it's all anticipation. And for all you people that consider the Pro Bowl something worth watching, you can feel free to exercise you freedom of speech but let me tell you: everyone at Fenn gets an address book so you better lock your doors at-

Whoa. That escalated a little quicker than I thought. But you have to agree that the Pro Bowl is stupid because chances are if you're good enough to make it you might just make the Super Bowl! And while it is competitive to some extent it isn't really serious (hello? A five lateral play that ended with the center outrunning the safety?), so unless you are so unsocial that you happen to have three hours on a Sunday to waste on a pointless game, don't set aside time for this worthless crap.

I'm not saying there shouldn't be something like it. First of all, they should move it to AFTER the Super Bowl like it used to be. This way the Pro Bowlers (players in the Pro Bowl, not professionals in the sport of bowling) who have led their teams to the Super Bowl can actually play with the risk of missing the big game gone. The new idea where to NFL legends draft the teams is great, but you know what would be really cool? If players who went to the same college could be on the same team. Also they could do a rookie game, or maybe rookie vs. 2nd year. One last note about the 'Rik Bowl': it would have to be picked not necessarily by stats but by how exciting players are to watch. There definitely has to be some way to honor the truly good players, but wouldn't it be a lot more fun of Johnny Manziel was running a team?

While the Pro Bowl isn't boring, I feel like you can just watch the highlights and all the exciting plays will be squished into around three minutes. Feel free to leave your opinion on the game, and any variations you would make if it were up to you!