Got game? Bring sense of humor, perspective

The Valley YMCA's Hooops! 3-on-3 basketball tournament and the Spokane Valley Mall are a marriage made in heaven.

I've played in this tournament, and every Hoopfest as well, so I feel qualified to make that statement. Maybe "played" is too strong a word. Let's just say my arthrithic knees and 50ish body somehow got rolled out to mid-court just before game time, and if I was still standing at game's end, that's victory enough for me.

I think these staged sporting events are great, for players and merchants alike.

For the players, it's something to look forward to - kind of like a sporting Halloween party with teams decked out in pajamas, multi- colored hair and saddled with team names like the "Pink Pansies." And that's just in the guys' divisions.

Putting together a Hooops! team requires a delicate blending of talents.

An important element is a team name that rocks. I once played on a team with the combined vertical leap equal to the thickness of a credit card. Our team name - Ground Jordan - was well chosen. Other great team names I've seen include Beneath the Rim, Save the Drama for Mama and Three Tubs and a Stick. Given that there's a food court inside the mall, I guess there's still hope for the "stick."

You also need a team meteorologist. A jump shot is a thing of beauty, but if you can't read wind direction, and know the time of the day the sun will be directly in your eyes, your team is at a distinct disadvantage.

And finally, a team needs a supply sergeant. The person who performs this vital role makes sure that Gatorade, Power Bars and other game necessities are on hand.

I always found myself leaving something behind, no matter how well I planned for the day's events. That's the beauty of playing at the mall. Everything you need is right at hand. New shorts? Shoes? Ear plugs? Even the all-important knee braces? They have 'em at the mall. One thing you'll have to bring yourself. It's called a sense of perspective.

I've played a lot of games. There have been plenty of wins - but lots of losses and disappointments, as well.

Even if my team loses, I know that somehow the sun will still manage to climb out of bed the next morning. Life goes on.

Keep that sense of humor handy.

Some of the games involve people with faces so intense and glum you would think that world peace hung in the balance, rather than a parking-lot basketball game.

And that's the parents. I just wonder what messages they are sending to their kids.

You never really know what you will see at these events. Every once in a while, something special happens. It doesn't always have to be a beautiful shot or a tremendous block. Sometimes it's better than that.

The first year I played in the Valley's 3-on-3 tournament, I was involved in a game in which both teams were playing intensely in a close game. Out of the blue, an altercation came up, and a punch was thrown.

I was horrified. But within seconds, order was restored and the game went on. At game's end, those two men shook hands and expressed their embarrassment and regret over what happened. I was proud of both of them.

One last bit of advice for the older player.

I think at least a couple of the mall stores sell something that will come in handy this weekend. Just ask any of the store clerks where beds are sold, then tell them you want to take a test drive.

Copyright 2002 Cowles Publishing Company
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.