I was probably fragile. Never did anything harsh. Was always slow, clumsy and I don't know what else. When I got into the Basketball Team, I stayed strong (well, most of the time. haha...). My first practice : I felt like I might as well throw up and faint! After a week of practice, yup, I successfully sprained BOTH of my ankles! It was because of the shoes I wore, a pair of tennis shoes. The practices are serious. We run...and run...and run...throw..throw..throw..play...play...play..!
I was a callow at basketball, didn't know anything. But with the patience from my coach and my team mates, I'm now much much better!
Playing sports here, in the US makes me realized not only the importance of sport itself, but also the team work and professionalism. During the peak season, the practice is 2 hours everyday, Monday to Saturday. Yes, I was like dead! The smell of muscle cream is everywhere in the house.
I could understand why losing sucks, why we practice everyday, and why America is a huge sport nation. It's about sportsmanship, career, business, scholarship, spirit! A lot of universities offers sport scholarship, people pay to watch the games, the games are on the newspaper and radio, a lot of people do sport for their career, and the spirit? This is what my coach, Mr Meyers said,
"You may not be best friends at school, but in the team you all have to be best friends."
The spirit, not only the cheering, but also the sensation of it, makes us have a goal, that is to win!
We won 5 games out of 20 and lost at the first playoff which ended our season that started last October. It may not sound good, but we swallowed everything, the goods and the bads.
The ups and downs of being in a team, especially for me as an exchange student, really make us stronger physically and mentally. And it sure has been a GREAT experience for me. I doubt that I am going to play basketball again in a team when I go home (it's hard, life in the city. Time goes slowly but we're always running out of it.) But whatever is going to happen with me and basketball, I sure will always love it and my experience here (including the sprained ankles, sore legs, hurt whatever..) is unforgettable!
