Where did I put my walker?
Oct 11th, 2007 by Jesse Moore
I used to play basketball every day. Every day possible in high school, every day possible in college, and every day possible for the two years after college. At those ages, when responsibility is more of a sermon than a way of life, it’s easy to find a pick-up game at any time of day on just about any street corner, and lunches are sacrificed for an hour on the hardwoods. Eventually I grew old enough that basketball started to cost money - not only for access to the courts it was played on, but in the wages lost when a game when a little beyond the lunch hour.
I’ve been looking for a hobby, and maybe more so - a way to stay active AND have fun. It’s been years since I played an organized game of basketball, so when the church bulletin announced a men’s church league I couldn’t sign up fast enough. In preparation I went to the sporting goods store and bought a good pair of Nike high-top basketball shoes to protect my injury-prone ankles, basketball shorts (running shorts are a little inappropriate in a basketball game), and a green Dri-fit t-shirt (I was placed on the “Green” team - the only color of work-out shirt I didn’t own, because who wants to look like an elf at the gym).
When Tuesday arrived I could hardly contain my excitement. Tuesday is my day to watch Selah, so cooped up in the house and looking at my new basketball ensemble, I got a little stir-crazy. So I loaded Selah up in the car and went to the gym to lift weights.
I sprained my ankle in the parking lot of the gym. Not just a little twist that caught me off balance, but a full-on sprain - complete with popping and snapping sounds and a sudden onset of throw-up inducing pain. I didn’t step on anything, and I wasn’t running or even pretending to make a lay-up. I was walking. On a paved, level surface.
As I sat in my open trunk, gathering my breath and composure, my throbbing ankle reminded me of why I quit playing basketball in the first place. I’ve sprained my ankles so many times that I own enough Ace Bandages to dress up the neighborhood for Halloween. I’ve lost weeks of productivity due mostly to basketball and my inability to stay upright, and now - at 30 years old and struggling to stay in shape - I am faced with the brutal realization that I will probably never play basketball again.
My new basketball shoes, unworn, sit ready for their return to the sporting goods store. They are my albatross. I can’t return them fast enough.
Oh Jess, I am so sorry that you have
another sprain. Ouch!
You might try the chiropractor. Some-
times they can manipulate the cartiledge to ease the pain.
Mom
jess, I feel your pain again this morning I awoke to a severe pain in my foot. This is twice it has happened in the last month. The cause is yet unknown. It is extremely painful to walk on. I must have twisted it playing basketball in my dreams.
It just makes fishing sound that much better. Heal up and we’ll take you ice fishing. It doesn’t work the ankles but peppermint Schnapps and cocoa is better than pain killers.
Feel better buddy.
Sorry to hear of the bum ankle. You know there are lots of hobbies you can take up at your age without risk of re-injuring your ankle.
Here are a couple to get things rolling: shuffle board (not much ankle movement required, however level surfaces might pose a problem); rowing (ankles stay in place); chess (need I say more); fly fishing (excellent opportunity to become one with nature); ice hockey (I have seen many of “weak ankles” play this sport); go-kart racing (local race track between your house and your office) and last but not least scrap booking.
Let me know when you want to start playing hockey.
Alex
Yes. I know this feeling. I signed up to play adult league rec soccer this past summer - a sport I hadn’t played in literally 20 years. My folks and my inlaws thought I was crazy to do this at my ripe old age - 32. I went to my first match and got placed forward - translate: run your @$$ off. In short order I was huffing and puffing and I pulled my groin in that first game… really bad. I sat out the next two games (a week and a half) cheering my team (which also happened to be Green). It never really did heal the whole season but I still played as much as I could and had a blast doing it. Now, the funny thing is that I wasn’t the oldest person on my team. In fact I was about average age (the majority of my team were 40 and older). Jess, all that to say that you’re never too old to do something you love. Let the sprain heal and then go for it again. Take it from an “old” man.
I agree with Aaron. You’ll heal and it’ll be so much fun.
Susie