My Favorite Sport - Basketball

I can never stop working hard. Each day I feel like I have to improve - Michael Jordan

My first experience playing Basketball was at my neighbours house. I woke up to the thud of a bouncing ball which I could tell sounded nothing like Football. I bolted out of my bed to see what ball was making that heart leaping sound, the thud sound was accompanied by the vibration of clanging metal as my neighbour and soon to be instructor slammed the ball into the rim.

It was beautiful how he handled the balls then shooting a Three Pointer as the ball sailed and dropped neatly into the net. Oh shit!!! what did I just witness deep down I fell in love with this sport, it was love at first sight. Football became my EX.

On Campus, Basketball is my favourite game to engage in. In the evening after lectures and on Saturday morning I head to the Basketball Court to work on my game play. Basketball is a game of Ten players, Five on each team in a Rectangular Court with the aim of shooting the basketball into the hoop of the other team. Eventually I joined the school team and ever since it has become an activity I really enjoy. The first time I started playing Basketball in school, I was nervous and stiff, I felt intimidated by other players who were much taller than me but I was determined to give it my best.

To get better and build confidence, I started practicing by taking shots outside the three point line which resulted in numerous Air-Balls, but I kept going, I adjusted my stance to form a perfect arc then I released the ball from my fingertips, it is what I call a Virgin Basket as the ball neatly dropped into the net.

I can say the only thing I am addicted to on Campus is Basketball, whenever I play, I feel this outburst of energy, playing helps me relieve stress and it's a great way to exercise the body and the mind. I practice dribbling and taking shots from different angle. What makes one a good basketball player is his ability to control and maneuver the ball while avoiding unnecessary fouls like Double bouncing or Traveling, I also worked on my layup, when making a layup, you run towards either the left or the right side of the basket, you jump and then lay the ball off the Basketball board into the hoop then I went for the Slam Dunk.

A Slam Dunk requires requires height, lift and a good slamming of the ball directly into the hoop. So after weeks of intense practice I started seeing progress in my game, I got myself a new Air Jordan because of the lift and grip.

Basketball is a game of team and the pressure to perform is tremendous. I remember the first time I got injured, It was an inter faculty game, Law vs Med Rehabilitation. My team mate had dribbled two players and passed the ball to me, I went for a layup but I was brought down by a fierce defender while going for the layup, the shock and the vibration when he slammed the ball from my hand in mid-air sent me back to the ground. I landed poorly and sprained my ankle.

I was in excrutiating pain but the love I have for the game brought me back to the court after I had recovered. Tàking shots after shots, rebounds, snatching steal they do not call me Blood for nothing.

When I am not playing on campus, I am watching on my phone and when I am asleep all I dream about is basketball. To me it is not just a game, it has taught me important life lessons like confidence, commitment, understanding and team work. It's a game of love.