If you ask me to split my off-work day among my passions, I can list the
following:
- reading (a little bit of everything, mainly books, comic
books, graphic novels and take-away menus of the nearby pizzeria);
- watching (movie, tv series, theatre and concerts…);
Please, don’t misunderstand me: I do not practice sports, I enjoy look
other people playing something: basically I’m a nerdy lazy girl. In my life
I can count a lot of Sunday mornings when the only physical activity
performed is moving from the couch to the kitchen (taking into
consideration the wideness of my 2room apartment they are exactly 4 steps)
to cook some pop-corns to eat during an endless list of TV Series episodes.
But give me a bunch of guys that kick, throw, pass, pull, dribble, dunk a
ball and I’m kind of happy: I’m exactly like the prototype of the medium
Italian man, except the fact that, well…, I’m a girl and very often the
technical appreciations made on the sports are overcame by the
not-so-much-technical appreciations made on the athletes.
Said that, 4 years and something ago I approached the local basketball
team, I started following their games with a group of fantastical crazy
people called their supporters and, basically, I love it. I just love it.
I can call the place where my team plays “my second home”, every Sunday
afternoon I lose my voice trying to support "my kids", when I can’t be with
them (‘cause they play far far away) I nervously spend my afternoon with my
notebook in front of the live stats (a.k.a. “the living hell” for any
basketball supporters) because the tv does not broadcast their game.
Last Sunday I and some out of mind friends made 600 km to go and 600 km
back (in one day, by car) to reach and support the team.
Some colleagues, on Monday morning, asked me why. Why I keep following
them, why I spend my money and my time around them and why I do all that.
It’s simple… because It’s wonderful!! I try to summarize.
I love to see players who gave all they have, just to bring a win back home. I love to see the proud and the bravery in their eyes. I love the fair play everybody can breath on the parquet (well, most of the time). I love that players are opponent on the parquet but friends in real life. I love that (most of time) there is fair competition during the game and there are not mean guys.
I love to see players hugging each other before and at the end of the game.
I love the fact that, despite the result, there are always happy children that at the end of the game celebrate their players. I love the fact that supporters always clap their hands.
I love the great men who tread the parquet of the minors. Amazing players and, above all, unique persons: awesome people who receive standing ovations also by the opponent's supporters.
I love the fact that players thanks their supporter for their support. I love the fact that at the end of the game they always spend some time with us.
I love to see the smile on their faces after an important win.
But... among all I love basketball because it allowed me to meet some great people, some guys and girls that turned to be true friends, someone I can trust and I can rely on. Someone who helped me to grow, who always advices me. Someone to do crazy things with, someone who make me always smile at the end of the week.
As one of them always says: "the best thing of Basketball on Sunday is the post-game, when we spend some precious time together".
So... that's why I spend all my Sundays from September to May on the side of a parquet.
janainaart
andulkaphoto
tangentwithtanner
snowghoul
titsay
