[QUOTE=" Yeah, I gave up pick-up games at around 50. Loved playing, but it was no longer worth it. You get injured more often and it takes longer to get over it.[/QUOTE] I had to give the game up around the same time. Just too many hard miles & the little injuries & longer recovery times just forced me to make a hard decision. I still miss playing…..
I remember the Smurfs as a long time intramural team. Always very good. The Mullets were also good and mostly comprised of intramural refs so they got every call. They also insisted on playing with their own basketball saying it was better than all the other ones. Even when I showed up with an NBA game ball. They still made the claim. I think they were over ruled but were warming up with my ball at halftime until I mentioned that to the refs. But the one game where the other team got every call down the stretch was when we played a team of UF football players with Emmitt Smith. It was a close game toward the end and we were down about four points or so with a few minutes to go. In that situation you put them on the line. Emmitt told the refs that we were intentionally fouling so that they should get free throws and the ball. Totally wrong interpretation of the rules but the refs gave Emmitt what he wanted and Emmitt signed autographs from the refs after the game.
My team easily handled the undefeated #1 team in my league tonight. In the win, I had a meh/inefficient offensive game... 1/1 on 3 pt shots, 1/5 on 2 pt shots, and 3/6 on FTs for 8 points. I was really like 1/3 on 2 pointers but I had two offensive rebounds that I tried to tip in that didn't work so it counts against me. The better part of my game was about 5-6 assists, 5-6 rebounds, 4 steals, 1 T/O (that wasn't actually a turnover, because the ref made an incorrect double dribble call). Basically a low output offensive game, but great defensive and point guard game. The steals came in the clutch while the other team was trying to make a final push.
I played at SW Rec at least 3 times a week for most of my time at UF. Then many games of pickup and grad IMs while at law school at FSU. A couple terrible ankle injuries not rehabbed properly, and a shoulder SLAP tear over the years, and now I am deeply in what another poster referred to as "unhealthy corporate lifestyle" lol. Now 36, I attribute all of my daily aches and pains and creaky joints to all the games of basketball. Worth it, probably. Most of my best friends then that I still stay in touch with from afar were my basketball brothers. One of my best moves was developing a left and right hook shot (at a whopping 5'10, but with a "Pixar mom" butt) that allowed me to beat guys 5 or 6 inches taller on the low block with my back to the basket. Still using it to great success whenever I get a chance to play these days! My law school buddies both loved and hated me for it, depending on whose team I was on Not a bad 3pt shooter either!
Brad, get your butt in the weight room and start working on those injured areas. 36 is way too young to just accept the aches and pains. Fight for your physical health! The human body is amazing… when you put in work it rewards you.
Low scoring, solid, but unremarkable game for me tonight... in 30 minutes of play rough estimate stats are 3/6 FG, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover. I'm really mad about the turnover. I pride myself on not turning the ball over. Was a really young and athletic team, but we were better basketball players. We beat the #1 team last week and the #2 team this week and moved up to the #2 seed in the playoff bracket as a result. Playoffs start next week.
I had to give the game up around the same time. Just too many hard miles & the little injuries & longer recovery times just forced me to make a hard decision. I still miss playing…..[/QUOTE] yeah… I’m approaching 50, and just hurt myself fishing.