Schonhose

I know the title has gotten your attention. It is true, I’m addicted. I admit it, I plead guilty on all accounts.

I’m truly addicted to basketball. Just the other day I spend two hours on a court all by myself shooting some hoops. And it felt good. I was amazed to find my shooting in pretty decent condition. Not as good as it used to be but certainly not as bad as I thought. I feared the extensive weightlifting sessions over the last four months might have a negative influence on my shot. It is a little off, but give me a few weeks and I know it is going to be ok.

The funny thing is I just reread the post I made in April about basketball, the one about “reflecting and looking forward“. I still feel the same way.

In that post I mentioned I was determined to get in shape again. Over the last two months I have been running three times a week to get a better condition (turns out it was still more than decent at the last test in June, but it has improved steadily since). I also continued pushing weights and do strengthen exercises for my knees. Over the last 5 years I never have been in better shape at the start of the season.

I just hope all the work will pay off and I will continue get even better in shape. Just two more weeks of three times running a week and then practice will finally start. I probably cut down the running to at least once a week, since practice is two times a week.

I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully the next two weeks pass soon. I’m like a junkie who needs to take a lot of shots.

Another season has almost come to an end. Usually this is a good time to start reflecting on what I would like to do next season. Looking back on last season I have to say that it was totally lost. I meant to play again at the start of this season and talked it over with the coach. Unfortunately for me he wanted to focus more on the younger guys and he had a full roster (in hindsight: one never showed up and another left halfway through the season). So basically I was asked to sit this season out.

That was it, I’ve lost my interest in basketball right there at that moment. I did attend some practices at the start but I never felt like having fun. After a while I just stopped practicing and tried to focus on officiating. This was the second season I had to watch from the sidelines. Earlier I decided to sit one season out mostly because this way all my injuries (e.g. knee, shoulder and ankles) could heal properly. And here I was, fully healed and sitting on the sidelines again.

Looking back I realized the decision at the start of the season had a major impact on my attitude towards the game. I wanted to give it another chance, despite the difficulties I had in my first year. I really wanted to set aside all I have learned and wanted to try to fit in the scheme. It wouldn’t be easy, things surely were different compared to where I came from.

After a couple of months I realized I started to miss playing basketball. I realized I wanted (perhaps even needed) to play the game. But it was clear from the start my current team wasn’t the place for me anymore. I gave up on the idea I needed to fit in, the idea I needed to abandon all I know. I just wanted to play, start having fun again on the court.

To find out my true feelings I started out working with my old team again, amazingly having fun every time I stepped on the court. It felt like a homecoming but I knew it wasn’t going to work for a whole season because of the distance. So that is why I started to look around for other teams I wanted to play with. I attended some practicing sessions of a couple of teams and I hoped to find a team with a familiar playing style. A team where I would feel at home. Luckily I managed to find such a team and I have been practicing with them for a few months. I’m starting to have fun again, although I tend to miss some shots and my condition is not all that good. But these things can be worked on during the off-season and I’m determined to get myself in shape again.

A couple of weeks ago I made the decision that this is the last year with my current team. And that is not all, here in the Netherlands you have to officiate for a sportsclub. Any sportsclub that wants to play on a high level needs to provide one or two officials. This season I was one of those officials they needed to provide. I also made the decision the current season is the last season I will be officiating for them.

Will I be officiating in the upcoming season? I don’t know. Will I be playing in the upcoming season? Yes, definitely! Am I happy with my decisions? You bet ya! It sure feels good to be on the court again!

Tonight UNC failed to win the Final Four game against Kansas. Basically the game was decided in the first half when Kansas had the largest lead of 28 points (40-12). UNC was unable to match the intensity of Kansas. Every loose ball was collected by Kansas and some nice defensive stops where made. However, North Carolina had a great comeback, starting in the first half to cut it to 4 in the second half.

Unfortunately UNC ran out of gas and Kansas had some luck making some shots. UNC tried to claw their way back by shooting threes but the shots didn’t fell. Again I was amazed by the toughness of this UNC team, coming back the way they did.

Because of the missed threes Kansas played smart and had a couple of easy baskets in the last 2 minutes. That makes the final score 84 – 66 which looks like an easy win. It wasn’t and UNC fought and nearly managed to make the greatest comeback in sports history. An awesome run had come to an end, a run that should have gone much farther. UNC definitely would have had a shot in winning not only this game but the title this year if only Kansas didn’t jump to that 28 point lead.

On monday night Kansas will take on Memphis in the finals of the 2008 NCAA tournament. Although I plan to watch that game I doubt that I will watch it live again. The next couple of days will be interesting. I wonder what some UNC players will do, will they enter the NBA draft or stay another year? We just have to wait and see.

I once again applaud Roy Williams, his staff and of course the 2008 North Carolina team for an awesome run. Thanks guys!

Today I got up at 2 am in the morning to watch the UNC – Louisville game on NCAA March Madness on Demand. It was really cool to watch a college game live (finally, we never see those games here).

The first half was really exiting with UNC easily breaking both Louisville press and 2-3 zone. UNC hit the offensive boards real well and cruised out to a comfortable 12 point lead at the half.

At the start of the second half Louisville put down a nice little run and actually cut down the lead. Most of the second half the teams were trading baskets until the last 5 minutes of the game. Clark from Louisville made three consecutive travel violations and Tyler Hansbrough from UNC was amazing taking the Tarheels on his back towards the Final 4. I really love Tyler’s style and heart. He never gives up.

The last minutes of the game Louisville sends UNC to the freethrow line on numerous occasions. UNC was shooting 16-19 at that point from the line so no problem there.

UNC wins 83 -73 and Hansbrough was the highpoint man with 28 points and 13 rebounds.

Yesterday the men’s basketball team of the University of North Carolina advanced to the Elite 8 of this years NCAA tournament by defeating the Washington Cougars 68 – 47. They are really on a roll now doing things at both ends of the floor, advancing for the second straight year into the Elite 8.

I have been a fan of UNC for a long time now, I even spend my summer on campus in 2002 while doing research for the EPA. I managed to see the 2005 finals and I was thrilled to see UNC capture the title. After that the program went slightly downhill but this year it looks like they might pull it off again. I’ll be rooting for UNC this saturday when they take on Louisville. You can watch the game on NCAA March Madness on Demand.

Go Tarheels!!