on basketball

I'm playing IM basketball. I'm quite terrible. But some of the guys in my mentor group wanted to play, and we have a dearth of girls, so I volunteered, figuring I could just kind of stand around on the court and giggle, because that is completely my style. Anyway, last week was our first game. K flew down just for the occasion. Some highlights:

1) Me chasing a guy on a fast break, falling, and skidding spectacularly across the floor. (I'd accompany this with visuals, but I don't have a camera. Let me assure you the bruises/floor burn were impressive.)

2) Me getting called for traveling because the ball is heavy and when you throw it to me, I have to shuffle my feet to keep from falling over after I catch it. (It's tough weighing less than 100 lbs.)

After the game, K gave me a few helpful tips, namely: this isn't soccer, so don't run sideways when you're playing defense or you will eat it (see Highlight 1, above), and two, if you feel like you're being pushed when you've got the ball, fall down to keep from traveling.

I took his advice in last night's game. Our opponents threw a bad pass, which one of my teammates tipped toward the sideline. I scrambled over to the ball and threw myself on top of it fumble-recovery style, then curled into fetal position, clutching it tightly to my chest. A snippet of my conversation with K later that night:

me: So I took your advice and when I got the ball I fell down.
K: You fell down?
me: Yeah, isn't that what you told me to do?
K: Um...sort of...well, no, not really. I said to fall down if they were pushing you around. Were they pushing you around?
me: Well, no, but the ball was loose and I didn't think I could get to it if I didn't throw myself down on top of it.
(long pause)
K: You...threw yourself on top of it and then fell down?
me: Err. Yes.
K: Maybe you should stick to soccer.

Oh, and since it's Valentine's Day, I'll just say: V-Day sucks. But Target box wine is awesome.