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Published: October 11th 2007
Well there I was standing on a basketball court in the middle of a coliseum in Shell. The team that I practiced with one night about 3 months ago had called on me to assist them in their first game of the season. Between you and me, I was hoping that they had forgotten me - but alas, they had not.
Before I go any further, I want to say that what I am about to write may seem racist, but in no way is that the meaning I am trying to convey. Those who know me, know that there isn’t a racist drop of blood in my body. Anyhow, as I stood on the court I realized that I was the only white guy in the house. I could sense the expectation from the crowd. How ironic, that a white guy could bring so much anticipation on the basketball court. That is usually left for the incredible non-white players or perhaps the few white guys with Eastern European names. I guess I now know how Larry Bird, Mark Price, and Kurt Rambis (had I been wearing my glasses, I would have put Kurt first on the list) all felt. Seriously, I think people were expecting a big game from me. After all, I am from the States, therefore I must be a great basketball player.
So there I was in my two sizes too big, powder blue uniform with a #11 Top and a #8 bottom warming up with my team. The crowd was larger than I expected. Perhaps word got out that a 6 foot, 32 year old, basketball star was going to be playing in town tonight. The crowd was bigger than any I had played before back in the States. Probably 300 people. How interesting that I would have to come all the way to Ecuador to finally be a starter for a basketball team. I was 6th man my whole middle school and high school career. No wait, I started in biddy basketball, but I don’t think that counts, my team probably averaged 12 points a game and the only people watching were my parents and that was usually only if the Browns weren’t playing. I guess I should mention that tonight the team had 6 players including me and that the only reason I was probably going to start was because one of the other guys forgot his game shorts. Hey starting is starting, I’ll take it.
Seeing as how the expectations were lofty, I didn’t want to disappoint. I have an image to maintain here in Ecuador. I am sad to admit, that I was nervous, nevermind the fact that in a few months I will never see any of these people again and they will most likely forget the night that they saw the gringo hoop it up. To get started, I casually did a few stretches, dribbled the ball slowly between my legs and stuck to short 10 foot jumpers that I was making with ease. The team organized into two lines to do lay-ups. We started on the right side. Damn it, didn’t they remember that I’m a lefty. It has been exactly 17 years, 7 months and 14 days since I last went through a lay-up drill and we were starting on my weak side. No problem, I eased towards the hoop and tossed up a textbook right handed lay-up. After a few goes, I felt pretty good and perhaps ready to show off a little. So, I proceeded to do a reverse lay-up from the right side - a thing of beauty. We then switched to the left side and there was no stopping me now. On my first attempt I had plans to jump high, bank the lay-up, and slap the backboard. I did all three, except the ball didn’t even come close to hitting the rim - oh how the mighty fall. I then did what any self-respecting athlete would do. I looked up at the rim and shook my head in disagreement (as if the rim had anything to do with my horrible lay-up). To put the icing on the cake, I knelt down and re-tied my shoes. Everyone knows that it is all about the shoes - how could my New Balance 801 All-Terrain running shoes have let me down? I know, they were laced up around a 165 lb, 6 foot, 32 year-old, white guy.
Game time was approaching - apparently the other team had heard of my presence at the coliseum - the other team only had 4 players show up. They forfeited. I am taking full credit for our win this week. The team was so happy with my performance, that they asked me to play again next week. My question, one that I will ponder long and hard, can I consider myself a starter even though the game never really happened?
On to lighter things, today, representatives from the German Embassy came to CODEAMA to meet with my counterpart. The German Embassy is financing a couple of CODEAMA’s projects and they wanted to check on things. We headed out to Tarqui and showed them the panela (brown sugar) project. I enjoyed chatting with the two Germans, however, whenever my Spanish would fail me, they would correct me in English. The bastards are trilingual - I think they are plotting once again to take over the world - one language at a time. I get to take them out to FRATES tomorrow so I’ll see if I can trick them into divulging their attack plans - I’ll keep you posted.
Seriously, they were two of the nicest people I have met here in Ecuador. The driver was a 65 year-old who has probably forgotten more about agriculture, Ecuador, and other random things than I’ll ever even come close to knowing. And the woman representative from the Embassy was the type of person who exudes happiness. You know the type who can find something good and positive about any situation.
Well, Susan is a dentro (in the jungle), I’m home alone (actually, I am watching Katie’s dog, Tigre) so I’m going to watch a movie tonight. Remember this, everyone gets to have their spotlight at some point. I think mine came and went tonight - at least I didn’t pee my pants under the pressure. I may even celebrate by drinking a beer - cheers to all!!!
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Matt Lane
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I'm coming down. The two of us could start our own franchise. I'll be the point guard, you be the lefty layup master. Are you really a lefty? You'd think I'd know that after guarding you for all those years. Maybe if you shot more...