I'm convinced Smiff is like a torso mounted on tank treads. The amount of leg injuries is truly incredible.
Played golf with a guy one day that bent down to read a putt. Heard a loud pop, saw him roll over and yell. I was convinced that there was a sniper on the hill. I was running a zigzag pattern like I was being chased by a croc. It took me a good 25 yards or so to realize what had happened. It rolled all the way up his calf and was disgusting. I was legit amazed that it was as loud as it was.
It’s all from basketball. I just couldn’t stay off the court I loved the game so much. 1988 acl tears were treated differently. “Career ending” at 18. Then I played probably 5 days a week, mostly concrete, but also leagues, till I was 36. 3 meniscus cleanups, another acl, then Achilles. Got a total knee a few years later then went back to hoop when my wife got sick to get my mind off of it and tore my patellar tendon, as I watched my kneecap roll up to near mid thigh.
I played basketball obsessively, too. I had great fortune in only one meniscus tear and a shit ton of sprained ankles. My greatest problem is my left heel being sore every time I run as a result of distance running on concrete.
The last time I played basketball I realized that if I attempted to do some of the things I did when I played for real that I would 100% tear an ACL or something else. I’ll stick to the jumper in the future.
I got cut from the 7th grade basketball team and so that was the last time I ever played basketball in or on a team. There was some FT shooting here and there, a little horse, maybe a bit of 21 or 1-on-1 but looking back, I had absolutely no business on a basketball court.
i hadn’t picked up a ball in 10 years. Was 46 and a total knee. Golf got cancelled so we went to play best of 3 and loser buys drinks. Hit 3 threes early. Pump faked the next one, glanced as he went by, another hesi on help D then tried to go off my good leg for an iceman finger roll and it just popped. My main problem is I could never just take it easy and try not to get hurt. Planned to at times. Then the game starts going and I don’t want to lose even if it means nothing.
Basketball more than anything makes me aware of my age. Just can’t do it any more. I was never a real baller, just a pretty good average Joe player. Probably better than you think I’d be when you look at me I had some sort of knee injury, about 20 years ago, maybe meniscus, that I never got looked at, and I can still tell a difference in the before/after
