http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-43-98/Basketball-as-Antidepressant.html
According to this short Truehoop post, shooting hoops is good way to deal with depression. That's obvious enough to me. While I've never been clinically depressed, I know that my weekly hoops game helps me tremendously in dealing with the stress and fatigue of work. I certainly agree with all of the factors listed in the article regarding why basketball is good for the brain, i.e., the mental health benefits of exercise, sunlight, and being part of a team.
The one factor that I think Mr. Ilardi left out is that playing basketball just feels really good. At least for me, it is mentally and physically gratifying to play hoops. When I make a positive play, such as making a basket or blocking a shot, it's gratifying when it happens, and I continue to think about it in a positive way after I'm done playing. When I have a day when everything is clicking and I play my best, it makes me feel incredibly good and I use it as sort of a touchstone to pull myself out of a funk.
For example, earlier today I was feeling stressed about work and then I remembered how I dominated my brother John in two one-on-one games last weekend in Florida. Sure, John hadn't played since Easter and I had played only two days prior, and, sure, I'm four inches taller than John, and, yes, John has spent the last year doing nothing but working in a kitchen and rearing a toddler, but damn did I beat him thoroughly. I had the trademark flip shots working, along with the baby hook from the left block, and even the three point stroke was in effect. As John struggled with the Florida heat and the extra spring in the rims, I backed him down and crossed him up. "I think there's too much air in this ball," he said. "You're lucky I have bronchitis," he said. True, he did have bronchitis. Still, no one would ever question the impressiveness of my domination. I controlled the paint on offense and defense, hit trifectas from the great beyond, and then rained in deuces from mid-range just to show the completeness of my game. It was a display for the ages and one that John will certainly never forget.
So I encourage everyone to go out and play hoops when you are feeling down. It will make you feel great inside and out, unless, of course, you are my brother John and you have to play against me.
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10 comments:
Pedro,
When I play basketball I feel like those men in the viagra comercials . . . before they get thier prescription. I remember with loathing the times in college that you forced me to play b-ball. I suck at it. I know that you used my lack of prowess on the court to formulate your theory that my athletic ability was summarily lacking. I must say I think there is some sort of basketball paradox in my life. I enjoy surfing now and gave passable performances in wrestling and soccer throughout highschool. Basketball has always been quite a bit more than an achillies' heal for me. I flail about, foul the shit out of people, and cannot sink a basket for anything. I know it's never to late to improve oneself, but I'm afraid of the hoop. What can I say.
I just wanted to comment to say that perhaps shooting hoops is antidepressant for you because you clearly prey on lesser players. You are feeding off of your opponent, not that game. It is the devouring of men's souls that heals you.
Marc
Marcus,
Despite what I might have said in the past, I've never actually believed that your athletic ability is lacking. You've seen my attempts at surfing, and you know that I have no natural ability in that area. In fact, there's a better chance that you could catch a wave on top of me than there is of me catching a wave on a surfboard.
Clearly, we are both genetically predisposed to being good at certain sports and you are very good at balance sports that utilize your low center of gravity and strong upper body, like surfing and wrestling (which also utilizes your love of being hugged by men). I, on the other hand, have been described as a big guy with a soft touch, which means that I can finger roll, but have trouble staying on top of moving boards.
So stick with surfing and forget about basketball. You don't enjoy it and your tendency to commit hard fouls can't be understated.
And if it's any comfort to you, you should know that you are a much better basketball player than your cousin, Dr. Murray, who, rather than owning up to his athletic shortcomings, chooses to make a mockery of every sporting event in which he is invited to participate. For example, if you play basketball with the J-Bird, he will inevitably run off with the ball. While he's doing this, he might even chirp like a bird and refer to the ball as his "egg." If you go golfing with him, he will hit every shot with a seven iron, even his puts, for 18 straight holes. Not to mention the fact that by the second hole he will be drunk and belligerent, and drawing alarm from the grounds keepers for his erratic driving of the golf cart.
Unfortunately, unlike you and me, there is no athletic endeavor through which the J-Bird can seek refuge. He, like Dr. Hawking, must seek refuge through his academic and corporeal pursuits. I just thank science that they are both here with us today.
Pedro
Neither of you can roll a spliff worth a damn. Plus I have out-putted peter on several occasions with my seven iron. But it is true, I am embarrassingly bad at all real sports and endeavor to mock sports and the players of sports at all opportunities. I'm particularly proud of my attempts at mocking basketball because it is the sport Peter takes most seriously - as evidenced by this self indulgent blog entry. Mockery is only fun if it offensive. And offending Peter is a difficult task. But if you steal the basketball and run around like a drunk chicken, you can get him - get him good.
I notice you didn't say anything about that sweet dunk you made, what was it, about 9 or 10 years ago? Back when you could still dunk? when you could still see your toes? That dunk was totally sweet!
What the hell do I need to see my toes for? Toes are boring.
And it wasn't just one sweet dunk. There were multiple dunks. Back in Colorado, the air was thin and I could elevate.
The air wasn't the only thing that was thin...
I'm still thin. I'm just more of a husky kind of thin. Anyway, dearest, if you're so worried about my weight, stop buying and/or allowing me to buy donuts and other delicious pastries whenever you or I have a craving for something sweet and wonderful to eat. Stop encouraging me when I suggest that I should wrap a pork loin in bacon and then cover it in bbq sauce and throw it on the grill. Stop turning a blind eye when I come home smelling of reuben sandwiches and chili cheese flavored freetos.
Being husky, like having a beard and sweet chest hair, is a sign of wisdom, maturity, and self-confidence; as is combining two pork products in one dish.
Peter, the next time someone (a harping spouse, perhaps) questions you about your tummy: proudly extend it, caress it slowly with both hands, and say "Ya know, this all turns to cock at midnight..." That will put the offender in their place.
As for J-Bird and athletics, I feel it prudent to note that all mockery is based in hatred and all hatred is based in fear. Clearly, Dr. Murray resents the fact that we exist on a higher plane physically while still able to compete with him in the academic arena. To compensate for this deficiency, he hones artificial talents like spliff rolling and being alternately harassed by policemen and drunk rednecks. Let's not even start in on what he does to compensate for the fact that he's a bleeder.
As for you, Don Pedro, and your hardwood talents. There is no questioning their awesomeness, but don't get too excited over being good at something that you have an inherent advantage in due to your genetic abnormality. You may be able to dominate normal people like myself in basketball and volleyball and getting things off high shelves, but if you ever step on the soccer pitch just know that I will be there waiting to rip your Achilles with my cleats as soon as the ref's back is turned. We'll see how good you are at dunking then, tough guy.
My question is, is being short an advantage in soccer, or do soccer players just tend to be short because taller athletes choose to play other sports? I would think that being tall would be helpful in soccer because you could get up above other players for headers. Imagine if you could lob every corner kick to two springy 6'5" midfielders. Imagine if your goalie had a 7'5" reach like Kevin Garnett. That would be awesome.
Not that I deny that you would destroy me in soccer. And god knows you are better than me at hitting a baseball. In the grand scheme of things, however, basketball is the only sport that matters to anyone who knows anything.
Being tall is an advantage in just about everything. This is going to sound painfully obvious, but the most important physical trait to a soccer player is dexterity of the feet. So, if you have a tall guy who still has really good foot-speed and really good speed overall he can be a dominant player. The two best players in the world right now are Christiano Ronaldo, who is 6'1" and Leo Messi, who is 5'6". They have markedly different styles of play. Messi is more of your classical football genius in that he's just crazy fast and explosive with the ball at his feet. Ronaldo isn't as fast off the jump, but he's probably more creative. He's seen as the prototype of future soccer stars. Here's a video comparison from Youtube. I don't know if you've ever watched a soccer video on Youtube before, but the best part is usually the soundtrack. That is true for this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOVOHsW5aq0
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