Random Older and Stuff I've written but not published until now...Pt 1

We'll heres something I love more than Rosie...

Basketball...

I feel this way about the sport of Basketball because long my association with the sport. It all started in my childhood... my wilder, younger days (i.e I was a little shit and I'm the reason why I HATE kids today) and my year 4 teacher Mr.Leaning forcing me into a "Non-contact" sport, to let out my aggression and boundless ADHD energy out while doing something constructive and not drawing pictures people being slaughtered and chasing kids around the playgournd with a stick.

So, I started to play...and well I sucked.... but I was very good at the intentional foul (usually belting some poor kid at least once a game for no reason other than my own frustration with my shitness) and the technical foul (for screaming at the ref and slapping the floor or any other various way of having a spazz you can think of). I was on warpath most games and was a benchwarmer most games...usually it be your coach who'd bench you...nope. It was my mother who'd drag me from the court...to cool me off.

Being completely bloody useless on-court and criminally insane by the age of 9 didn't help me play well and I was a huge hindrance to my team-mates (sorry fellas).... did I mention I sucked?Anyway, for the first time in my life I persisted with something because regardless of how shit I was (and still am) I loved the sport. It's a quick, high scoring game and fun to play...nuff said.

Although admittedly I haven't played in 4 years competitively, I'm still afraid on my "white-line fever" I still have the urge to pick my ball and shoot aournd every so often. Hell, I've played in Junior League Premierships, 6 of em... 4 Premierships when I was in Year 7 with the Camberwarra Cats (My Primary School Team) in Terms 1,2,3 and 4 plus we were undefeated.

Then 2 more titles in my teens with "Craigie Chaos" (a team of Craigie High Mates) and "Quiksilver" (yes, I know shithouse name) with was a hybrid of the remaining Craigie Chaos Members (we had mass exodus due to my defection Craigie to Padbury High for career reasons) and some Padbury High Kids (tensions were high most of the time).

Then, after that I played some in adult comps (at a very low level) with the same team that we won the premiership with in the Juniors (we were A division champs there) for a couple more seasons. Then I stopped after I started hate the world more and sadly the guys I played with too, for school reasons which I won't go into here.But at this point I had taken up refereeing the sport for that Junior League, which I loved every second of.

As much I as hated sports parents...

Parent: “HOW WAS THAT A FOUL!!!”

Gav: “He clotheslined the other kid, ma’am, now get the fuck off my court!!”.

Those were good days, I soon became a favourite with the kids... (because I'm big kid myself) and parents (well most of them) loved me, t'was good to be loved and have purpose (especially as a scrawny awkard angry 16 yr old boy).

But I was unceremoniously fired in 2003, (of which I found out about in my superannuation letter of all things...) because me and the new boss of the league didn't get along (I hated that bitch and feeling was mutual). That ended my refereeing days, in a sad fashion.

But in the twist to this tale. I started refereeing again in early 2006. But this time for the mens, womens and mixed competition at Lords Sports Club. I even continued to referee games in Melbourne (when I moved over there to study) at Msac in Albert Park (they paided "cash-in-hand"). Even now on my return to Perth, I'm continuing my refereeing duties (trust me, the extra cash helps).

Shit, I still follow the NBA religously (Thank God for ESPN). It's still my favourite sport and as much as I love my Sydney Swans...Basketball will always be placed above Footy or any other sport forever and until the day after I die.

"I Love This Game"

With much Love of the Game

Gavin Crossley