There is something about playing sports that I truly love, but that something is difficult to explain.
At around 10 years old, I began playing basketball after receiving some lessons from a friend.
I became obsessed. I would even shoot hoops outdoors at recess in the winter.
Didn’t matter if there was snow or ice, I would be out there taking shots or playing full-court games when my friends were interested.
What I enjoyed the most was getting in the zone - which is when you perform an act automatically without thinking.
I was a shooter. I liked making shots from all over the court and would practice as much as I could.
People in my neighbourhood liked to joke that I was born with a basketball in my hand. When I was in my early 20s I won a contest in the Toronto Star where I got to meet Vince Carter from the Raptors.
It was supposed to be a shoot around at Canada’s Wonderland, but I turned it into a game.
Carter jumped so high he blocked out the sun when he swatted my shot. To my credit, I nearly stole the ball off him when he tried to dribble it around my back.
It was a pretty incredible experience, especially when you consider that many people say he was one of the greatest dunkers of all time.
I still enjoy watching basketball, but I rarely play now that I’m in my 40s. While I haven’t given up on the idea of playing basketball, I’m no spring chicken and have chosen to learn other sports instead.
A few summers ago I took up golf in Thunder Bay. It was a new challenge. After a few lessons and a lot of practice, I’m able to hit the ball an OK distance. I’ve made a lot of bogeys, several pars and a few birdies.
What I enjoy most is the quiet and the calm I feel while walking the course, although there was a time when I wasn’t that calm.
I saw a bear on a golf course last summer in Thunder Bay. I called the folks in the club house, who advised me to keep my driver handy in case I needed to defend myself.
I like being able to play golf alone, which is something you can’t do with most sports. You can practice alone, but in general you need at least one other person to play sports with.
I also don’t mind playing golf with other people. It’s a fun way to shoot the breeze while hitting a ball around the course.
In the winter, I play pickleball, which I also love. I’ve played a few times in the Sault since moving here in October. It’s fast paced and also allows you to get into the zone - or flow state as it’s sometimes called.
When I play sports now, I try to focus on not thinking. It sounds counterintuitive, I know.
This shutting off of my brain is part of the reason I love to compete. I’m often reminded of someone I interviewed who was into ice climbing.
I asked him what it was he loved about it.
“What I like is that it’s so difficult, while you do it you can’t think about anything else,” he said.
That’s sort of how it is when I play sports. I can’t think about anything else, because if other thoughts creep into my mind I know it will impact how I play.
I also try not to think about what I’m doing as I’m doing it, because that can make me play worse.
I don’t know who said it, but my favourite quote about golf could also apply to pickleball or basketball. While not a direct quote, it went something like this:
That’s why golf is so addictive, because an amateur golfer can make a pro-level shot.
What I find with golf is that it doesn’t matter if I have a couple bad shots in a row. If I focus on shutting off my brain, I usually find I can turn things around by the end.
Am I a pro? No, not even close. But it’s fun and good exercise.
I’m looking forward to meeting new people while playing sports in the Sault, but hopefully no more bears.
For more about sports in Sault Ste. Marie, visit the Sports space on SPACES.