NEW MOTIVATION

Kind of surprising when you become that dude comparing yesterday to today, saying things like, "That's the problem with these youngbloods..." I used to laugh at people who talked like that. Back in the day was back in the day for a reason.

I text guys pretty regularly about working on their game (feels more like I'm beggin' these dudes to come out to a free gym with fiberglass backboards and nets that aren't tattered.) I hit 'em up because I figure these players are like me and my old crew. I would've followed my cousin Billy to Zimbabwe if he thought there was a good game there. We never had to look that far. In the city of Los Angeles you might hop the fence at Samuel L. Gompers Middle School, John Locke High or hope that the gym wasn't too full at Mary Bethune Park. We usually played outside 'cause you did what you had to do. I'm not gonna lie and say we never "found the door ajar" at a local gym. Getting on the court was the optimal Friday evening.

But here comes the old man speak. As recently as yesterday I sent a text out to collegiate and even professional guys in town for the summer. All they really need is a gym I would imagine so I offered one and kept the invitees to a minimum thinking to keep the runs from going south. All you need is 15 heads so that there's always only one team waiting to get on. But alas, the responses these days usually sound like, "Awww man, I'm in LA right now." (translation = I'm with my girl right now). Here's another common retort. "Who's all these ppl in this group text? Last time the run was weak." I couldn't argue with that last comment because he was right. For a guy of his caliber, the last open gym he attended wasn't competitive for a professional. But I still submit that brothas like me would've played and just tried to destroy the weaker players in the gym.

Motivation is harder to master these days...I mean from the "older guy" side. By the way, anything beyond 30 is considered aged in basketball. I can say this though, as I toggle between writing this blog and texting one of these young bucks. In order to create good competitive open runs (pick-up basketball games) you have to purge the guest list. You have to make sure it's not lackluster hoopers disinterested in improvement. Distraction lurks like never before and all it takes is an opportunity to show off overseas earnings to ruin a consistent summer pick-up basketball scenario. Good player are bit more fragile these days and their tolerance is low for anything sub-par.

It's a bigger, better deal mentality that puts the pressure on guys like me to stay attractive. And it ain't changin'. Long-live the art of character development in the age of elite ELITES.