I have been a lifelong basketball fan. I've been a player (a very poor one) in high school and in later life in a men's rec league, a coach, a referee and an avid spectator.

For many years, much of my liesure time schedule from November through May revolved around basketball. Over the past couple of years however, my interest in the game seems to have dwindled to almost nothing.

I find this change in my personality disturbing for some reason, and wonder if any one else on this board has experienced anything similar?

I have gone from looking at this sport as my passion and my therapy, to not really caring about it on any level.

What's up? Am I just getting that old?

It's kind of difficult to sustain an avid interest when so many things in your life are always changing and taking away your interest and energy.

I've always been a devoted baseball fan, so far that hasn't really dropped off, though my fervor for the local team-Oakland A's-has diminished somewhat, can't really say why.

Hoops is just entering its climactic phase, at least that's what the advertising says-NBA finals, Miami v. Dallas. But my favorites were Detroit and Phoenix, so I'm not into it that much.

I've never really cared for round ball. I know what you mean though about losing interest. I'm feeling that way about football. I used to follow it a lot, but the past few years have been just "blah" for me and the sport.

Last season I tried fantasy football on Yahoo, and it helped keep my interest in the game. You might try that next season with basketball.

I also have a basketball jones. I personally find that while I don't watch it much anymore (except NCAA tourney time and the occassional local college game) I still love to play a couple of times a week.

quote:

Originally posted by Anonymous:
I also have a basketball jones. I personally find that while I don't watch it much anymore (except NCAA tourney time and the occassional local college game) I still love to play a couple of times a week.

So, what's up with the USA taking bronze at the world chamionships? They got beat by Greece for god's sake.

i donot approve of the usa using pro players. the pro style is definatly not the same as the game played by colleges and around the world. we need to go back to the college kids playing.

The pro style is not the same as the college style, and neither is the same as the international style, which I believe is rougher and rewards strength more.

I thought the US players played very well, the difficulty that they always face is that the other teams play together for season after season, and the US teams are thrown together for just that particular tournament. Now, I understand that the US team will stay together, hopefully they can come in 1 or 2 in the tournament next year to make it to the Beijing Olympics.

Greece? Not a powerhouse, but everyone plays their best against US. All it takes is one game of mediocre shooting, and the other team gets hot, the crowd starts screaming "Beat USA" and it's over.

THE USA DID PLAY WELL TOGETHER THIS TIME. AND I GIVE COACH K ALL THE CREDIT FOR THAT.

I THINK THOUGH THAT COLLEGE PLAYERS PLAY A MORE TEAM ORIENTED GAME THAN THE PROS. THIS IS MORE IN SYNCH WITH THE INTERNATIONAL GAME.

I agree, well-coached college players such as Duke, North Caolina, Stanford and others play more of a team oriented game.

But I think there are problems with sending college kids to play in these tournaments: the kids are very young, they are not as physically developed, nor as mentally and emotionally developed-you are sending kids to play against men. Also, unless one school's team goes, you have the same problem with just throwing together a team to face a team that plays together for years on end. Also, the pro's are the best of the best, I'd say go with them.

the pros are the best of the best. they are also (on the whole) arrogant, selfish, and are unable to play a team oriented game. we did well befoer the pros started to play for the usa. lets go back ot it.

I largely agree with your comments about the pro's but I think that the current crop is more dedicated the the team concept. And I'm afraid that the rest of the world has caught up with us in hoops, if we sent out a team of college players that hadn't played together before, they would get killed, IMO.

The world has caught up with us. I still would love to see the college players play though.

Why hasn't Steve Nash played? I know he's getting older, but he's the kind of guy who makes everyone else better, great vision and he passes like he doesn't even want to score on every play, unlike most of the ballhogs.

Gotta agree with you. I am trying to remember the otehr point guard out there who does all the same things. I must be getting old, because I cannot do so right now.

I only follow the NBA occasionally, is it Tony Parker of the Spurs? They play a real "team" game.

John Stockton, Utah? He retired.

Kobe Bryant? Just kidding.

LeBron can do it all, he just needs maturity.