I might retire from basketball

Not a Michael Jordan-like event, but after almost 50 years of playing pickup basketball, I think I’ve had it.

I was never much good–at my best, maybe around college, I was a scrappy hustler, good passer, inconsistent but sometimes decent outside shooter, and tenacious defender (never had much of a move to the hoop), and my game has deteriorated since I turned 40 over a decade ago, so it’s no great loss. But my deteriorating game has only a little to do with my decision to hang up my basketball sneakers.

The pickup game I’m currently playing in is just too contentious for me. It’s a way for me to get some aerobic exercise (I hate treadmills, and it’s just too cold here to run on the beach past November) but the main exercise I get in this game is arguing calls. Yesterday’s game was an extreme example of the range of styles which are impossible to reconcile. Basically, one guy who was guarding me called a foul every time a play didn’t go his way–any incidental contact, and he’d go “I got it” and curse me out for brushing against him, putting a hand on his back in the post, even doing a fairly good pick and roll, while one of his teammates who was guarding me on switches would literally shove me around every time he guarded me. I was getting it both ways, and I can’t blame either guy, but there are two styles of play in a non-refereed game, and if you don’t agree on which style you want–a “no blood, no foul” policy" or an “NBA-last two minutes” policy, you’re doomed to spending the whole game arguing fouls, which makes the exercise extremely disagreeable.

Related is the whole trash-talking style of the kids (I play mostly with college kids, plus some staff and faculty like me), who take it for granted that yelling, cursing, complaining, and just being unpleasant on the court is normal, while the older folks keep this to minimum, and generally prefer to say “Good shot” after an opponent makes a three-pointer rather than “You a lucky motherfucker.” But even if they showed better manners, I’d still be annoyed at all the heated discussions of fouling, and the wide range of standards being applied. I probably should get out before I get hurt (I’ve been lucky the last few years, though this week I had a few minor hurts, a jammed finger and a crushed big toe, plus a strained hamstring and a cut on my arm from someone’s fingernail) but it’s more the psychological strain of all this arguing that’s making me think about not playing basketball any more.

I guess I’m glad to have had a good long run.

Pick up basketball is in a sad state. I haven’t played in about a year because the last several times I went to the rec center it was the same story as yours. Kids whining about fouls, not calling them consistently. But even worse than that is there’s always 1 or 2 guys who just completely take over the game. They think they were *this *close to a scholarship or something, taking every shot, never passing to the open guy. I admit, anymore I’m the guy spotting up outside the arc, not nearly quick enough to challenge anyone off the dribble, but dude, if I’m open HIT ME (or someone) instead of driving to the hole among 4 defenders, just like you did the last eight trips down the court.

And people still say that the general “mood” of people the world over isn’t changing for the negative. “Oh it’s always been this way” they say. Nah…definitely getting worse.

Playing basketball with a bunch of people i don’t know seems about as fun as playing monopoly with strangers. Me and my friends play every weekend, for most of us it is the only exercise we get.

I think that’s what I need, a game with friends. Unfortunately, at my age, all my friends are busy getting heart attacks, getting buried, or counting chins 3-7 inclusive.

Isn’t there some over leagues for people over 50 yrs old? So you don’t have to worry about the trash talking kids.

I am about to turn 50 and way out of shape. I used to play in my 20’s, (and very poorly). I would like to play again, (for exercise) but there is no way I would play against kids that are much better than me, and much better shape.

I quite playing soccer a couple of years ago when I got to 30 for much the same reasons… Sunday league matches are increasingly unpleasant, and most lads I know who play have had one or both knees rebuilt.

I play tennis instead which is much more relaxed - there’s still a bit of needle over some of the line calls now and again, but the fact we have guys playing decent games into their 70s made me figure it’s the right game to switch to.