For the past 11 years I have hit the hard court with some great guys every Tuesday night. During that time I've witnessed others suffer numerous injuries - sprained ankles, jammed fingers, scrapes, bruises and even one tooth getting knocked out. But none of those things ever happened to me. I flew under the radar and avoided the carnage on the basektball court.
But last Tuesday things changed. That night I joined the ranks of the walking wounded. As I attempted to strip the ball from my friend Ryan his moving left knee connected with the side of my planted left knee pushing it in a way it wasn't meant to move. If my foot hadn't been planted on the floor at that precise moment in time the connection wouldn't have caused injury. Alas, it was where it was, the connection was made and searing, hot pain radiated from my knee, down my calf and into my foot. My gawd that hurt.
Two things disturbed me about getting injured. The first was that I was having one of those nights when I couldn't miss a shot. I was in the zone, seeing the hoop and hearing a lot of 'swish' when I put up a shot. If I'd avoided injury, Tuesday night would have been one I could have bragged about in the locker room for years to come.
The second disturbing thing about getting hurt was the reaction of many of my friends including somebody who I see as more than a friend. Her name is Heather, the woman I married. When I came hobbling into the house after basketball her first question was, "Are you all right?" When I told her I'd hurt my knee all concern left her face and in its place a look of bemusement took over as she broke into laughter. I could barely walk, was in more pain than I've experience since breaking my collar bone at 14 and she was having a good chuckle at my expense. Nice.
I went on Facebook the next day and posted this question: What would you do in this situation? You come home from basketball after hurting your knee. You're in obvious pain and your wife's first reaction? She bursts out laughing. Discuss.
Here are some of the responses:
I would have done the same thing. -- Mandi Hargrave
Oh that Heather! I'm sure she was concerned on the inside -- Dan Connolly
Old age had its moments. Sorry I would of laughed too. -- Rose Russell
Kicked you in the knee and then continued laughing! -- Angeline Mair
Did she say 'Suck it up ButterCup' to you? If she did, good on her. And the crutches are a nice touch -- Bruce Froude
I was hoping for some sympathy from my friends but none was forthcoming. Heather mentioned she saw my post that night after we'd settled in and put the kids in their respective corners (bedrooms).
"I only laughed because all you old guys continue to go out there every week and every week one of you gets hurt. It was only a matter of time that you would come home limping,"she said.
For the record, 44 is not old. There's a guy who plays with us who is 71 and he's still got game. So I said to her, "There are NBA players who go down with these very same injuries on a nightly basis."
Heather mumbled something to the effect, "You keep telling yourself that old man," and she walked away.
I would have continued our argument if it were not for one thing -- I couldn't catch her!
Rehabbing the knee will probably take less time and be easier than rehabbing my ego.
