Basketball: Is it Really Just a Game?

Yes, I am a teenage girl, and I absolutely LOVE basketball. Not playing it, just watching. I am a die-hard Lakers fan, and am definitely not a bandwagoner.

I could go off for ages about how hard it is to be the only girl in my friends circle that watches Sportscenter 24/7, but I'm not going to. This post is all about the crazy shenanigans of the NBA playoffs. 

When the regular season ended, I feared that the Lakers would have some trouble with the top seed in the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs. Sure, the match-up was better than some other teams, but from what I had seen, the Spurs were good. Really good. When I heard they were playing Memphis, I laughed.

I thought that was the funniest thing ever. I mean, really? Who was Memphis trying to kid? I definitely ate my words with that one, when Memphis won the series handily. Another huge surprise for me was the Atlanta Hawks beating the Orlando Magic. Orlando was supposed to be a top contender. What was going on? 

After the Lakers lost to Dallas again today (at HOME too!), I was disappointed. I was mad. Most of all, I had believed in Kobe Bryant to want it as much as I did. Of course he wanted it, he is the best and most competitive player in the NBA, at least in my opinion.

But I realized that no body can predict what is going to happen. Everything is up in the air, all fair game. Yes, the uncertainty and anticipation nearly kills me, but that is the beauty of it all. Sports are unpredictable, just like everything in life.

Tonight, I realized that nothing is set in stone, no matter how many people voted for the Lakers to take the series on a Yahoo Sports poll. In the end, its all up to the players. If they really, truly want it, they can do it. Anything is possible. And impossible is nothing. 

This epiphany made me think about how this concept in basketball can be applied to my life. I understand that I am in control of my life.

Whatever I want to do, I can do. Nobody can stop me from pursuing my dream. And for that, I am thankful to possess my unique love for sports.