Note:
This here is the baller who bought me all the basketball gear.

Posted via email from cu08’s posterous

I shot 50 shots today, like I promised myself in my last entry 

Tomorrow is a practice with the high school girls. Still trying to find a women’s team that I can play with.

I’ve been really frustrated because my calves to my Achilles heel has given me pain for the last few months. My partner bought me McDavid leg sleeves which are making my shin splints feel better by keeping my legs warm during these cold Kanto Japan winters. My partner also bought me proper shoes to play in. I used to have stylish Reebok’s with straps…but they were more for the street than for playing ball. Thanks to my partner now I have these 

The video in my first blog entry shows that I’m not confident with the ball by fumbling and traveling. But today was different.

I used to shoot 2 shots from 5 spots on the court (i.e. A step inside the 3P line). I got over a big hurdle, ‘pride’ I call it, and today shot 6 shots from 2 spots on either side of the court by the baseline and 10 shots from the rest of the 3 spots, each a step inside the 3P line. I’m confident now that I’m going to up my shots tomorrow and do 10 shots for all 5 spots.

This is huge and all thanks to my partner, who is my coach, team mate, best friend, and lover.

I’m asking myself though, “Can I get a lay up?”

What I’ve been asking myself lately how to go from post player to guard. I was a center in Grade 5-8 and a power forward in my high school years. Lately, I’ve been practicing being a point guard.

My partner has been training me on dribbling and passing skills. I work out in the sports club for conditioning and with the high school girls at the school I work at.

Tonight I’ve been searching for women’s basketball teams in Japan on Japan’s famous social networking site ミクシー = “mixi”

In December 2003, while at Seattle University, I had an ACL Reconstruction and Meniscus Repair surgeries done, followed by a year of intense physical therapy. Since then I’ve continued physical therapy and getting my confidence back in basketball. I’ve coached, been a referee, then coached some more.

A year ago I was adamant to play basketball at a more competitive level. So again, I wasn’t playing with girls but I was playing with guys. I met my partner then and was overjoyed to find someone so ambitious. He shared his dreams of becoming a professional basketball player. I never told anyone I wanted to be in the WNBA, and there he stood telling me that his life won’t begin until he would go pro and eventually he told me he’s aiming for the NBA. I would say he rekindled my love and passion for basketball. I try to support him mentally, financially, and see him grow more confident everyday. 

Trying to improve from where I left myself as a basketball player in high school is a challenge. I’ve been told by my partner that I don’t have the attitude to improve. And if I continue this way I will never ‘catch up’ or be where I want to be.

But where do I want to be? I struggle with this a lot, often cry about it, and busy feeling sorry for myself.

I’ve been trying for so long to get a girls team going but it just hasn’t happened. I’m currently practicing with the high school girls and practicing with my partner and other guys he’s invited for skills practice.

I’ve played with girls, guys, and men. When will I get to start playing with women?

(Below is a video of me in one of my most recent practices. Yes, I traveled before pulling up for a shot.)

1st video of shame. Hoping I will improve. Need to get out of my high school basketball habits and move on. Lots of catching up to do before I try out for WNBA.