I was a tomboy.
I had three brothers. There was always something fun to do with them. We climbed trees, roamed fields, shot bb guns, checked muskrat trips early winter mornings, wore out the grass running a baseball diamond in the backyard, and played football in a neighboring empty lot. My mother made me quit playing football with the neighborhood boys when I was a teen. Hmph.
Sports were always a part of my life. I mentioned the pool table and ping pong table in the basement. We had a dart board, too. We played badminton and volleyball in the backyard with the same net. Jarts, croquet, and Dad even put in a horseshoe pit.
We had intramural sports in junior high school. Lots of basketball, volleyball, and even more badminton.
When I was in my twenties, you couldn’t beat me in a game of HORSE. I had a little jump with every shot, and I made them. I even made some three-pointers before they were a thing. I was a hit on the courts at the company summer picnics.
My twenties! This was when I discovered racquetball. You know how someone can be the love of your life? Racquetball was the sport of my life. I was completely enthralled with the game the first moment I ever set foot on a court. I took lessons, had a coach, and played competitively, traveling with friends to tournaments all over the state. I won first place in our state tournament my first year out (as a novice). I worked my way up to class B ball, ready to move into class A when I suffered nerve damage to my right shoulder. Ciest la vie.
When I was in the throes of racquetball, I was also playing girls softball. I played third base. One year, our coach wasn’t too happy with me and one of my girlfriends. I don’t remember why we were such screwups that year. I think we were just having too much fun with life. We were eventually thrown off the team when we made a triple play. Three of us were out on one play! I think I was the one who created all the chaos. My girlfriend was yelling and fighting with the coach. I thought it was hilarious. I didn’t do it on purpose.
Concurrent with racquetball and softball, I bowled in leagues – one with family and one with girlfriends. I was one of those people who did okay but nothing great until one magical evening each season when I would bowl something ridiculously high and end up with a bunch of trophies at the end of the year. My best run was seven strikes in a row with a couple more near the end. I agreed with the better bowlers that it was unfair for me to get the trophies, but I didn’t make the rules. 😊
Growing up, I watched a ton of Cleveland Indians baseball, going all the way back to Vic Davalillo and Rocky Colavito in the 60s. On Sundays, I watched whatever my dad was watching – from baseball, basketball, and football to bowling, golf, roller derby, pool tournaments … if he had it on, I wanted to watch, too. In the 70s, and in the days of Jim Chones and Austin Carr, I went to nearly every home Cleveland Cavaliers game. I listened to the away games on the radio. I was an avid fan.
Speaking of golf, I wasn’t so much a golf enthusiast as I was a Tiger Woods fan. I watched Tiger from the beginning of his rise … to his fall. I still have the 2005 Masters final day on VHS tape. Tiger’s shot on the 16th hole will forever delight me. He was amazing.
Tiger Woods’ Chip on 16 | Iconic Masters Moments
What’s the point of this post? I don’t know. Nostalgia. Or maybe that I still troll the sports section at library book sales and thrift shops looking for an entertaining sports read. My brothers used to bring sports fiction home from the school library when they were probably in the 10- to 12-year-old range. The books were usually stories of boys playing baseball or basketball. I read them, too. I think if I found some of those old 50s and 60s books today, I just might read them.
What about you? Sports! What do you like? What did you play? What are you participating in now?
Breezy Books 