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Be a Good Sport
By Lois E. Wilson
At my high school, Fairview, girls received points for playing
intramural sports. Earn enough points and you received an athletic
letter. This encouraged us to experience a variety of sports. I tried
tennis, softball, volleyball, and basketball.
Each year there was a special track and field day when you could earn
points by competing individually in events. Not foreseeing the
consequences, I chose to try the standing broad jump. For it, you stand
with feet behind a line, bend yourself into a slight squatting
position, swing your arms and body back and forth without moving your
feet, then at the release, jump, propelling yourself forward to land on
both feet. I did fairly well at the jump, but the rest of the week my
legs were so sore and stiff I could hardly move.
I was a tall girl for my generation, 5”9”, so I favored basketball. We
formed teams. There were two teams from the senior class: the athletic
Clickin’ Six and the girl-next-door beauties, Flibbertigibbets. A year
later, Dr. Seuss used the word “nerd” in a book and we could have
easily called our junior team the Nerd Squad or even more aptly the
Nerd Herd for a couple of members were on the plump side, some were
what they called “brainy,” and all of us were somewhat social misfits.
But we were naive and named our team Basketbelles.
In those days, girls’ basketball was 6 on 6. Each team had 3 forwards
and 3 guards. Forwards played only offense on their basket side; guards
played only defense on the opponent’s forwards. Neither position was
permitted to cross the center line. Only forwards were allowed to shoot
baskets. You could only dribble 2 times, and all baskets were 2 points.
The senior teams were quite dismissive of us. Since we practiced at
different times, they didn’t know we had a secret weapon. It was Janet.
She was medium height and one of our brainy ones. She could swish the
ball through the hoop at various distances from about any place on the
court. The opposing team’s guards were shocked. They couldn’t stop her.
As I remember, we beat both teams. Thanks to Janet, we gained some
respect, at least on the basketball court. I hope we were good sports
about the win and didn’t gloat too much—at least not outwardly.
I played basketball again in a faculty game. The game had evolved to
the full-court men’s rules. I was 36 and out of shape. A few
back-and-forth runs on the court, and I was winded. The game was also
more physical. I got a few strong elbow blows from the PE teacher.
I enjoyed watching our sons play basketball, but I guess you could say
I’m retired from it today.
That athletic letter “F” which I earned in high school was the only “F”
I ever received in all my years of attending schools. Thank goodness! I
guess I am gloating—outwardly. Oh well, please forgive me.
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