I love March Madness.  Tonight, I will be gleefully watching the 2021 championship, a ritual I have not missed since I was 16 years old. 

Hoping for a buzzer-beater finale like Saturday night’s Gonzaga/UCLA slugfest, I will stick around through the net clipping, anticipating the playing of “One Shining Moment”.  Getting teary-eyed, I will revel in all of the clips from the past few weeks played to the backdrop of that song.

Raised in Indianapolis, basketball was truly part of our upbringing and blood.  Shooting hoops out in our snowy shoveled driveway with neighborhood kids was a rite of passage.  Playing on school teams was a joy.

One of my most memorable experiences?  One night, clad in my crimson IU sweatshirt, I was cheering wildly with other students as we packed our famed Assembly Hall.   Jumping to our feet, we started yelling about a call.  This was not unusual.

But to watch Bobby Knight pick up that red plastic chair and give it the heave-ho?  Our shocked glances at each other somehow let us know that this would be something we would never forget.

The 2021 NCAA tournament , hosted all over my home state, has been a delight to watch.  I am trying hard not to mention that Indiana University itself was not even close to making the dance.

Doesn’t it make you want to play?

I have news.  It’s not too late whether you are 50 or 90!

Three -on -three basketball is the perfect way to play as it is half- court, with 15- minute halves, and all kinds of other modified rules.  Senior Olympics/Games competition is segmented into five-year age groups, with hundreds of teams participating nationwide.  Adult leagues at park and recreation departments and other facilities afford additional opportunities.

Three-on- three is competitive, fun, full of friendships, and absolutely NOT a deluge of granny shots.

A fabulous way to stay in shape, players also benefit from the joy and camaraderie of being on a team again or for the first time.

One Shining Moment for a 65+ Team

One of my favorite memories involves that of watching one of our 65+ women’s teams, the Smoky Mountain Hot Shots, as they fought their way to a national championship in 2013.  You see, they had been in a years-long rivalry with the Louisiana Tigerettes.

The Hot Shots somehow never rose to the top.

That particular year was different, you could feel it in the air.  Players from all of the other teams filed in to watch the championship, hoping for an upset.  So excited, I felt like I was at the Final Four!    We cheered and carried on and bit our nails.  In the end, the team prevailed and the biased audience erupted into shouts as hugs were shared all around.

Susie Hargis, who had not played basketball since high school but started back up in 2002, remembers those days:

“Great memories are of us beating the LA Tigerettes twice to end their reign of 7 championships!  It was truly the most exciting time to see all the people from different teams come down on the floor to congratulate us.  It was so much fun singing Rocky Top but we never made it to Disney World”

This team is so admired that the incredible honor of being inducted into the Tennessee Women’s Sports Hall of Fame occurred last year during halftime of a UT game at Pat Summit arena.

 

Keep Playing!  The 80s

As mentioned earlier, teams are divided into five-year age groups.  The youngest player on each team determines placement.  For example, if 3 players are between 60 to 64 with the fourth being 58, that team will be assigned to the 55+ age division.

Consequently, teams range from the 50s all the way up to the 80s.

88 -year-old Roy G’Fellers has been playing ball for so many years that his team aged out of the oldest division, the 75+.  Finally, an 80+ division was created nationwide.

Spending time with Roy is a treat.    The other day I poured an iced tea and punched in his number.  Sure enough, an hour flew by as I listened to his Southern drawl as he cackled, reminisced, and spun yarns.

The first story he launched into outlined his scare with Covid-19 in February.

 “I drove myself to the hospital and left my car outside the emergency room.  After they admitted me, I forgot all about it until a worker asked to move it a couple of days later.

I was in for two days and my doctor finally said,  Roy G, you sure are in good shape for an 88- year-old.  How in the world do you do it”?

“I have played sports all my life”.

“Well, it sure has paid off for you now.  It has helped you navigate Covid and you can now go home”.

So thankful for this positive medical report, I then asked about his early days of playing sports.  Baseball was his first love, even landing him in Orlando for try-outs at one point.

However, the Korean War interrupted several plans while Roy served, earning 3 stars for the three combat missions he endured.  Getting lost hearing about that story was equally remarkable, as he reminisced about every detail, making me nervous as he recounted shuffling toward the plane doors to jump out into combat.

Circling back to basketball, he recalled past teams and the joy they had in playing.  What struck me during that conversation was the realization that their competitive spirit has not waned a bit.  For these 80- year-olds, it’s not about just coming out to get a little exercise, although that obviously is a key benefit.  Competing is key.  It almost seemed like he was anticipating the NBA draft as he described some phone calls going about, planning this year’s rosters.

“Well, one team member may go with another team and some out-of- state teams may recruit some of us for Nationals.  But we are trying to get our team together for this year.  I may play down with the youngsters (75+).  That doesn’t bother me as we practice with the kids sometimes.”

He laughed as he described the kids as those in their 60s.

It’s truly never too late to compete.

The Real Youngsters

On display at the other end of the spectrum, one finds the 50 and 55 teams.   I love watching this young age group, their athleticism and quickness so exciting to observe.

Karen Manis, a multi-sport athlete, plays her heart out in basketball.   Some of her reasons for playing?  Fun, Fitness, and Fellowship.

“ I love basketball and the fact that it is all team. It takes everyone to play the game.  The games are super competitive which makes it much more fun!”

Karen grew up playing with 3 brothers outside in the neighborhood, joining an organized team her sophomore year of high school. She does her best now to keep active and practicing:

“I play with my young sons, 14 and 16 at our church gym and in our driveway, I participate in the Senior Games, I played on Saturday mornings at our Senior Center with the Senior men until Covid struck. Can’t wait to get back. I love playing with the guys. The make you work harder and make you stronger!”

What About Injuries?

In the past, some have voiced concerns about the possibility of getting injured, not wanting to take a chance.

Karen discusses injuries:

“I don’t think athletes go around worrying about getting injured. We play the game and if an injury happens that is just part of it.  Yes, we have one lady with a double knee replacement and another who was injured in a work accident in her younger days, she came close to losing her foot. After 7 surgeries and multiple skin grafts on her foot she was told she probably wouldn’t be able to play sports again. But she proved them all wrong! When watching our team on the court you would never guess which girl it is. “

Susie also has some input:

“As a team we have had black eyes, broken fingers and thumb, sprained ankles, knee surgeries, shoulder surgeries, and lots of rest and rehab.  However, our team has overcome many health challenges; stroke and cancer being the biggest challenges.

Sometimes our struggles make us stronger, giving us the determination to never give up, and strive to be better.  Life will always be complicated and short.  Live each day to do and be your best.  Winners never quit, and quitters never win. Never give up.”

Ready to play? 

For the Senior Olympics/Games check the National Senior Games Association for contact information for each state.   Of course, I am partial to the TN Senior Olympics.  Grab a few friends and join us in late June!  Also remember to check your local Parks and Rec departments as some are starting basketball back up.

Another tidbit to share is that many states host basketball skill events such as free throw shooting, 3 point contests, and a hot shot competition.  Contemplate honing those skills out on the hoop in your driveway or in a gym and join in that way.

I will leave you with encouragement from Karen:

“ I encourage all folks of all ages to stay active and if you are not active, get active! Your health will benefit greatly and it keeps you young! You will make many new friends and maybe even fall in love with a new sport!”