So... Do you still got it?

[mKoz26]

Re: So... Do you still got it?

I never had it. Hence why I'm on OS talking about sports rather than out playing them.

[Mo]

Re: So... Do you still got it?

When my back allows me to, yes. But that's the problem, my back aint helping out anymore.

Still the best baseball player out there when I play. Not even close(Of course my competition isnt that great to begin with though)

[VDusen04]

Re: So... Do you still got it?

27 years old. Still got it. Thought it was all going to be downhill after age 18. I'm now a much better basketball player nine years later. I'm dunking on folks now whereas in high school I wasn't even dunking in games, let alone on someone. I know time is not on my side though. That's why I operate under the assumption that each day could be the last at the level I'm on (which isn't a super high level as it is, but it's enough to keep me satisfied and wrecking most of the local folks). Therefore, I don't take it for granted.

[buckeye02]

Re: So... Do you still got it?

I feel i can shoot anyone out of the gym, but when it comes to dribbling the ball and driving with my right hand (i'm a lefty) i'm horrible.

[BestServedCold]

Re: So... Do you still got it?

Just be careful doing that kind of stuff. Don't push your Lt. too far.

[l3ulvl]

Re: So... Do you still got it?

Oh, and how can I do this?

NO KIDS FOR THE MF'ING WIN!!!!!

Haha, I remember that thread.

[12]

Re: So... Do you still got it?

I like to think I still have it.

I'm 26 and in decent shape. I play short stop and pitch for an adult baseball team while batting cleanup. I lead the team in average, home runs, and RBI's. My ERA is probably under one and I threw a no hitter where I struck out 14 of 16 guys (walked 1 guy)

I am the only white guy on the department basketball team and run with guys who are damn good. Our center is 6'8 and played D-1 ball.

I will compete for the starting QB job next spring in a full contact nationwide league.

I love sports and love competing. I would love to say I still have it but I'm not quite there. If I were to dedicate more time and get in better shape I'll be at the top of my game.

That's the plan going forward. I love still being able to play competitive sports after college.

Apostle, that's a cool story but man I wouldn't want to play those guys. I just don't trust them at all and you never know what could happen in a game.

Oh, and how can I do this?

NO KIDS FOR THE MF'ING WIN!!!!!

I have a good rapport with most every inmate, with the exception of the ones who just hate "cops" and don't care to try and let us treat them decently.

Of course these dudes are not my friends, but there's a lot of friendly banter that happens. The best part was for the better part of two years, these inmates talk so much junk that its ridiculous, and the first chance I got, I showed one of the better players up. I admit that I surprised the crap out of myself by shooting that well, with no warm up shots and bogged down in a uniform and duty belt, but I'll take it.

We have actually tried to get the higher ups to let us play them in a real game, but they said no. Our five best players would give these dudes a game. What worries me is what you could "catch" from any of these dudes and that's why I probably wouldn't play in an actual game against them.

I am 30 and not the athlete I was five years ago, but the jumper is as good as it's even been because that's what I rely on the most.

[12]

Re: So... Do you still got it?

Just be careful doing that kind of stuff. Don't push your Lt. too far.

Nah, that's about as far as I've ever gone.

LT thought it was hilarious and said he wished he would have seen it...

I was kidding about playing one-on-one. Playing PIG is enough and it'll never happen again, I'm sure.

[Pared]

Re: So... Do you still got it?

It seems that I'm posting these types of threads once every year at the least...SNIP

Nothing like egging on dudes in the cell.

Maybe I watch too many movies. But what typically happens to the guy that eggs on inmates is never good.

If your pride is that big a deal when dealing with these guys, more power to you.

[Qb]

Re: So... Do you still got it?

I always thought wow pro athletes retire at 30, 35 etc... well now I am 32 and still lift weights and work hard etc.... but, man try to hang with a 23 year old when your 32 is possible but, man it is hard as heck. To answer your question yes I still have it but, I feel it for 3 days after

One of my roller hockey teammates summed it up quite well after we, a bunch of 30-somethings, took a beating at the hands of some young guys... "We did OK considering we're skating around with 20 pound weights around our waist."

[wwharton]

Re: So... Do you still got it?

I always thought wow pro athletes retire at 30, 35 etc... well now I am 32 and still lift weights and work hard etc.... but, man try to hang with a 23 year old when your 32 is possible but, man it is hard as heck. To answer your question yes I still have it but, I feel it for 3 days after

I wanted to give this one 2 thumbs up, lol.

Man, I know that felt good, Apostle, but I wouldn't get too hype over beating someone at pig, lol.

I play pick up with the kids I used to coach and they get mad that I'm usually playing hard. Guess they just don't realize that I HAVE to play hard just to keep up these days. I need to thank them for NOT playing so hard.

[12]

Re: So... Do you still got it?

Nothing like egging on dudes in the cell.

Maybe I watch too many movies. But what typically happens to the guy that eggs on inmates is never good.

If your pride is that big a deal when dealing with these guys, more power to you.

Yeah, you watch too many movies bro. It's not like that at all. At least at the facility where I work, it's not. When the game was over, inmates were cheering for me. The dude I beat, he hung his head, but smiled. I think saying it was "egging" them on is a bit much. In some facilities, officers play inmates in softball and other sports, and it is extremely rare that an incident happens.

Pride? Nah. But you have to have some fun. If you don't, you'll go insane and there is nothing at all wrong with an officer showing up an inmate (or vice-versa) in a friendly competition. It's usually good for everyone and helps to eliminate that whole "us vs. them" mentality that plagues most prison systems and breeds more violence usually.

[12]

Re: So... Do you still got it?

I wanted to give this one 2 thumbs up, lol.

Man, I know that felt good, Apostle, but I wouldn't get too hype over beating someone at pig, lol.

I play pick up with the kids I used to coach and they get mad that I'm usually playing hard. Guess they just don't realize that I HAVE to play hard just to keep up these days. I need to thank them for NOT playing so hard.

LOL, this is why prison threads are a bad here idea. My bad.

I never got hype. It was cool to beat the dude, I admit. These guys are relentless because all they do is talk massive amounts of trash to us about how good they are, and everyone knows that we can't actually play them... So it's always about the talk, about the glory days, etc...

So to beat one was just "cool." Nothing that I'm going to celebrate too much. Just one of those cool little things that happen in life and nothing more. PIG or not.

[VDusen04]

Re: So... Do you still got it?

Yeah, you watch too many movies bro. It's not like that at all. At least at the facility where I work, it's not. When the game was over, inmates were cheering for me. The dude I beat, he hung his head, but smiled. I think saying it was "egging" them on is a bit much. In some facilities, officers play inmates in softball and other sports, and it is extremely rare that an incident happens.

Pride? Nah. But you have to have some fun. If you don't, you'll go insane and there is nothing at all wrong with an officer showing up an inmate (or vice-versa) in a friendly competition. It's usually good for everyone and helps to eliminate that whole "us vs. them" mentality that plagues most prison systems and breeds more violence usually.

I feel you on that. This is night-and-day different from you, but I've worked with alternative education students for much of my career. A lot of times, this includes the portion of local society who already has a criminal record and may very well end up in a place where you work at some point. Other times, I'm working with adult students who have been in prison and are now looking for educational assistance. My role is entirely different from yours. Regardless, there's a whole lot of assumptions made about these kids and adults and sometimes those assumptions are correct. But they seem to paint a picture of there being a complete inability to interact with these guys in a positive and normal manner (even as teacher and student).

Of course, at no point can I speak for how a prison works. I haven't a clue. But some of the things you mentioned in your story (in regards to your interaction with them) just loosely reminded me of my experiences. Of course, there's some kids who will never form a bond with me but by and large, students of all backgrounds, problems, and issues - even with me acting as the disciplinarian and the head honcho - are able to have a positive (or at least status quo) relationship with me. Oftentimes, there's a sense that we're all in this together and a bond is built. This doesn't mean they won't try to take advantage of the rules I set, or that they respect me so much they'll never veer from the straight and narrow, but they're just a lot closer to being regular everyday people than a lot of folks imagined they'd be.

And yes, oftentimes when a new student will come through, he'll have a pre-conceived notion of how tight his game is and how much of a square I am. And when the topic of basketball arises, with that student proclaiming his dominance at the sport, and with the amount of time I've spent at this school, I can usually catch at least one veteran student listening and silently shaking his head in a disappointed "This new kid does not know who you are. . ." manner.

And truly, I'm not anybody. But I am the guy who's going to crush any of my students in the game of basketball. They find that out sooner than later. In all honesty, my basketball skills have been a great way to garner instant respect among my troubled teens. It's a reminder right off the bat that I'm not just some random, boring guy here to keep them in line with no other skills aside from teaching. I just don't know what the hell I'm going to do to gain respect when my skills inevitably begin to decline.

[Pared]

Re: So... Do you still got it?

Yeah, you watch too many movies bro. It's not like that at all. At least at the facility where I work, it's not. When the game was over, inmates were cheering for me. The dude I beat, he hung his head, but smiled. I think saying it was "egging" them on is a bit much. In some facilities, officers play inmates in softball and other sports, and it is extremely rare that an incident happens.

Pride? Nah. But you have to have some fun. If you don't, you'll go insane and there is nothing at all wrong with an officer showing up an inmate (or vice-versa) in a friendly competition. It's usually good for everyone and helps to eliminate that whole "us vs. them" mentality that plagues most prison systems and breeds more violence usually.

Your post read like a movie - so maybe you can become a screenwriter.

Either way - just don't want you getting shanked and never logging again one day.

But you obviously know what you are doing so -