So at work today, I went into the gym and was watching some basketball. For those of you who don't know, I work in a prison. I am in close proximity with inmates and I am ALWAYS talking junk to them. I always tell them how on the basketball court, no one on the entire compound has a better jump shot than me. They always laugh at me and tell me that I am garbage. I even had one inmate tell me that I probably "play like Kurt Rambis out there... Knee pads and all."
The worst part is, I watch these dudes play and while some of them are very good, most of them are all talk. I asked my Lieutenant tonight if I could jump in on a quick game just to show these cats what's up, and that I wasn't all talk - even in full uniform. He told me no, but that I could shoot around if I wanted. So, I am in the gym watching these guys, and most of them are talking junk to me during the game. One dude scores, and he stares me down as if I am the dude he just scored on.
So after the game, I singled out this one black dude named Joe. He is the dude that told me I probably wore knee pads and he always told that I was garbage. His team won the game. During the game, the ball went out of bounds and I grabbed it. No joke, I pulled up from 25 feet, on the baseline, and splashed the jumper. The whole gym went nuts. When the game was over, I looked at all of the inmates in the stands, and I said, "You guys say I'm all talk, do you think inmate Joe would be willing to find out if that's true?"
They all started yelling and my other officer buddies told me to sit down. No, I said, Joe and I would play a quick game of PIG. Joe accepted and continued to laugh at me. I said, "Take the first shot." He missed a jumper and I grabbed the ball, and said, "Mistake, Joe. I doubt you get another shot of your own."
I took a three from about 25 feet and knocked it down. He made it. The gym was loud. The next shot, I shot a free throw and made it. He missed. I told Joe, "If we could play one-on-one, I'd show your pals that how weak you really are." I didn't smile, and he said, "Okay, okay..."
To make a long story short, I made six shots in a row and sent his *** packing (sorry for the language, mods). It was beautiful. Full uniform and equipment, and I shot this dude out of the gym. I was getting booed by most of the inmates, but some of them were really surprised that I put this dude in his place. He didn't even come close to getting a letter on me.
I guess I still got it. At the end of the game, the best part was a buddy of mine grabbed the speaker and said, "The good guys win again. Thanks for coming."
With that, I went outside and stood movement as the inmates went back to their units. I actually surprised myself because I haven't shot a ball in about two months, but it was beautiful.
Maybe the Lieutenant will let Joe and I play one-on-one next time.
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