Hating The Player

on'

ars la

n. Home to the top basketbal

step out of his

dium. Playing here was one th

, and now I'll be playing for th

ome-m

the stadium feels like a tightr

wait i

comed with open arms in spor

cate, and a new face is

ce a few people with cameras. I

today

y none other than James Wilke

ace warmly, clea

es. Long time,"

g. "If you'd accepted my golfing

o lo

rnia just to listen to rich guys

ss

they hug again be

let me introduce

, I try to take in the grande

an't believe I've bee

," James says as we enter the l

hey're less hosti

n a friendly yet authoritativ

steps forward and shakes my h

t's make

rmly. "Thanks.

ic warns with a smirk

y shoulder. "Call me CoachJame

the

intense look, suggests, "Inste

him play

e players chuckle. I stay silen

impressive,

reer in NBA history-impressiv

nd the g

e plan," Coac

n eyebrow. "Yo

h him the plan, let him sit out t

seco

ver seen you this confident in

t play until t

ghest jumper, holding the NBA re

h Day says confidently. "Teach

ake him back to New Jerse

don't impress today,

me, waiting f

ree wit

Eric's, it's clear this is a mak

e over the past two years,

"Yes,

nds, and I scrutinize each pl

I take note of their strengths a

tant to put me in. The team's

t whether I'll b

"are you going to go all in

but I get the gist. Coach Day h

a

verthin

the court. As the second half

pressed smile-one that mirro

first sa

g from him: "Heading back to N

pe. Enjoy C

s in, three

transformed. My senses sharpe

On offense now, I'm in the pri

entators praising my r

rence has made unparalleled p

..

e, I focus solely on the hoop, vis

kground. I need to find t

moves almost instinctively. I d

n. Coach Day used to call it the

y a few pla

ning, my lips c

nce's signature mov

I've executed flawlessly countl

y hand, an obstacle appears.

g to th

just happened?" the

pain shoots from my ankles thro

was no accident. I look up t

ck Lionscore jer

uching beside me. His touch ma

e pain, makes me

James yells. "Where

paramedic arrives and starts

shooting

James asks, anx

k hurts almost as much as m

, turning away. "Accide

see you there," Eric says, h

e?" I manage thro

e you missed, and..." Eric trails

ly s

imagined the earlier smile or if

overwh

ric says as I'm lifte

lies. "Accidents happen. Get

umi

ore the latter jogs back onto t

d join Eric. James places a r

be alrig

court. Eric is saying somethin

eled out. It feels li

ws is, it's

er as I look at the projected sc

llow. I nod, trying to

en," I repeat. "Wh

e on the screen. "This muscle he

ab to recover f

g me to fill in the bla

lse w

etely, you might not play a

ng for a fu

ding on your commitment an

l miss the NBA squa

vely, you could opt for surgery.

r the squa

, sensing th

serious. "You know the saying

u stays on

ay the image of Eric's smil

red hair, big brown eyes, and t

s. You can ove

r watching me with interest. Ac

his judgment, though my faith

ng my decision. "Let's

n

ey. She's your best shot