I Didn't Realize I Had Leprosy

The past two years, Jeff has let me play on his intramural basketball team. Since I graduated college, and my basketball career ended, I have had a very hard time finding any women's leagues. So, I had to play with the men. It has been the only real option. I loved on Sunday nights, heading over to the gym with Jeff, playing on the team with who I thought was the best player in the league, and then leaving with him because he was my husband! What a great feeling! 

Since Jeff is no longer here, I can no longer play in that league. With nothing else available, I signed up for an adult education basketball league within my school district. A few days before the league was to begin, I received an email asking if I had meant to sign my husband up. She thought I must have mistakenly put my name on the slip. After convincing her that I could hold my own, she let me know that I was entitled to play. 


The league started tonight. When I got in the gym, you may have thought I smelled. I was probably the best smelling person there, but nobody would come near me. At the start of the first game, all of the guys shook hands. They were asking each other their names. Not one person was interested in shaking my hand or knowing my name. In fact, one of my teammates said, "it's us four and her." Almost like I was a leper. I was pretty sure there was no chance they would pass me the ball. Oh, well, at least I'd get to run around.  

It took a while for them to pass to me, but eventually they did. When they saw that I didn't drop the ball, pass it to the other team, or take stupid shots, they began to pass it a bit more. In between each game, they all talked to each other, whether they knew one another or not. Nobody spoke a word to me. It was very bizarre. On the court, I noticed the men had started to make fun of the guy I was guarding. Why wasn't he scoring? Why was I able to score on him? Why was he so tired? I do kind of enjoy this taunting, but at the same time, I couldn't help but wonder if these men thought I was deaf. I was standing right in front of them, and by making fun of the guy, they were in turn, making fun of me. 


Anyways, I continued to play. I didn't turn the ball over, I made good passes, I made shots when I was open, and I didn't let my guy score. Nothing great, but I held my own. That was my goal. That was all I wanted to do. By the end of the evening, the guys came up to me and shook my hand. They said they have no problem with having me in the league and that it was obvious I would be okay playing with them. I guess nobody talking to me and berating me in front of my face was all a part of the initiation process. A process that is very much different than when your husband gets you in with his team. I will miss playing with Jeff, but I am glad that I have a place to play. I need it. It makes me feel much more fulfilled.