Staying in the Game
I felt disconnected with the team, as I saw them take the field against Akron on Saturday. Melyssa told me she wouldn't get back till the middle of next week, so I felt alone while watching the game. So instead of watching it by myself, I decided to call and have someone join me.
"Hello?"
"Yo, Jonny!"
"Haha, what's good Ethan?"
Yeah, that Jonny. Jonny Flynn decided to stay for his senior year after a rough season in 2008-09. Even though I've been in the middle of football season, I've also made some appearances at off-season basketball season workouts, and eventually molded a friendship with the starting point guard.
"What are you up to bro?"
"Oh nothing, just got done running; now I'm about to turn on the game. You know we're probably going to lose without you out there, right?"
Jonny was also one of the first people I told about the suspension. Coach Boeheim wanted to kick me off the basketball team after he heard about my episode, but thankfully Jonny conviced him not to.
"Haha, maybe so. You wanna watch it over here? I got a nice-sized screen to watch it on."
"Eh, sure why not? I'll be over in ten."
"Aight."
Jonny made his way over, and we watched started to watch the game. At halftime, Syracuse was leading 14-7 as I grabbed a Mountain Dew out of the fridge.
"So Ethan..."
"Yeah Jonny?"
"You smashing that blonde chick? Bitch is fine!"
"Haha no brah, I got my woman."
"What's her name anyways? I might wanna hit that if you're not."
"Britt."
Jonny's expression turned to one of shock when I said her name.
"What's up?"
"Oh nothing, the name just seems familiar. You know her last name?"
"Actually I don't, never thought about getting it."
"Okay, just wondering."
I was confused on why that name seemed familiar to him. Maybe it was a old hook-up or something? I was going to ask how the name seemed familiar, but he quickly changed the subject.
"You wanna ball or something after this?"
I thought about the consquences, but I needed to do something instead of stay in the apartment all day.
"Yeah sure. I got to get my shot down anyways in time for conference play."
We tacked on two more field goals and shutout Akron, leading to a 20-7 win. Delone stepped up in Mike and I's absences, scoring two touchdowns and rushing for 175 yards.
"You driving or am I?"
"You are, freshman's gas."
"Of course."
I drove out to one of the local outside courts. Jonny and I started just shooting around, then it got into a competitive game of horse. Shots started falling from everywhere, and then I decided to make things a little interesting.
"How much money do you got on you right now?"
"Umm, one hundred. You wanna make a wager?"
"Yeah I do. I throw down a dunk, I take home the money."
"You're six foot three! That's too easy."
"I wasn't finished. Remember the 2000 dunk contest?"
"Who couldn't have? Fucking VC stole the show."
"Exactly. I'm going to throw it off the backboard and put my arm through the rim."
"Bullshit."
"Just watch."
I took the ball from his hands and made my way to mid-court. Taking one dribble, I started running towards the hoop. I tossed it off the backboard a step inside the foul line and jumped up towards the rim.
"No fucking way."
I caught the ball and placed my arm perfectly inside the cylinder. As the ball fell through the net, I turned my head and just looked a Jonny, who had a look of disbelief on his face. As I jumped down, he dashed over to me, still surprised.
"When did you get those type of hops?"
"Greg doesn't throw enough lobs for me to showcase those, haha."
"Damn, it's going to be fun throwing alley-oops to you this year then."
"Yeah hopefully."
I was starting to feel good about basketball season coming up, but first I had to make it through football...
...which is a task in itself.