High School Basketball

15 years old. - 1945
In my Sophomore year in high school, I tried out and made the junior varsity basketball team.  I not only made the team but was a starting guard.  I thought I was on the verge of becoming the next great "basketball player in the NBA."

In reality, I was not a very good athlete.  In a small high school, it was possible to participate in most any activity i.e. sports, school plays, debate team and school government.  The only requirement needed was that you were breathing fairly regularly. But it was a fun experience and making the team was great for my ego.  It was fun traveling to the other high schools in the district.  The junior varsity games were played prior to the varsity game.

Several of the schools in the district did not have a full size basketball gym.  Alterra High School not only had a small gym but the basketball hoop at one end of the floor was hung directly on the wall.  This meant that if a player was driving for a basket he would shoot the ball and then in the same motion extend both hands to protect himself from crashing face first into the wall.  Also in this wall was a set of double-doors located directly under the hoop.

Albert Lopez, one of the stars on the varsity team, had stolen the ball and was driving at full speed for a lay-up  He shot the ball and then quickly extended his hands and hit the set of doors at top speed.  The doors crashed open and Albert went speeding out into the parking lot. Since this occurred during the winter, and the parking lot was unpaved there was nothing but mud.  Albert rolled over a couple of times and then ended up on his rear-end. He was literally covered with mud from head to foot and his uniform was so muddy, you couldn't tell for which team he was playing.  The game was halted while Albert was taken into the dressing room and washed down with a hose.  A new uniform was obtained from one of the junior basketball team players and the game was eventually continued.  What a humorous  event. I still laugh whenever I think of an event that occurred almost sixty years ago.  I guess I'll die laughing.

The Stella Awards - 
The Stella Awards are named after 81 year-old Stella Liebeck who spilled hot coffee on herself and successfully sued McDonald's.  That case inspired the Stella Award for the most frivolous, ridiculous, successful lawsuits in the United States.

This weeks Stella Award - 
Kathleen Robertson of Austin, Texas, was awarded $80,000, by a jury of her peers after breaking her ankle tripping over a toddler who was running inside a furniture store. The owners of the store were understandable surprised at the verdict, considering the misbehaving little toddle was Ms.. Robertson's son.

I'm helping my neighbor solve his problems:
     He reports that he takes his wife everywhere but she keeps finding her way back.
     He says they always hold hands.  If he lets go, she shops.
     He says his wife told him the car wasn't running well because there was water in the carburetor  When he        asked were the car was; she told him "In the lake.".

Grandpa's wisdom: Things I've learned in my old age:
     Junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.
     No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes.
     By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends.
     Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.
     There is always one more imbecile than you counted on.