When a Basketball Jones Strikes and Teaches Me a Lesson

I have been jonesing for basketball. Not for watching the Nuggets on TV or March Madness. I’m talking about shooting hoops. With the onset of warm temperatures, I went into the garage to grab a ball and shoot for a while. I haven’t played basketball in forever. I liked the idea of moving my entire body, stretching my arms and legs. Spazzing out. I discovered three flat basketballs, one super sad hoop with no net, and a broken pump. I tried to Macgyver the pump, but it was useless. The song, Basketball Jones has been an earworm in my head for days.

Why Basketball Jones? Whenever I have wanted to play basketball, I have said, “I gotta Basketball Jones,” in reference to the Cheech and Chong song. They were 1970s stoner comedians. In my thick head, I thought a Basketball Jones meant you really wanted to play basketball. I confused the song with the slang term, jonesing for something you reeeeeally want. After listening to the lyrics, I realize he was singing about his love for the game. All these years. LOL!

Listen to the song. It’s hilarious-

 

The Lyrics from Genius.com.

I own the album, Up in Smoke and played the song a million times. Imagine a tone-deaf singer, expressing his love for the game where he has “more moves than Ex-lax.” Yes, it’s that good.

“See I am a victim of a Basketball Jones,
I’ll take my basketball everywhere
I’ll even put my basketball under the pillow”

Yep, missed those lines.

I wrote this conversation between Cheech and Chong when Colorado passed the first weed law for medical marijuana.

I ordered a pump from Target. After a few days of waiting patiently for the delivery, it didn’t take long for the balls to sail through the air.

I felt the sweet release of letting go of my Basketball Jones.

I really enjoyed shooting, bobbing, and weaving although none of that helped my game. I did hit a couple of hook shots.

The only way I got any through the hoop was by no bobbing or weaving and lots of follow-throughs. You know the kind. Where you flip your hand, limp-wristed.

I made three out of five shots at my best.

And then came my worst. Danny came outside and beat me at HORSE. (He’s the one behind the camera.) I lost my focus. No more follow-through. Lots of bobbing and weaving and smack talk. I became competitive and tight, as if I were playing for the Nuggets or in the final minutes of the NCAA Championship. Staying relaxed and having fun always wins. Look at any pro sports. Or don’t. I think World Wide Marble racing has taken over.

 

Did your marble win? I know! The NFL Draft trended for the first time ever. People are jonesing for sports. I may have to put on my thinking cap…

I also need to practice when Danny’s not around. When will that be? Next year?

Even with the coronavirus, I gotta KEEP IT WILD!

It was fun!

What are you doing to pass the time? Do you have a basketball jones? What are you reeeeeally jonesing for?