Sports Therapy
By Marvin ‘Nut’ Wright
Picture me balling…, After few games of B-Ball I’m extremely exhausted, and I mean exhausted. I can feel it in my knee’s back and feet. For a dude in his late forties I’m doing damn good if I must say so myself. I was running full court with men half my age, doing my thang! My cross over is crazy, some say it looks like I’m moving in slow motion, but it do what it do, my baby hook shot was unstoppable and my defense was mean. Now if I had to categorize my game I say it’s a combination of Tim Hardaway’s foot work, Magic Johnson shooting ability and The defense skills of ‘The Glove’ Gary Payton. I average seven points a game going to 16 and not to seem Cocky but the truth can’t no one deny the fact that this O.G.’s hoop skills are serious. Now I know some of you are saying “How doe’s this relate to ‘Sports Therapy?”
Because sports therapy is commonly for its rehabilitation procedure for injured athletes. Yet my definition of sports therapy applies to the prevention of physical, emotional and mental disorders. For those who are incarcerated or out Sport therapy i.e, Basket Ball, Hand Ball, Soccer and etc. are the cure for stress, keeping one self in good physical shape and focus one’s mind on something other than negativity. At the end of the day it’s really all about having fun and good old fashion competition ya dig!!
I recommend that those of you who are on the other side of these walls, be you my age or younger find a sport to engage in. Sports Therapy can help you better deal with the adversities of everyday life be its Love, struggle or peace. It’s nothing like working up a good sweat, allowing your adrenaline to pump, igniting your endorphins and letting everything go while ones competitive spirit takes over. I’m a firm believer that if we don’t have a constructive solution when it comes to dealing with stress, that stress will build up-and-build up until we snap! The aftermath of that can equate to a negative outcome in which there maybe no retribution for. Therefore my advice is “get in the game” whether you lose, win or draw. At the end of the day it’s all about maintaining a sane mind, staying physically fit and emotional stable.
Personally I refuse to let my mind, body, and soul fall victim to the adversities of incarceration… before I get to that point you find me with water bottle in hand, my old Air Force one’s lace to the hilt, headed toward the court. Now I’m not going to be pick in the 1st round, nor 2nd round, but best believe by the 3rd round I’m going hard in the paint and by the time rec is over. I’ll be stress free, refocused, spiritually uplifted, ready for hot shower, two Aleve’s, my knee wraps and talking smack until my next game. That being said once you fall in love with any sport it’s can be addicting it becomes the one exhale you have that no one can take away from you. Even the injured Pro Athletes find themselves having to be involved in their game of choice by some means or another, its what helps them cope with the challenges of life and provides them with peace of mind. Therefore for those of you who could picture me ballin… know I can’t stop! and won’t stop! until next time “Swisshh!!!”
-Nut
