Alright, so I decided to head out to what folks around here just call the “Trail Blazers court.” Not the big fancy arena, you know, but this one spot that’s got a bit of a legend to it. My goal for the day? Just to soak it in, maybe shoot a few, and see what the vibe was really like. My own little expedition, if you will.
Didn’t need much. Threw on my old basketball shoes, the ones that have seen better decades, frankly. Grabbed my basketball – it’s probably a bit low on air, but who cares, right? It’s more about the motion. Packed a water bottle too, because, well, you gotta hydrate.
Finding the Spot
Getting there was a bit of a trip. Hopped on a couple of buses, then a bit of a walk. It’s kinda tucked away, not somewhere you just stumble upon. But those are usually the best places, aren’t they? The ones you gotta work for a little.
And then, bam, there it was. Nothing spectacular, mind you. Just a worn-down asphalt court. Chain-link fence around it, a bit rusty. The hoops looked like they’d taken a beating over the years, nets barely there. But you could feel it, you know? That this place meant something. You could see faded outlines of old fan art, bits of red and black here and there. Real grassroots stuff.
Getting into the Groove
So, I started. Just dribbling around. The bounce was kinda uneven, gotta watch your ankles. Took a shot. Airball. Figures. My jumper’s been hibernating. Laughed it off. Tried another. Clanked off the rim. Man, I was rusty. But it wasn’t really about making every shot. It was about being there, moving, feeling the ball in my hands on that court.
I spent a while just shooting, sometimes just standing there, looking around. The sun was hitting just right. For a moment, with eyes closed, you could almost hear a crowd, a buzzer, something. It’s funny how a simple place can hold so much energy. I guess that’s what I was looking for.
- The feeling of the worn-out ball in my hands.
- The sound the chain nets made when, surprise, a shot actually went in.
- Just the quietness of the place, broken by the bounce of the ball.
After a bit, a couple of local kids showed up. They were young, maybe early teens, full of energy. They actually had some moves. Made me feel a bit ancient, but it was cool to see them going at it, keeping the spirit of the game alive right there. We didn’t say much, just a nod. Shared the space.
Wrapping It Up
I probably stayed for a couple of hours. Didn’t really keep track of time. Just left when my legs started to feel it and the water bottle was empty. Walking away, I felt… good. Tired, a bit sore, but good. Like I’d connected with something real.
It wasn’t some grand adventure, no big revelations. Just a guy, a ball, and a court with some history. But sometimes, that’s all you need, right? A simple day, doing something simple. And yeah, that Trail Blazers court, it’s got a little piece of my afternoon now. Definitely worth the trip.
