The concept of men's basketball is an interesting social experiment. It's amazing how quickly any man can join another to engage in a surprisingly organized game of basketball. I watched in amazement as this all took place right in front of me and how quickly strangers became teammates.
I sat watching my husband and so e coworkers play on one court - and two men of such a odd assortment on the court across them. The two men engaged in pleasantries and barely so much as dribbles the ball. "Shooting" around finally made sense to me. The two men eyed my husband and his group of friends perhaps sizing up the competition. As Steve's game winded down, it was time for the approach. I was giddy with the oncoming social experiment that was about to take place in front of me. Would the two odd balls of men approach the foursome and have a game of "pick up"?
From across the court the two men "courted" Steve's group - "would you guys be interested in three on three?" Ask the older man who's stomach was so much larger than his thin legs he had a bird like appearance. A quick pause and ignored pursued. The man inched closer. Before one could bat an eye they had moved in for the kill. The two men slowly made their way onto Steve's side of the court, ready for their time to shine. As they approached, they casually began warming up and then it happened - a game of picked up formed with no more than five words exchanged between all six men.
As if planned, the men slowly all formed a line and uniformly started warming up - like they were playing in tonight's playoff game. And then, the most amazing thing - another man appeared out of nowhere as if Paul Revere notified the town that basketball season was upon us. The best part about this new addition? He came to be the model - decked out in chuck Taylor's, linenesq basketball pants and a right Armani tshirt. Was this guy serious?
After game two the unbeknownst social experiment had concluded with no more than 10 words exchanged between the two groups. They left knowing nothing more than which building one another came from and who sucked at basketball. Bonds were formed that day - right down to who knew how to ball versus who just dressed like they could.
Now - put a group of women in the same exact situation and tell me what would happen. I can tell you - they'd gossip and judge the other group - exchange some fake niceties and then probably never even make it so far as to introduce themselves. Instead they'd try and establish which group was better by being loud and obnoxious trying to draw attention to who was having more fun. In the slight chance that a game did ensue - most likely nothing but shit would be talked for at least a day after the exchange.
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