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Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Marina and Bitty Ball


"Gettin' good players is easy. Gettin' 'em to play together is the hard part." - Casey Stengel

When Marina was in the first grade she told me she wanted to play Bitty Ball, so I signed her up. Bitty Ball is basketball for kids in grades one through four. It can be a learning experience, depending on how you look at it. The kids are allowed to play, without the whistle being blown so much, so you can imagine what they get by with. It can be quite entertaining.

The day of her first game arrived. When we got to the gymnasium, I took a seat beside Bro. Tommy Sexton. The game began and, after a couple of trips up and down the court, things seemed to be going pretty good for Marina...at least that's what I thought. I had turned to say something to Bro. Tommy, when suddenly, I felt someone tugging on my arm. I looked around to find Marina sitting beside me. I looked on the court, then back at Marina, then back at the court. "One...two...three...oh no, only four players are on the floor, Marina is still in the game! What is she doing sitting beside me?"

"Marina, honey what are you doing? Get back out on the court, you're still in the game!"
"But, dad, they won't pass the ball to me!"
"Sissy, get back out on the court!"


Marina went back onto the court, but instead of getting involved in the action that was in progress, she ran to one of the referees and started tugging on her shirt. From where I was sitting, I could see her mouth the words, "Tell them to pass the ball to me!"

The referee took the whistle out of her mouth and laughed, while Bro. Tommy giggled and I just shook my head. Needless to say, Marina's basketball career was short-lived.

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