Life and Basketball

I am new to this whole blogging thing but thought it would be interesting to reach out to life on the web and catch opinions or feelings on certain subjects. Blogging is usually on small subjects but life and basketball have been all things but small to me.
Omar Collington

Life

Growing up I lived in what the general public would consider the hood, but they only go by what they see and not what they know. So many negatives are associated with how the world view ghetto or project children. I am a product of it myself and it has done wonders for me and my life and can/will for many others. Life is about mistakes and downfalls but those of us who choose to learn from it, finds ways to better themselves and in return give a bright future for the young ones who one day will follow in our footsteps.

At the age of 12, 13 I began to really take full action in what we call the wrong way to live and trying to fit in where at this age we should be concentrating on maturing and school. I experienced so much wrong doing in my early teenage life that it almost had me to deep into the lifestyle to know what to do to turn my life around. Even though being caught up in all the materialistic things life had to offer, money, cars, clothes, etc...etc.. I began to think about what I really was doing with my life and where was it going. Putting things into perspective, I was hurting my mother, myself and people who really cared about me, I was digging a hole for myself that was beginning to get too deep for me to see the light. After realizing I was doing all wrong and nothing to make anyone else happy I decided to find a hobby to occupy all my freetime for wrong doings.

My blessing and Introduction to Basketball

First day of high school basketball tryouts for the JV squad, I was nervous but at the same time still had my image as a ghetto kid, hard, and down for whatever so nothing showed. ( I now call not living) Standing on the baseline as we all introduced ourselves time was approaching for me to introduce myself to people who knew me and already knew what I was about. I stepped up `wuz up my name is (interruption....Coach spoke Omar Collington what are you doing here in the gym this ain´t your forte), I stepped up and said im here to tryout and play basketball. Knowing that I had no idea what to do I just said I was going to give it my all and hope for the best. Well after that day of tryouts coach posted a list of players who made the JV team that year and I was on the list. Confused and happy at the same time I went home and told my mom the good news she was happy to hear something other than me getting in trouble. After my first season of playing I only see little time on the court every game no matter the outcome, so like any other kid I wasn´t happy and was ready to say im going back to these streets. Instead something clicked and I went back to the day of tryouts when the coach said this ain´t your forte, and I began to work my butt off in the summer to get better for the next season so that I can prove him and anyone who doubted me wrong about me not being able to play basketball. Working day and night to become better, shooting, lifting, and running, I got a call from the assistant coach and he asked me if I was interested in playing in a summer tournament with the varsity team. I was thinking to myself me, its probably just to sit on the bench or maybe they just wanted to open my eyes to another level of basketball. Upon arrival I saw they took a few other players from the JV team to the camp and I guess it was to give us some time to play on a more competitive level to get ready for next season. I played my first game with the varsity team and had 21 pts in the 1st half of the game. I blew some minds of alot of people including myself and from this point on my life changed.....

To the readers of this blog please send some feedback or some other views of the subject.....it is greatly appreciated.
Omar Collington