| With the advent of technological advances in our | | | | air. All of this leads me to ask the perplexing |
| world, our lives have become easier and more | | | | question, "Where are all the gym rats?" |
| comfortable. Each year ushers in a new throng of | | | | Our world has made being a kid quite an undertaking. |
| new products and upgrades that advertising tells us | | | | Electronics have taken over the lives of our youth. |
| we must have. Technology has impacted the sports | | | | Cell phones, iPods and Playstation have captured the |
| world in hundreds of ways. Some would argue that | | | | imagination of an entire segment of America. Is this |
| these advances have both helped and hindered the | | | | bad news for our younger generation? Some would |
| sports we love. In this article I will focus on the | | | | argue these worldly improvements are part of life. |
| dwindling interest our younger generation shows | | | | Those of us who love the game of basketball |
| toward the greatest game on earth. | | | | disagree. |
| As I drive up and down the street in my | | | | Shooting hoops in the driveway always gave me a |
| neighborhood I see many basketball hoops on both | | | | great sense of freedom. The ability to shoot for |
| sides of the street. Some are nailed to the garage or | | | | hours alone represented a lot of my time as a young |
| sunk in yards of concrete. Most are part of a fancy | | | | player. With sadness, these days I rarely see this |
| system that includes a goal, pole and base. Many of | | | | kind of expression of love and freedom. It hurts to |
| them can be adjusted by a 5 year old from 10 feet | | | | know that kids are paralyzed in front of the LCD |
| down to their preferred height. These units are easy | | | | screen, computer flat panel, or Madden 2007. What |
| to set up and available at almost any superstore or | | | | happened to shooting the shot that wins the |
| internet web site. | | | | imaginary NCAA tournament, State Tournament, or |
| From the number of goals that line the streets of | | | | NBA Title. Isn't it fashionable to dream anymore? Are |
| America's towns and suburbs, you would conclude | | | | we living out these experiences through a video |
| that kids love playing basketball. Back yards are void | | | | game or other lifeless channel? What happened to |
| of soccer goals, goal posts, or baseball fields. From | | | | the dreamers in our world? |
| what I see, basketball is the only game in town. Am I | | | | Maybe it's my stubbornness or traditional approach to |
| right or am I wrong? | | | | the game. Maybe it's because I dedicated my |
| For some reason these goals sit alone and | | | | professional life to the game James Naismith |
| unbothered in driveways up and down the street. | | | | invented. Or maybe it's because I see too many kids |
| There are very few kids hoisting shots toward the | | | | without this level of love for basketball. An empty |
| shiny orange rims. Not in the the fall, not in the | | | | heart has no love for anything. Whatever the reason, |
| winter, not in the summer. A few shots are taken in | | | | I find myself asking the same haunting question, |
| the spring when its easy to be outdoors in the fresh | | | | "Where are all the gym rats? |