We finished off the NBA portion of our schedule (five games, ten days, four states) with our first-ever win at Toledo. It wasn't pretty, but a win is a win is a win and we'll take it.
A few things have happened recently, so I'll try to shed some light.
I found a penny on the gym floor during shoot around at Toledo.
I forgot my knee sleeve in Buffalo for this trip.
And that's where the story begins. You see, ever since tearing my ACL and MCL at the end of my freshman year, I have worn a simple Neoprene knee sleeve just to keep my joint from getting cold and stiff. Earlier this season I banged my knee on the floor and suffered a bone bruise that kept me out a couple days. In response to that I began using a different sleeve - one with a little bit of padding on it. It's more comfortable and lighter than my old sleeves and even has padding so it's been a welcome addition to my armor. Unfortunately I forgot it for our Central Michigan/Toledo road trip.
When I realized I had forgotten it (which wasn't until after the Central game), I began thinking. I began thinking of the days when I was young when our bones were rubber and our bodies could twist and turn and fall and smash without even a whisper of pain. Then I fast forwarded to now.
Currently I wear ankle braces on both ankles (everyone does these days), my new knee pad/sleeve and I get my right wrist taped due to a slight sprain I acquired a few weeks ago. I feel like a knight going into a jousting tournament.
Call me crazy, but good ol' Sigmund Freud snuck into my head. Don't ask me why or how, but the guy started making some sense. He had some theory (I think it was him) about coming into the world and going out the same way. Start fresh and end fresh, right? Makes sense. When we're little we have no responsibilities, no school, no job - just fun. When we retire, pretty much the same deal (as long as you saved up your money).
So with one month left until I play the final regular season game of my career, I actually listened to that kook Freud. I ripped the tape off my wrist, disregarded my knee sleeve and ran onto the floor feeling free as a bird (still strapped on my ankle braces, though - for obvious reasons).
Maybe old Sig is full of it, but I felt good and we won the game. Looks like I'm going to be going out just like I came in.
Sorry, Mom.
