The Alley Oop

There was a dunk episode in Jeff's game tonight. Let's not talk about it. I just want you to know that there was a something, something going on with a dunk. Jeff's team won, so we will simply leave it at that.

I wanted you to know about the dunk, because it really got me thinking. Even as a women's basketball player, I strongly prefer men's basketball. However, dunking episodes such as tonight would never happen in a women's basketball game, unless we are talking about Candice Parker.

Well, in case you were unsure, we are not talking about Candice Parker. I, personally, know all to well that dunking just doesn't happen in the women's game.

Back about eight years ago now, I was playing pick-up ball with a group of guys at my college. A few of the guys playing played on the men's team. One of the guys on my team, Pat, was the team's 6'8'' center and leading scorer and rebounder. He was good. Every game or two you could be sure that Pat would throw it down.

You can imagine my excitement when I stole the ball and Pat and I had a fast break together. Just the two of us. I looked at him and he was shaking his head in approval. I knew just what he meant. Don't you? Yea, he was saying, "lay it up, Alicia. Get the easy two points." So, I shook my head back at Pat, smiling slightly, and then went up for a nice easy lay up.

Is that what you were thinking? Well, it wasn't at all what Pat was thinking. His head nod really meant "throw it up there for me to slam it home." He wanted the alley oop. After the play, in his disappointment, he asked me why I didn't set him up. My response was simply, I had never even thought about it. It's not like I play with people I can throw alley oops to very often.

Pat went on to play in a semi-professional league (and apparently throw electricity from his arms). He has certainly had the opportunity for alley oops since that pick-up game eight years ago. I, on the other hand, have never had the chance to throw the oop. Not yet anyways.