Thanks to our company's first annual badminton tournament (to be held tomorrow, in case you're interested) and my persistent self (which has nothing to do whatsoever with this entry) I went all the way to Hougang to borrow a racket from RB (of RB and Tyty fame). Then, of course, I had to try to be so smart and find shortcuts to the MRT station.

I got lost.

Which was as well. 'Cause after a few dead-ends I somehow found myself approaching a neighborhood basketball court. And it was lively, I tell you. A number of teenagers were there, shooting around and playing cool. Not unlike my own high-school days.

Amused, I found myself a park bench and watched. Two teams were getting ready to play full court. And from what I had seen so far, this would be interesting.

One team consisted of five good candidates for Guys You Expect To Find Anywhere But on A Basketball Court: a kid a bit too big-boned for his age, a lanky one in jeans and a pink (!) polo shirt, a shirtless and barefooted one, a short one with a pair of LeBrons at least two sizes too big, and -- the most normal of the lot -- one I can't for the love of me recall at this very moment.

Their opponents resembled a basketball team way more. That is to say, they were in basketball jerseys -- including a Kobe and two T-Macs (Magic and Rockets) -- and had those lookie-here-I'm-an-athlete wristbands on.

Game started. Team Misfits had it going in the first few possessions. Despite his big-boneness, the large kid was surprisingly agile and made two quick inside baskets. The short one had a steal and an assist and two slashing drives ending in lay-ups -- one in, one in and out but was put back by the skinny one in jeans.

Team Athletes on the other hand wasted no time to live up to their athleteness. No-look passes? Check. Fancy between-the-legs and behind-the-back dribbling? Check. Forcing the way in and air-walking? Check. Quick three-point shots? Check. Baskets? Err, just one to Team Misfits' four.

Need I say who I was rooting for by then?

Sadly, I had watched too many ball games -- told you I was old -- to expect Team Misfits to even have a chance.

Sure enough, despite a three-pointer from the ordinary guy, another inside basket from the big-boned, and a lay-up from the barefooted, Team Athletes started to turn it around.

There was this particular guy that slowly distanced himself from the rest skill-wise. Four lay-ups (two left-handed, two right), two three-pointers, a put-back, and countless crossovers later, his team was beyond being caught up with.

And, as it's usually the case when your star is doing his thing, the other guys did likewise. Too many steals and offensive rebounds and unanswered fast-breaks.

Final score by my count: Team Athletes 15, Team Misfits 9.

Good game, you guys. My night was made.

So was my month, for that matter.

PS: rest in peace, Eddie. Thanx for the entertainment.)

Current music: Bon Jovi - These Open Arms
Current mood: happy