Hoops Hoopla
February 17, 2008
They say that Indiana has more driveway basketball goals per capita than any other state in the Union. Of course, the problem for journalists is tracking down the elusive “they” to verify such information.
I grew up in neighboring Illinois and almost everyone I knew had a basketball goal. Ours was attached to a utility pole near one of the out buildings on our family farm. Without the benefit of a concrete surface, the ground beneath became as hard as concrete, barren of grass, as my brother and I hammered away at each other during frequent games of HORSE. He would tell you he was the undisputed champion, but hey, it’s my blog, so I’ll say I was the more frequent victor.
Those lazy hours of my youth spent throwing a ball at a plywood backboard came rushing through my heart and spirit as I visited the new College Basketball Experience in downtown Kansas City. It’s not a museum, but an interactive story of the history of college hoops.
As I shot freethrows in one of the numerous mini-courts, I thought how much fun it would be to whup up on my brother again. The lead to my story was already bouncing through my head as I bounced the ball in preparation for each shot. But since I failed to hit the rim even once, I figured I should take another approach to my story.
To see what I came up with, check out two stories running in major metropolitan newspapers February 17, with accompanying photos by my husband Bruce. One is The Daily Herald in Chicago and the other is The Dallas Morning News. I’ve become acquainted with the travel editor at each publication through my membership in the Society of American Travel Writers, so say nice things in any comments you might choose to post. Then get out in the driveway with a ball and see if you’ve still got what it takes.
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