I Won’t Break, I Promise

Recently, I have been going back to the gym. My routine is very simple. Cardio warm-up, lifts, then basketball or boxing cardio at the end. Earlier this week, I was playing basketball with a couple of random guys at the gym, just getting my cardio in, when I realized that the guy(a sixteen year old high school student) who was guarding me seemed distressed. Every time I would drive to the basket for a layup, he would play super passive and almost allow me to score at will. The guy on his team would get on to him about it, telling him to “Block his shot!” or “Stuff it, man! Come on!” As the game went on, I would encourage him to guard me like he would anyone else. Get physical. I can take it. I told him this multiple times, but it seemed like he just couldn’t do it.

I get it. I’m an amputee. I am missing a leg, so that makes me look like I need gentleness. The thing is, I don’t. I have lived with this for 26, almost 27, years. I have been working my whole life to do everything that everyone else can do. If I am in the gym with you, making contact, pulling up step back jumpers, driving to the hoop and scoring on you, please, by all means, guard me. Get physical with me. I can take it. I grew up with 3 brothers who didn’t treat me any differently from them. I went to school and played intramurals with people who didn’t give me any slack. Heck, one of them even slashed the scar on my right hand open during floor hockey once. Did I get all sensitive about it and complain about needing special treatment? No! I got mad because I couldn’t play anymore because of the amount of blood that was coming out of my hand(I was fine.). I am an extreme competitor. As such, I expect to get people’s best. That’s what I’m giving. So should you.

So to the kid in the gym that just couldn’t bring himself to guard me: Treat me like everyone else. I won’t break, I promise.

A side note: Parts of my leg may break, but that happens. I promise.

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