A number of people have commented, personally or on the blog, about how obsessive about and obsessed with basketball I am. It's true. B'ball's the one sport that I have held on to despite practically having played and given up all else. In 8th grade, I was competing against kids older and bigger in most of the sports at school. I was never the best at any of them--not even the best in my class. Sameer and then Tamm were better Basketball players. Bobby and Faras were faster. Bobby jumped further too. Half the class played better cricket. A couple of people were better football players. I never had the strongest arm or the best technique. I even played hockey whenever I had the chance despite hockey being possibly the least popular sport. By the time I took up tabletennis at least 8 people were better than me. 4 or 5 played badminton better.

I continued playing most of these sports through my A'Levels except for hockey which phased out and cricket which I never particularly liked. Athletics were something I could have been good at if I'd had the will to keep myself fit enough. Came to college and spent freshman year only playing basketball. By then I was no longer any good at cricket, tabbletennis, badminton or football. I could probably have been decently good at all if I'd continued with them but a general lack of interest, motivation and time meant that I choose other things over sports. I picked up volleyball at LUMS. Having never played the sport in my life, I played it here and became decent at it, before giving it up. Not interested. Played cricket a few times but gave up on that too.

Basketball, however, both playing and watching, is cathartic for me. That's been the case since my O'Levels when we'd stay back after school to play in the scorching heat and killer humidity. All concerns and problems were forgotten. All issues were left off the court. That carried on into A'levels and then university.

The court is my sanctuary. That 94x50 feet rectangle is the centre of my world with that ball in my hand. Nothing outside those lines really matters. I may not be good at it. I may not have the physically ability to be the best. I may not work hard enough either. But on that court, one thing is guaranteed: happiness.

I know some people who run for the same purpose. These people can relate. There's other who paint or write for the same reasons. I used to write for similar reasons too. Everyone has their own sanctuary somewhere in their heads. I've found mine. I thank God for it everyday.

On a side note, all guys should check this out. It's absolute, pure entertainment. Ali, U, TreeElf and Ali H, you guys might enjoy this particularly. See also the articles along with this page. Yet another reason I love Page 2.