Print E-Mail AIM

Making the trip north for more than a workout

in the redzone

Shaun Scott

I've always said there’s only three reasons for me to ever set foot in the metropolis of Seattle.

Being a small town guy, I’m perfectly content within the friendly confines of the Puyallup region or much smaller environments where there are actually parking lots and a fewer amount of pedestrians.

I only meander 32 miles north to Seattle for the following three reasons: Seahawks games, Mariners games and playing pickup basketball on Monday nights with some of the coolest people I’ve ever met.

In October 2008, I began playing basketball once a week with guys between the ages of 40 and 60 in an an indoor facility in the heart of Seattle. When I’m there I don’t even feel like I’m in the city, but feel like I’m part of a scene in the movie “Hoosiers.” After playing one-and-a-half years there I’m officially considered a regular but I would say 75 percent of the guys have played there since the 1980s.

The first time I ever set foot in the gym was like taking a step back in time 50 years. The old-school wooden floors were built in 1902. Legend has it the Seattle SuperSonics used the gym for photo shoots because of the vintage environment. I in no way can confirm this statement, but it seems like something that would be legitimately accurate. The players in attendance play the game the old-fashioned way. Relentless defense, screen-and- rolls, jump shooting and backdoor passes are the norm there. If someone isn’t playing defense or passing the ball they may find themselves frozen out (not being passed to).

It’s something I genuinely look forward to every week.

The camaraderie shared with fellow players Jim Skraba, Al Jones, Keith Forslund, Ervin Merrill, Robert Jones, Robert Jones Jr, Al Spady, Lee Bolton and Jerome Hunter is incredible. It feels like we have known each other for years. After playing ball for close to 90 minutes the fun still isn’t over. Before exiting the gymnasium typically someone has brought in some tasty beverages for us to enjoy on the court after the game. As we sip on our single drink for the next 15 minutes or so, we discuss the last hour of basketball, talk about our jobs, razz each other about various issues and in general just shoot the bull.

It’s kind of like being in a club or fraternity and is something I wouldn’t miss on a weekly basis unless I absolutely had to.

Reach Sports Editor Shaun Scott at 253-841-2481 Ext. 316 or e-mail shaun.scott@puyallupherald.com.