A couple times a week for the entire length of the summer, a Dallas Mavericks basketball player makes his way to the Dallas Mavericks youth basketball camp going down in a gym somewhere across the Metroplex.The player gives a speech to the attendees about his path to the NBA that is followed by a chance for the kids to ask the players some questions.The questions are always the same and the answers, depending on the player, also commonly fit a theme.Obviously, to be a player in the NBA takes a singular focus and an uncommon determination. To be one of 400 NBA players in the entire world is a mathematical improbability, to say the least.At the end of the question and answer sessions is the part that I like best. I am nearly UM-hum-um years old and I still get goosebumps watching this game being played.As a treat, the kids from each youth group (usually split in three age groups) ranging in age from 5 to 17 get to pick 10 or so kids from their ranks to play a game of “Knockout”.Knockout is an individual shooting game that pits each shooter against every other shooter in the line. Played with two basketballs and a spot shot from the free throw line or three point line, the object of the game is for the first shooter to make his basket before the second shooter behind him puts his in the basket.It’s simple: make your first attempt or put the ball back in the basket before the player behind you takes and makes his shot or put back. The direct match is against whatever shooter is directly behind you or directly in front of you.For me, there is nothing more exciting than basketball shooting games. The reason: this game is solely about shooting. Make your shot before the person behind you and you rotate to the back of the line to fight another day. Miss your shot and risk being “knocked out”.No excuses. No gray. No do-overs. Make your shot before the next shooter or you are done.Today, more often than most days, I was reminded of exactly how underdogs can be big dogs in this game. But more importantly, I was reminded of how underdogs are rooted against when they seemingly come out of their place.
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