Michael Jordan leads the Bulls to victory despite illness
January 30th 2009 22:29
In the neverending quest for fitness, we sometimes forget why we're running and stretching and lifting weights and swimming.
Is it work? No, since we end where we started from, so no work was done, though energy consumed.
Is it for good health? Well, yes, it's to be healthy, though there are millions of Chinese and Indians living perfectly healthy through a life of balance, skinny and wizened.
It feels good to be fit, and the feeling of muscular power in your calves is an addictive feeling - when it goes away, you'll long for those days that you could chase down an antelope on foot.
Roger Ebert reminded us all about the need to feel good, and draw inspiration - which he does from watching his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls, pull away from the Utah Jazz with the magic of Michael Jordan.
Jordan was sick with the stomach flu, and preferred not to play. The Jazz, taking advantage of this, used the Mailman, Karl Malone, to press their advantage, forcing Jordan to the field.
Could he perform? At times, he looked like he was suffering - but, then, at other times, with the ball in his hands, he looked like the force of a thousand men, condensed into one body, pushing the ball through an infinite line of vibrating strings:
Of course, the rest of us are far from that moment of greatness. Are we chasing that idea, though? Of exercising constantly, in the hope that someone will ask us to pick up a ball and defeat the hordes?
I hope not - I haven't played basketball in a long time.
And no matter how much I play, I don't think I'll ever have the gift to bring the dunk on home:
*this image is from Made in China
Is it work? No, since we end where we started from, so no work was done, though energy consumed.
Is it for good health? Well, yes, it's to be healthy, though there are millions of Chinese and Indians living perfectly healthy through a life of balance, skinny and wizened.
It feels good to be fit, and the feeling of muscular power in your calves is an addictive feeling - when it goes away, you'll long for those days that you could chase down an antelope on foot.
Roger Ebert reminded us all about the need to feel good, and draw inspiration - which he does from watching his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls, pull away from the Utah Jazz with the magic of Michael Jordan.
Jordan was sick with the stomach flu, and preferred not to play. The Jazz, taking advantage of this, used the Mailman, Karl Malone, to press their advantage, forcing Jordan to the field.
Could he perform? At times, he looked like he was suffering - but, then, at other times, with the ball in his hands, he looked like the force of a thousand men, condensed into one body, pushing the ball through an infinite line of vibrating strings:
Of course, the rest of us are far from that moment of greatness. Are we chasing that idea, though? Of exercising constantly, in the hope that someone will ask us to pick up a ball and defeat the hordes?
I hope not - I haven't played basketball in a long time.
And no matter how much I play, I don't think I'll ever have the gift to bring the dunk on home:
*this image is from Made in China
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