I'm out of shape

today, I played lacrosse with gregory. played being a completely relative term, of course. he doesn't cradle and has a whole lot more willingness to completely tire himself out. and we were on one-man teams. my one moment of awesomeness was when my shot missed the section of fence that was the goal, but hit this giant knot in the wood and completely busted it. it was pretty sweet. the basic skills came back much more quickly than I thought they would -- cradling, scooping, throwing. I don't think it would take very long to get back to my old skill level, considering I wasn't very skilled. but I am just way out of shape. I came inside and my face was ridiculously pink. but that's just cause I'm pink.

since I've been watching wimbledon of late, it occurred to me that when an athlete reaches a level of professional competition, their equipment loses all value. right now, my lacrosse stick is awesome and I love it and wouldn't want another one. but if I were a pro, it wouldn't be that big of a deal if it cracked or wore out and I had to get a new one. ballerinas get new toe shoes twice a week. tennis players go through more than one racquet in a match. I think it's kind of depressing that you lose that relationship with your enablers.

I guess I'm comparing it to music; it's because in sports, any stick with quality and features up to par will work. and the same goes with instruments, I suppose, but my viola is so much a part of me. yes, I can play any instrument, but I don't want any instrument, I want mine. because it's an extension of everything I put into my music. I think the soul of an athlete's performance is much more internal and distanced from the external equipment. when you find the stick you like, a massive enterprise of manufacturing can supply you indefinitely. but my viola is handmade and I'll never have another just like it.