Eventually, The Clock Turns Red

I began playing organized basketball when I was eleven years old. The Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) had a Saturday morning league in East St. Louis back in 1950. Each of the several city parishes participated. Although I was not Catholic, the league rules permitted each parish to have two 'outsiders' (non-Catholics) on its team. Perhaps this was a religious recruitment ploy or then it may have simply been about winning youth basketball games. All I know is that this old Methodist guy is forever indebted to my East St. Louis Catholic friends and St. Martin de Porres of Washington Park.

Interesting to note how the 'face' of basketball changed over my years. Of course, the peach basket had long been discarded in place of the rim and net but some things were much different. The '3-second lane' was 6' wide but because of dominating post players like George Mikan it would soon be widened to 12 feet. The orange ball was introduced in the 1950's and of course kids were no longer using the 'underhand' free throw shooting style but using a one-hand push shot, which was kin to the revolutionized one-handed jump shot. We negotiated the game in four 8- minute quarters and in the last minute of each quarter the sweep-hand style scoreboard clock's face would turn RED.

The rules permitted a coach to elect to shoot free throws or 'take the ball out of bounds.' Note: I worked hard at free throws and mastered the shot. I'll be damn if any coach would embarrass me by opting ball over me shooting and scoring two more points. Back in those days if at the end of regulation produced a tied score then teams would play a three minute overtime period. If the game was still tied after the overtime period then a 'sudden death' period was played. The first team to score two points in that 'sudden death' frame was declared winner. Naturally, there was a great advantage for teams with a very tall or excellent jumping center who could control a sudden death jump ball.

I believe it is safe to say that most rules changes in all sports are intended to produce more scoring, which is desired by the less intellectual fan. One example was the shot clock. This rule took patience and game smartness out of equalizing talent difference between two college basketball teams. In any event, it is widely stated that our sports emulate 'life.' That said, we should still have the clock, which turns 'RED' near the end, which reminds us life's longing for itself is the ultimate winner.