The Odd Man Out

Posted by Annie Whittaker on August 20, 2008

I enjoyed Jonathan Kendrick’s recent post about Carlos Boozer being the 12th man on the roster. Let’s call it what it is: he’s the last choice on the team. Really, on the USA men’s basketball team, being the last option isn’t bad at all. But I don’t care who you are, being picked last stinks.

Recently, on a family vacation, we all decided to play a little kick-ball. Captain’s were chosen; a 6-year old niece, and a 3-year old niece. Out of 12 members of the family, guess who got picked last? Not Grandma–oh no, she was picked first! Of course when looking through the eyes of a 3-year old; who wouldn’t pick Grandma first? It still stung though.

The only thing I could do was lead our team to victory. After all, how could my niece have known in her short six years, of all the accolades I’ve received in my kick-ball career?

Of course Carlos Boozer is going to say it’s all good, because it is! He’s in an enviable position. He’s a member of team USA. Over the years, thousands, if not millions of people around the world have dedicated their entire young (sometimes older) lives to have the chance at being in a similar position. But don’t for one minute think that Carlos doesn’t think about being picked last (to play), it’s humanly impossible for him not to think about it. The only thing he can do is show everyone why he has a spot on that coveted team, during the small amount of minutes he does receive.

KICKBALL!!!!!

7 Comments

Jared Conger on August 20, 2008 said:

KICKBALL!?!?
- i play kickball…. http://www.waka.com

Jared Conger on August 20, 2008 said:

i mean: http://www.kickball.com

brandon berrett on August 20, 2008 said:

even so, boozer played for coach K at duke…and he’s still 12th man?

justalars on August 21, 2008 said:

He doesn’t play cause he’s on a team that doesn’t use the true 4. His defense is suspect, because he’s not an explosive leaper and his lateral quickness doesn’t exist. Thats basically all team USA has the 5 for. They rely on thier plethora of SF and SG for scoring. Thats how the team is built. Its not cause coach k hates him or anything. He just doesn’t fit thier system.

Annie Whittaker on August 21, 2008 said:

@ Jared- Sa-weet!

Linda McFarland on August 22, 2008 said:

Playing in the Olympics is a whole different thing. They don’t necessarily run any patterns (ooops, not football) any plays that call for each player to be in any certain place. They take the big guys, the shooters who make 30 points a game and send them out there to win. There are BIG egos that the coach has to deal with and from some articles I have read he has had some good visits with Boozer on the subject. Get Boozer back here where you run plays to score and play together as a team and I think he will be fine. Yes, it does hurt to be picked last! I have always been on the chunky side and no one associates that with being a good player. The sweet revenge is that you let it hurt just enough that that you practice like ___ when no one is around and suddenly everyone wants you on their team. Hope some of that mentality rubs off on Boozer for this coming (not soon enough) season.

James on August 22, 2008 said:

leading your team to kickball victory was the least you could do to enact your vengance. did you drill the the niece who didn’t pick you with the ball?