My decision to leave Kainan
It was already a somewhat borderline decision to play next season. A while ago I had told MJ that I didn't want to play next season, but he told me he wanted me to play, or else the team would be broken up. I was somewhat adamant about my position, but then One announced he wouldn't play next season. This, of course, changed things substantially. On top of that, we had just come second, and I wanted the next team trophy.
Even though we'd be in Division 3, I was at least a little hopeful that we could compete. But then a few days ago, Kim emailed saying that two "strong" teams had entered Division 3, and because there weren't enough teams in Division 2, some Division 3 teams would be playing Division 2 teams. So she gave us an option - stay in Division 2, or go into the "strong" half of Division 5. She wanted a reply asap.
ASAP. So being the captain, I made the executive decision to nominate for Division 5 before it could be taken by anyone else. She confirmed.
I then told the team on facebook. For a while I didn't get any replies, and thought maybe I had achieved quiet consensus. Then later Bert replied, saying he wasn't "keen" on playing Division 5. He said he wanted the team to improve and the only way to do this was to play against stronger teams, not weaker teams. I don't disagree with that premise per se, but I thought it was ironic coming from a guy who turned up to the grand final with a hang over and is prone to miss games. Don't forget, he's already booked to go on a holiday with MJ in November - playoff time. So he wants to enter us into the harder division, and then piss off when we make it to the playoffs?
Who was he to go against my decision? I'm not blaming him for our grand final loss, but I feel that if he hadn't of been hung over, he wouldn't have missed those first few baskets he attempted, which just happened to roll out.
Anyway, with one objection I could bear. I expected it anyway, since he had been the one pushing for us to go into a higher division. I had also said in my reasoning for my decision, that we had been there before - playing in a tougher division and losing, it was no fun. On the other hand, if we were winning, at least everyone would be happy. Also, if we really did want to improve, we'd have to have training, and as experience has shown, no one shows up to training.
For a while there was no reply, and I assumed that, if I didn't get support from others, their silence would at least ensure Bert and I were in a tie.
But then Alex chipped in with his two cents. As soon as I read the words "I agree with Bert", I felt cheated on. Now it was two against one. He went on to say he didn't really care, but that he'd prefer to lose to a better team than win against a worse team, and that the only important thing was that our team played well.
What does that mean anyway? That he scores 20+ points while everyone else watches? When has he ever played "team" ball?
I felt cheated on for a couple of reasons:
1) I had been playing with him for longer, so expected him to side with me and not Bert.
2) I gave him the team trophy, so at least be fucking grateful for that fact.
Also, it seems that everything I do as captain, managing the team, chasing up fees, organising uniforms, just seems to be forgotten. I don't make money off the uniforms like Alex does. I don't ask for compensation for the petrol or time I use to travel to get the uniforms. Ungrateful bastards.
So I have been thinking about it over the last couple of days. The conclusion I've reached is that there are more reasons to quit than to continue playing:
1. If you play in the harder division, you are almost guaranteed you will not come first or second - so why risk your knee? Don't forget, you came back only on the premise that there'd be a realistic chance of winning because you'd be risking your knee. Now you want to risk it for these ungrateful bastards?
2. Save money. I now have to repay $27000 - I sure could save $150 instead of spending it on an unhappy season.
3. For a while now I've wanted to free up my weekend. I want to train hard on Saturdays, and I can't do that because my games will be the next day and I'd be too sore.
4. Related to above, I want to get my game back. I want to get my shot back, and with games on Sundays, I just can't afford to expend all my energy on Saturdays.
5. I need a break from basketball. I've needed one for a while.
Why should I play? To win and get a team trophy. That's not going to happen in Division 3.
And all this goes back to the ultimate issue I had with Bo - difference in goals and values. Bo wanted to have fun more than to win. I wanted to win. Now these guys are saying what's most important is "playing well as a team", even if that means losing to better teams. If I was 21, sure, I'd put up with that. But I'm 31, my time to win is now. No more time for trying to build a team.
And with that ultimate difference, it's time to call it quits on Kainan.
Even though we'd be in Division 3, I was at least a little hopeful that we could compete. But then a few days ago, Kim emailed saying that two "strong" teams had entered Division 3, and because there weren't enough teams in Division 2, some Division 3 teams would be playing Division 2 teams. So she gave us an option - stay in Division 2, or go into the "strong" half of Division 5. She wanted a reply asap.
ASAP. So being the captain, I made the executive decision to nominate for Division 5 before it could be taken by anyone else. She confirmed.
I then told the team on facebook. For a while I didn't get any replies, and thought maybe I had achieved quiet consensus. Then later Bert replied, saying he wasn't "keen" on playing Division 5. He said he wanted the team to improve and the only way to do this was to play against stronger teams, not weaker teams. I don't disagree with that premise per se, but I thought it was ironic coming from a guy who turned up to the grand final with a hang over and is prone to miss games. Don't forget, he's already booked to go on a holiday with MJ in November - playoff time. So he wants to enter us into the harder division, and then piss off when we make it to the playoffs?
Who was he to go against my decision? I'm not blaming him for our grand final loss, but I feel that if he hadn't of been hung over, he wouldn't have missed those first few baskets he attempted, which just happened to roll out.
Anyway, with one objection I could bear. I expected it anyway, since he had been the one pushing for us to go into a higher division. I had also said in my reasoning for my decision, that we had been there before - playing in a tougher division and losing, it was no fun. On the other hand, if we were winning, at least everyone would be happy. Also, if we really did want to improve, we'd have to have training, and as experience has shown, no one shows up to training.
For a while there was no reply, and I assumed that, if I didn't get support from others, their silence would at least ensure Bert and I were in a tie.
But then Alex chipped in with his two cents. As soon as I read the words "I agree with Bert", I felt cheated on. Now it was two against one. He went on to say he didn't really care, but that he'd prefer to lose to a better team than win against a worse team, and that the only important thing was that our team played well.
What does that mean anyway? That he scores 20+ points while everyone else watches? When has he ever played "team" ball?
I felt cheated on for a couple of reasons:
1) I had been playing with him for longer, so expected him to side with me and not Bert.
2) I gave him the team trophy, so at least be fucking grateful for that fact.
Also, it seems that everything I do as captain, managing the team, chasing up fees, organising uniforms, just seems to be forgotten. I don't make money off the uniforms like Alex does. I don't ask for compensation for the petrol or time I use to travel to get the uniforms. Ungrateful bastards.
So I have been thinking about it over the last couple of days. The conclusion I've reached is that there are more reasons to quit than to continue playing:
1. If you play in the harder division, you are almost guaranteed you will not come first or second - so why risk your knee? Don't forget, you came back only on the premise that there'd be a realistic chance of winning because you'd be risking your knee. Now you want to risk it for these ungrateful bastards?
2. Save money. I now have to repay $27000 - I sure could save $150 instead of spending it on an unhappy season.
3. For a while now I've wanted to free up my weekend. I want to train hard on Saturdays, and I can't do that because my games will be the next day and I'd be too sore.
4. Related to above, I want to get my game back. I want to get my shot back, and with games on Sundays, I just can't afford to expend all my energy on Saturdays.
5. I need a break from basketball. I've needed one for a while.
Why should I play? To win and get a team trophy. That's not going to happen in Division 3.
And all this goes back to the ultimate issue I had with Bo - difference in goals and values. Bo wanted to have fun more than to win. I wanted to win. Now these guys are saying what's most important is "playing well as a team", even if that means losing to better teams. If I was 21, sure, I'd put up with that. But I'm 31, my time to win is now. No more time for trying to build a team.
And with that ultimate difference, it's time to call it quits on Kainan.
posted by toey | 19:10
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