The game of basketball has come a long way over the past three decades. Once played with wooden peach baskets affixed to the wall, basketball has grown into a popularized sport here in the United States and other countries around the world. Today young children look up to players like Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, and Shaqeal O'Neil who helped make basketball what it is today. Playing basketball is fun. It is a game of challenge, and it is an activity I enjoy playing. I enjoy playing basketball because of the rush or natural high I get when scoring during clutch time. Also, I like the "hype-ness" of the crowd and the sound of the ball going through the net.
             First, let us understand this natural high. It is a high different from any illegal or legal drug-induced high. This high can only be experienced in sports. It is like a second wind when one's body is dead tired. It is what makes one jump higher or run faster, and it can determine whether one wins or loses. It is a force that pushes one to victory, and it comes from the body. Most coaches call this high "heart." Normally, this high comes during key points in the game, or clutch time when a team is down and needs points on the board, or when the score is tied with only seconds remaining. It is during this time that I like to score the most. It could be the best time of the game.
             "Hype-ness" of the crowd is a big part of basketball. A player can receive boo's if the crowd is not satisfied. Laughs can also be heard from the crowd, especially when players are looking foolish trying to keep up with their man. And then there are the distractions, school names being called out, neighborhoods being represented, and the banging of the bleaches. Basically, basketball is nothing without a crowd.
             The sound of a basketball going through the net is very distinct from any other sound. Sometimes players describe this sound using the word "swish."
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