Creative Writing: The Last Basketball Game

It was a normal spring night and my baseball game had just started. It was senior night and I was pitching, we had just finish the first half of the first inning. My teammate struck out, it was my turn to hit, I swung for the ball and my leg popped twice. I went down and didn't get back up, My leg was stuck to my chest and I couldn't move it. The visiting team's coach was an EMT he ran over and said ¨this is going to hurt¨ and pulled my leg straight. What had happened was when I swung the bat my leg didn't move and my kneecap dislocated and instead of my ligaments tearing, they stretched and broke my kneecap. This was a challenge for me because this was the first time I had never broken a bone in my life. I went to the doctor and he said nothing was wrong, so my

I was excited for a new beginning in my career, maybe to prepare me for high school in the upcoming years. The idea of beating boys in soccer got me excited, my blood pumping harder through my veins and put an extra spring in my step. It was the first practice of our middle school season, where my life would be turned upside down. I ran down the field as normal, going for another shot on goal, but out of nowhere one of boys came from behind and completely took out my knee, causing me to collapse in pain. Lying down on the field, my sanctuary, the place I saw as home was probably the most grueling time of my life. Injuries were common in my life, but this injury was unlike any other. I could not get up off the field and felt as if there was nothing left in my knee, and every time I tried to get up, I fell right back down. I never sat out a practice until that night and figured one day would be enough. One night was clearly not enough, I was never able to catch back up to my full speed, or be able to cut around the field, which resulted in moving positions from forward, to defense to cut back on the running. I thought this would a temporary position, but I played every game in

The doctor walked in. I quickly ask him, “What is wrong with my knee?” He replied, “Well it is not the worst thing that could have happened, but you did tear your meniscus.” This did not come as much of a surprise because I have had people telling me for the past two weeks that something probably had torn, most likely was my meniscus.

When that moment came i was running through the town of Waukee, Iowa with my friends. i jumped a fence when i felt and heard that pop. It was a familiar feeling, i remembered it from the first time my ACL tered, i remembered how its the worse pain i have ever felt. i was yelling “Guys, wait up!” as i sat down on the soggy grass holding my knee, thinking “not this again”. i wondered if i would ever fully recover, if messing around was really worth it. I spent the whole night wondering.

In November of 2010, I was playing basketball in the fifth game of my senior season. It was just like any other game. However, I would soon find out otherwise. It was late in the game; I drove into the lane and got fouled hard. I was knocked so off-balance that I speared the floor with my knee. As soon as my knee hit the floor I heard a “snap” that I will never forget for the rest of my life. Little did I know at the time, that would be the last shot of my high school basketball career. Not long after my injury, I consulted a doctor. After getting an x-ray and an MRI, the doctor informed me that I had completely torn my ACL and would need to have surgery. An ACL tear can be a very devastating injury. The anterior cruciate

The football Field is merely a Field ---- In winter the landscape is rather drab one might say ---- But I believe the winter Field is fantastic compared to summer ---- Now don't get me wrong summer is grand as well ----

We only had two games left and I was determined to play. By the next game I was suited up and ready to play. My ankle was still swollen and still a bit tender. By the end of the first quarter I was practically in tears. What was I to do in this situation? The team was counting on me and I refused to let them down. Nothing was the same, I couldn't run as fast, my reaction time was slower with the fear that I might injure my ankle even worse. We won the game by a landslide a girl on my team was fouled shooting a Hail Mary. There was no time left on the clock and she made all 3 free throws giving is a one point lead. The next game coach noticed me limping a little and insisted that I stay out and rest for a little because track season was right around the corner. Of course it had already started it always runs into basketball season. I thought long and hard and determined I would I test the water. I went through warm ups, ran up and down the court a few times, did some ankle exercises, I still wasn't sure if I should go for it or not. I told my coach and she looked bummed but she told me she cared more about my health and told me to sit up closer to her. This was one of the most important games of the year. In order to get into playoffs we had to win this game. Everything was looking bright until two of our starting five fouled out in the beginning of the fourth quarter. I was nervous and really anxious to see how this would unfold.

For the past four years of my life I have been majorly involved with my school’s color guard. I went from learning the basics freshman year to leading a large group of girls who were mostly beginners. When senior year rolled around I felt ready to lead my team to victory. Unfortunately, things didn’t turn out the way I had hoped. While sprinting during a practice I land hard on my left side and felt my knee pop out of place. The following week was spent away from guard icing my now grapefruit sized knee. When I went to the doctor I was pretty nervous, but he assured me that it didn’t appear to be serious. When I came in for my second visit my heart sank to see what was waiting for me in his office. It was a pamphlet that said the ins and

My knee suddenly feels as if someone set it on fire, and I instantly know something terrible has happened. My body quickly goes into shock, and I succumb to a sea of blackness. Awaking I hear a loud, sobbing sound of a wounded animal, slowly realizing that sound has come from myself. I open my eyes to see my mom, Coach Pendleton, and the athletic trainer leaning over me with questioning looks, as if they can not see the pain that I am feeling. All three are shouting questions at me as the red and black crowd sits silently with horrified faces. The trainer’s mouth is moving but I have no idea what she is saying, and it is as if I have lost my hearing, because the pain is too much too bear. Finally, I start to regain my thoughts and I can hear the trainer asking, “can you locate your pain for me?” I point to my knee, which is already swollen like a balloon. My mom and Coach Pendleton slowly help me to my feet and carry me to the sidelines like a child, where my team is staring at me with tear-filled eyes. I overhear the trainer talking in hushed voice with my mom, saying, “ I am concerned with the amount of swelling in the ACL area of her knee.” My stomach drops as I consider what she's just said. I will miss many games of my senior year, in the sport I love. My heart slowly shatters as I sit

Hearing the pop of my knee was the last sound I wanted to hear while kicking a soccer ball during tryouts junior year. I fell straight to the ground, and knew instantly something was terribly wrong. To this day, I recall how heartbroken I was when I heard the news that I tore my ACL, and I never thought it could happen to me. Just the thought of not playing sports that year was emotionally difficult because sports have always been a part of my life. I could not imagine a year without participating in athletics, however at the time I did not know it could have a positive impact on me.

After lying on the ground for several minutes thinking it was going to be okay, you are going to get up and be fine in a few minutes. A few minutes went by and I attempted to walk. I felt the most searing pain that I have ever felt in my knee. Feeling the intense pain, I immediately collapsed back onto the ground. Later that weekend I received an MRI to see for sure that my injury was as bad as it felt. A couple hours after the MRI I received a phone call from my doctor. “Noah, I am sorry to tell you, but you not only tore your anterior cruciate ligament, but also your lateral meniscus.” My larynx sank deep into the depths of my stomach. I was

First I explained my knee dislocation and operation. Then, in return, she told me about her brain tumor and numerous operations. Her storytelling skills were spontaneous. Although I expected her to be pitiful of her condition, her tone was lovely and she embraced her condition fully. I admired her for her bravery and the beauty of innocence within her character. When my therapist began to approach me, she surprised me with good news. I had, finally, received clearance to walk without crutches. Immediately, I began to walk, but within my first few steps, I began to cry. I was overwhelmed with joy that although my knee still had a torn ligament, I was satisfied with the performance it was doing. After completing a set of balancing exercises, I saw my new friend. She waved at me and in seconds, I felt guilty and embarrassed. Unlike my new friend, who embraced her special qualities, I hated mine. However, I realized that my depression and self-hate were unnecessary and immature. I admitted to myself that I had become desperate for an opportunity to escape my reality. That I wanted to deny the reality of my injury, and live in an imaginary

Health History: A 25-year-old male injured his left knee in a recent skiing accident. The patient stated that he lost his balance because the inner edge of his right ski got caught while skiing. This resulted in the right leg being externally rotated followed by and audible “pop” as he lost footing. By evening, the right knee joint had become swollen, causing intense pain. The primary care physician referred the case to an orthopedist.

As athletes, we always feel invincible. No matter what I had been told, I was convinced that a serious injury would never happen to me. The coaches and doctors had described the “popping” sound that accompanies an ACL injury, but for years I ignored them. One day, when I least expected it, it happened to me. I tore my right ACL in September of 2012, at the beginning of my eighth grade year. For me, it could not have happened at a more inopportune time for my future soccer career and, at the time, I thought my dreams were over. I was convinced I would never play soccer in college, let alone be able to play for my varsity high school team as a freshman.

As I sat there and let the doctor examine my knee and diagnosis me with a “left knee sprain”. I started to cry. I already knew the outcome that I had a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). I tried to continue to play on it until one time I was playing in a tournament, and I went up to block a girls shot and landed on my