Ex – Basketball Player Essay

To be able to understand the poem, Updike starts by saying “Pearl Avenue runs past the high-school lot” which serves as a metaphor describing pathways highlighting the best and past in Flick achievements. In addition, he is providing the reader with a specific and vivid description to a journey, traveling in mind to a certain place and setting of the poem. Also, when he states “Bends with the trolley tracks, and stops, cut off”; he is sending the message that Flick’s glory days have vanished right after high school. Accordingly, leading the way abruptly to “Berth Garage” can be interpreted as the gas station where more likely Flick works his entire life. With all this uttered, the speaker is provoking a feeling of nostalgia, creating a connection to the poem’s meaning.

John Maloney’s “Good!” A short (14-line) poem incompasses the fast paced events within a Basketball game.It is limited third person from the perspective of a player that gained possession of the ball after a missed basket. The poet focuses the narrative onto the actions after the rebound occurred. The speaker of the poem, a player on the court, is focused on the game and the game alone, determined to keep the ball in his team’s possession and allow his team the chance to make a shot. Which in the end, he ends up taking the shot himself earning his team two points.

The poem begins with an extended metaphor comparing “Pearl Avenue” and Flick’s career as a basketball player. Pearl Avenue “bends with the trolley track, and stops, cut off / Before it has a change to go two blocks” (2-3). Pearl Avenue implies fresh and cleanliness relating to Flick’s days as a star high school basketball player. When Pearl Avenue comes to a sudden end, it connotes to the sudden and rather unpleasant end of Flick’s career. Flick’s seemingly

The poem tells the story of the life of the former high school basketball standout, Flick Webb and his fall from grace and fame. The speaker takes us on a journey through Flick’s life, beginning with the main street in town, developing to Flick’s fall from fame to his lowly job, and then ends by telling us of his menial daily habits. He was once the best basketball player in his area. However, he has since his fall from grace he is now just a lowly gas attendant who checks oil, and changes flat tires for a living.

Michael Jordan was born on February 17, 1963 in Brooklyn, New York, and when he was still a toddler, his parents moved to Wilmington, North Carolina.

The third stanza gives a clearer picture of Flick’s past. Flick played for the Wizards. The name is symbolic because it implies the team

Ever since Kevin Garnett, a teenager who by-passed college, was drafted as the fifth overall pick in the 1995 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft, more and more high school teenagers have been making the jump straight to the pros. Since the league draft of 1995, 17 first round picks have been high school players. This means that about 7 percent of first round draft picks in the NBA have been high school teens skipping out on their college education to make the jump to the NBA (Chylinski).

After retiring from professional basketball, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has become a lauded observer of culture and society. In this book, he shares his unique perspective on politics, racism, religion, the media and other topics, focusing on the need for objective thinking and our need to include diverse and conflicting perspectives in order to protect freedom. He also offers solutions to problems such as racism in sports while speaking candidly about his experiences on the court. Jabbar did not judge or wrote in an anger way. In fact, He provides practical advice to address each of the issues in very nice way. He believes that it is necessary to look for solutions that are grounded in reality. I felt like whenever he provided a solution for an issue,

Have you ever played basketball with your friends? Well for Jayson Barnes, basketball wasn’t just a game, it was a lifestyle. Jayson Barnes lost his mother at a young age. Ever since then, he has been avoiding social services. Until one day, he gets caught stealing sneakers and his life is changed forever.

In “Fast Break” by Edward Hirsch the author displays a great wistful image of a basketball fast break. The positive diction and the image of a excellent well executed fast break create almost a symphonic feeling as you watch the event unfold in sync. This poem is about the act of a fast break in basketball where one team gets the ball and swiftly attacks the other goal. The poem talks about how one of the players on the team boxes out his man, gets the rebound and throws it to another player who is hustling towards the opponent’s goal.

In contrast to the imagery used by Housman, Updike stresses the athlete’s fading glory as the athlete has lived past his triumphant days. As “To An Athlete Dying Young” begins the poem through the imagery that shows the athlete’s success and his gain of honor, whereas “Ex-Basketball Player” indicates that the athlete’s life is no longer filled with glory. The road leading to the place where he works shares with the readers how meaningless and empty the athlete’s life has become as the road “runs past the high-school lot, bends with the trolley tracks, and stops, cut off” (2). Flick, the subject of the poem, has had his years of glory when he played for his high school since he had the skills and talent to break records. He had extra talent that made him become one with the basketball and handle it like no one else could as “his hands were like wild birds” (18). Although Flick had his glorious years, unlike the athlete in “To An Athlete Dying Young” Flick’s glory does not last because he now “checks oil, and changes flats” (20). “To An Athlete Dying Young” emphasizes that it is better

In John Updike’s poem, “Ex-Basketball Player,” Updike, an American novelist and poet born in 1932, best known for his “Rabbit” series, tells the story of an American tragedy when he describes the life of Flick Webb, a once high-school basketball star turned gas attendant. This poem is narrated by an unknown voice, but sounds like a local who knew of Webb’s significance in high school. Webb went from a successful high-school basketball star to a gas station attendant. Updike’s theme to this poem is that one’s past does not shape or make their future. In stanza three, Updike writes, “He was good: in fact, the best.” Telling the audience that Webb was indeed a talented player. In the beginning of stanza four, Updike goes on to write, “He never learned a trade, he just sells gas, checks oil, and changes flats.” Implying that Webb didn’t get far with his talent. Flick Webb set a county record for points with three hundred and ninety, and is now fueling gas and changing tires at Berth’s Garage. The use of Updike’s tone, visual prospective, and the characterization of Flick gives the reader a unique scene told from the eyes of the narrator on the past and present life of a once star.

There are numerous different steps required to be a good basketball player. There are different aspects of the game that can drastically change the tempo of the game. Of course shooting the ball is important, but improving dribbling, defensive, and passing skills are also important. A players ability in all phases of the game is what makes them a good player.

The sight and sound of watching the basketball swish through the net are second to none. For this reason and much more, I have fallen in love with the game of basketball and all the sport has to offer. From an extremely young age until now I have played the game and I hope to be either playing or involved with the game as long as I live. I have tried many other sports including soccer, football, and lacrosse but none can compare to the pleasure and passion that I have for basketball. This has become more than a sport for me, it has become a passion and something that I have dedicated my time, energy and hard work into.

The sport of basketball is known as a fun past time for any person young or old. Basketball is a great way of exercise and a great way to have fun with friends and possibly make some new ones. I love to watch and play the game, basketball is a very entertaining sport and can be played by anyone. Basketball has many negative and positive things about it based on my opinion. Basketball is known as a good pastime in many people’s eyes but can also be seen as a passion for many others. Basketball in my opinion the best thing I can do with my friends to have fun while burning a few calories. I see basketball as a fun and easy way to have fun rather than sitting on the couch all day playing video games or watching television. One reason I love