It's not the what but the why that's most intriguing

I offer this story not to titillate or to even speak to the stunningly complex issue of escorting or prostitution or the social dilemmas either may cause.

I offer it because at some level it fascinates me.

And it fascinates me because I think, in some way perhaps small, it’s indicative of the issues that plague athletes at the end of their careers.

I will not pass judgement on this woman, I cannot and will not speak to her personal issues or life or what drove her to do what she did, but I wonder what role simply not having athletics played in the decision.

Most – not all, but a lot – of athletes I’ve known miss the simple “rush” they get from competing or living the live of being a professional. Not the coddling or the first-class travel or the adulation as much as the challenge it brings, physically and mentally and the adrenaline that courses through you when you’re preparing for an event and competing in a game or what have you.

It’s why it’s so hard for so many to give it up when the time comes. They like everything about what they do and I think too many, once they leave, find too big a void in their lives.

All of a sudden they have time and no “rush” to keep them up and interested.

I am sure some are bored to some degree and underfoot of family and friends to some degree and the things that got them through the days, challenged, during years of competition are no longer there.

They turn their mental and physical focus to some other endeavour eventually, it’s interesting which way some go.

We’ve heard too many tales about families breaking up post-retirement because of the let-down the comes with not having a routine to follow, or a lifestyle that pushes you mentally and physically every single day.

You wonder where the energy they’ve used to make them among the worlds greatest athletes can be channeled and how frustrating it must be not to have a place to use it.

Again, I don’t think today or here is the time or the place to discuss what she did; the why is quite intriguing to me.

You?

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The Pogues!!!

Christmas!!!

Cool, no?

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Hey!!!!

We’re here?

Whew!

Guess the world didn’t end. That’s good, I think there’s a bit more to accomplish around here.

Hope it’s not just here in Hazelville that we survived and that you’re all okay, too.

You might want to check out our End Of The World blog sometime today, see what’s going on in the rest of the world. If indeed the rest of the world is here.

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Mail?

Since every other question seems to revolve around Kyle Lowry or Andrea Bargnani or Jose Calderon there’s a sameness to the mailbag that I can’t quite handle.

Up to you good folks to make a bit different, please.

Click. Write. Send.

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So I’m on the couch watching the Thunder-Timberwolves game and it hits me like a ton of bricks.

Andrei Kirilenko looks an awful lot like Shaggy of Scoobie Doo fame, doesn’t he?

And speaking of the Thunder, the old Smith Jinx got ‘em again. File a laudatory Nothin’ But Net main piece on them and their 12-game winning streak and how good they’re going and, bam!, not six hours later, they lose.

I have that magic touch, no?

And the quote of the night? Kevin Durant after the loss:

“A lot of people said the world was going to end tomorrow but it’s not the end of the world.”

Gold!

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Raptors?

A day off, which was nice of them because I didn’t have wander downtown and could have a Mighty Red Tigers coaches holiday meeting.

But they do have a rather big week coming since the turnaround began – Orlando twice, San Antonio and New Orleans – and I refuse to say any game is a must-win or a should-win but you know they’re looking at three of four, at least.

That’s what confidence does to you.

(Speaking of, my man Josh Robbins reports there’ll be no Glen Davis tonight in this Orlando Sentinel missive)

The Raptors off-day Thursday was just part of a rather relaxing week, as a matter of fact. They’ll play tonight, work early and quickly tomorrow so everyone who wants to can flee the city to see family for Christmas and reconvene in San Antonio for a night practice on Dec. 25.

And that’ll leave us to our usual job on the post-Christmas, post-all star nights: Finding out which one of them had “travel problems” and couldn’t get back.

Always a fun game to play.

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Yeah, I’m sooooo likely to get up in the middle of the night to watch junior pucks.

That’s about the only good part of having to travel on Christmas and be away the week in between; one is not inundated with the breathless reports about teenage hockey in what’s legitimately a four- or maybe five-team tournament.

And, trust me, Canadians are alone in their love for this event; it draws flies around the globe and having been in the United States countless times at this point in the year, I can tell you that you cannot find stuff on the tournament with a search warrant.

But if you like it, you like it; just don’t think that everyone does.

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Yes, we are here with the final pre-Christmas IGBT tonight about 7; come one, come all. It’s a fun way to spend a Friday night if there aren’t any holiday party plans.

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Comments

[Penguin]

Read that Davis "screamed several times." He needs to meet Amir. We've seen him several times at least get hurt, take a few minutes, and get back into the game, playing hard as ever, but the other night against Detroit seemed really amazing. Can't imagine HWSNBN ever doing that. Seeing that kind of hard-nosed play has to be inspiring to the other players (frankly as compared with a certain 7' Italian's soft play and weak defence).