Although it is played professionally and people make a living off it, basketball is a sport that brings many people together. Sherman Alexie is a Native American who grew up in Spokane Indian Reservation; most of his writing is based on his experience as a Native American. In Sherman Alexie’s poem “Why We Play Basketball”, basketball is not only for entertainment, it can be an intrinsic motivation for people aiming for a better future. Alexie uses basketball to describe his childhood. This poem answers the question why they play basketball because of their childhood experiences. Through use of many effective literary techniques Sherman Alexie conveys his personal experiences of when he played basketball. This poem is far more than just …show more content…
At many times it is played as a recreational sport. The same can be said for the game of basketball when it is played by the Native Americans. Basketball is a natural form of recreation on the reservations. In Alexie’s book “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part- Time Indian”, he reminds his readers that Native Americans live a modern life. He depicts the poverty and hopelessness on the reservation vividly. In one of the beginning chapters of this book; the protagonist Junior is being told by a teacher on the reservations to leave there forever. The teacher says “The only thing kids are being taught is how to give up” (42-43). Having basketball on the reservation was their hope of fleeing the limitations on them by their family and the …show more content…
As Williams has said poems should have a surface for readers stand on and after careful examination of the poem “Why We Play Basketball”, the surface is basketball. Not basketball as being fun, but basketball is a way of life for the Indians that lived in reservations, and it gave them hope. Literary techniques and devices help authors better convey their meanings in a deeper sense, and Sherman Alexie has accomplished that by using a wide variety of literary techniques in his poem. He reeled readers in by his title of the poem, only for them to realize that basketball is not all fun and games all the time. They also help bring the text to life and make it more interesting to readers. The poem “ Why We Play Basketball”, is lengthy and there are many other literary techniques the author uses to convey his message or what he want readers to get from him sharing his personal experiences as a kid living on a reservation. They put so much effort into playing the game of basketball, that it was more than a sport to them. It was a past time to forget the struggles they faced but it was also a time of bonding for them. Sherman Alexie went into great depth with the meaning of this poem and his use of literary techniques helps his readers understand the message he is conveying to
Remember that boy in high school that was the star of the basketball team? He still holds most of the records for the team. He scored more points than anyone else in the school’s history. He never studied much because he was an athlete. His basketball skills were going to take him places. But high school ended and there are no more games to be played. Where is that former all-star now? In his poem “Ex-Basketball Player,” John Updike examines the life of a former high school basketball star. Flick Webb was a local hero, and he loved basketball. He never studied much in school or learned a trade because he was a talented athlete. Now years later, the only job Flick can find is working at the local gas station. He used to be a star, but now he just “sells gas, checks oil, and changes flats” (19-20). The purpose of Updike’s poem is to convince the reader that athletes should also focus on getting a good education.
Indian culture has been disappearing for centuries since the Native Americans were forced to migrate from their original homes. In the book, The Absolutely True Diary of A Part-Time Indian, an Indian boy displays how to escape the poverty of his Indian Reservation by going to a wealthy white school, as well as keeping his Indian Culture alive when living on the reservation. The Native American boy Arnold is able to show toughness, courageousness and the capability to overcome obstacles, by illustrating comics and playing basketball. For Arnold, drawing comics and playing basketball is a way to build his character and self-esteem. Without the freedom in writing comics and the self-confidence builder in playing basketball, Arnold would act
The presence of activity and sport is found within cultures and societies all over the world, and throughout history. Activity in the form of sport can often be the purest form of expression for a society or individual. The sporting world is often thought to be a microcosm of the actual world with the problems and issues of society still being ever present in the sporting community. Since sport can be used as an expression of self, it is no wonder that sport is often a reflection of the society that it occupies. One such society that was deeply impacted by the role of sport is that of Native American boarding school students in the 1800’s and 1900’s. These students lived tough lives but just like how it had helped other cultural societies, sport was able to provide these students with basic needs of autonomy and pride.
This is seen when the Victor thinks to himself “I’d only seen Julius play a few times, but he had that gift, that grace, those fingers like a *** medicine man.” This is an example of how Alexie uses basketball as a form of war. Another point in the text that basketball is treated as a way to earn glory is when Victor compares actual heroes that have saved lives to basketball players. He says “and to be honest, I don't remember none of those names (referring to “actual heroes”) either, but a reservation hero (referring to good basketball players) is remembered. A reservation hero is remembered
Basketball is a chart-topping sport that is loved by many fans. It’s been a hit since 1891 when it began, starting in Springfield, Massachusetts. It grew rapidly in popularity and spread around the world. Many people found it comforting to play, such as Pat Conroy. Pat Conroy was an outstanding basketball player, who was committed in going far with his teammates. Although he seemed superb, he had a troubled life growing up at his family home. His parents were abusive and uncaring towards him, therefore he used basketball as an alternative. In My Losing Season, Pat was able to obliterate the thought of his abusive parents. His comfort was playing basketball with a team he will never fail to remember. The outcomes Pat acquired were admirable,
Therefore, in “The Only Traffic Signal on the Reservation No Longer Flashes Red,” Alexie uses the epitome of the burnt-out sports hero that appears frequently in twentieth-century American literature as a commonality between reservation life and the rest of America. Thus, the reader can relate to the sports hero, and he/she can understand the anguish felt when the dream of stardom falls short. Every generation has a basketball hero, whom the other reservation natives believe is going to be great enough to get a scholarship to play basketball at the college- and maybe even pro-level. If so, he/she would be breaking the trend of living a life in poverty and resorting to alcoholism as a past time. However, each time someone comes close to breaking the trend and escaping the continuous cycle of a life on the reservation, he comes under the influence of alcohol. Victor, the nar...
The movie “Basketball Diaries” is based on a series of journal entries written by Jim Carroll during the early years of his life, these entries would later on be published as a novel. Growing up in the slums of New York City, Carroll was exposed to many instances of drugs abuse and as a result of his life being filled with stress such as him living in an unstable household without a father, and losing his best friend he began to engage in substance abuse. As a teenager, Carroll was willing to go to extreme lengths just to fit in with his peers. He was an avid basketball player who seemed to be devoted to the sport and was knowledgeable when it came to teaching others what he knew about the sport. Based on the opening scenes of the movie, one can tell that Carroll was a very impressionable teenager. Like many teenagers, Carroll was left open to the influences of his environment and so he was misguided because instead of trying to steer him on the right path, the older folks led him to what would inevitably become his destruction. This paper will provide background information of the ...
To conclude, the poem “Ex-Basketball play,” is a poem that shows the reality of life. It reflects the nature of life in the real world and it helps people who have a dream and want to pursue their goals to go for it. The poem was formally organized and provides a number of figurative languages that helps to bring out tone of the poem.
Terrence and Jordin Tootoo grew up in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, in Canada’s arctic region. They were like other Inuit children in Rankin Inlet in many respects: They were brought up to respect the customs of their people and they enjoyed the resources the land around them provided- they learned to hunt and fish for food like the others. However, the brothers were also different from their peers in one main respect- they were blessed with a love for the game of hockey, and also with extraordinary amounts of talent which would enable them to leave their native community to pursue the dream of professional hockey. While the brothers were growing up they were inseparable; however, after leaving Rankin Inlet to pursue the professional game their respective careers took strikingly different paths. Jordin’s journey took him to the top- he was drafted into the National Hockey League and signed a lucrative contract with the Nashville Predators. However, Terrence’s road to the professional ranks was filled with hardship and tragedy, ultimately resulting in his suicide in August of 2002. The contrasting paths taken by the brothers is an illustration of how professional sporting careers can have varying impacts on the lives of Native American and Canadian athletes and their communities. In the following few paragraphs I will outline the history of Native Americans and Canadians in sports. I will examine how successful Native athletes are able to help their communities, both financially and by serving as role models for younger Natives. Also, I will argue that their still exist barriers and challenges to Native athletes that do not confront other athletes. For example, Native athletes are often placed under increased scrutiny because of their positions as role models. I will conclude by commenting on how Native athletes fit into pro sports today, and speculate on what can be done to increase the amount of success enjoyed by Natives.
In the Swales document we looked at in class, a discourse community has a set of common goals (Discourse Community). In high school basketball, the goal is to win the state championship. Also, a discourse community uses a specific jargon (Discourse Community). We see this in the rules and how some players and coaches communicate. Finally, a discourse community has its new members learn from experienced members (Discourse Community). This is evident when we talk about learning the fundamentals from the coaches. High school basketball can be a very diverse discourse community because while every team has different ways of doing things, they all have the same end goal of being the state champions. Basketball has always
The history of sports goes back since ancient times. It has been a useful way for people to explore nature and their environment. Sports include different activities and games such as football, soccer, basketball, and etc. to express their skills and talents. Also, sports are a way to relax and have fun; but are sports all our African Americans rely on? The dream to become future sports stars. The reason why Gates begins his essay with an anecdote is to show and compare how many african-american athletes were at work today and how little the chances of African-Americans becoming athletes are compared to being a lawyer, dentist, or even a doctor. African-Americans assume that they are born athletes and it’s because the school system doesn’t teach them reality and educate them to undertake more realistic goals for careers.
Wiggins, David Kenneth, and Patrick B. Miller. 2003. The unlevel playing field: a documentary history of the African American experience in sport. Urbana: University of Illinois Press
As a player, it is a great feeling to have when the ball goes in. There is no feeling like it. The vivid language and similes in this poem have shown me just how amazing a fast break can be. As a basketball player, I comprehend this poem better than those who have never played. I can visualize myself in this poem, and I can also visualize my favorite NBA team perfecting a fast break just like the author describes it.
After-school athletics is typically presented as a productive outlet for students to engage with one another and learn within a team environment. However, through an intersectional lens it should be taken into question whether playing sports is enjoyable or even possible without reaping the benefits of gender, heteronormative, and numerous other privileges. Reflecting on my own personal experience of playing high school basketball, I take a closer look as to how it was shaped by the many facets of intersectionality and privilege. In analyzing my experience, I will argue why sports is a constant force in reproducing gender binaries and oftentimes baneful to those who do not conform to heteronormativity.
Sports, a very popular past time today, have been around since ancient times. Greek Olympic Games featured events from chariot races, javelin throws, to wrestling. In addition, a game similar to soccer was played in China by the second century BC. In England, a violent rugby type game was even played to settle feuds between villages. With the development of the industrial revolution and the creation of the first public schools, sports decreased in violence and were played more recreationally and constructively. Basketball was invented to help the youth in New England spend their energy in the winter months. Since the early 1900’s sports have been a key experience in the United States (“History of Sports”). I have played sports for many years, and the experience has helped me grow significantly as an individual.