The Holtonian

Sporting Equipment

Well it was wednesday thus it was soccer nite. I must say the atheletic people seem to be multiplying as it went from a few out of shapers and a few in shapers too pretty much me and a bunch of in shape, good soccer players. Its hard getting older too, because my cankle hurts and I'm not sure why. Granted I did kick the ground one time on accident... I was aiming for the ball... and the ball was still at the time... yeah it was great. Though I think I kicked it with my right foot and my left cankle hurts... maybe my left cankle is having sympathy pains.

My shins have taken a good beating the past three weeks of playing so I took some shin guards I had from high school with me... though after about 2 seconds I realized I looked like a tool and took them off. They were kind of uncomfortable and way too big for me anyway.

Being the youngest of three and having a lot of cousins most of my sports equipment came via siblings' and cousins' hand me downs. I think I owned a pair of soccer cleats at one time that were mine, bought specifically for me. But I think I out grew them or lost them. Luckily I never wore a jock strap or a cup, I figured I'd make do without rather than take a hand me down. Though I should be fair I'm sure my parents would have sprung for one, I just never liked either, give me a good old pair of tighty whities! I even played catcher for a while in baseball... I figured it made me a better catcher... i had vested interest in making sure I caught the pitch.

In little league, my baseball cleats were usually my soccer cleats or tennis shoes. In highschool my soccer shoes were tennis shoes as I just gave in and theorized, "I'd rather my feet be comfortable and slip all over the field than wear uncomfortable cleats and have traction." Then in highschool my baseball cleats were Concerned's old highschool football cleats that were a size too big.

Baseball gloves were also usually bought specifically for me, though I do recall using the free one from Busch Stadium glove day for a few seasons... it was made I think of nylon plastic instead of leather. I remember catching a fly ball one time and the thing broke into a million pieces. I should rephrase that, I tried to catch a fly ball one time... Then the one that I got to replace it was good but very small and I used it a little too long. It looked like I was an old timey baseball player with one of those tiny gloves. I'm not even sure if the baseball technically fit in the glove.

I have a really nice glove now, though I'm not sure where it came from and I'm not sure if I've ever used it. I think Concerned might have bought it for me after he borrowed mine and broke it... not sure

My dad did buy me some golf clubs though I feel bad because I was pretty young and buying your under 16 year old a set of clubs is kind of a waste of money, because in a year or two he'll be too tall for them. Sorry Dad...

The golf clubs I have now are hand me downs from a cousin and are the best clubs I've ever used. They're a bit short for me but I make do. I figure when I'm shooting a good Par everytime I can make the jump to some custom made clubs or something. Mom did get me a sweet new bag too for christmas last year though I have yet to employ its many neat ameneties like a kick stand and double strap. The child sort of eats into that whole golf budget... not that I ever had a golf budget... but if I did she would have eaten into it long ago.

My dad also bought me a bow and arrow one time, a compound one, it was nice. I had just seen I think Rambo 3, the one where he takes down the Russian Hind with a bow and arrow, it was classic. Anyway with that and Robin Hood fresh in my mind I figured I should work on my archery incase I either need to invade Afganistan to aid the muslim rebels against the Soviet aggressors or if I ever am in Nottingham and need to rob the rich and give to the poor. It turned out to be harder than Robin Hood and Rambo made it seem and that hobby lasted maybe a month. Sorry again Dad...

My frisbee golf frisbee was stolen from concerned... I broke it by the way... sorry bro.

My parents always gave me nice mountain bikes. Not sure why, as a bratty child I certainly didn't deserve a nice bike. But my first one was a Giant, pretty good, except for it was called, "Awesome" which made it instantly lame. I may have scratched that logo off. But it was a good bike and when I out grew it my parents got me a Diamondback mtn bike and it was really good too. I used to ride it back and forth to work at Panera. Then two birthdays ago they got me the Janus i have now and its a great bike. I haven't used it in about two weeks, though Scott keeps trying to convince me to start commuting to work via bike. And who knows, if my car quits I just might. The problem is getting up the Mountain... I'd have to take the trails up ruby falls and what not which would take longer, but be safer and more gradual for a fatty like me. Plus a mtn bike just sort of handles better on the gravel. I might do a ride this saturday and see how long it takes me to go down and up on the trails. Though that would require a pass from the wife as it would take a long time.

Posted by holtonian at July 26, 2006 10:16 PM | TrackBack