Reactionary Hullabaloo

On tiny sample sizes, decisive rigor, and a short memory

The Phoenix Suns played their second game of the season today. They lost, but it was a close game. This begs the question: When did we start taking moral victories when we avoid landslide blowouts?

Naturally, as Phoenix Suns fans are all too familiar with—we’re two official games away from the Game 7 blowout that shall no longer be mentioned—the sting of a bad loss needs to be met with a watering down. A temperance of spirit to balance out the gravity of the situation.

For myself, sports (and specifically having a chosen team) bears little consequence to a purpose in life—admittedly, I don’t want to be remembered merely as a Suns fan. Don’t get me wrong, basketball has generally been a source of solace and joy in life—a refuge during times of distress during my adolescent years even—but the sport owes me nothing, the Phoenix Suns organisation owes me nothing, and it may well appear as a few liner-notes on the playlist of my life. And I’m okay with that.

Here’s me in all my Point Guard glory! Playing for the Port Macquarie Dolphins [I have the ball]… Yes, that’s right, the Dolphin! The animal that strikes fear in the hearts of the animal kingdom!

Of course—for the contrarians in the building—you KNOW I’m excited about this upcoming 2022-23 NBA season.

The first game of the season was a rematch with the Dallas Maverick—yes, the team that bowled them out of the playoffs with a crushing win on the Suns’ home court (sorry, I did say I wouldn’t bring this up, didn’t I?).

However, coming away with a close win goes a long way to mellow out the sting. Coming back from a 20+ point deficit was vital for the Suns in this first game. The opportunity to be in a similar situation as the last time they played, only to come all the way back. A Masterclass in composure.

That’s one component I’ve enjoyed about basketball myself when it came to my playing days, and it came to be a mantra in other aspects of life, too—You learned to have a short memory.

There is a common adage about basketball players; for a specific type of player particularly. The Shooter: “Shooters are gonna shoot.” Many of those cut-throat, ultra-driven players who wanted the last shot was synonymous with having that short memory.

If they had missed their last 6, 7…11 shots, you knew they wanted that last shot to win the game. It didn’t matter. The next one was going in. They demanded the ball.

You could only have that confidence if you kept a short memory, too.

And this works on so many levels. If you had a bad day at work, really messed up the report, the order form, the work roster, the dinner reservations… whatever it is that you’ve done a right job of stuffing up—you need to have a short memory. Turn up and be ready to go again the next day. Demand the ball and take the next shot.

You might miss it, but you might make it too!

Don’t forget: You will miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. So, take the shot. Have a short memory. Turn up to work, ready to go next time.

You know the Suns will (playing the Clippers in a couple of days’ time in L.A.), and I’ll be on hand to watch that game too (most likely…unless my wife asks. Tell her I’m working hard from home and really enjoying the opportunity to focus!).

I give the bravado that comes with having a short memory: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

I give the Suns opening 2 games to their 2022/23 season also 3.5 out of 5 stars.

I give the professional sports photographer who took the above photo 4 out of 5 stars (There is also another pick of me somewhere that made the paper!)

Tell me: Can you see the merits of having a short memory? If so, how?