because basketball is a good metaphor for everything.

you know like in a game of basketball, 

when you're down by 20 points 

and suddenly you make a run in the last 2 minutes and scored 19 straight,

putting the lead down to a single possession with 10 secs left at game clock

then the opponent hits a three to push the lead back up and only a single second to go.

cold-blooded three-pointer. 

you know, that feeling when you see that ball trickle in the basket;

cold sweat, hard thumping in the chest.

you lose confidence, you lose faith.

your mind gets disoriented. 

And in less than a second, you tell yourself all the good things to compose yourself back;

“you did your best.”

“it was a hard fought game.”

“all heart. True fighter.”

You get the ball, throw a prayer

and the ball goes in.

And you’re still down a point, the buzzer sounds.

Game is over.

And again, you tell yourself all the good things to compose yourself back.

“you did even more than the best.”

“you fought hard ‘til the end.”

“you had THE never-say-die attitude.”

It was a good game.

Say, you scored 29 pts,

Dished out 24 assts,

Grabbed 13 rebs, 7 steals, 2 blks.

Only 3 turnovers.

It was a good game.

People come to you saying all these good stuff;

“You were a monster out there.”

“such a fighter.”

“you did the best you could.”

“you have a heart of a true champion.”

Bullshit.

you’re an athlete.

A loss is a loss.

What you did was not enough.

A loss is always a loss.

A loss is always a loss and a loss is always hard to swallow.

You’re a competitor.

You know how to fall hard.

You know how to stand-up.

Today, the game’s not yours.

You walk out with your head down.

But the moment this day ends,

You know you’ve got to rise back up.

Step-back up.

With head high up with pride.

On to the next ball-game.