The Spin Move

Four Square was played in the park yesterday with Purns, Sue, and Hammy and some others. As we were playing, people stopped to watch(they always do). One guy came up and said, “Are you playing Four Square?” And we replied, “Yes.” “I haven’t played Four Square in 30 years!”

(beat)

“Can I play?”

Of course! That’s what Four Square is all about. So he got in line. And preceded to tell me some stories of Four Square as a child. Apparently, there’s an off shoot version called Fast Break, or something like that. And that game is if you serve and the person isn’t there in time, they’re out. It’s counting on the fact that the next person in line will take their time entering the game.

He was a stickler. He was also against:

–balls on the line
–balls that were hit without bouncing
–balls that people carried

But here’s where I come to an important point. He also had some secret moves. Most of them were various spin moves. When it was first done, there was a huge exclamation from the players. We had never seen anything like that before. I imagine it was the sound that players made when MJ launched a dunk from the free throw line. It was that revolutionary.

However, if you start to dissect the spin move you’ll notice in order to perform it you have to hold it in your hands and give the ball a turn. And in order to do that, what are you doing but CARRYING the ball?!

So this MJ of Four Square was really violating his own rules. In this way, he wasn’t unlike the real MJ who always got all the calls but would make just as many fouls as all the rest of us. He just seemed special because of his spin move.

He also had a piece of corn or something on the side of his face which none of us had the heart to point out. I think many of us didn’t say anything because we were intimidated by his four square prowess and we were sort of happy he had that piece of corn stuck there. It showed he was human. And besides, that spin move is just a carry anyway.