Chasing Brian Dowling

I didn’t have any real interaction with Brian during our Yale years.  He was, of course, a star.  I was a lowly hacker-type athlete, blessed with size enough to play in high school but not gifted enough for intercollegiate athletics. Happily, the intermural programs gave me an outlet for some play and for some exercise.

So imagine my delight when, one day, we were playing in the 5th floor gym, and Brian played on the other team.  A rebound came off our rim and Brian caught it, turned and started to dribble up the floor, setting up his offensive attack.

Unbeknownst to him, I was right behind him.  “Aha,” I thought.  “I’ll run him down from behind, slap the ball out from under his dribble and create a turnover.”   He was only a half step ahead of me.  This should be easy.

I never caught him.   He was dribbling.  I was running unencumbered.  And by the time we got up-court, he was two steps further ahead.

No wonder he could scramble so well on the football field.  He was deceptively — but blindingly — FAST.  Even in a pickup game of basketball!