Basketball System

WE just got it today! Our new basketball system. Before this very moment, we were playing on a ratty old hoop without even a net. It was angled downward, and the backboard was loose, so that you couldn't even get a decent shot. To beat that, the hoop was too high. But this new one is awesome.

It is called the pro shot dominator, and has everything to make an awesome game. It is mounted in the ground, not hanging on some ratty pole filled with concrete like the last one, and up to industry standards. You could even dunk on this – no problem. I love basketball, but before now, I couldn't play at home.

I'd go to the park and use the basketball system there, but it was hard to even get in for a game. There were always older kids there, hogging the equipment. They'd usually play 21 or some kind of pick up, but if you were much younger than them, they wouldn't let you play unless you were very good. My brother was the only one they'd let play who wasn't in high school. John – that's my brother – is the center for our middle school basketball team.

He's huge for his age – as tall as a high schooler, and he can really take up the lane when he plays. But unlike some centers, the man can dribble as well. I've seen it. He can handle the ball like a point guard. And He's only in 7th grade, but he can practically slam dunk on a basketball system.

I think he's going to be a professional some day, but he wants to do something else. He was thinking of being a writer like our mom. She writes articles about current events and politics, but he wants to write about sports. He loves playing basketball, even with the older kids, but especially on our new basketball system. The other day, he had a group of friends over, and they played until late in the evening. They even let me join.

I scored 8 points in the first game, which wasn't bad at all. We ended up losing, but we played a good game, and after it, he carried me around on his shoulders and bragged to all of his friends how his little brother was one day going to be a basketball star. I didn't believe it, but it felt good to be the center of attention like that and it always feels good to know that my big brother believes in me.