Time Management

Before my current writing life, there was The Hilltop, Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form.

From The Hilltop Archives

Originally published in The Hilltop, Howard University — March 28th, 2003

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Time Management

March Madness and Spring Break in the same week; it doesn't get any better.

 

Well, actually, I can think of one thing that could top the first two rounds of non-stop NCAA basketball, which is, of course, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Tournament.

 

The same weekend the NCAA tournament commenced, the IHSA state basketball tournament began. NCAA basketball had to take the back burner because my high school made it down state.

 

I had to support them.

 

I guess it's because they never went down state in my four years; but I am not bitter.

 

Their performance wasn't the issue, because they played hard, yet lost to Peoria Central in the semifinals. It's the game and the high school rules that are suspect.

 

My high school and other schools had every chance to pull off a win, but the ball stayed at only one end of the floor. 

 

With eight-minute quarters and no shot clock, the team with the lead usually held the ball and played keep away to secure the win. 

 

I saw teams with three-point leads and three minutes and some change control the ball and the clock.

 

Whoa, that takes the fun out of basketball.

 

The five-second rule is the only rule that prevents teams from standing stationary with the ball; it keeps the ball moving. 

 

Right...

 

High school basketball games need shot clocks.

 

Danny Biasone didn't invent the 24-second shot clock for nothing. He saw that the game needed changing, and as owner of the Syracuse Nationals, he and GM Leo Ferris came up with the idea for a shot clock during the 1954-55 season.

 

Immediately, scoring rose from an average of 79.5 points per game to 93.1.

 

Even the NCAA has a 35-second shot clock.

 

Why are high schools so special that they don't need shot clocks?

 

I can understand. There are only eight-minute quarters, but hell, it's high school basketball; they aren't five year olds who don't know the game.

 

These are athletes. Even with a 40-second shot clock a team can create something.

 

Some athletes, I am not dropping names, go straight to the pros.

 

Where's the preparation?

 

If high school prepares students academically for college, then why can't high school train basketball players for the NCAA and possibly the NBA with a shot clock?

 

Let's face it; western culture is about time management. 

If there weren't the urgency to accomplish goals within a desired time, how would we ever know when our time here is up?