THE ANATOMY OF A GOAL
It was my 6th grade year of elementary school and I was the new kid who just moved back to New Mexico. I was young for my grade because an intake test I took in Blythe, California 4 years earlier decided I should be in the 2nd grade instead of 1st when my family relocated to the desert town in Death Valley. I think the decision was due to the fact my Mom taught 3rd grade at the school and also in lieu of my abnormal height for a 6 year old. But back to 1991 where a large, shy, scared shitless 10 year old at Turquoise Trail Elementary, is trying out for the “A” squad basketball team with goals of being the starting post player and hoping he makes a friend or two.
Not surprisingly, I bombed.
Didn’t make the team. Didn’t make a friend or two.
I must have been more upset than I was prepared for because all I remember is crying. Overcome by emotion from the let down of this event that was so important to a new kid in the throws of a new school and losing a chance to desperately claim purpose and identity amongst inscrutable peers and mysterious hallways. We all make and miss micro goals throughout our day-to-day lives and I had surely missed hundreds of these miniscule goals in my young lifetime, but looking back this was one of the first memories where I failed to meet a BIG goal.
Isn’t the concept of goal setting one of the most crucial abstractions our minds can humanly fathom? Isn’t taking active steps to achieve a desired outcome just about all we do, every day, all day, to try and navigate this maddening mystery of who we are? Don’t we succeed and fail many times throughout each day as these micro goals oscillate with our most mundane and deepest desires, and don’t the big goals fuel our purpose while motivating us to be the best version of ourselves we can be? Lastly, don’t these manifestable goals closely resemble a basketball stanchion with its many possible configurations and outcomes?
When you break it down the parallels are nearly perfect.
A backboard. The foundation or backbone of the goal to which all else relies upon to remain level, upright, active and attached to.
A rim. The action potential for measuring the success and failure of our goals.
A net. The outcome is the physical manifestation of action in pursuit of our goals.
In the same way our goals change and shift so do the shapes and options of a backboard. There’s the material to consider. Some are fiberglass and flimsy for simple home use. Others are hyphenated shapes of a square, with curved tops and hexagonal bottoms made of steel to withstand decades of wear and tear at the local park. But all hoopers know when it comes to the gold standard of goal setting, nothing beats a square, glass, backboard to give that sweet silhouette we all long to kiss a shot off. From the short wing. Like Tim Duncan.
The specificity of a rim is the greatest variable to any set up. Single or double rim, fixed or breakaway, soft or rigid, new or broke in. This cylindrical target of orange commands the attention of every goal maker the second they release the action potential of their basketball shot. Do they aim for the middle of the target, or maybe to the back of the rim, allowing a tangible mark to lock their eyes to? Or do they lean into the consistency of the aforementioned, foundational, objective backboard to soften the action and give a wider berth for success when their goal derives from the paint? Like any worthwhile goal, a true baller prefers one that has softened with experience. A breakaway, single rim with a spring loaded action that has felt the weight of a thousand action potentials clanging and hanging onto it, tenderizing the rigid nature of iron in hopes of aiding our prefered outcome.
An unsung hero of goal making and taking is undoubtedly the net. You’d think the decision is as easy as nylon or chain depending on an indoor or outdoor goal, but that’s just the beginning. The durability of a chain net makes a lot of sense in the realm of goal making longevity, but what does that abrasive metal webbing do to our basketball’s synthetic siding? Over the years the wear and tear on our goals action’s age and mar, possibly discouraging us to setting loftier goals, not to mention we exchange the sweet sound of a swish for the warbling rattle that metal makes. Where a simple nylon net does provide the serenade we all hope to hear, what happens if our goal lands just a little to the left or right? Does the nylon’s follow through tangle on its action potential and force our next goal to appear disorderly and thus, more difficult. Or did we use a quality, heavy cotton with a purposeful twist at the top of each connecting loop, ensuring that as our goals are met we never tangle the outcome to the rim, but forfeit that whip-snap sounding swish for a deeper baratone of a swoosh. How does this tactile choice shape us in preparing for our goals?
Yes indeed, the parallels are endless. As art imitates life and life imitates art, I continue to find the art of hoop to be a meditative mirror of moments, hardships, triumphs and dynamics that we find in our increasingly modern times. So whenever a goal is not met (like me in the 6th grade), and disappointment creeps in, just remember you can get to your spot, adjust your trajectory, and kiss it off the glass to get back on track. You got this.Week 3 Recap: Season 9, Fall ‘26
“The League”
The meaninglessness of rec basketball was on full display as week 3 kicked off and Team Irrelevant showed their extraneous skill level while contemplating the purpose of existence and if it’s even relevant in an immaterial world behind Isaac “Aristotle” Shanley and his 42 pts, 10 rips, 2 dimes and 2 swipes to lead the unmattering over Silent Storm 86-64. The silencing of the storm continued for the cloudless snowflakes, but not before Bailey “Bale O’ Hay” Lozada-Cabbage rained down a double double of his own with 20 pts and 10 rebs, sprinkling in 3 dimes and 2 steals for the shushed thunder.
The cappuccino machine was frothing for those Bev’s Ballers once again as they whipped up on the immoral Degenerates 86-75 thanks to some refreshing cold brew from Lukas “The Kid” Turner and his stat line of 33 pts, 9 rips, 6 dimes, 1 steal, and a ‘Tumbo. For the debaucherous bunch, Cameron “Cam” Quintana had a sweet little game while shooting perfect from the floor as he garnered 14 pts, 6 rebs, 3 dimes and a ‘Tumbo despite his squad of deviants remaining in the declining column.
Certain style points mean more than others and Tuesday night felt like a fashion show for Santa Fe’s trend setters as they trounced a good Team Nuevo with fancy hats, colored handkerchiefs and pleated pants and shit. The runway was modeled with talent but the best cheekbones of this night belonged to Isaiah “Zay” Serrano as he strutted his way to 37 pts, 2 rebs and 6 dimes. For our vanguardistas, Marcus “You Cussin’ With Me” Williams did manage a modern 28 pts, 3 rebs and a dime but this game got old real quick as neither team opted for an Elam as to squelch the bleeding. Final score, Santa Fe Style wins 106-70.
A mob came up against a swarm in the 8 o’clock game and the syndicated ones blasted through the stings and breeze in the getaway car 83-71 with Ben “Big Ugly” Ellsworth providing the melee on 34 pts, 13 rips, 4 dimes and a ‘Tumbo. Foul play stung the bees throughout the contest but Brian “What Up B” Fairchild was crystal as aged honey as he collected 20 pts, 11 rebs and a theft in the loss. Final score, Mob 83, Killer Bees 71.
Once an athlete, always an athlete for those love handles and beer bellied gents of a generation ago was the theme in our late game as Alex “The Dread” Gutierrez was moving like a father of three at the playground, amassing 20 pts, 15 rips, 7 dimes and a swipe for Dad Bods in an emphatic 111-74 absolute twamping over Heat Wave. It was a sweaty hello kind of game as the not cold, taxi hailers couldn’t find the defense against your grandma’s ground game this night, but did get a decent 28 pts and 3 rebs from Jonathan “Big Easy” Ealey in the 74-111 loss.
“The Other League”
In “The Other League” Integrated Project Solutions decided it was time to figure some shit out as they clicked the offense into gear and projected a century mark on Amazon’s timely delivery patrons that worship Deion, 101-93. Our figure outters of merged projects were paced by Jordan “The Dude” Duda with 37 pts, 6 rips and 3 dimes, while Prime Time got a neon bright performance from Ruben “On Rye” Salas as he sandwiched together 22 pts, 9 rebs, 2 dimes and 3 thefts in the defeat.
What a final we got between Rim Job Kings and Pick Up Legends, as Elam Ending provided some theatrics down the stretch with both sides playing inspired ball but in the end those streetball, call your own fouls, legends of the fall managed to eek out a one point win 85-84. It was a concerted team effort that pulled off the win with Owen “Hit Man” Henkel putting together an all around gem of a game with 15 pts, 15 boards, 2 dimes, and 3 thefts to power the hoisting heros. For the royal rim protectors, Anthony “Ant” Salcido put together a stellar 33 pts, 3 reb, 1 dime shift on the job but couldn’t find that last bucket down the stretch to propel the aristocracy to pleasure town.
When you call in a togo order from the Fe make sure you dial that 505 first, measure the amount of units needed for consumption and enjoy. That was the recipe Wednesday night as those area coded pillars pulled out a victory over Blakes Lottabuckets 67-60. A nicely balanced, unified attack provided valuable for the dialers of doom but boasting the best barbell increment was Steven “Loco” Lovato with 11 pts, 10 rips, 6 dimes and a theft. On the double meat and cheese patty side of the ball Isaac “Green Chile” Shanley was spicing up the joint with a 29 pt, 12 reb, 1 assist, 3 theft performance in the, as close as the pinstripes on his uniform defeat.
It’s early in the season but a certain standard is being met at levels we have not seen before. With yet another big win those criterion critters are establishing benchmarks on backboards like batman in Gotham. Playing Bruce Wayne in disguise was Emmanuel “The Immaculate” Gutierrez as he manufactured 16 pts and 21 rips for a broad double double night. Matching that energy for the orange and cheap shop therapy hoop heads was Jeremiah “Reezy” Jacquez and his near doublé line of 19 pts, 9 rebs, 5 dimes and 2 steals.
With harvest season upon us, we honor our local sacred bounty with a traditional corn dance led by the Zia pueblo people and their dominance over a depleted crop of nothing but nets that closed out “The Other League” action in a 76-59 beating. Creating the most four sided anomalies was Joe “What’d Ya Know” Najera and his 20 piece, 5 reb, 4 dime, a swipe and a swat line to lead the harvesting. For those that want for not but net, Justin “Chill” Trujillo doubled his networth with 19 pts, 10 rebs and 4 dimes on the side.
“35+ League”
A choppy schedule hit the “35+ League” this week but we managed, as usual, to reschedule and get games on the books so we don’t squander any opportunities for teams that want to run. The elites of Santa Fe were one of the only teams organized and showing the first-class treatment to the original gangsters of northern New Mexico with a 60-52 squeaky, tight win. For the exclusive bunch Jeremy “Big Smooth” Romero had a team high 20 ball with 6 rips, 5 dimes and a steal. The g’s up gang got serious homeboy energy from Yordy “Number Juan” Soto as he extracted 24 pts, 15 boards, a dime, a theft and 5 ‘Tumbos in the loss.
The veterans of hoop held their head high as they single handedly saved our “35+ League” Thursday night and managed to twamp a team that claims to swish on every shot, 80-58. The general of bucket getting was Julio “Dizzee Rascal” Rascon with his stat line of 27 pts, 7 rebs, 1 dime and 2 thefts, pacing Los Vet’s march towards victory. For the swish only shooters they were a little off the mark this night but did get 18 pts, 3 rebs and a dime from Bryan “The Virtuous” Vigil in the Nothing But Nets third loss of the young season.
After a no show forfeit from IPS, Los Vets stepped in like the grizzled warriors they are to play back to back and give our superior pueblo sun worshippers a game. The battle-scarred old timers of war’s past fell short with a depleted roster 65-73, but not before winning our hearts with their ability to show up and show out. Speaking of vets, Zia Elite’s Oscar “Cap” Nuñez had himself a four sacred omens of a game with 32 pts, 2 boards, 5 dimes and a steal. Los heros got big game energy from Nan “The Now” Nourn as he perfected his cheddar ball and ended the game with a team high 15 pts, 5 rebs and an assist. Great effort from the Vets and superb game from the sun gods select squad to capture a win.
Respect the game, Santa Fe Swish
*Sorry for any grammatical errors. This was written by a human. On a computer. But still...MoStly HuMaN.
