Daughter dresses for court success

There's nothing like a little dribbling to make you feel good about life.

That and a pair of surgical scrubs can make you feel mighty fine.

The Harlem Globetrotters were in town the other night. Joni and I took the kids to see the kings of round-ball comedy.

Bailey and I were entered in a halftime contest in which we had to don surgical scrubs and dribble a basketball across the Show Me Center court. The team that donned the scrubs and raced across the court the quickest would win the three-team event.

Bailey and I won the contest. Thankfully, we didn't have to get the ball in the hoop. My shot's a little rusty, and Bailey is just now learning to play basketball.

But with Bailey, it was the rush-to-get-dressed thing that really stood out in the competition.

I was shocked to see our 8-year-old get dressed that fast.

Bailey is slow to get dressed on school days. Finding an outfit and putting on a shirt and pants can take Bailey a long time.

Precious minutes tick off the clock as we routinely encourage our second-grader to get ready for school. Even after she has managed to climb into a shirt and pants, she still has to find a pair of socks and locate her favorite tennis shoes.

That takes time, too.

Bailey doesn't believe in hurrying. "Come on, Bailey. You're going to be late," we constantly tell her.

Still, she takes her time.

She often gets distracted, wanting to take time to tell us some story or play with our dog, Cassie.

So I figured there was no way she would quickly put on surgical scrubs. But she did, in front of over 2,500 people.

Maybe that's the problem at home. She just needs a crowd to play to.

On court, she was motivated. I just wish I could get that kind of speed out of her when she's getting ready for school.

Bailey is just starting to pick up the basics of basketball. But she's a quick learner. She made a couple of baskets in her first game Saturday.

At the beginner level, just getting introduced to the crowd is a big deal. Players wear colored wrist bands so they know who to guard on the other team.

The player with the green wrist band, for example, matches up with the player on the other team who sports the same colored wrist band.

Parents constantly yell encouraging advice like "Get your hands up."

When anyone scores, it's an occasion for applause from the whole crowd. No one worries about the score.

The referees took time to explain just why they blew their whistles when a player double dribbled or stepped on the base line.

In this faith-based league, there's a prayer before each game.

The kids all have sporty uniforms. Even second-graders like to look good when they're on the court.

There's no contest here. As parents, we all think our kids are adorable whether they score or not.

For Bailey and her teammates, it's not about competition. It's all about the game and having fun.

I just wish Bailey would be inspired with the same feeling when it comes to getting dressed for school.

Maybe Joni and I should install a basketball goal in her room. Maybe then getting dressed would be a slam dunk.

Mark Bliss is a staff writer for the Southeast Missourian.