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SoCal High School & Prep Report

A Word About Where We've Been--(January 10, 1998)

You haven't seen any new Daily Articles from SoCalHoops since last Monday.

There's a reason for that.

We have not abandoned SoCalHoops.

But we were forced to slow down the pace of the daily articles.

Here's why:

Since Tuesday of last week I've been in the hospital.

You see, on Wednesday morning, I experienced what I and my physicians all thought (until Friday evening at least) was a sort of "cardiac" incident. ER room stuff. Got put into a Cardiac Care Unit. Initially it looked serious, but it turned out to be a "wake-up call". No myocardial infarction, no heart attack, and after undergoing an angiogram on Friday evening, I was given a clean bill of health (well almost clean. . . gotta watch what I eat, keep my blood pressure down, and get back to my "normal" exercise routine of road bike riding of 150-200 miles per week).

After having enough tests and enough needles stuck in me for a lifetime, I was greatly relieved to hear from my cardiologists that my arteries are clear and that I did not have a heart attack.

But the whole experience did scare the crap out of me. And an angiogram (during which a cardiologist inserts a catheter into your femural artery and up into your heart --while you're awake--in order to determine whether there are any blockages, and if so whether you need an angioplasty --the balloon-- or bypass surgery) is not something I would recommend for light recreation. May be great for clinical study, but its just not as much fun as, say watching the Lakers pummel the Clippers. Nope, not really fun stuff. Critical and necessary yes, but not pleasant.

The whole incident was scary enough to make me know that I've got to change a few things and reprioritize what I do and what's important in my life.

I won't go into all the details now of how I ended up in the hospital, but suffice it to say that I will not be drinking double lattes at three in the morning any longer; I will not deprive myself of much needed sleep in order cover all the games and tournaments in SoCal. There are newspapers and wire services who cover most of the scores, and you can get them there. I will not be having any more PAC's (that's short for "premature atrial contractions" for those of you who aren't physicians) which can be induced by too much caffeine, not enough rest and way too much stress.

Nope I won't be doing that any more.

If that means I can only turn out two or three articles a day, then so be it.

If it means SoCalHoops only covers two of twenty tournaments, then that's life in the city.

If you want to see your own tournaments up in lights, so to speak, then send in a story or report yourself, or put it up on the message board, because there just aren't enough of us here to go around to cover it all, and there aren't enough hours in the day either.

SoCalHoops will continue to have daily "features" and articles of some of the more noteworthy players, coaches, teams, and tournaments (and some not so important) and if we can continue to pump out more than a few daily articles we will do so. But we will not sacrifice our health (or anyone else's) in the process.

Those who know me, will understand that in addition to being a sort of manic-compulsive person, I'm also a pretty avid cyclist who usually rides about 12,000 miles a year (yes, that's right, 12,000 miles--about 35 miles average per day, not including the days off, more on weekends). I'm a member of the Los Angeles Wheelmen, the San Fernando Valley Bicycle Club, and other assorted organizations; I ride on the road (and infrequently off road) with some large groups of riders, including the La Grange riders, the SFVBC "renegades" and my favorite group from Studio City (with the "Dutchman", "Flash" and "My Man" Fred). I have regularly finished the LA Wheelmen's Double Century (that's 200 miles in one day) for the last 7 years running, and I'd like to still be around to do it for many more years to come. And every year I train for and finish the great Solvang Century ride which takes place during the first weekend in March every year--- 100 miles starting in Solvang going through the Lompoc, Santa Maria and Santa Ynez Valleys-- really spectacular. But all that riding and fitness takes time. If you want to ride long distances, you have to train. And that takes time out on the road, not in front of a computer. And I don't intend to give up the road riding. Especially if it means that if I do, I end up in a cardiac care unit. Nope, not me.

So it's time to once again re-prioritize a few things.

And as more than an aside or a "by the way", for those kids who play basketball, and are looking for another sport to relieve the boredom or "burnout" that sometimes comes from being in a gym all day, I would highly recommend riding a road bike. Or a mountain bike. But actually I think a road bike is safer (yeah even with the traffic--it's safer than going over a cliff or down a rocky hill). It relieves stress, builds both anaerobic and aerobic fitness, helps with weight control, builds incredibly strong quads and calves, and builds endurance. And unlike running, it's relatively stress free on your feet and knees. Just ask Bill Walton. It's what kept him fit while he was having those foot problems. Great sport, and it fits well with all the endurance needed for basketball too.

But for the last few months, I've been neglecting my road riding (almost completely--riding almost only on weekends and then only for very short little rides) in order to concentrate on all the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday tournaments. And then there's also my work ( yeah, I really do have a job, and one which has it's own stress-- I'm a trial lawyer). And then there's just the everyday, "normal" stress of family, kids (whose basketball teams I also coach), friends, and "stuff". Too many things to do, too much to focus on, not enough time, not enough exercise, no free time.

Shake well, mix, stir, and you have a recipe for an "almost" cardiac incident.

Fortunately mine was just a wake up call.

But now that I've had the call, and since I can't be in all places at once, it's time to re-priortize.

So, first things first.

Health, family, work, and then, and only then, SoCalHoops.

Don't worry. There will still be new daily articles at SoCalHoops. It's just that we're going to be a bit more selective in what we write ourselves, and will depend upon our correspondents for more and more assistance than in the past. You know, people like Jason Day, and Pat McKinney. And the many others who contribute to SoCalHoops.

So here's our new motto: "Everything in Moderation; including moderation."

We're still here, so keep the faith.

Jerry Gale
SoCalHoops