The Culture of Basketball

There are two cultures that divide and sometimes bring together the people of this area. The two sides are the traditional Natives and the basketball players. Not to say one cannot be a traditional Native playing basketball, but most often there are qualities and traits of both that don't transcend the other's boundary.

I was invited to play in my first ball game with a very traditional Native that's the father of one of my students. Never did I actually think hanging out with parents would be something that I would grow accustomed to, but it has. I get invited out fairly often by different parents to have a few drinks on the weekend.

Basketball here is nothing like what I am used to. Watching the games is a culture shock, playing is even more. We played two games today. Both games I was one of two white players, or Ka'ssaqs, playing. There were remarks made by other teams that would be considered by Jesse Jackson and the gang as "racially insensitive." I have no problem with getting heckled and never would, but I could only imagine if the tables were turned on the situation.

Anyways, we played a couple of tough games, the second lost in the last few moments. After my second game I headed back to shower up before going back to watch the semis. The only problem was the water man forgot to come this week so there was no water and I officially took my first (and hopefully last) sponge bath.

Watching the games is like watching the old time games that were played in the barns in the 1930's. Chaos is an understatement. This is the culture of basketball in Bethel.

The gym is in the armory. It's a smaller place with seating for 75. For most of the games the bleachers are packed along with people standing and sitting every place possible. There are kids walking on the court during the entire game. Tonight there were two little kids no older than 1 1/2 years with no shirts on going sumo style at half time. The players and fans use about every four letter word possible. There are few times down the court where they didn't argue a call; usually yelling at the ref about something. The games are similar to the bars back home. The guys do their best to impress the girls with the behind the back passes and alley oops. The girls put in the big ring earrings and dress their best hoping to meet their guy. There was a fan at the last game that was on the court yelling at different players and the refs. Nobody told him to leave. Players yell at fans, fans yell at players. I overheard one player saying that most of the players were high or drunk. Many times I think everything would erupt into brawl or riot. It was a great atmosphere.

In my first game, I learned the key to being successful is being dirty. Hooking an elbow and throwing a jab are expected. If you grab part of the arm without slapping you won't be called. I've never been dirty and I didn't start, but come the second game there was no way for me to get anything without scrapping at it against the other guys. As one of my former bumblebee coaches said, "This is caveman ball!"

I'm not a dirty player, but up here it's a requirement. Hustling is nothing that is expected. Playing stuckholl defense (when you just sit under your basket while the rest of the team plays defense and you wait for a long bomb) is very common. Walking up and down the court, not contesting shots happens a lot.

I guess I'm not sure which way to go. Keep playing the way pops taught me to or commit to the Native culture.