Rayden has seen me play poorly against average to below average players (all of the players that play at 24 Hour Fitness) and has extrapolated that play (how I play) to Gery (he thinks Gery and I are similar both physically and mentally). What Rayden fails to realize is that I'm about 20 years past my playing prime*, so the way I now play is dissimilar to how I once played. Secondly, if he'd seen me and Gery playing in our youth (teens and twenties) against elite players (BLACKS THAT PLAYED COLLEGE BASKETBALL**) he'd change his mind. Lastly, I play down to the level of the competition. So, if I'm playing against mediocre players or worse (like all of the players that play at 24 Hour Fitness) I typically don't play as well as I can because I'm less challenged and less motivated (WHEN I PLAY AGAINST HIGHLY ATHLETIC, SKILLED BLACKS YOU GET A DIFFERENT VERSION OF ME). Anyway, after playing poorly this past Wednesday (06/17/26) a young G00K on my team (he was a decent player and led our team in scoring) said, "he doesn't play." I think my poor play and these videos https://www.youtube.com/@j.f.699 gave him that idea.
*And I don't play pickup games every day like I once did.
**That's the difference between me and the majority of guys that play in these videotaped pickup games. I have the athleticism and skillset to successfully compete against BLACKS THAT HAVE PLAYED COLLEGE BASKETBALL and I have successfully competed against BLACKS THAT HAVE PLAYED COLLEGE BASKETBALL. (Again, Rayden looks good against these NOBODIES (he's a good set-shooter), but he wouldn't be able to do half of what you see him doing in these videotaped games against BLACKS THAT HAVE PLAYED COLLEGE BASKETBALL. Why? because he doesn't have above average speed, quickness, and jumping ability.)
Speaking of blacks that play college basketball, I thought I encountered one this past Thursday (07/02/26) at the Kapiolani 24 Hour Fitness. I'm referring to the black boy above. He has above average speed, quickness, and jumping ability and can handle the ball and shoot the ball well (he reminds me of the black collegiate guards I've gone head-to-head with). However, he's not a black college basketball player. He's a black college football player (Josh Williamson - Football - Kennesaw State University Athletics). I haven't played well against him. He's outplayed me every time I've faced him. I don't have the same quickness, jumping ability, eye-hand coordination*, and stamina that I had in my youth. Anyway, the following is what he said under his breath and indirectly to me. "That's exactly what I was thinking...you didn't graduate...Mexican...missing teeth...shot him (or someone shot him)...LOSER..." I got the sense that Tai was waiting for me to anger and challenge him to a fight! That is, I got the sense that Tai may have wanted to squabble with a nigga!
0:06 That's him!
His game reminded me of my brother Gery's. Like Gery, he can get to the basket at will and get easy buckets (easy floaters, easy layups) but can also knock down shots from outside (Gery was a better shooter, however). That combination (the quickness to easily blow past defenders and the ability to consistently hit outside shots) is hard to guard.
*I've lost confidence in my shooting ability. I miss shot after shot.
"HE WEARS MAKEUP" - JOHNNY SAID THIS ABOUT ME UNDER HIS BREATH LAST WEDNESDAY (06/24/31) AROUND 6:30 PM AT THE KAILUA DISTRICT PARK GYMNASIUM. I DIDN'T GO THE KAILUA DISTRICT PARK GYMNASIUM TODAY (07/01/26) BECAUSE I WAS FATIGUED FROM NOT SLEEPING WELL LAST NIGHT (06/30/26) AND DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO A BUS PASS, SO I DIDN'T GET TO PLAY AGAINST JOHNNY AND REDEEM MYSELF (PLAY THE WAY I'M CAPABLE OF AND AVENGE MY PRIOR LOSSES)!
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Brandi Kaluhiwa
I have trouble making layups at my older playing age. I think it's because I become conscious of my movement and the fact that I'm attempting to make a layup prior to attempting to make a layup. When I was younger, I never gave any of this thought (I've become more self-conscious as I've gotten older). Do you understand? To perform a sport that requires instinctiveness and thus less conscious thought well, you must perform your movements and actions (e.g., running, ball handling, shooting, etc. if you're playing basketball) unconsciously. Once you become self-conscious and begin thinking about your movements and actions you perform far less effectively (an expert can transform into a novice).
Brandi Kaluhiwa
I liken it to having the YIPS when playing golf. You begin missing easy putts because you're placing too much pressure on yourself and becoming conscious of yourself (conscious of your thoughts, conscious of your movements, and conscious of your actions). (You're overthinking and becoming self-aware rather than allowing your unconscious mind to perform the action you've successfully performed countless times. I've got to come up with a word for missing easy layups due to being conscious of your movement. Maybe I'll call it the BRIX!)
Read about the non-conscious mind and sports performance!
