10

Mr Patel explained that the two other teams booked all the gym time for the season, so we were gonna have to make do with the LEFTOVERS. I didn't understand how we were supposed to play basketball when we didn't have a HOOP, but Mr Patel said that we were gonna start with the fundamentals and work up to shooting later on. We did some dribbling drills, and then moved on to passing. But, with all the tables set up in the hall, there wasn't a lot of room to move around. So half of us had to go on the stage, which was set up for a kindergarten play. 100

帕特尔先生说，另外两支队伍包下了这整季体育馆的所有时段，我们只能用剩下的边角时间。 我本来还纳闷，连篮筐都没有怎么打篮球，可帕特尔先生说我们先从基础练起，之后再练习投篮。 我们先练了运球，接着又练习了传球。 可是大厅摆满了桌子，我们根本没多少活动空间。 所以我们一半人只能去给幼儿园话剧搭好的舞台上练习。 100

Even though we were trying our hardest, Mr Patel was getting frustrated we weren't picking things up more quickly. And every time one of us made a mistake he'd make us run sprints to the other side of the hall. But that just made us tired, so we made even MORE mistakes. And after a while everyone except Preet was running sprints. TWEET PUFF PUFF Personally, I don't think coaches should use running as a punishment, because all it does is make kids hate to run. 101

尽管我们已经拼尽全力，帕特尔先生还是很着急，觉得我们动作学得太慢。 我们谁只要一犯错，他就让我们冲刺跑到大厅另一头。 可这样只会把我们累垮，错也就犯得更多了。 没过多久，除了普里特，所有人都在来回冲刺了。 嘀——呼哧 呼哧 我个人觉得教练不该把跑步当惩罚，因为这只会让小孩讨厌跑步。 101

And I doubt the track coach forces his team to play BASKETBALL whenever they're slacking. The thing I hate the most about running is that it makes you SWEAT. My theory about sweat is that it's your body's way of telling you you're working too hard, and you need to take it easy. But when I shared my thoughts with Mr Patel he just made me run more sprints. 102

而且我敢说，田径教练肯定不会在队员偷懒时，逼他们去打篮球。 我最讨厌跑步的一点就是，跑步会出一身汗。 我对出汗的看法是，这是身体在告诉你练太狠了，该歇一歇了。 可我把想法告诉帕特尔先生后，他反倒让我多跑了好几个冲刺。 102

When I got into the car after practice, Mom wanted to hear all about it. I told her how our team was basically just Preet and a bunch of B-Team players, so we weren't gonna be any good this season. But Mom said I'd probably get a lot of playing time on this team, which got me WORRIED. Every kid dreams about hitting the big shot to win the game for their team, but there's a FLIP side. And that's being the person who blows it. 83 HOME 84 AWAY CLANG 00:00 UNGH! 103

训练结束我坐上车，妈妈就问我训练的所有情况。 我告诉她，我们队基本就是普里特加一群二队替补，这赛季肯定打不好。 可妈妈说，在这个队我能有很多上场机会，这话反倒让我慌了。 每个小孩都梦想投进制胜球帮队伍赢球，但这件事还有另一面。 那一面就是，你也有可能变成搞砸比赛的人。 主队 83 客队 84 哐当 00:00 呃啊！ 103

There's a guy in my town named Anthony Grow, and twenty years ago he missed a kick at an empty net and lost a game against Slacksville, who's our town's biggest rival. BOOT And now he can't go anywhere without people reminding him about it. SALAD BARK 104

我们镇上有个叫安东尼·格罗的人，二十年前他面对空门没踢进，输给了我们最大的对手斯莱克斯维尔镇队。 砰 现在他不管去哪，都有人拿这事提醒他。 哗啦哐 104

If I was Anthony, I'd just move to Slacksville, because over there he's a HERO. "The Miss" I made the mistake of telling Mom how I was worried about messing up like Anthony Grow, and she told me a story that made me feel even MORE nervous about things. Mom had been the backup point guard on her middle-school basketball team, and in the championship game the regular point guard got HURT. So, with the score tied in the fourth quarter, Mom had to go in and take her place. 105

如果我是安东尼，我干脆搬到斯莱克斯维尔住了，因为在那儿他是英雄。 “那一失” 我不该跟妈妈说我担心自己像安东尼一样搞砸，结果她讲了个故事，反倒让我更紧张。 妈妈当年是她初中篮球队的替补控卫，冠军赛那天，首发控卫受伤了。 所以第四节比分打平的时候，妈妈只能上场顶替她。 105