While attending a recent Utah Jazz basketball game, I found myself cussing the referees as usual about their blindness and how on earth is it possible for three grown men that are being paid a lot of money for just being here to be worse officials that one might find at a junior jazz game anywhere throughout the state of Utah.
I was taught in my young life many years ago that traveling occurs when one takes too many steps without dribbling the ball, specifically one plus one is the way that I remember the rule. When I attend games now that still appears to be the rule but that rule ceases to be when one turns pro in the sport.
Midway through the game I got a text that said “isn’t five steps traveling?” and I had to reply evidently not, nor is six or seven steps. But sometimes during the game the rule applied and now I became confused, were they just selectively enforcing the rule or did it only apply in certain circumstances. I wasn’t sure but I pondered this dilemma for a while and it dawned on me.
I finally got it, I finally understand the rule. I finally understand when traveling is not necessarily traveling. It all appears to be based on intent. That is correct grasshopper, it is based on intent.
Specifically if one intentionally, or intends to, travel then that is not traveling but making ones way to the hoop. Likewise if you do not intend to travel but just unintentionally slide your feet or two-step then that is an actual travel. It is all so simple, it is not if you intend to do so but if you do not intend to do so then it is. Don’t believe me then just watch the next game.
After the game I got thinking what if life was this way, just imagine if life was determined by intent.
For example, speeding. Can you imagine this conversation, “I’m sorry officer but yes I was going faster the speed limit, I intended to go 15 miles an hour over the signs” to which the officer replied “I’m sorry I pulled you over since you intended to go that fast, have a nice day.” Try this the next to time you need to and see if it really works. I really doubt that it does but it is worth a shot and it might make them smile as they haul you off.
Or how about shopping, imagine this conversation “Well yes I intended to not pay for that item” or this conversation “Well, yes I knew the check was no good.” Either way the intent is there.
It is my best judgment that life will not follow the rules of professional basketball and it would be my suggestion to take a different route than trying to do so. Life’s rules can sometimes be bent but they have not been changed to conform to what would seem to be so simple, base it on intent. We in real life must base things on reality and not what puts on a show. That is good but the other way could be interesting.
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