Age gracefully? I don't think so.

So today I'm going to brag a bit. I played basketball again with the young guys at lunch. A few are in their 40's, but most are in the 23 to 37 range, or about 20 to 34 years younger than me. I can't move quite as fast as some of them, but I defend pretty well and make a shot every once in a while. After 6 months of playing full court basketball - 3 hours a week - I'm now, acording to the young guys, "in damn good shape for an old man".



Not sure when I decided this, but I have no intention of aging gracefully. I'll be kicking and screaming - but smiling - all the way to the grave. No old man golf carts for me. No way I'm going to be out of breath after two flights of stairs. Relaxed fit jeans? No way! I'm working on getting my waist down to - not college size - high school size.

One of my role models is the weathered old guy - probably 70 - who last year zoomed past me half way up Arizona's Peralta Trail on the way to Weaver's Needle. Another is Ken Mink, the 73 year old guy now playing college basketball. If they can Just Do It! after 7 decades, then why shouldn't I as well?

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/8710842?MSNHPHCP&GT1=39002




Ken Mink is living his college hoops dream at the age of 73. (Saul Young/Knoxville News Sentinel / Special to FOXSports.com)