5 Things you can do to pass the time during the NBA Lockout

By: Ethan Brisby

Usually during the time between the World Series and Spring Training the Monday-Friday sports scene is dominated by NBA basketball. Well, this year the NBA Players Association and the NBA Team Owners are in the middle of a quagmire also known as a Lockout. For the die hard NBA fan and even the active casual fan, this is leaving a void in your entertainment selection. Here are five alternatives to consider instead of just watching other media productions in place of the NBA. 

1. Play a few pick up games of your own

If you are able, this is a great time to go out to a local court two or three times a week and show off your skills or lack thereof. Guys and girls across the country are still playing basketball, and you should be in that group too. Love the game and not the players. In 10 years when there is a whole new crop of superstars in the League, the game will still consist of throwing a ball in a hoop with the team scoring the most points considered the winner. If it’s been a while since you’ve played ball be sure to stretch and do not over do it the first few times. Playing ball is a good stress reliever.

2. Visit family

If you are anything like me, you grew up visiting grandma and grandpa quit often, but as life has evolved times have changed and the visits are a bit less frequent. Use the time you would be watching NBA on TV to visit relatives. If your family is in other regions of the country or the world consider a weekly Skype conversation. Take some time to just be human and talk to people who love you. Ask about their childhood, get some good advice, or talk about whatever is your fancy. Have meaningful conversations not just your everyday “How’s the weather?” The point here is to spend time with the people who have had your back before you  heard the name Lebron James.  

3. Read a book

This is my favorite alternative. I am partial to educational and self-help books, but if a good thrilling novel is your thing then by all means pick one up and read, read, read. Consider this: each televised NBA game lasts about two hours. Think about what two hours twice a week reading in solitude will do for your sense of calmness and peace. I do not know about you, but just like Redbull, reading gives me wings. If you do not have an in-home library, visit your public library, find a good book, and check it out. Read about finances, because there is an old saying about wealthy people, “The only difference between rich and poor is what the rich know.”  Another suggestion is to read a biography or learn about a foreign country which interests you. Only you can decide what kind of books you want to read, but whatever you decide, there is a plethora of options waiting for you.

4. Visit a coffee shop or winery with friends

I recently discovered the enlightening moments you can have while sitting in a coffee shop or winery with like minded friends. The mood in these places is usually already set for great ideas, in-depth conversations, or connecting with new people. It may cost you $4 for a good cup of coffee or $7 for a glass of wine. Hopefully you can handle that tab even if you are not in the 1%. Try inviting different groups of friends to a coffee or wine night and see how they mesh in such an open ended environment.

5. Explore the internet

Obviously if you are reading this you are connected just like more than half the world today. The internet is becoming the world’s pastime. I don’t know if that is a good or bad thing, but I believe in Darwinism, so I believe you should stay up with the times. Just like with choosing which book to read, the internet will present such a wide array of options it will depend solely on you what you decide to discover and explore. Personally, I have about 10-20 websites I visit in any given month and 3-5 that I visit everyday. But this thing is not called the World Wide Web for nothing! I implore you to explore. Discover the rich learning resource YouTube can be for you, let Wikipedia take you on a journey click by click, allow Google to tickle your learning nerve, or just categorize your Twitter followers with the List option. We are talking about two hours twice weekly here; the opportunities are endless. Whatever you think your fancy is, relearn yourself and use the internet as your guide.

The idea behind this article is to upgrade you just like the Players and Owners are seeking to do as a result of their standoff. This is why it it important to use at least half the time you would have been using to watch NBA to invest in yourself. After all this is what your favorite players are doing right now. They are negotiating a 10-year deal that will hopefully benefit them and those in their players or owners fraternity to follow. Get in the game, and if you are already in the game better position yourself on the chess board to become your own King.