|
|
The stories are the reward.
The message
is the discipline of the pursuit.
|
| |
WARNING: This project was not created to encourage people to
travel around the globe shooting hoops (although it is rather
fun).
We
want to challenge ourselves to
utilize the
experiences and knowledge
we've gained
through travel,
relationships,
work,
life...and
basketball to inspire
and excite others to follow their dreams and make them a reality.
|
 |
|
|
How It All Came About… SHOOT THE BALL is the culmination
of conventional things that one or both of us have a passion
for, but don't necessarily claim to be good at, put together
in an unconventional format: TRAVELING, WRITING, PHOTOGRAPHY
& BASKETBALL.
The initial goal of
the project was nothing more than "let's just see what happens!"
|
| |
 |
The project began one hot Las Vegas afternoon, May 2001, and
is described by some as a carefree couple (married twelve
years in fact!) traveling around the world with a basketball;
yes, the same basketball. Although THE BALL is ours,
along with a hoop that we sometimes take with us, the people
that we meet along the way are the shooters.
Initially we took a week here and a few days there traveling
to different locations and asking people to SHOOT THE BALL.
We simply wanted to see how people reacted to our request.
Quite simply, the response was moving and powerful!!!
|
| |
People were so
upbeat and encouraging that we decided to try it full time, or
at least until our money ran out. With great optimism we quit
our jobs (something we suggest everyone does at least once in
their lifetime!) in June 2002 and took (what ended up being) a
year off to take the Project for a major test run throughout
Canada and the United States.
Road
Trip!!!
|
| |
Since then we have taken many trips over many months and are
currently on another year long journey. We often show up completely unannounced to schools, universities,
playgrounds, private homes and anywhere else that had a hoop
and someone to shoot. We
have gone so far as to lug around a regulation size hoop in the
back of our truck, driving all the way up to the Arctic Circle
where the one other person who was crazy enough to be there,
shot THE BALL!
No matter
where we go, we bring with us a genuine interest in meeting people and learning
about different cultures and communities. |
 |
| |
|
|
| |
 |
We have
expanded the Game Plan beyond this web site with a formal presentation
we offer to schools and other community organizations.
What we do appears to be outside "the box",
the tools we use to attain our goals are definitely inside
"the box"; discipline,
persistence, passion,
love and commitment.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
THE
BALL is used as the focal point in classroom presentations.
We speak about an appreciation of cultural diversity and of
course, encourage everyone to pursue their own dreams and
passions.
|
 |
| |
|
|
| |
 |
We will
continue to explore
our potential, not just with basketball & travelling,
but as good- will
ambassadors
for the
United States and Canada.
As THE BALL visits more places over the years
to come, we will continue to share our experience and aim
towards bringing
SHOOT THE BALL to a hoop near you!
|
| |
|
|
| |
It is not about focusing on what we don’t have; it is about understanding what we do have…and sharing it with others. |
| |
|
