Anyone familiar with Murphy’s Law knows the saying goes, ‘what can go wrong will’. So of course I get the ‘deathbed flu’ right at the most crucial moment of my Turkish Basketball League season. We won 10 games in a row, and had our final 2 of the regular season. We were matched against the first and second place teams respectively. If we won these 2 games, we would finish the season in 1st place with home court advantage throughout the playoffs. We would also have a mental edge on all of the teams, knowing that we had swept through the 2nd half of the season without a single loss. Not to mention a pretty nice bonus as well.

Needless to say, Murphy’s law was in accordance with this time period, and as I already mentioned, I was ravaged with the ‘Turkish flu’ that had me with a terrible, no, make that horrendous cough along with a fatigue that had me feeling like I was in the morgue.

Because of my commitment to the team, my desire to finish in 1st place, my overall toughness, and the implied pressure to play, I played in the last 2 games. The overseas solution to ‘even though you’re so sick you’re dying’ is an intravenous solution of electrolytes, vitamins, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and I’m sure something else I’m leaving out. Due to the fact that these were away games, the team had a doctor come provide an IV in the hotel.

The way the solution was rigged-up was hilarious, because it was a big glass bottle that was taped to the light fixture. I was paranoid the entire time that it would fall down and rip the needle out of my arm. Let us not forget that Murphy’s Law was in affect at this time. It reared it’s head in another way, however. I had to use the bathroom. And when I say I had to go, there was just no holding it for an hour and a half slow-drip IV. One of my teammates had to hold the bottle for me while I went. How embarrassing? I guess I should be glad that it wasn’t number 2, if you get my drift. 

So I played in the game and we lost. Not because I was sick, but because it was Fenerbahce, the first place team who, along with 2nd place Samsun, seems to be our nemesis that we have yet to conquer.

I was feeling better in the last game against Samsun, but by this time other members of the team were infected. We weren’t 100%. There are other reasons for the loss, I’m sure our coach will attest to, but I guess it’s better to lose now than in the playoffs.

We finished the regular season in 3rd place and we match-up with our neighborly rivals Tarsus for the first round. We still have confidence that we may win the championship so stay tuned for playoff updates.

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