Why do adults act like children, when it comes to competing in sports events? And, I won't even get started on when they watch their 8-year-olds play little league.

I stopped playing basketball, because of the amount of idiots I'd have to deal with. You see, in pickup cames, without a guy in black and white stripes keeping order, it's always relied on you calling your own fouls. Anyone that balls can tell you horror stories. The person that has his shot rejected, and instead of feeling bad because you engraved the word Spalding on his forehead by blocking his shot, he instead calls a foul on you. You argue, and everyone says "Respect the call," like you're the one being unreasonable.

I remember the last time I played competitively with guys. This black dude named T, who looked like a young OJ Simpson, was schooling me. I was 25, and he was 19. He was faster, and a helluva player. But, I was scoring some outside shots over him. When I knocked the ball out of his hands and into my teammates, I ran down court, as fast as my old white bones could. I caught the pass, and as I'm going for the winning layup, T wraps me up with his arms (maybe "T" stood for "tackle"). I asked what was up, and he said, "I ain't givin' you the easy bucket." Of course, there aren't free throws outside in pickup games. You don't foul out. So, T could've fouled me another 18 times, with no punishment.

Oh, I should mention, his team went on to beat us, which makes this bitter memory that much harder to forget.

I thought about it later, and realized a good way I could've made my point. Every time he got by me, with or without the ball, I could've grabbed him and held onto him. After a few times, he would've asked what the deal was. I could've said, "I don't want you to get an easy bucket."

But, logic doesn't work with idiots that are ultra competitive. I've tried. I've tried logically telling them why they are making stupid calls, and how that's only going to make our team call things that are ridiculous, and before you know it, we'll all be standing around arguing, instead of playing a fun sport. I've even said this to my own teammates.

I currently play racquetball with a few different guys. One is competitive, but he tries to be subtle about wanting to win. He'll "accidentally" say the score wrong, hoping I don't catch it (weird how when someone makes a mistake with the score, it's never in your favor, but always theirs).

The other guy, is such a whack job, he will scream and smash his racket on the wall if he misses a shot. The craziest thing is, he beats me 80% of the time. But, if I'm winning, I notice he starts making bad calls, that favor him.

He's actually a few points away from winning, and I have been shut out, and he'll be arguing a call that others would say "Who cares....the guy doesn't have a chance in hell of beating me."

And, when others play with us, they ALWAYS agree with me when he and I argue. I've tried to tell him, this should give me more credibility. He says, "Yeah, but, those guys like you better and this isn't a popularity contest."

I mentioned "Your son was playing with us once. And that was the first time I met him. And he agreed with me. I doubt he liked me better, and that's why he was agreeing with my calls over yours."

He didn't have a response for that.

Game, set, match.