On court, my focus is both on volume shooting and on specific types of shots from certain areas of the floor. I’ve zeroed in on a few spots where I should be able to exploit defenses. Continuing to develop my left hand is another area of emphasis this summer. My left is a strength, but not yet a weapon – that’s the goal.

I use the word “shooting” as a catch-all term for individual skill development ie. passing, ballhandling, shooting etc…

***Thanks to Kevin Smith for the photos. Check out some of his work here. Great shots from Sydney and Athens under “Bogetti-Smith Gallery”.***

Monday May 12 – R and R in Fergus

Tuesday May 13 – flight back to Vancouver

Wednesday May 14 – 90 minutes shooting with Bo and Erik, using The Gun (a shooting machine) – 2 hr practice and shooting

Thursday May 15- 90 minutes shooting, pushing drills at UBC

Friday May 16 – 1 hr lifting – 90 minutes shooting

Saturday May 17 – 1 hr lifting – 90 minutes shooting, shot chart

Sunday May 18 – 90 minutes shooting

So school is out and basketball is back in. Selection camp took place in Regina a few weeks ago. The team has a different look than 2 years ago at Worlds in Amsterdam. We’re taller (though I’m shorter), older (but our oldest is younger), and maybe shyer (though I’m blogging.) By the way, I agree with Seinfeld that the word ‘blog’ has to be one of the most unfortunate additions to the English language in recent memory. (Apologies to any Mr. or Mrs. Blogs out there.)

I’m back on the team after taking a year off to attend music school. I’m still awaiting a few letter grades, but it looks like I made it through the first year. We’ll see where things go from here. Music is such a disciplined art, and its study is rich in opportunities for self discovery, especially the discovery of self doubt. Let’s just say I spent an abundant and equal amount of time doubting my discipine and my art. Maybe the truest lesson though is that it’s hard to stick to any means, when the end is unclear. Jazz? Pop? Jazz-pop? (?!) Blues? Bluegrass? Guitar? Piano? Tenor? Crooner?

So, I’ve sent music on a brief holiday for some R and R, and just to get some space. We’ll talk when he gets back.

Of course there’s always an upside. In contrast to this shifting, blurry musical vision, my picture of basketball is refreshingly clear. First I have to get healthy. Shake a leg infection, and begin to test the limits of a wonky shoulder. I’m feeling pretty good about it though.

We have our first training camp next weekend at the U of T Mississauga campus. It’ll be our first chance to get the team together in its current formation. I’m especially looking forward to playing in my little chair in lineups with Joey. It’ll be fun to see what we can do. Plus, I know he’s a huge fan of mine, so it’ll be pretty exciting for him.

This weekend I’m travelling to Montreal to play with a team that Reg McClellan has assembled for the Defi Sportif. It’s been a while since I played with Reg. Let’s just say I’m curious how Reg and little Pat are going to get along on the court. If anyone knows of two players whose styles contrast more than Reg’s and mine, I’m all ears. Shaq and Nash? Oh, sorry Suns fans. Too fresh. Of course, I’m sure we’ll make it work cause we’re good friends. Besides, he’s a pass first point guard and I’m not. So I’ll just be another target for his battery of clever passes, and he’ll be another teammate I don’t pass to when I’m shooting. That should work after all.