Okay, so I’ve been seeing the name Darius Robinson pop up quite a bit, especially with the NFL draft stuff going on. Big dude, defensive lineman from Missouri, seems like a real force. But for some reason, my brain kept connecting him to basketball. Don’t ask me why. Maybe I saw an old picture, maybe I just got wires crossed thinking about athletic big men.
Anyway, this thought got stuck in my head. How would that kind of size and power translate onto a basketball court? Not necessarily him playing, but just that physical presence. So, I decided to mess around with this idea during my usual pickup game attempts down at the park.
Trying it Out (Sort Of)
So there I was, on the cracked asphalt court, sun beating down. Instead of just doing my usual awful jump shots, I started trying to incorporate some… well, let’s call it ‘Darius Robinson inspired’ physicality. Emphasis on ‘inspired’ because, let’s be real, I’m built more like a garden gnome than a defensive tackle.
- First, I tried focusing on pure power in the post. Backing down imaginary defenders. Felt kinda clunky, mostly just bumping into air.
- Then I thought about footwork. Linemen need quick feet, right? Tried some quicker pivots and baseline moves. Honestly, probably just looked like I was tripping over myself.
- I even tried to be more physical on defense, using my body more. Which mostly resulted in me fouling the air pretty hard.
It felt… awkward. The movements felt forced. Trying to play basketball thinking about football power just didn’t click. You need finesse, a different kind of rhythm on the court. Raw power isn’t always the answer here, not like it is busting through an offensive line.
What I Realized
This whole experiment got me thinking, though. It reminded me of this guy I used to work with, massive dude, played some college football back in the day. We tried getting him on our company basketball team once. You’d think he’d dominate, right? Nah. He was strong, sure, but kinda stiff. Couldn’t handle the ball well, jump shot was non-existent. He was a beast in his element, but basketball just wasn’t it.
It’s like trying to use a hammer when you need a screwdriver. Different tools for different jobs. Robinson’s skills are perfect for football – the explosion, the hand fighting, shedding blocks. Amazing athlete, no doubt. But seeing his name just made me go off on this weird tangent in my own practice.
So, the end result? My ‘Darius Robinson basketball’ session didn’t magically make me better. If anything, I felt slower and more out of place trying to force a style that wasn’t mine. It was a good reminder, though: admire these guys for what they do best, but trying to copy-paste skills across sports? Doesn’t really work, especially for us regular folks just trying to get some exercise and maybe sink a lucky shot or two.
Back to my usual flailing on the court next time, I guess. At least that feels natural, haha.
