"Players Gonna Play!"
 

"Players Gonna Play"

"Drop the bat!" coach often spat.
To say I'd got a habit of running bases while holding it was an understatement.
It drove him fucking crazy back in school.
Nothing changed.
But even though I didn't understand the rules, I loved the game.
As I come of age it was much the same,
Stepping up to bat full of assurance.
No looking back.
Both eyes on the prize right in my sights, yet I swung too fast.
Another passed unattacked.
I was striking out every time somehow until I learned to be patient.
Determined to make it to the first of those bases.
Nervously waiting to seize the chance and increase my stats.
I keep it composed.
Breathing in slowly as I wield the bat.
I hear a crack.
Feel the snap as a connection is made.
Everything changed following my first success in the game.
I'd step to the plate with renewed belief,
duly seeking out opportunities to continue the streak.
Palms sweating.
Hard-headed.
This was all a sport now.
Sure, I got thrown some curveballs that formed doubts,
but I wasn't always caught out.
I talked the talk loudly having gained some momentum
and with a slight change of direction, I'd made it to second.
It put the game in perspective,
see at this base the dynamics change.
There's decisions you have to make.
React too late and you'll come unstuck,
not knowing whether to cut and run, or stand your ground and hang around.
Don't jump the gun.
Suck it up.
Wait your turn before you take it further
and race too early towards a place at third.
Patience first.
Stay alert.
When the end is in sight and your adrenaline heightens,
the pressure is frightening.
You'll feel it in your chest as it tightens.
But only those who can keep their head in a crisis are destined to triumph.
When you sense that the timing is right to make it to home,
savour your goal.
Take in the moment.
The game isn't over,
your seasons just started.
With the experience garnered you can swing for those bleachers regardless.
Use this victory as a marker to push on and grow.
Cherry pick those heavy hitters.
Put on a show.
Love every home point as much as you do those you pick up on the road.
Trust me I know,
because win, lose, or draw when you've been through it all you'll want someone to hold.
Don't be stuck on your own with nothing to show.
You can have your fun but just don't become the player
who can't see the diamond right under his nose.
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wow dude i dont know how no one hasnt commented on this yet.

this was awesome. little taste of childhood on top of an overall message on life related to all of it. the way you transitioned it all together makes the reader want to continue seeing what you have to say. maybe that's not coming out right ubt it's a compliment

good read, thanks man

Great writing man. Mad respect for the way you continued and got me as a reader so engaged in a very simple but effective story when taken literally on face value while keeping everything in tone for a much more deeper thought out metaphor on what we can take for granted etc.

I assume I am right with the above comments but if not... you got lucky haha. But no seriously shit was clever and I know while it was lacking in flow in some places how difficult it would have been to word everything to be a true Gemini drop


Nice work @sraL

This shit was smoother than butter...flowed effortlessly.real easy to read n follow..i can tell that you're a actual spitter.. curious to hear how you sound over a beat.. this was dope tho..folks above me already stated what i felt.. nice shit..i liked how you tied the game of baseball to the game of life..real nice.. almost thought that u were gonna go for a metaphor about baggin chicks..kept me guessin..still dope.

It was a verse about being a player, so you're half-right.

I actually lost in the LGPA championship with this verse, I wish you guys had voted now!

This section was the dopest to me. Overall though, I'm not going to lie to you bro, this wasn't the best work I've read from you by far. Seemed way too simple and easy to grasp, not saying that's always a bad thing, but in this case the whole storyline just came off as very fairly tale-ish imo. I couldn't really dig it because it didn't really have a soul. Just seemed like something you wrote with no real incentive or passion behind. The lines I quoted stood out but other than that every thing was very basic both in terms of delivery and vocab. Stay up.

I got that part I just assumed the underlying message was not taking shit for granted. But played out through a more simple story about a player