In 1949,
when he was a student at Concord College in Athens, W.Va., Dr. William "Bill"
Ofsa snuck into the gymnasium late one night to shoot basketball. The faculty
member who caught him was amazed by the young man's love of basketball and simply
let it go.
Well, Dr. Ofsa went on to complete his education and by 1960 he was back at
Concord teaching English and playing basketball. He is Chairman of the English
Department and the institution's senior faculty member.
I'm not sure how old Doc is -- at least 74 -- but people don't think about age
when they are around
this amazing individual.
When I attended Concord in the mid-1970s, I was lucky enough to discover Doc's
game and become a part of it. I too went away and returned, and the game was
still on, just as it had been for decades before.
So every Sunday, we come together for an informal but competitive half-court
basketball game. And, each Sunday we walk (or limp) away from this game, a little
wiser.
Hundreds of players have joined the game over the years. Many have played for
decades. Some have gone on to meet God -- well prepared by the best basketball
game on Earth.