Thursday Night Therapy

For one group of men in Cincinnati, Ohio, therapy comes every Thursday night in the form of late night basketball under the lights. For thirty years, this game has provided a release—a “fix,” as one player calls it—that only physical exertion and the bonds of community can provide. Thursday Night Therapy: Thirty Years of Basketball and Camaraderie chronicles the thirty-year history of this game, the players involved, and the profound impact that basketball has had on those who play this beautiful game. Freelance writer, author, and former award-winning sports editor Aaron M. Smith takes the reader on a reflective and sometimes humorous journey that identifies and explains the significance of this weekly gathering. Not only is Smith the son-in-law of the founder and host of this game, he has been playing in this regular game for nearly a decade. From humble beginnings to a sort of therapeutic ritual, Thursday night hoops has become a necessity for all involved.