Regina’s Frankie Parris, 58, shines in world basketball event

Basketball is a sport for all ages, and a Regina man was one of the thousands of athletes to prove that on the world stage.

Frankie Parris is one of many athletes who represented Canada at the FIMBA World Maxibasketball Championships in Switzerland this summer.

The league is for men and women who play basketball in age groups ranging from 35 to over 85. Parris, 58, competed with the 55-plus team which finished sixth in the world out of 40 teams. The tournament ran from June 27 until July 6.

“It’s great to still be playing at the age we are all at. More impressive is the 85-plus guys playing. Those guys are amazing,” he said in an interview with 980 CJME.

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FIMBA mostly seeks out players who have had experience playing collegiate or semi-professional basketball. Parris played at Sheridan College and Brandon University.

Parris is involved with Stooges Basketball, a Canadian masters basketball organization, both as an organizer for groups under 55 and as a competitor. He has also competed at the FIMBA World Championships in Finland.

“The tournament itself is always exciting. It’s very good to see the dynamics and the level of play from your local house league, your college or university days – to see that around the world, there are still players that are playing at such a high level,” he said.

Parris added that this year, the competition was taller on average. “There were a lot of seven-footers, six-foot-nine players, so I think we were probably one of the smallest teams,” Parris said with a chuckle.

Parris said events like this are an important opportunity to help grow and maintain the game of basketball.

“It’s tough because there are so many parents and kids that don’t get the exposure and understand that basketball and even sports itself are a universal connection,” he said.

“Doesn’t matter your race, your colour, your financial position – (it’s about) players on the court competing.”

Parris said Canada should do more to support the game beyond the youth and pro-level. Parris said promoting basketball at the “in-between” levels helps the game keep going.

“I’d like people to know that it doesn’t matter what level of basketball you played, it’s always available,” Parris said.

“If you have the passion for something and you show that passion, I think that you can excel at it.”