Wednesday - February 25, 2009

Aiyight fellas. As a member of the losing team of this weeks Gatorade Game - I volunteered to write this weeks write-up -- but before the actual write-up -- I wanted to review the easy rules: (I'm going to do my entire post in bullet-point format - sorry)

• One member of the losing team of the Gatorade game will be responsible for writing an "entertaining piece" on this blog for that week.
• The winning team will collectively decide who the writer for that week will be
• A person who writes it the week before cannot be chosen to write it the following week

Some things to keep in mind when blogging:

• Whatever you write on this page will be available on the information super-highway... Meaning, if you write someones full name - a few days later - if you were to Google that name - this blog would show up.
• So - I recommend merely not using full names. (Ex. Dorf, Goff, Barry, Smitty, etc)
• This is all in fun. You shouldn't take the opportunity to hurt someones feelings. At the same time - if someone says something that hits a nerve - try not to take it too personally....

OK - this weeks run-down ...

• Pretty interesting that the two key "gatorade game" constituents didn't play in this first new twist of the tradition...
  
• My shoulder is killing me this morning - Schweid - how's your jaw?
• Cuso's been playing like he's come back from some major off-season surgery... He's got an EXTREME pass-first mentality recently - which isn't to say he used to be a ball hog - just noticing that he's not been looking for his shot on the regular. I'd be surprised if he's shot 20 times in total the last 3 weeks...
• Surprising on the other end .... Mr Schweid - In games 2 and 3 last night - I calculated (with the oversight of Dorf) that you had a 95% "shoot rate" after you received the ball on offense. Every time you got the rock - you shot it. Now - I'm usually not one to complain about this, because I could be totally fine not taking a single shot in a game - but was just very interesting to analyze...
• The four-some of Schweid, Cuso, Dougie, and Schweids tall friend Connor (the gatorade game winners) are definitely the best foursome to be on the same team at the Allen-Stevenson gym ... and possibly since I've been part of the run.
• Manoff (the guy in the white shirt) came out BLAZING last night. In his first few games - I felt like he shot 80% from the field. Although this is where we old folks will get pissed ... The kid is 22(!) and was crazy winded after game 3...
• The shirt I was wearing last night was one of my favorite to work-out with when I was boxing... Schweid - you were right - I need to retire it until I get back into boxing shape. You should retire the "heavy period" all red out-fit though too...
  
• Barry has really brought some intensity this year to the game. The guy clearly doesn't like to lose ...
  
• The line of the night - Strow: "Was that goal-tending?" (when his 15-ft shot was blocked by Connor)
• Speaking of Strow - he's really been knocking down the pull-up J the past few weeks ...It doesn't look pretty, but I bet he's shooting 50%....
  
• Smitty - to say a fellow Wah-Nee alum is too good for our game is something I don't agree with.... Not to say that I think the run could take the 8 best and win some "A league" at Chelsea Piers ... but moreso that we all pretty much know how to play the game of basketball. Someone could easily have a dominating performance any night - but I don't think Zelmo is "too good" for our run. In fact - what can we do to get him to join one night??
• Speaking of joining us for a night - Smitty - have you ever invited Gus?? Would love to sit-out the game and listen to him call it....
  
• For those that don't know by now - I probably shoot 25% from the free-throw line. (I'll legitimately miss 50% of the time and air-ball or brick it 25% of the time). Please don't be surprised anymore. (I did shoot 2-6 yesterday - but sat both times I was up to sit)
• How about the E. Newman sighting on the way out last night ... Looks like we're not good enough to ball with ... He's joined the 8:00 run...
• Dorf - is Rusty joining the run with Mandell moving? If so - I'm going to be looking more closely before the run as to if Mike is playing or not... Mike - if you've never guarded Rusty - I'm sure you'll get your fair share soon enough...
• For those that are interested in reading the Battier piece (by Micheal Lewis) - click here. It's long - but a great read.
  

That's it fellas ... Until next week...
BG

Wednesday the 18th

Alright fellas, here is the inagural Gatorade Game write up of the Wednesday run!!! Since we are at mid season, I am going to give my breakdown of everyones play thus far...this is one mans opinion, Looking forward to Wednesday!!!!

Brett "Battier" Goffin...Mr. Miscellaneous himself, this is one of the first guys you want on your team, he'll tip a ball, D up anyone, and rarely takes a bad shot...Also he has gotten more aggressive this season. On the Con side he is a Shaqesque foul shooter with a questionable midrange game....Grade B+

Sam "DJ Shady" Zornow...This guy could not only play in the And one basketball league with that handle he could DJ the show!!! Quick as he is relentless Sam is all over the court...Question is can he hit the five footer? Are the loopity loop lay ups good shots??? Time will Tell
Grade B, with the potential of A

John "Mullin" Ostrow...He has come out gunning, is good for around 2 - 4pts a game, couple of boards, throw in an assist and he's dangerous...On D though who do you have him guard, small quick guy, big man??? It just presents match up issues...All in all though Mr. Strow has been a great addition Grade B-

Dave "the small big man" Lewis...6'3" prefers to play on the outside. Versatile though in that he can play BAD D on both small and big men. Dangerous from the corner, Dangerous on the hook, he can play inside, but can also nail those jumpers. When he's on he's downright dangerous, whennnn he's on. Playing and shooting well this season, also a soon to be Daddy which may shift his focus a bit...Grade B

Chris "Don't call me Chris" Smith...Hot and Cold, when Smitty is on the 10-15ft game is automatic, he loves to flash of screens coming high and is deadly, however if he's missing he's known to get in his own head. A Hustler on D and is more then willing to defend anyone, this part of his game has improved. Grade B-...I don't think we've seen his best yet

Jon "ass still pulled" Dorfman...tough to grade yourself. Still has a handle and when/if he's hitting a jumper is a tough guard. However that is a big whennnnnn, jumper has not been falling. Defense has been spotty at best and the intensity has been lacking at times. Maybe the commissioner duties are weighing on him. A lot of room for improvement, at least I hope!!! Grade C+

Josh "the knacker papa" Mandell...Wahnee pride personified, Josh rebounds like a big man, can shoot, can dribble, can play D, he does it all. Tends to get in his own head though if he gets off to a slow start, even more Cuso OWNS him...All in all a solid start for Mandell, he is moving to Long Island though and having a British Baby so he attendance will be spotty in the second half...He will be missed Grade B

Jared "the hair" Mancuso...This is the toughest to grade. In my opinion the best offensive player on the court, creates the toughest match ups, however like Randy Moss he tends to take off some plays now and again. By his own words will rarely lose when trying. Have we ever really seen his best? Does his intensity match his talent? What does he put in his hair?? Grade B+, potential A+ player.

Mike "the Giant" Lee...Some head of hair on him as well!!! Another tough grade, he demands the ball in the clutch, plays with intensity, and can board. However, shot selection is a question and tends to get stripped by the little guys...Also, that boy can bleed. All in all though I don't think we have seen Mikes best I think he needs another big man out there to push him, any see Rusty??? Grade B-

Doug "the european" Crane...He'll score 4 pts on ya and you won't know how he did it. He can shoot from anywhere on the court, can D up both small / Big, and has the lefty shot to boot. Only question is his conditioning and intensity from time to time...Also has missed a few too many weeks, otherwise he would be the midseason MVP...Grade A-

Jamie "shoot til you make" Schweid...A versatile scorer can post you up, shoot from the outside, or drive the hoop...Has post moves like McHale...A competant defender can D up both small and big...Rivals Cuso as the #1 offensive threat out there and outshines him at times because of his intensity. Downside is if he's missing he is still shooting, so blow outs are possible. Burger travels have kept him out, so again I don't think we've seen his best...Grade A-

Barry "the tornado" Herman...Energy personafied, this boy is a non stop wind up doll...With his nice demeanor who would ever think him a criminal. Barrys energy and D makes him a desirable teammate, if he can find his shot he will be downright dangerous Grade B-

Lou “the tank” Forte...Competitor, plays tough, plays hard, and plays to win. Solid lefty / righty cross over and jumper from the top of the key. No real holes in his game, however height presents match up problems now and again. Will last weeks frackus with Dorfman soften him up? Has he peeked too soon, time will tell. Grade B+

Matt "where am I" Usedin...This kid can ball, hard to do however when you're not actually in the gym...Some day, Some day!!! Grade D- (he did pay on time)

Gatorade Game -- The New Rules

OK - Fellas. The past 2 "seasons" the Gatorade aspect of our Wednesday run has been softened considerably. We don't think it's the $2 - it's more laziness, and after playing hoops for 2 hours, wanting to get home to wife/kids...Doing an errand is the last thing we want to do ... SO ... We've come up with a new rule...

From now on, the last game of the run will still be known as the Gatorade Game. BUT ... Rather than each member of the team buying another member of the team a Gatorade, ONE member of the team will be responsible for entertaining the league with a blog post on this blog...

You can write about the run, you can tell a funny story that happened to you (or someone else in the run) that week, or whatever you want. You just need to entertain the league for that week.

The person who will represent the losing team in writing the blog will be chosen "Anchorman style" - or for those non-Wah-Nee-ers ... The winning team will collectively select who writes the blog.

The blog post will need to be posted before the next run ... and will need to be more than 100 words. (No - you don't need to count the words -- but you can't just say something like "Cuso is soft and Mandel is having a knacker-baby" and leave it at that. Peace")

For those that think this is annoying or lame ... Here's some advice ... Don't be on the losing team.

There will be a penalty for not writing the blog post (and not having a really good excuse) - that is yet to be determined. (Example - failure to not write the blog X times makes you up for expulsion the following season or something like that ... again TBD)