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Jumpin’ on the wagon

By on March 27, 2013 in Joe’s Hoops

I usually don’t pay much attention to college basketball (unless a former coach happens to make the Tournament). But, what Florida Gulf Coast University has done cannot be left unnoticed.

The Eagles are the first team to be a #15 seed and advance to the Sweet Sixteen.  Their 1st win was vs. #2 Georgetown Hoyas, winning 78-68. They then beat #7 San Diego State Aztecs, 81-71.  Next up, #3 Florida Gators on Friday night.

Better yet, this video (below) cannot be left unnoticed. It’s a compilation of their dunks throughout the postseason (their conference tournament and their first 2 games of March Madness, so far). Anyone who likes basketball can appreciate this, a 15-seed that has advanced to the Sweet 16 by playing not only smart and confident basketball, but with style, too.

dunk-city-heres-all-of-fgcus-postseason-slams-compi-458654269

NO ONE would have or could have guessed that this team would go so far. (Except maybe some of the players and their parents.  Even then, I bet most of them didn’t expect it).  It’s the teams like FGCU that make the Tournament what it is.  We all know that schools like Louisville and Duke and Michigan and Syracuse and so forth are going to be there in the end.  It’s the schools we’ve never and may never hear of again that make this tournament unparalleled to any other sporting event.

So now we wait till this weekend, when Gulf Coast and 15 other teams will ride whatever it is they’ve used to advance so far and hope it continues to work.  I can safely assume that no one from FGCU imagined getting past the first round, but that’s the thing with this tournament.  Now that they’re here, who knows?  All we do know is that everyone will be tuned in this Friday night when the #15 seed Florida Gulf Coast Eagles take on #3 seed Florida Gators, hoping for yet another upset.  I know I’ll be tuned in.

Can you say ‘bandwagon?’

Go Eagles!

Matt Brady Dukes it out

By on March 23, 2013 in Joe’s Hoops

These pictures were taken on February 24, 2007, after the last game of the regular season from my junior year.  We had just beaten Sienna College, our rival and toughest competitor in the league at the time.  Both teams were tied for first place going into the game.  It was the only Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) nationally televised game on ESPN that year, so not only was it great to be on TV, the game actually meant something.    Luckily we settled that, winning the conference title in overtime 98-88.

This was my roommate (and still one my best friends) for three years at Marist.  We had some good times for sure.  I can confidently say that this day was one of the best, and he would agree.

Here’s then Marist coach Matt Brady, who coached the Marist College Red Foxes for four years, which happened to be the same four years that I had spent there.  He had previously been the assistant coach for St. Joe’s University.  He was responsible for recruiting Jameer Nelson and Delonte West, two current NBA players who were part of a great team the year before he came to Marist.  His success as assistant gave him the credibility to become a Head Coach somewhere else.  His first stop was Marist.

Coach Brady believed in me and picked me to be a walk on for the 2004-2005 season.  After that there was never a question about it; I was a part of the team, as were all other walk ons who I played with during that time.  He was a good guy and a great coach to play for.  He truly loves the game of basketball and worked endlessly to make us better and get us to the next level.  My junior season we were led by Jared Jordan, who is still playing basketball overseas.  We had a real shot of making the tournament that year, but unfortunately we lost to Sienna in the MAAC conference tournament.  It was as close as we (and Brady) got during our time at Marist.  It just wasn’t meant to be.

Which is why it’s so rewarding to see him on TV today, Day #2 and Round 1 of the NCAA tournament.  He is currently the head coach for the James Madison Dukes, who are the #16 seed, facing one of the top teams in the country, #1 Indiana Hoosiers.  They don’t have much of a chance of winning this game (no #16 seed has ever won a game in the tournament), but getting there is an accomplishment all on its own.  Matt Brady has already won, and there doesn’t need to be a score to prove it.

Here’s an email exchange between Coach Brady and I from a few days ago.  I had wished him luck, let him know how proud I was to see him make the tournament, and ended it with this:

‘Seems like giving anything less than everything you got is merely just a waste of time; your dedication and work ethic as a coach has definitely led you down the right path.‘

He responded back:  ‘Your email was great to read…giving anything less than than everything you got is merely a waste of time. I will use that exact line with my team. Love it.  Hope you are well. I know you talk w alot of your teammates. Hello to all. You guys were special to coach.‘

This is what makes playing basketball so amazing.  It’s the relationships you build during your time together as a team.  All the practices, games, road trips, pregame speeches, team meals; they all blend together, but any special team never forgets those moments.  People move on in their lives, but those players never forget the moments it took to make it that special.  This is why sports are so great.

NBA League Pass: The Channel No One Has

By on November 13, 2012 in Joe’s Hoops, Uncategorized

I hate NBA League Pass.  Rather, I hate that most games each night are on NBA League Pass, because no one ever has it.  At least not the common bar.  No matter how many TVs a sports bar may have, chances are they don’t have it.  I’ve searched all around my neighborhood and have found only one bar to carry it.

Recently while down in Savannah (while someone else was puttin it on the Ritz, literally), I figured one of the bars downtown would have it, but no such luck.  First I went to World of Beer.  I asked the heavyset pissed off hipster bartender, who asked me what I said.  I slowly repeated N B A LEAUGE PASS, she then went and asked her fellow employee as if I had asked to borrow her car.  He said no, I left.

I then headed to Wild Wing.  I’ve been here before to watch a Bulls game, so figured this would be a safe bet.  I sit down, they tell me they have it.  They go to the 3 channels that says BULLS VS CELTICS, but no luck.  It won’t connect. I leave.

I pick up my pace and head to a bar on Bay Street.  I’ve been here before to watch a Giants game, so they miiiight have it.  But after this, there most likely won’t be anywhere that has it.  Go in, ask, denied.

I start to head back, but figured I’d head down Congress St. because there’s nothing but bars on it.  I stop in at one bar.  There’s outdoor seating in the front with 2 large TVs showing the Monday night NFL game.  I ask the guy behind the bar if they carry NBA League Pass.  He asks me what game I’d like to watch.  I point to his Celtics hat, and tell him ‘actually, the bulls and celtics.’ (He has no clue if they’re on.  White dudes with flat brim hats=not real fans).  Nice guy though, tells me he’s going to check.  Walks away for 2 minutes, and as he walks back I already know.

I wish NBA League Pass wasn’t so expensive.  But what bothers me even more is the reaction I get from people my generation (23-30, I guess) who act surprised when they find that I love basketball, rather, the NBA.  Since when did liking the NBA become equivalent to the Real Housewives?

I really don’t care who watches it as long as I’m able to, but I wish the overall population would understand that basketball is a MAJOR AMERICAN SPORT and that it’s not absurd for someone to be a fan.  It is not just for inner city kids, or black kids, or tall kids, or people who grew up watching the Chicago Bulls.  It’s the ultimate team sport that requires each player on the court to play both offense and defense.  Eli Manning could throw for 700 yards and they could still lose.  How is that his fault?  This is why basketball trumps all sports; each player is responsible for EVERYTHING that happens while they’re on the court.  You can’t blame the offense, or the defense.  You can only look at the people (players, coaches, and refs) who contributed.

Is it because we live in an era where everyone wants attention (look at Facebook, Twitter, etc.), therefore, gravitates to things (in this instance, sports) that focus on individual statistics rather than team?  Is it too much for people to support a group of people playing together?  Or is it just that most people are afraid to admit that they could never do what basketball players do and are just jealous?

 

The Deadline.

By on March 15, 2012 in Joe’s Hoops, Uncategorized

It’s finally here.  The NBA trade deadline.  After 3 PM ET today, there can be no more trades for the rest of the season, which means that each team will have to continue with whoever they have, like it or not, for the rest of the year and hope for the best.  It also means that we can stop having to listen to “reports” and “talks” and “rumors” of “possible trades.”

Trading is a huge part of all sports, but unfortunately for some teams it has taken precedence over what’s really important, and that is winning with what you currently have.  Sure, making a trade to improve your team makes perfect sense, but when the focus around your team surrounds the possible trade of one (usually the best) player, it’s easy to get distracted, whether you’re one of the players, coaches, or the player.  Especially when this happens for months.

Two guys who’ve been talked about endlessly this season are the Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard and the Los  Angeles Laker’s Andrew Bynum, both young and talented centers who have promising futures. I have never personally cared for either; they are both immature and I honestly doubt if they truly care about winning.  But I’ll admit that both are exceptional talents.  Bynum is very skilled, and Howard might be one of the best athletes on the planet.  But I wouldn’t want either on my team.

And neither would Magic Johnson.

Last night during halftime of the Bulls vs. Heat game, the ESPN guys were talking about these two in particular.  One of the analysts, former player Jon Barry, asked Magic who he’d rather play with.

“The dude who wants to win, and I’m not sure either one.  I’ll take Kareem.”  (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, all-time leading NBA scorer who Magic played with from ’79 to ’89, winning 5 championships together.)

I’d rather have Kareem too.

Luol Deng /lou-all/ /deng/

By on February 22, 2012 in Joe’s Hoops, Uncategorized

A few months back I found this artist, Richard Swarbrick.  He’s known for making videos of great British athletes, including Wayne Rooney, Stuart Broad, and Andy Murray (not very familiar with any of these guys; I’ve heard of Rooney before).  He recently made one of another British star, Chicago Bull Luol Deng.  I know I’m biased as a Bulls fan, but he’s become one of my favorite players.  Not flashy, but he’s gooood.  Not to mention he’s an amazing humanitarian.  Check out his foundation too.

By the way, those clips are from March 6, 2011, when the Bulls beat LeBron James and the rest of the Heat on a Sunday afternoon, solidifying their stance as championship contenders.  We had fun that day, Ashley even blogged about it.

 

Pop don’t play around.

By on February 18, 2012 in Joe’s Hoops, Uncategorized

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich reacts to a referee’s call during the second quarter against the Utah Jazz the NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)

This is one of the better things I read so far this season.

In much the same way that I (and many others) have a hard time watching what’s become of life in American culture, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich feels the same.  Pop is one of the most successful coaches in NBA history, winning four championships and has had what many consider the best franchise this past decade.  Meanwhile, rather than signing big-name talents like other teams have done, he has done the non-conventional thing and found the right players to fit his system.  Team-first players instead of big egos with twitter accounts.

A big story this year has come from the play of Ricky Rubio, a twenty-year old from Spain whose style of play has been compared to legends like Pistol Pete and Larry Bird.  After years of skepticism, he’s proved his worth and is having a great rookie season.

So when Pop was asked (he has and still coaches many international players) how the young Spaniard would adjust to adopting American culture, this is what he said.

“These guys, they travel around the world,” Pop said of international players.  “They’re more cultured than we are.  Everyone acts like Americans are the ones…we have sort of an arrogance about us.  Like we’re the cultured ones?  Are you serious?

“Have you watched TV lately?  Have you seen what Americans do?  How many languages do you speak?  And you wonder how they’re going to adjust to our culture?  I hope they avoid it and keep their own!”

I wish I could have seen the reporter’s reaction to that response.

The NBA lockout.

By on December 4, 2011 in Joe’s Hoops, Uncategorized

The NBA lockout has finally ended, and to top it off, they’re going to start the season on Christmas Day, with the Bulls being one of the games.  I love Christmas, but I haven’t been this excited for December 25th since I was 13 years old.

Most people don’t really care, and it amazes me how many of them there are.  But then I think about what the NBA used to be like and I understand.  My generation unfortunately grew up during the end of the Jordan and Pippen era with the Bulls, and in the few years after the league went to shambles.  Not as many stars. Too many “thugs.”  No real likeable guys.
But I assure you the game is back.  The league is loaded with young talent, and these guys play hard.  Most people have always complained that the NBA guys don’t try that hard, that college basketball is so much more fun to watch because they actually care.  And that might have been the case in the late 90s/early 2000s, but times have changed.  There are some young stars in the league right now, and they’re all trying to prove they belong more than the other. LeBron. Rose. Durant and Westbrook. Blake. Melo. Rondo. Curry. These guys are gooooooooood. Merry Christmas hoopsters.
Daaaaaaaaaaaaa bulls.

 

Jimmy Butler

By on February 6, 2011 in Joe’s Hoops

What if your mother told you, ‘I don’t like the look of you.  You gotta go.’  What would you say? What could you say?

What if she told you this when you were just 13 years old?
Maybe you’d go to your dad, get his support, learn why she’s suddenly turned her back on you.  But, what if your father acted much like your mother, but instead felt the same years before and left when you were just an infant?  What would you do then?

How does anyone stay on the right path to success when their parents give up on them so young?

He doesn’t like to discuss it much, but these events have led Jimmy Butler to overcome odds of all sorts and have willed him to a successful and productive second season for the Chicago Bulls; one that might secure his place in the N.B.A. and, hopefully, with the Bulls.

Although barely used and hardly noticed in his first season, Butler has emerged as not only a reliable player off the bench, but as a starter as well, filling in recently for Luol Deng, who was out briefly with a hamstring injury.  While Butler isn’t flashy, he is truly a complete player, and one who is constantly showing signs of improvement (so far in his brief 2-year career, he’s averaging 5 points a game.  The last ten games he’s averaged 14.6).

The praises are even coming in from Coach Tom Thibodeau (below), a man of very few (encouraging) words:  ‘….he’s a big part of this team…..he can guard, he can score, play multiple positions, make hustle plays.  He’s doing a lot for us.”

I’ve come to love Jimmy Butler.  There’s no bullshit to him; he’s young, unselfish, devoid of any stupid and distracting tattoos that plagues much of professional sports/entertainment, is known to have a strong work ethic, and is still hungry to prove something.  He may have secured his place in the league, but I have a feeling Jimmy Butler is bound to do much more than just stick around.

After not getting selected to the 2013 Rising Stars Challenge game (where the best rookies and second-year players play against each other), this is what he had to say:  ‘‘Kudos to those guys because they’re great players, and they’re really talented, but I love this team, and I want to play alongside these guys. I’ll do whatever it takes for this team to win. I’m a competitor, and I would have competed in that game, of course, but I’m a Bulls player, to tell you the truth.’’

There are many players who are still waiting for their opportunity to prove their worth, and sometimes it comes with time, but it also happens when a starter like Deng gets injured.  Either way, it’s up to the player to make the most of it.  Jimmy has been rising to the occasion since he was a child; earning big time minutes in the N.B.A. is merely just another step in this young man’s life.

Daaaaaaaaaaaaa Bulls.

P.S. –  He was very kind to Ashley.  When she was down in Atlanta for work last year, the Bulls happened to be playing the Hawks at that same time.  The night before the game (Ashley got to go for work) she ran into a few of the players at a popular restaurant downtown.  She noticed them on her way out and felt compelled to say something (she’s become quite the Bulls fan).  While some of the players acted too cool, Butler was the only one to make conversation with her, even joking to take her leftovers.  He didn’t exactly record a triple double that game, but moments like that make a fan even prouder.


(here’s a video of Jimmy discussing his upbringing, right before he was selected by the Chicago Bulls in 2011)

Bulls vs Nets, 2011

By on January 20, 2011 in Joe’s Hoops

For Christmas I got Joe court-side tickets to see The Bulls play in NJ. This Christmas was one of the hardest for me, financially.  I actually just went ahead and spent my entire paycheck on these tickets because I just knew Joe deserved this (and rent will just have to figure itself out, right?) SO I bought the tickets.  In a frenzy, I found seats that were directly behind the hoop on stubhub.  I called Joe’s dad to see if they were worth the price, had an anxiety attack and then went ahead and purchased!

We had already decided on minimal presents for each other so I was so excited to give this semi-big time present to him.  I grabbed a few less-read books from our shelf, wrapped them up and gave them to Joe Christmas morning at his parent’s house.  He opened them with hesitance, knowing he already owned all of these books!  I played dumb — “Do you like them?? I thought you might like that one!”  Found out later he felt so bad because my gifts were so lame.   The final gift was a folder with the printed tickets, the seating chart and the virtual view we’d have from our seats.  Needless to say, Joe was excited.  Will I erase his manliness to say he might have shed a tear? He really loves the Bulls.

The game was the week after Christmas.  I met him after work, we went to Jersey & had fun.  I’ve never been that close to NBA players, they are huge.  I am a tall girl too, but WHOA.  Noah was out on injury (he is my fave) and I realized halfway through that Kim Kardashian’s fiancee, Kris Humphries was on the Nets, but Kim wasn’t there.

Seeing that we bought the tickets off a Nets season ticket holder, we were surrounded by sort of violent Nets fans who were obviously a bit threatened by the Bulls.  They talked a bit of shit, the mascot messed with us (almost got Joe ejected – pics below) and  we got to see the behind the scenes of the cheerleaders, long-time fans and lots of $10 beers.
I went shutter crazy, check it out-

Notice Joe’s arms physically moving the mascot away from him? It was a close game and in the final seconds the “Sly Fox” blocked our view completely, I love Joe’s temper at times like this because he just was not having it.  Also, if you know anything about NBA ball, you know Derrick Rose is incredibly hard on himself, can you notice his defeat in these pictures as the game moves forward?  I love the intensity in all their faces.   Also, the old man in one of the pictures was hilarious and seemed to be a staple at all games.  He was crazy enthusiastic and his wife just smiled him on the entire time.  I cut my Bulls shirt before the game so it looked cuter, and wore Joe’s childhood necklace! so cute.   I was never into basketball, but I really love it now.

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