In my opinion, the perfect weather for outdoor activities is around 70 degrees with an overcast sky. This Saturday fit the bill as if I had ordered it via the Internet. I guess many others felt the same way. the turnout was one of the best for the year - there were about thirty ballers that showed up. Three courts were active during the early part of the day.
Many regulars returned. Some after recovering at least partially from injuries. James was back, although his shoulder was still slightly tender. Mike, Larry, Eric and Kent had been gone for a while but not because of injury. My guess is that they either have busy lives or went on some great vacation to some exotic destination.
I feel obligated to mention that the University of Washington Huskies have once again captured the Pac 10 Men's Basketball Championship. This is a repeat of last year. Last year they beat out the Cal Berkeley Bears for the title. This year they beat up on the University of Arizona Wildcats. Congratulations to Coach Lorenzo Romar and his team starring the quite appropriately named, Isaiah Thomas. One might think the second coming of the Detroit Piston franchise, but I have the feeling that he will forge a name for himself in the NBA despite being and under-sized guard at 5"-9". He hit a last second buzzer beating jump shot at the end of overtime to forge the win. It doesn't get more dramatic than that. He takes the shot, and the ball splashes in just as the lights and buzzer sound that ended the overtime, and fortunately, the game.
I don't know how the future "LA of Anaheim" team fared (hint: the Sacramento Kings). The odds are that the Kings will be operating out of Anaheim next season. My prediction is that they will call themselves, "the Los Angeles Kings of Anaheim" aka LAKA. Thereby following in the footsteps of their soon to be baseball cousins, "the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim".
The local teams fared well this weekend. The Lakers recovered from their embarrassing loss for the second time to the Miami Heat, by beating up on the Dallas Mavericks. That puts them 1/2 game behind Dallas in the standings for the Western Conference. So, perhaps if they keep winning, they can takeover the second position in the standings and have a little home court advantage to help them through the early rounds of the playoffs. Hopefully, their lackadaisical losses early in the season don't come back to haunt them during the playoffs, when having the home court advantage is so important.
The Clippers have morphed into an exciting team during the later stages of the season. Without such a lack-luster 0-13 start, I think they would be in contention for a playoff spot. The addition of Mo Williams to a team with high energy players like Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan will spell a playoff contending season for next year. Hopefully, the team owner doesn't screw up and do something stupid again. Today the Clippers beat the Washington Wizards. My hometown team, I love watching the Clippers these days. Lets hope that they keep it up....
Back at the Chaparral, I really need to make an effort to get names correct. Above there is a picture of Matt contesting a shot by Zach, with James, Ike, Kent, Margaret and a friend of Robert looking on. I don't know his name unfortunately.
Matt prepares to grab and inbound the ball.
Kenny calls the play and brings the ball into play....
Eric, Matt and Zach prepare to go after the rebound...
Kent looks on as Eric inbounds the ball....
James heads upcourt after securing the defensive rebound.
WBA action!!! Wow.....
Eric gets abck into the game after chasing down the ball....
Margaret brings the ball upcourt....
Kevin has returned for the second time after a long absence... Fortunately, so far I haven't had to play against him. I was on his team again this week.
Eric prepares for a three point shot....
Shot made, Kenny returns to the defensive side of the court....
Ike grabs a rebound and prepares for a shot.
Steve brings the ball up for another offensive play....
Unfortunately, I didn't get a good picture of Kenny's friend from Germany, Ben. But, he is the guy in the red shirt above. A terrific baller....
After all the serious ballers had left, Roy and I hung around to play a few games of horse.
You would never guess, but Roy is outstanding with his left hand going for lay-ups and scoop shots. He hardly missed any of the shots he took with the "south paw", as they say in boxing.
Fortunately, I had been working on using my left. I started writing, sketching and shooting with my left about two years ago and it really saved me during this impromptu tournament.
The pictures were taken by my wife who appeared after everyone had left the courts - by just in time to take these pictures. Thanks....
Of course, for some reason, she missed the 360 degree, 720 degree and reverse dunks that we were doing after the fifth game for the tie-breaker. Fortunately, the rim is still intact, but there was some rim shaking......
Many regulars returned. Some after recovering at least partially from injuries. James was back, although his shoulder was still slightly tender. Mike, Larry, Eric and Kent had been gone for a while but not because of injury. My guess is that they either have busy lives or went on some great vacation to some exotic destination.
I feel obligated to mention that the University of Washington Huskies have once again captured the Pac 10 Men's Basketball Championship. This is a repeat of last year. Last year they beat out the Cal Berkeley Bears for the title. This year they beat up on the University of Arizona Wildcats. Congratulations to Coach Lorenzo Romar and his team starring the quite appropriately named, Isaiah Thomas. One might think the second coming of the Detroit Piston franchise, but I have the feeling that he will forge a name for himself in the NBA despite being and under-sized guard at 5"-9". He hit a last second buzzer beating jump shot at the end of overtime to forge the win. It doesn't get more dramatic than that. He takes the shot, and the ball splashes in just as the lights and buzzer sound that ended the overtime, and fortunately, the game.
I don't know how the future "LA of Anaheim" team fared (hint: the Sacramento Kings). The odds are that the Kings will be operating out of Anaheim next season. My prediction is that they will call themselves, "the Los Angeles Kings of Anaheim" aka LAKA. Thereby following in the footsteps of their soon to be baseball cousins, "the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim".
The local teams fared well this weekend. The Lakers recovered from their embarrassing loss for the second time to the Miami Heat, by beating up on the Dallas Mavericks. That puts them 1/2 game behind Dallas in the standings for the Western Conference. So, perhaps if they keep winning, they can takeover the second position in the standings and have a little home court advantage to help them through the early rounds of the playoffs. Hopefully, their lackadaisical losses early in the season don't come back to haunt them during the playoffs, when having the home court advantage is so important.
The Clippers have morphed into an exciting team during the later stages of the season. Without such a lack-luster 0-13 start, I think they would be in contention for a playoff spot. The addition of Mo Williams to a team with high energy players like Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan will spell a playoff contending season for next year. Hopefully, the team owner doesn't screw up and do something stupid again. Today the Clippers beat the Washington Wizards. My hometown team, I love watching the Clippers these days. Lets hope that they keep it up....
Back at the Chaparral, I really need to make an effort to get names correct. Above there is a picture of Matt contesting a shot by Zach, with James, Ike, Kent, Margaret and a friend of Robert looking on. I don't know his name unfortunately.
Matt prepares to grab and inbound the ball.
Kenny calls the play and brings the ball into play....
Eric, Matt and Zach prepare to go after the rebound...
Kent looks on as Eric inbounds the ball....
James heads upcourt after securing the defensive rebound.
WBA action!!! Wow.....
Eric gets abck into the game after chasing down the ball....
Margaret brings the ball upcourt....
Kevin has returned for the second time after a long absence... Fortunately, so far I haven't had to play against him. I was on his team again this week.
Eric prepares for a three point shot....
Shot made, Kenny returns to the defensive side of the court....
Ike grabs a rebound and prepares for a shot.
Steve brings the ball up for another offensive play....
Unfortunately, I didn't get a good picture of Kenny's friend from Germany, Ben. But, he is the guy in the red shirt above. A terrific baller....
After all the serious ballers had left, Roy and I hung around to play a few games of horse.
You would never guess, but Roy is outstanding with his left hand going for lay-ups and scoop shots. He hardly missed any of the shots he took with the "south paw", as they say in boxing.
Fortunately, I had been working on using my left. I started writing, sketching and shooting with my left about two years ago and it really saved me during this impromptu tournament.
The pictures were taken by my wife who appeared after everyone had left the courts - by just in time to take these pictures. Thanks....
Of course, for some reason, she missed the 360 degree, 720 degree and reverse dunks that we were doing after the fifth game for the tie-breaker. Fortunately, the rim is still intact, but there was some rim shaking......
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