SUMMER LEAGUES AND GREED DONE DIRT CHEAP
Independence day holds a special commencement for the landscape of American hoops signifying the kickoff of summer league games where rookies and NBA hopefuls relish the opportunity to showcase their talents through determined competition, and if the good Uncle Sam is shining on them, land a coveted roster spot. As these new and hopeful hoopers begin their NBA journey during the first week of July on the other side of the career spectrum, the fourth represents the time of blockbuster trades taking place in the brutal wheel of free agency. Honestly, what better way to celebrate the nation's independence than garnering freedom from teams that need to clear cap space or no longer view a player valuable to the organization. Stripping away their hard work, talent and dignity by putting a money sign on their head and placing it on the trade chopping block seems about as American as apple pie in this raging current of corpocracy and greed.
It hasn't always been this way. During the golden age of basketball, players often spanned a career with a single team. Then stars were deeply loyal to their organization and their teammates as organizations mirrored that loyalty back. True rivalries were forged, players became synonymous with cities and fans could count on superstars cementing legacies with their teams. The one glaring exception to this norm was Wilt Chamberlain when he invoked the first ever blockbuster trade the NBA experienced, swapping Philadelphia cheesesteaks for LA shorelines. Now in the current era of superteams and the all mighty dollar, we see players switching jersey colors and fan bases like '90's kids trading pogs and Pokémon cards. Kevin Durant infamously announced his degrading decision to uproot OKC's big three for greener pastures in Golden State on July 4th 2016, and who could forget "The Decision" by LeBron James that was broadcast during this week in 2010, serving as one of the most cringe worthy, embarrassing spectacles of egotistical betrayal ever televised, and seemingly spawning the normalcy of player swapping and forming "superteams" to chase an elusive championship ring. Thank you to Kobe, Dirk, Duncan and Udonis Haslem for being the exception to this rancid rule.
This year we've already seen the likes of Giannis, Jaylen Brown, Kawhi, Paul George and their front office contrarians opt into cogs of the money machine that is represented in our once proud but now shameful establishment. This dis-loyal, business first, money grab mentality has also crept into the sacred sanctuary of the NCAA, as we see with regularity, the one and done stars chase potential paychecks over guaranteed player development and higher education. But like Greek philosopher Heraclitus summarized, "change is the only constant," and I can only hope the next season of change spirals back to commitment and loyalty over hunting rings and padding bank accounts. May the fourth of July celebrations in America one day become more than the corrupt, corporate dominated nation that it is and then maybe we can grill a burger and light a sparkler with all walks of life, a truly free democracy, a fair market and a loyal NBA. Until then, 'Merica, my country 'tis of thee, sick land of the greedy, of thee I sing.
Weekly Recap:
IPS was not getting any USA acronymic love as they got pummeled to kick off our nation's birth week by Santa Fe Style's southwestern ristras and roadrunners 71-104. The orange sherbert sunset shooters were sharing the sopapillas as four Style players notched twenty plus in this route led by TJ Sanchez and his 28. Kody Garcia recorded a double double with 26 pts and 13 rebs as big fellas Chano "Chief" Herrera and Oliver Fell each scored 21 in the dub. The short form misters from another sister were heroic on the glass as they fought tough with 44 team rebounds powered by Dylan Rich and his 22 pt 12 reb effort. Danny Salazar was a load inside going for 24 pts to lead the abbreviations in the loss.
Excitement swelled around the matchup of 505 Unit and a potential test against the streaky and sneaky Team Nuevo but that thrill was quelled quickly with a 95-75 Unit route led by Angel Parra's 20 pt, 20 reb, 4 dime masterpiece. Lukas Turner kept the scoreboard popping with 33 pts and kicked in 10 rips to boot while young fella Donaevan Ricker complemented the gang with a nice 17 and 10 double down. Team new kids on the block were without some key back up singers as the front man energy of Matt Brito and his 30 ball came up short despite getting 19 and 9 from their newest boy band member, Gabe Trujillo. Look out for Nuevo and their full squad come tourney time though.
Those thick midline masters of the grill kept up their winning ways as Dad Bods beat down the Degenerates and their abandonment of societal norms 92-79. David "Spider" Jaramillo was lighting fireworks and rocking cargos as he splashed the pot for 31 and proud dad Jassen Lopez was sporting some mean man boobs and beer belly with 22 pts, 16 rebs, 3 dimes and 2 thefts in the win. For the gambling addicted indulgers Josh DeHerrera rolled the dice from behind the arc for a team high 28 pts while the littlest unethical one on the court, Anthony Armijo managed a game high 13 rebs to go with 26 pts and 4 friendlies in the L.
Closing out night one we got those lava surfing norteños putting the heat on Prime Time behind Julian Gutierrez's 37 pts. Ryan Trujillo added a sparkling firecracker of a line with 15 pts, 16 rips, 4 dimes, 3 thefts for Heatwave in the win. For Amazon's delivery boys Manny Chavez showed up on time with 16 pts, 5 rebs and a game high 7 assists but even with Kamron Tiedeman's 19 and 14, it wasn't enough to get a black friday win.
The crown donning mids mustered up a win against Sloth, Chunk and the squad, 64-56 behind Allen Loya's all around excaliber of a game with 16 pts, 9 rebs and 7 dimes. Dedrick Johnson sat halfway up the iron throne as he summoned a 21 pt, 11 reb double double squireing for his mid knights and the obtuse table. Mikey Lopez was playing the role of Mikey with the inhaler as he gave breath to 18 pts and 9 rebs but it was Andres "Dre" Lovato inventing game like Data with 13 pts, 18 rebs and 4 dimes in the loss.
Back to back games for these two teams but it didn't slow down the airwaves for those long distance Units of 505 as they snuck by the mighty unethicals 74-68. Lukas Turner was dialed in once again with 37 pts and 11 rebs in the win and Adrian Saavedra couldn't hit a free throw but did manage 7 pts to go with 6 rebs, 6 dimes and 2 steals to help the entities. For Degenerates, Mario Archuleta went for 24 pts, 7 rebs, 6 dimes and 3 steals in the loss. Anthony Armijo backed up another good game with 22 and 7 but not enough to topple the top team in the league.
Two of the top offense teams tipped off to the tune of 92 and 81 but it was those famous burger flippers doing what they do on the week of the fourth, grilling up dubs and serving L's as they toppled Zia Elite and their four stripes of pueblo honor. Isaac Shanley was smoking the grill line as he singed the Zia's with 42 pts and 7 rebs. Matt Bagwell was in his bag...well all night with 14 pts, 8 rebs and 6 dimes to help order a lottacombo for the win. For Zia's finest Oscar Nuñez paced the pueblos with 21 pts and Elijah Rodriguez managed some fireworks with 18 pts in the loss.
To close out our eight game slate we got to see how not to be in the swish family as Dad Bods were sent home shuffling their whack ass new balances after quitting with ten minutes left in a 40 min game. Yo chubby, receding hairline, beard growers, we play all forty in this league no matter the score. Point spreads matter and we all want to play the full minutes because that's what we pay for and we want to get those stats up. As for that, Kody "Him" Garcia was slapping the Dads silly with 42 pts, 8 rebs and 6 dimes but let's just give him the 50 pt triple double flowers since that was the pace he was on while sporting panchos and patchouli. Chano "Chief" Herrera was slanging turquoise jewelry to the Dad's ol' ladies all night with 28 pts and 6 rips, Oliver "Young" Fell-a went for 14 pts, 7 rebs and 4 assists while Jordan Campos was busy dishing out red chile enchiladas all night with a game high 6 dimes to go with 3 steals. A couple of the guys on the other team managed a few points before they couldn't handle the twamping and had to go sulk on the bench where they belong. Santa Fe Style 89, Dad Bods 63 but more like 110 to 70. Get outta here.
With that Santa Fe Swish would like to remind all teams that there is no mercy rule in our leagues and if you choose to not finish a game there will be fines. Why? Because we all pay to play and when you choose to not show up or quit before the bell that's taking food from our mouth so we have no other option but to do the same. Ya'll like when you're on the winning end of a blowout getting your 40 and 50 balls so take the L's like men and keep playing till we hear the sound of the police so we can all eat. Peace.
Respect the game, Santa Fe Swish
