a denial
Kurt Cobain ends Nirvana's iconic punk rock anthem "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by repeating "a denial" in a rhythmic, guttural scream. A denial is also a common response for basketball players miscues. Players practice endlessly, put in their ten thousand hours. Players are stretched and hydrated, skilled and athletic. How could they have possibly committed that unforced turnover or that common defensive foul? That turnover could only have occurred because the player was fouled while passing or dribbling, "the ref effd up." It's quite possible they did. Referees are human after all, imbued with all the same fallible traits that the rest of humanity trudges through existence with. After all eye witness testimonies are only accurate part of the time. So how can players hold a ref to higher standards then our legal system. A good ref is going to keep the game fair, balanced and often fail to meet the expectations of all ten players on the court. That's the point isn't it? A referee is there to enforce the rules, not come up with strategy. It's tradition that players push back against refereeing, not because it's so bad but because it is objectively to good. The argument only occurs because, as a player you hope or expect to get a leniency on the rules.
The NBA recently adopted a scientific approach to improve their refereeing issues. This led to the birth of the "Credibility Revolution," which in many ways is a movement towards stronger refereeing. The referees traditionally give preferential treatment, this left a league in which all superstars had come to expect that they won’t be called for breaking the rules. Many of the most average and aging recreational league basketball players sound just like the aggrieved, entitled pro athletes. They except to receive preferential treatment and are mad that the referees are doing their job and getting better. Now better is not perfect but what are players to do? Refs give the game legitimacy, order, drama and that beautiful balance of right and left to their own fallibility. Just to remind players of the game they are still subject to the imperfections of humanity even when we lace up our Nikes. So seriously, a referee is going to fail from time to time but that doesn't give players reason to deny their decency and abuse a fellow human. Players make mistakes too. We're all doing the best we can and we should all acknowledge that we can do better. Enjoy the exercise. Trust the process. Respect the game.
An exciting one night Weekly Recap:
Comp League elite eight got underway with the undefeated (1)Santa Fe Style vs (8)Degenerates and this one was all turquoise jewelry and chile ristras in the first half as Style went all sick, and scored 45 points to Degens 26. The loathly ones fired back with a 49 point second half but struggled to slow down Cody Garcia (24/16/10) and PJ Lovato (31/15/2). Anthony Armijo and Diego Trujillo led the comeback combining for 40 pts on 10-24 from deep. In the end the Style prevailed winning 87-75 to move on to the final four. Great season Degenerates!
Game two was a doozy, with back and forth action provided by (2)Team Nuevo and (7)Lethal Injection. The short handed syringes had to pick up a couple players to make five but it was the familiar duo of Greg Trujillo (33/8/5) and Alex Gutierrez (27/12/3) leading the Lethals against a spirited Nuevo squad. Josh Salazar launched twenty threes and landed nine en route to 34 pts and Max Suazo was New car smell personified with 21 pts, 12 rebs and 5 dimes. Dom Baca chipped in 22 pts as the Newbies held on for a 89-87 dub and an invite to the final four. Inspired game Lethal Injection, thanks for the solid season!
Game three had upset written all over it from the start as (6)Silent Storm had been building momentum for months and hitting their stride at the right time. Meanwhile (3)Mob was shorthanded and banged up going into Tuesdays quarterfinal. Shawn Daniels got the storm started with a steady down pour of 26 pts and Bailey Cabbage thundered home 20 pts and 8 rebs. With the shushed ones in control and up ten at half, Mob looked to Eric Martinez for a poncho, but his 27 pts and 7 rebs couldn't keep the Storm at bay as they put the clamps down on every other Mob option this night and controlled the tempo for a 73-59 win. Sick season Mob!
In the final game to make the final four we saw a similar script with a trending (5)Blakes Lottabuckets squad hitting their stride at the right time against a banged up and MIA (4)Killer Bz team. That was all Isaac Shanley (30/7) and Eli Dawson (26/7/7) needed to ordered up this upset as they tasted victory like seasonsalt on hot fries. Chase Stafford had a side of 16 pts on his own to help bring the upset to fruition. Luis Alvarado was slashing and shooting his way to 32 pts, and even Jacob Roybal's blood curling 24 pt 10 reb double double couldn't save the Killers from their dubious demise, losing 74-86. Always a pleasure Killer Bz, great season!
That sets our championship Tuesday night for the Comp Winter season. Thanks to all the teams and I hope we see you back for "The League" starting up April 28th during the summer sessions. Please gather all team jerseys from players and return them to the gym this week or find time to meet and get them back so deposits can be returned. Thank you!
Respect the game, Santa Fe Swish
