YOU THE REAL MVP
NBA rookie VJ Edgecombe's mother supported her family for seven years off of a generator because they couldn't afford electricity. Isiah Thomas' mother was offered $100,000 to sell her son's rights but chose to prioritize his future over quick financial gain for herself. Kevin Durant's mother would often go hungry to ensure her children had food first. Lebron James' mother was sixteen years old when she started her single parent journey, sacrificing all she had to allow the NBA's future scoring leader to follow his dreams. The NBA is full of remarkable hardship stories like these that highlight the unconditional love and sacrifice that mother's often endure.
I'm lucky enough to have not had the hardships of many of these harrowing stories you hear about. Two supportive parents growing up that are still together and with us today. We always had food in the fridge and a decent pair of kicks on our feet. But that doesn't mean my mother didn't sacrifice. It's in their nature to give up the comfort of their bodies for the birth experience, their sleep so their babies don't cry, and sometimes their own dreams so their children can follow theirs. In our household growing up it was two basketball obsessed boys and a father who fueled that obsession with his own past heroic sporting endeavours. To our mother's chagrin, sports was on the TV pretty much non stop, year round. Summer dinner scenes around the table were all to often three, sweaty, shirtless guys scarfing down a beautiful meal prepared by our matriarch just so we could get back to shooting hoops with dad and playing twenty one until dusk's darkness made it too dangerous to be checking a basketball at each other's heads. Our mother was at every event and game she could. Sacrificing her weekends and nights to watch her boys follow their dreams. I see that same type of sacrifice in my wife now with our four year old. The kind of mother that will drop everything to comfort our sick kid and that will change her plans in an instant to create one more core memory. So today, if you're lucky enough to still have the love of a mother in your life, give them a big hug, remind them how much they mean to you and like KD famously stated in his 2014 MVP speech, let them know..."You the real MVP".
Weekly Recap:
From Moms to Dad Bods as we kick off our rundown of action from the week where the Dads were in fine form as they dismantled Prime Time 95-81. All six Dad Bods that suited up scored double figures as Weston Zeller once again led the charge with a 20 piece. Jassen Lopez had an all around great game, going for 12 pts, 12 rebs, 4 dimes and 3 steals to help keep Prime Time in real time. For the Neon Deion lovers, Anthony Salcido put up 19 pts and 9 rebs while Kamron Tiedeman recorded a double double with 17 pts, 13 rebs and 4 dimes in the loss.
Game two pitted Team Nuevo against Silent Storm where Josh Salazar dropped a 40 piece, blue skies, dry eyes and the noise to the Storm's front door. Taking a commanding 53-35 lead into the break, Nuevo put it in cruise control for the second half and let Dom Baca drive the self propelled vehicle to the tune of 29 pts and 7 rips. Max Suazo cleaned the glass for a 10 reb, 10 pt double double. Jessie Woosley was playing possessed as he ripped 14 rebs, dished 4 assists and netted 11 pts to compliment Shawn Daniels' 29 pts but it wasn't enough to turn the new boys old as they lost 74-85.
Exciting times in the 8pm contest found The Standard down three on the last possession but they couldn't find the right gear or bucket as they dropped a close one 77-80. Heatwave used a balanced scoring attack behind Jonathan Ealey's 19 pts and Ryan Trujillo's gutsy 8 pt, 10 reb, 9 dime performance to edge the non-automatics. Bryan Enriquez, Emmanuel Gutierrez and Daniel Lopez all had 12 pts to pace a remarkably balanced team effort but the 4-21 from deep performance ultimately stalled this ride and sent them home to their mamas 0-2 on the season.
Killer Bees didn't care much for the green chile and cheese option that Blakes Lottabuckets was serving up as they stung the fast food icons with a 92-76 whooping. Antonio Lovato was back with his mother's love as he buzzed the box score with 25 pts, 7 rebs and 7 assists to lead the Bees. Luis Alvarado dropped 21 pts, 9 rips and 7 dimes to secure the win and make the Queen Bee happy. Isaac Shanley threw down 42 pts and 12 rips before he threw in the towel and went flower shopping, while Chase Stafford added 17 pts, 8 rebs and 7 dimes to make his mama happy despite the L.
Even a mother loves her Degenerate sons but it wasn't enough to keep them from getting Mobbed in the 7 o'clock contest as the lowly Degens lost a tighter then the score reflected, 50-64 defensive battle to the merry mobsters. Luis Alvarado filled in for the shorthanded flash mob and joined the Ellsworth bros Andrew and Ben with 17 pts as all three were in sync for this choreographed affair. Ben controlled the backboard with 17 rebs and 4 gifts while Andrew added 11 rebs and 6 dimes. Mario Archuleta was the only non decaying degenerate on this night as he managed 29 pts in the loss.
IPS put together a no Medium Kings protest as they snuffed out the crown donners 83-73 behind Greg Trujillo's 24 pts. Jacob Torresday added 22 tallies and big sign energy during this protest. For the average throne sitters Adan Lopez led the mediocracy with 24 pts and 6 dimes while Dedrick Johnson went for 18 pts and 7 rips.
For the geriatric portion of the week we almost saw Vatos Locos notch their first win of the season behind inspired play from Nick Williams' 19 pts and 7 rebs. But it wasn't enough to out duel Brian Fairchild's 29 pt, 6 reb and Matt Brito's 21 pt, 8 rip effort as team FAZO tightened their Air Force Ones and closed this one out 69-60.
505 Unit was handing out a Mother's tough love as they punished, grounded, spanked and scolded Nothing But Net 115-83. Jassen Lopez was on fire with 32 pts and 8 rebs and Richard Roybal was cleaning glass to the tune of 20 rips and 17 pts in this dominating Unit performance. Martin Ortiz did all he could to hold his mother's embrace as he went for 39 pts and Zack Valencia had 20 pts, 6 rips and 7 dimes in the loss.
Mob dropped IPS 90-65 to close out the week in the 35+ league. Five players were mobbin' the floor in double figures led by Andrew Ellsworth who went bonkers with 32 pts, 7 rebs and 6 dimes. David "Spider" Jaramillo did his best to keep the acronyms close with 23 pts but came up short this night.
As always, thanks for all the participation and support. Santa Fe Swish would like to send a big official Happy Mother's Day to all of you and yours. Women are the backbone of our society and we want to take this opportunity to honor them and say thank you.
Respect the game, and your mama, Santa Fe Swish
