The Art of Pickup Basketball

If you're like me, football season is over for your respectable team and basketball season is just beginning.  Yes, watching basketball on TV is great, but basketball is a sport that anyone can play at any time and is fairly easy to find in the community.  I have a local community center that has a gym and people that are constantly playing the game.  For everyone else, just find a gym.  Gym rats are prevalent.  Find a few friends that like to play ball and take yourselves down to the gym.  It's great exercise and a great way to take out some aggression and competitiveness on some friends or some punks that you just want to beat up on.  That being said, there are some unspoken rules that are applied to pick up basketball.  If you are planning on playing (which you should be), here are some things to keep in mind..

1. Call "Next"- If you end up playing in a place with a lot of washed up basketball players like I do, calling next and sticking up for yourself is huge (especially if you don't know anyone in the gym).  Call "next" and make sure everyone hears you.  If they don't they'll proceed playing and you'll never get on the court.  Never let anyone "run it back".  If you're next, then make sure you play the next game with your chosen squad.

2.  Bring people you know-  Sometimes it's hard to pick a team at the local gym if you're a newbie.  Basketball players are very cliquish, so it would be best to bring a group of friends that you can play with so you don't have to go through the rigors of choosing a team.  Choosing players you don't know can result in a first game loss and you'll find yourself waiting to play games more than you actually play.  Bring a squad that you can win with, and you'll never leave the floor.

3. Play smart basketball- A lot pick up basketball players are scrubs.  If they aren't scrubs, they're usually selfish because they are playing on a platform that allows them to be that way.  Many good basketball players throw all of the discipline and fundamentals they know out the window because they are playing in a pick-up atmosphere.  If your squad plays with discipline, you will find yourself winning a lot of games and not leaving the floor.

4. Don't get in fights-  It can be frustrating playing with gym rats that don't always understand the rules of basketball.  If there are any conflicts during the game, it's usually best to give the other team the ball and laugh it off.  Just play good defense and get the ball back.  It's like they say, "the ball doesn't lie".  You'll usually get a rebound and end up scoring on the other end.  The basketball gods are always watching.

5. Don't be lazy:  MOVE MOVE MOVE-  Sure, pick-up is a lot fun and is a great way to kill a Saturday afternoon, but use it to your advantage!  Get some exercise while you're playing the game.  A lot pick-up players are lazy and you can get a lot of baskets and defensive stops by simply running.  Not only will it help you win some games, but it's also good for you.  Play to get in shape. It sure as hell beats working out in the gym.

Pick-up basketball is will never remove itself from our society.  It's one game that will always be there and always be competitive.  If you can find some friends and a gym to play some ball, DO IT.  If you get the chance to play, use these five tips to help yourself stay on the floor.  It'll help you stay in shape without having to run on the treadmill and lift those weights!

Trey Frisbey
Boy Meets Sports
12/23/2013
Twitter: (@boymeetsports) 

The Case to Keep Munchak

After browsing twitter for the past month or so, it's obvious where the fans stand on their opinion of Mike Munchak and his return for the 2014 NFL season.  It's hard to find many supporters for him and that's understandable considering the record his teams have held over the past two seasons.  You are only as good as your record says, yes, but the way this team plays and leaves their hearts on the field should be a factor in his job future as well.  He's made mistakes, yes, but he deserves just one more year, and here is why.

Team Chemistry

Coach Munchak's team have had problems closing games this season, but I have yet to see a game where they quite on each other or the coach.  This group really seems to love each other.  While the wins haven't come, I have a hard time believing they won't in the near future.  hypothetically, if we gave this team five or six mulligan plays this season, they could very well be 9-5 or better.  They love each other and they love their coach.  The wins will follow.  They just haven't gotten over that hump yet.

Improvement From 2012

Sure, the record may not indicate any improvement from last year to this year, but the play on the field has definitely said otherwise.  Other than two games, the Titans have been in every game this season going into the fourth quarter.  I know fans want wins, and rightfully so.  Close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades, but the improvement does need to be acknowledged.  Accept it people.  I know you love the mob mentallity, but it's not as bad as you make it out to be.

One More Offseason of Improvements

Justin Hunter, Delanie Walker, and Bernard Pollard are three names on the 2013 roster that we didn't hear last year.  They were off season pick ups that have really helped this team improve and move forward.  If Munch can have the courage to fire Bruce Matthews and have one more successful draft and free agent class, this team should get over the hump in 2014.  The quarterback position is still a big question mark, but next season could be a perfect storm for this team.  The division is anyone's to win in the next few seasons.

Trey Frisbey
Boy Meets Sports
12/15/2013
Twitter: (@boymeetsports)

Will Ferrell as Tiger Woods

After searching through some old YouTube favorites, I found this beauty from the ESPY's a few years back.  With Anchorman 2 coming out next week, I thought it would be great timing to give Will a shout out for this performance he pulled out at the ESPY's.  My favorite line in this masterpiece "It's not about being the best golfer, it's about being the best athlete alive." He pulls it off perfectly.  Hopefully watching this video will bring out a few laughs and get everyone pumped for anchorman 2!

Trey Frisbey
12/15/2013
Boy Meets Sports
Twitter: (@boymeetsports)

BCS Guru

My colleague decided to make predictions for the NFL, so I say why not do one for college?

This is the last year of the BCS, which means that many of you are rejoicing. The BCS has had alot of problems but it still made College Football exciting and sparked some debate. If the 4 team playoff started this year, Alabama's loss to Auburn would not be that big of a deal. Alabama would be one of the top 4 teams and still had a chance to win a 3rd straight National Championship.

But we do not have a playoff yet. So here are my projections for the BCS matchups:

Rose Bowl: Arizona St vs. Michigan St.

Arizona State will beat Stanford to get to the Rose Bowl. Michigan St. will get to the Rose Bowl even after a loss to Ohio State in the Big 10 Championship game because that is what the Rose Bowl does.

Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. UCF

OK State beats Oklahoma to win the Big 12 and UCF wins the AAC.

Sugar Bowl: Auburn vs. Northern Illinois.

Auburn beats Missouri to win the SEC while Northern Illinois gets to go to a BCS bowl game and get beat down for the second year in a row.

Orange Bowl: Alabama vs. Oregon

The National Championship game that everybody wanted to see during most of the season. Here is the matchup but not the venue everybody wanted.

BCS National Championship: Ohio State vs. Florida State

Whether you like it or not, here is your national championship. The SEC will not have a champion (does not mean that they are not the best conference in football though). Should be a great game.

Until next time,

Nathan Krispin

Boy Meets Sports

With What We Know Now: NFL Playoff Predictions

This is the first post of my periodic installment on Boy Meets Sports called "With What We Know Now".  In this column, I will make future predictions on outcomes of games or seasons, based on recent developments in the sport.  Today, I will pick the playoff teams in each conference based on what we know now, but didn't know at the beginning of the season. The Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, and New England Patriots are some of the favorites to make it to New York this year.  Who will be playing in January? Who will be on vacation?  There are many bad teams in the AFC trying to get that sixth seed, but only one can take it.

AFC

1 seed- Denver Broncos

2 seed- New England Patriots

3 seed- Indianapolis Colts

4 seed- Cincinnati Bengals

5 seed- Kansas City Chiefs

6 seed- Baltimore Ravens

The first five in the AFC playoff race are locks, but that last spot is extremely difficult to predict.  I did some research and played around the playoff prediction machine and think the Ravens have the best shot at getting in.  They have a tougher schedule after this week against the Vikings, but they're the Ravens, they get hot and win.

Playoff Prediction Machine

NFC

1 seed- Seattle Seahawks

2 seed- New Orleans Saints

3 seed- Philadelphia Eagles

4 seed- Detroit Lions

5 seed- Carolina Panthers

6 seed- San Fransisco 49rs

The NFC isn't as jumbled as the AFC, but it is a much more competitive and talented league.  The 49rs are fighting for their playoff lives with four losses, while the Raiders are still technically alive with eight losses in the AFC.  The Saints will win the NFC South over the Panthers, but Cam will win enough games to get them into a wildcard.  The Lions are just lucky to be playing in the division they play in.