Monday night was the annual semi -final double header of the Greater Hartford Pro-Am basketball league. In a night that has traditionally presented the most intense summer basketball in New England, Monday night’s offerings were uniquely mundane. The weekend saw some major upsets in the quarterfinals to teams led by the great Ryan Gomes, former UConn talents Edmund Saunders and Talik Brown, and former COC conference stalwart Izzy Charo.
The first semi final game pitted number one seed All Axxess, led by 2006 tournament MVP and recent LA Clippers draft pick Jared Jordan, along with Durelle Brown (Big Fundies) and John Zito against perennial tournament giant Cambyland led by the versatile veteran Charles “The Beast” Easterling. In some regard the crowd at Fox Middle School knew they may have been witnessing the de facto title game. The crowd was also much more subdued knowing both Club Blu and Liv Ya Life, both fan favorites, had been eliminated.
This first game was a closer then the final score would normally indicate. With both teams nearly square at the half, a late third quarter explosion by All Axxess prompted by a few deep threes by Brown and dazzling passes by Jordan let to a rout.
As for the second game of the night, team Attorney Daron Freeman led by New London’s own and former Rhode Ram Tyson Wheeler and recent Golden State draft pick Stephane Lasme were matched up with the Connecticut Knights led by former 5 time NBA All Star Vin Baker.
From the outset of pre-game warm ups I knew this game would suck beyond belief. I had seen Baker play this summer, and was thus mentally prepped for the onslaught of depression one gets by watching a player who has fallen as far as Baker. Once one of the most versatile big men in the NBA, Baker’s alcoholism destroyed his career, almost ruined the Boston Celtics, and continues to dog him. In June Baker was arrested for drunk driving while leaving Foxwoods. Despite apparently failing the breathalyzer, he is challenging the charges. A sad story that appears to be getting worse.
Unfortunately, the play was sloppy and without creativity. Baker lumbered up and down the court and missed several free throws. Many left before the game even started. I couldn’t watch for more then a quarter. It was just terrible.
How do I retreat from this haze of semi-pro basketball depression?
Three days of New England Patriots training camp……
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