I have no doubt that you guys love reading about the early days of the Tucson Basketball League, which began in 1988 (well before many of this season's players were even born) at a YMCA building that was torn down decades ago. When I began the League, I thought I might do it for a couple of years, maybe five at the most. I certainly didn't expect to still be doing it 38 years later.

I had been reffing City League and YMCA League games at different places in town and I realized that there was a ridiculous number of knuckleheads who ran their mouths and acted tough, but really didn't know shit about playing real basketball. I told myself that if I ever ran a League, its motto would be "This ain't the park!" It was never going to be about money (and it never has been). It would be about showing up, playing some ball with your boys (and/or your girls), and then going home. No macho nonsense, no running your mouth, no threats of violence. No trying to get out a week's worth of frustration in one hour. And so it has always been. In the early days, I used to always have the entry-fee amount in cash in my pocket. If a team was going sideways and couldn't (or wouldn't) act right, I would give them they money back, then tell them to leave and never come back. Our first season, we started with eight teams and ended with six, but I wasn't going to have it.

Things haven't been perfect, but they've been mostly great. In 38 years, I have kicked out four entire teams and five individuals, including one guy who is really, REALLY well known in the local basketball community. He and I are good friends, but his combative nature on the court has given him a Lifetime Pass to Go Play Somewhere Else. Things still happen occasionally, but this League is remarkably close to being trouble-free. For that, I have enormous gratitude to the players who police their own teams and either curb the worse instincts of their teammates or get rid of those teammates altogether. 

A couple seasons ago, on the very first day, we had two guys on the same team--after a win!--get into an argument that quickly escalated to pushing and shoving. (Reportedly, it was an uncle and a nephew arguing over a woman.) They were asked to leave, which they sorta' did. Unfortunately, they took their beef out to the parking lot, where it escalated further. I told them that if they didn't leave, I was calling the Sheriff (which I did). As the Sheriff's car was pulling into the parking lot, the two guys got into the same car and drove away. Their team never played another game. 

We had a couple things this past week. Again, two guys on the same team got into an argument. They were asked to leave and they did. Then, at night, we had some clown running his mouth after the close game that his team had lost. Dude has no game and a limited vocabulary. His social evolution was obviously stunted when he was repeatedly picked last in 3rd Period Gym. Now, he's going to have to play outside. 

I want to thank the vast majority of players who show up for the right reasons, play the right way, and then, I guess, go home in the correct manner. This will never be the park.