So, this past Sunday, we're nearing the middle of the season (and still in May!) and everything is cruising along. We've got one close game after another. Hickory squeaked by Hoop Hooligans, 62-56. The Vets beat Anybody Can in overtime, 68-65. Just a Game got by Rainbow Drillers, 61-58 while TR3 6IXERS beat Midday Buckets, 54-53.
And then this happened: Rogue 1 beat Crossroads, 86-34. What idiot scheduled that game?! Actually, before that game, Crossroads was 2-1, while Rogue 1 was 0-2 (having lost to Let Us Win and Starr Pass Ballers). It seemed like it would be a decent game. It was close until it started and the Rogue 1 kinda' pulled away. The Crossroads guys were really cool about it, especially after I promised to rain down retribution and hellfire upon the Rogues. That's not true. I would never tell a team not to score; that's up to the opponent to try to stop them. But I will always try for close games. They're just more fun.
Speaking of which, we had a monster game at night, with Lobos and Dyin' Breed going right down to the final buzzer. I was sitting in the lobby, separating the League's teams into divisions for the standings that will posted in the next day or two. I heard this near-constant roar and it was the good kind of roar--not belligerent or anything, just raw enthusiasm. It's one of the reasons the League still exists after all this time. Two teams going at it, giving their all, and having a great time. It was magnificent. (Lobos won, 61-60, on a driving layup at the buzzer.)
Also, a guy stopped by last night and expressed interest in getting a team in the League next season (which is still three months off). He was really impressed with the sartorial splendor that he witnessed. He really liked Area 520's professional-looking jerseys and was blown away by Doomsday's green-melting-into-black design. I'm really proud of what the League has become, but I want more. I want every team to get jerseys and get rid of the unmatching black T-shirts. I want weeks to go by without any forfeits. And I want every single game to be decided by single digots.