An update........

Well folks, today was the big day and Alex did AMAZING!!!!!!! It was a very long day, but Alex is now resting comfortably at the hospital. She is very nauseous from the anesthesia but some color is back in her face and she seems to be in minimal pain. Tonight and tomorrow could be rough on her pain wise as the medication wears off, but so far so good.

I have to say that the doctors and nurses at Baptist Hospital in Jacksonville are simply amazing. They are taking such good care of her and of my mother in law and me as well. They are attentive, compassionate and are treating her with the utmost respect. I really cannot say enough about them and if you are in Jacksonville, Baptist is really the only place to go to have cancer treatment. The hospital is very modern and again, the level of care is simply the best.

So, ideally she will come home tomorrow afternoon. BUT, if she is still experiencing nausea and is not getting around well, (Which she is now) then I will push for her to stay for another night. By law after major surgery, a patient can stay for three nights. Personally, I think the insurance companies are on CRACK if they want someone who has just had a mastectomy to be in the hospital for just over 24 hours. This is MAJOR surgery and it needs to be treated as such. That is my rant for the night.......

Until later, that is all.......

It is almost that time

Well folks, the big day is tomorrow as Alex goes in for a mastectomy so hopefully she can start the process of ridding her body of breast cancer. All is going well out here with surgery set for 7:30 Eastern Time tomorrow morning. (Why do I sound like I am doing a voiceover for a game?) Surgery is expected to last about two hours and I will post an update from the hospital, wireless permitting of course. If not, I will run home and crank out a post and a couple of dozen e-mails before heading back to the hospital.

Right now, I think Alex's mother and I are more freaked out than Alex is. If Alex is scared, she sure isn't showing it. Alex has shown so much strength, so much humor and has such an amazing attitude that it simply blows me away. In fact, we had a "Kick Cancer's Ass" dinner the other night. She figured that she might as well have a good meal before going under the knife.

Thanks to those who posted their well wishes on the site and have sent them via e-mail to me. Your wishes mean the world to us and KEEP THEM COMING!!!!!! Alex's Army is in full force with her co-workers from Everbank, my family, her family, our friends and the people neither of us know who have thrown their support behind us. Again, you all have our thanks and with your help, we will help my beloved wife be cancer free before she knows it.

A challenge

Ok, I want to see how many people out there are actually reading my blog by issuing a challenge. Anyone who reads this, I want you to write a message of support for my wife Alex in her battle against breast cancer. All messages will be sent directly to her. Who is in?

The Reality of Life

This is a post that is going to steer away from the world of sports, basketball and other relatively meaningless items in life, as the lives of my beloved wife and myself has taken a very cruel turn.

Last week, Alex went to the doctor for what we thought would be a routine mammogram. She noticed a lump on her breast and being as young as she is, we thought it was just a cyst or fatty tissue. Never in my life have I ever hated being as wrong as I was that day. She had a biopsy done right away when the mammogram showed some abnormalities. The next day, our world caved in as she was told that she has breast cancer that has spread to one of her lymph nodes.

Being that Alex is only 32, this came as a total shock to us. Alex is healthy, eats well, exercises on a regular basis and is generally in excellent health. She doesn't smoke, rarely drinks and does not have any history of cancer in her family. Again, "shock" is still what we are feeling right now as it has only been nine days since her diagnosis.

Two days later, we were at Jacksonville's Baptist Medical Center meeting with the team of doctors that will be taking care of her throughout this ordeal. We met with the nurse/case manager, the surgeon, medical oncologist and the radiation guy. (What his title is just isn't coming to me right now.) What all three of them agreed on is that she is going to need a mastectomy, 18-20 weeks of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation. The surgeon also ordered a full body scan to ensure that the cancer has not spread to other parts of her body, mainly her liver.

Right now, the full range of emotions are going through our heads. Why is this happening to her? What did Alex do to deserve getting this cruel disease? What happens next? Can we have kids? More importantly, what is her chance of survival? We know the odds are much better now than they would have been even five years ago. The advances in medical technology and knowledge are so much greater than they were in the past. The tests are more precise, the doctors are better trained, and in the case of Baptist their team approach is something that puts everyone on the same page. At least we don't have one doctor saying to get a lumpectomy, one saying she needs radiation with another saying she doesn't. The team has come to the conclusion as to what type of treatment she needs and that will be the most effective.

Last night, the reality of the situation started to set in for Alex. She was looking at the pathology reports and noticed that the levels in her liver were a bit higher than they should be. This of course had her mind spinning out of control thinking the cancer had spread to her liver, that she is going to die from this, and Alex being Alex was wondering if she would be able to keep her job when this is all said and done. Meanwhile I am trying to stay positive but with some of the same thoughts entering my own head. I of course want to know what the chances of survival are and just what kind of hell she will be going through both physically and emotionally.

I am happy to know that Alex's mother will be flying in from Vermont for the surgery and will be here for as long as we need her. Surgery is expected to take place during the first week of June with at least a two week recovery period. Ports will have to be changed, bandages changed, fluid drained and all of the fun things that neither of us thought we would ever need to do. The thing I am afraid of is what Alex's reaction is going to be when she sees for the first time that one of her breasts is no longer there. This is something that I can only equate to someone losing a limb, but I think in this case it could be worse. A woman's breasts are part of her identity and part of her vanity. I know that Alex doesn't want to look different or be looked at as "a freak of nature". (Her words, not mine) Personally, I know that if anyone even looks at her funny they will have to deal with me. Mess with Alex and pay the price.

There have been light moments to this ordeal. One of the things that Alex said when she was first diagnosed was, "Hey, there is a good side to all of this: I get new hair AND new boobs!!" I swear, only Alex would think something like that. We had a good laugh when I told her that when her hair starts falling out I would be shaving my head. She said, "If you do that I will not be seen in public with you!!"

The Fun of Traveling

The fun of traveling—

As some may know, I spent about five days in my beloved San Francisco visiting with family. It was great to see them but traveling back was a pain in the old patoot.

I got on a BART (Subway for those who are not Bay Area inclined) train at about 4:55 figuring on about an hour trip to the airport in San Francisco. Well, that plan went out the window when we started stopping and then starting; stopping and starting. The conductor got on the PA and told the crazy few that were on a plane at that ungodly hour of the morning that there would be delays. I think he said something about "single tracking" but I hadn't had coffee yet so I wasn't exactly computing much of anything in the old noggin.

So, I arrived at the airport about 15 minutes late and not having taken BART to the airport before got a bit confused and almost got lost. There are signs at BART that say to go to check-in but it really leads to things that are more like kiosks than anything. So I wandered around for a bit, cursed the stinking signs and then finally figured out that I needed to be on the monorail and moseyed on over there.

Once I finally got over to security, I was reminded of just how much of a dumb@ss I can be. Having just acquired the laptop I am on now, I forgot to take the thing out of my backpack and put it on the conveyor belt. Needless to say this caused a few backups in line as I tried to climb into the nearest hole while the TSA figured out that the laptop wasn't a bomb or had a fifth of Jack stashed inside of it.

The above though was nothing compared to the woman I encountered at the first security checkpoint. Now how dumb can you be to not bring your pucking ID???? She had a copy of her credit card and NOTHING ELSE!! I have no idea how that one turned out as I was trying to get my laptop through security, but somehow I think that woman missed her flight.

The flight from San Francisco to Charlotte wasn't too bad with the exception of the constant turbulence and the woman who was heaving out last month's breakfast from getting over served from the beverage cart. I was doing some work when I heard a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURL or five and then the heave-a-thon mercifully came to an end.

We landed in Charlotte and I had what I thought would be a couple of hours to kill, so I meandered a bit, charged the laptop and then headed over to the gate. Well folks, that is when the first of the delays hit as I thought we were going to need to build an ark to get away from the gate. (By the way, the next person who farts in an enclosed environment such as this plane will die a very painful death. Ewwwww.)

The skies opened up, animals were going two by two onto a United flight bound for Canton and I was of course delayed.

Originally we were delayed until 6:25 but then our plane didn't arrive; then the crew wasn't there and then finally at around 7:00 or so we finally started to get on board the plane. I figured okay, taxiing until about 7:30 and home by 8:30…..Not so fast. Due to the delays that hit because of the aforementioned monsoon, there were 20, count them 20 planes ahead of us for takeoff. The captain was kind enough to allow us to use our cell phones and those evil portable electronic devices that allegedly screw up the navigation system, so that way at least we didn't die of boredom while waiting to take off. So anyway, about 20 minutes later the captain gets back on the horn and lets us know we will be further delayed due to weather to the south. Oh goody!! More delays!! Mind you, I had been awake since 4:00 in the morning, slept about three hours anyway and was getting about as cranky as a six month old without their binky.

So, at around 8:15, we finally get a new flight plan and go merrily on our way. As I write this, I believe we are about 30 minutes from Jacksonville and the plane feels like it is a ping pong ball on speed. We are bouncing and bouncing and bouncing around to the point where the flight attendants are hanging on for their lives while trying to sell us air to breathe.

Now my final rant has to do with US Airways as a whole. Don't get me wrong, they are nice enough people, but can they even serve peanuts anymore? On the SFO/Charlotte portion of the flight there were "snack boxes" that were available for seven bucks. Seven bucks for some randomly stale snack food? I mean come on, are the airlines in that much trouble that they can't shell out a 20 cent bag of peanuts for someone who paid $400.00 to be on the flight?

Oh yeah, here was the other kicker. I never check a bag anymore. Not only does US Air charge $15.00 to check said bag, but my luggage has a bad habit of getting lost. Well, I am waiting to get on the plane in San Francisco and one of the not so friendly workers was telling people they had too much cargo and we had to check our luggage. Mind you, I don't have an ID tag on my bag so I am wondering what planet my bag ended up on. With my luck it is in someplace horrible like the middle of nowhere Kentucky and it will take a month for them to find the bag……………..

For UG

At the request of my uncle who claims his computer didn't load the old background in a timely manner, here is the new template. Uncle Great, does this one work for your computer?

Ya know, one always obeys someone who is a "trained killer"...........

I am in California visiting family and realized one thing right off the bat.....My nieces are HUGE!!! Man alive they grow like weeds.

New news in the world of me........

CANTON OH – Lynn Mickles, Executive Director of the Global Professional Basketball League has announced that Chris Munson will assume the role of Director of Basketball Operations for the Premier Developmental Basketball League.

A native of Minneapolis, Chris brings to the GPBL a thorough knowledge of sports as well as well as a bit of media savvy. Chris Munson has previously worked as the Sports Director for ESPN Radio Vermont and currently is the Director of Communications for the United States Basketball Association. Chris is also a freelance writer having written for Our Sports Central, US Basketball, The Vermont Times, The Vermont Guardian, Varsity Magazine and d3football.com.

This past season Chris performed play by play duties for University of North Florida’s coverage of men’s and women’s soccer and women’s volleyball for the Atlantic Sun Conference. Chris also performed play by play and color duties for UNF’s coverage of women’s basketball. Over the years, Chris has broadcast over 400 games on television and radio, including play by play duties for Fox College Sports for the inaugural College Insider.com title game in Peoria, IL.

“Being able to bring a talented person like Chris Munson to the GPBL is a tremendous coup for us” said Mickles. “His versatility and extended network in the sports industry will only make our league stronger from the top on down.”

“I look forward to working with him” added Don Seroka, Director of Media and Public Relations for the GPBL. “I feel as though with our combined experience, we will complement each other which will only benefit the league.”

The Global Professional Basketball League will start play in January, 2010. For more information visit our web site at www.thegpbl.com

Bless me bloggers for I have failed to write.......

Well, first off, the hand is a bit better. I have the thing in a splint which has covered three fingers which has made it virtually impossible to type. As I have some work to do today I have removed the stinking thing (Trust me, it reeks) for a couple of hours. This not being able to write thing is a pain in the arse.

I have come to the conclusion I need to hit some ballparks this year, so being in Florida, I am going to try and hit as many as I can and write them up for Our Sports Central. I went to The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville last week and am thinking of going to Daytona and Savannah as well. Any suggestions for Florida parks to go to?

In a couple of weeks I will be in San Jose, CA to cover a game there. Really, it is a much needed vacation as I spend some time with my nieces, sister, mother, father and brother-in law, but I will get some work in there as well. From what my brother in law has told me, Municipal Stadium is a nice park, but a bit old. We shall see when I head there for a game against Modesto a week from Sunday.

My first impression of the Baseball Grounds was a good one. The sight lines are very good, the amenities are plentiful, and I daydreamed about catching some rays on the berm in left field while taking in a ballgame. The park is in a good location and there are some good views of the Saint John's River and a couple of the seven bridges that connect Jacksonville to the rest of the world.

The staff was friendly, the seats were nice and the level of play is pretty solid.

The only criticism I have of the park is there are not enough beer stands for $1.00 Thursdays. I had to wait in line for 15 minutes for a cheap beer before I headed to the next stand and got a Bacardi and Coke for a mere two bucks. (When freelancing, I can get away with contributing to the local economy with an adult beverage. Shhhhhhhhhhhh, don't tell Paul at OSC this.) More to come in an upcoming article, but this is a wee bit of a teaser before I hit a game in the next few weeks.

Remember folks, Jacksonville Admirals basketball at 7:30 on May 6th at Edward Waters College. Yours truly will be behind the mic doing PA duties.

This one will be brief

This is brief as I am a pucking klutz, fell down the stairs and now have a broken bone in my hand. If I was to list my injuries, it would fill up a medical journal on how not to treat a body.

So, I go to the hand surgeon on Monday and I get the full damage. The X-Ray revealed a small fracture and maybe some ligament damage. We shall see when the swelling goes down.

I have color duty for the Florida State/UNF baseball game tonight at 6:45 Eastern Time. It is at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville which from the outside looks like a great ballpark. The game will be on the web at www.1320wbob.com. Thankfully I only need a voice and the good hand to write to broadcast.

I have a strange idea for a book that could irk the female fans out there. The working title is "WIFE Radio--The nagging station". The thought is to write about some of the characters I have worked with in radio with myself being the host of a show on how wives nag their husbands to no end. It is the station where husbands are in the nag free zone and can whine about their wives like they do about us all freaking day. Hmmmmmmmmm, this could be good.

I survived.......

Yes folks, I actually did survive my first televised and nationally televised at that basketball game. Honestly, it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be, but it certainly was nerve racking.

Here is the timeline of the day of the game and the aftermath:

7:00am--Wake up with flop sweat picturing I have to do the game naked which would turn straight women into lesbians. I then go back to sleep for about ten minutes in which Dick Vitale had a chance to scream, "You are terrible baby" in my head. I then decided that sleep may not be such a great idea.

8:30--Head to breakfast with Horace and Jason the killer agent. We yap, I ingest massive amounts of coffee and then the phone rings with a USBA disaster. Tension builds, I chew through a steel bar and eat that for a snack.

10:00--Head back to the room to continue with the USBA disaster and shower. Ponder hiding underneath the bed.

11:00--Production meeting at the arena in which I come to the realization that holy puck, I am going on national TV. The producer and the director were awesome at putting my mind at ease as these guys are total pros. Not a thing was left to chance and every detail was laid out for us. That is when I started to relax until I realized my spot charts still weren't printed out.

11:45--Leave meeting and try to find a printer.

12:00--Some very nice woman at the front lets me use her printer but the stupid *#^@ing computer doesn't print "docx" documents. I print what I can and smoke a carton of cigarettes to calm down.

12:15--Hacking up a lung, I head back in to watch the ODU shootaround.

1:00--We leave, and thankfully the Bradley SID will have a laptop connected to a printer so I can print the Bible known as my spot charts. I then declare March 31st "Bobby is God Day" and we head back for lunch.

1:30--I eat at the WORST buffet my stomach has had the displeasure of digesting. The chicken had more grease than an auto repair shop, sausage was plastic and the coffee was so strong it tried to walk away from me.

2:00--Vomit up the lunch from hell and head to the casino to watch the old people and have the traditional pre-game glass of red wine.

2:30--Back to the room to study, shower, study and get dressed. Man I hate ties.

4:00--Head to the arena but not after getting my pre-game pep talk from the King of the 49ers Matt Maiocco. Matt gives me great advice, cracks me up a bit and I relax.

4:20--Get to the arena and let the fun begin!!!!!

4:45--Get a breakdown of the pre-game from the producer and I get to head to the truck. Now if you haven't seen the inside of a TV production truck, it is a sight to be seen. There is more equipment in there than I thought was possible. The guys and gals went over everything they did, what each piece of equipment was and we went through the pre-game shots AJ and his gang shot that day. We go over the teaser for the game and I head back to the arena.

5:15--Down time which makes me nervous. Jason the agent keeps asking me if I am ok.

5:16--Jason asks again.

5:17--He asks again and I threaten to throttle him as he is making me nervous.

5:30--Quick interview for a documentary on the CIT. Four questions and out.

6:15--Record the teaser and it only took two takes. (I am picky, I didn't like the first one.)

6:35--SHOWTIME!!!! We record the intro which took three takes as I kept messing it up. Really, those are not as easy as they look. I kept looking at my notes and even then things got messed up a bit. Finally, we settled on the second take and it was gametime.

7:00--We are on the air and I relax as I am finally back in my element.

As the game went on I became more and more comfortable. I thought having the producer talking in my ear for replays and graphics would be distracting, but it really wasn't. AJ is such a pro that I knew he was speaking, but it was so to the point and so quiet that it didn't break my flow at all. AJ, if you are reading this, you are one of the best and you did a FANTASTIC job of putting me at ease.

I did make a couple of mistakes, and I did trip over my words quite a bit, but after reviewing the game, I did better as the game went on. I was not used to a three man booth, and the arena was LOUD so I had a difficult time hearing myself talk.

Overall I give myself a "C" for the game. It was a decent performance but I could have done MUCH better. (Oh yeah, getting the name of the network correct is usually a good thing. I called it "Fox Sports College" twice in a row. Sorry Fox guys.......) Hopefully I get more chances to do TV because man alive it was fun.........

On the road again........

Well folks, I hit the road for a brief two day trip to Peoria, IL to broadcast the collegeinsider.com finals between Bradley and Old Dominion.

For the three fans of the blog, the game will be on Fox College Sports at 8:00 Eastern, 5:00 Pacific and 3:00 in Hawaii. What time it will be on in Morocco is beyond me as I have no idea what time it is now in Morocco.

I don't know who is looking forward to this more: Myself or my brother in law Matt. I just got off the phone with Matt who said to me, "Chris, I can't thank you enough for doing this. I have your mother and your sister looking forward to Bradley against Old Dominion!!" Matt, anything I can do to help is my pleasure.

The game itself should be a good one. Bradley is an outside shooting team that plays a motion offense that will be going against one tough defensive team. Look for a tight game, one in the low 60's or so.

Well folks, time to hit the road..........

The USBA Chronicles

Well, as I posted a post or two back, I have been named the Director of Communications for the newly formed United States Basketball Association. Over the next few months, I will be blogging about the experience of getting into professional sports from the beginning. This should be a trip and a half.

Yesterday I met with the coaching staff and the Director of Operations for the Jacksonville Admirals. Coach James Easton is an interesting guy whom I think will do very well with this franchise. He has the enthusiasm, has the passion, and knows the game very well. I think teams are going to have to expect to run and run as coach will emphasize defense and a run and gun type of offense. It will be interesting to see what teams will be able to keep up with the Admirals and to see if the scoreboard explodes with the amount of points he wants to put up on the board.

My role with the Admirals is going to be as their broadcaster and kind of a consultant of sorts. Since I am in the area, I have offered to help them out as much as I can. I would like to see the Admirals be the "model" for the way USBA teams run their own franchises. Do I know everything about running a team? Hah!! I have common sense knowledge, but if I can help Coach Easton and his staff out, I am more than happy to do so.

As far as the league goes, it is fascinating to see what it takes to get a league off the ground and the amount of money involved. I saw the budget yesterday and there is money allocated for every teeny, tiny little thing. It got down to how much is allowed for concessions, basketballs, officials, security, and again many things I never would have thought of.

This is going to be an education as I have never done media relations, nor have I ever worked directly with a league before. I have been in the broadcast business, but that is a far cry from what I am doing now. I crank out press releases, develop plans as to how to teach players to deal with the media and fans, and even taking calls about tryouts from agents and players. In a sense, I feel like I am back in school again which is a great thing. I am learning things every ten seconds and am anxious to get to the teaching part of my job. Of course I can't wait to broadcast the first game, but that is something I have done before. The thought of learning something new every day is a great experience for me.

One thing I have learned is about just how dumb players can be. I had a guy call me about the Jacksonville tryout and he actually asked me, "Will there be a drug test?" Now to me, this was a huge red flag and I told him so. Nothing like letting a representative of a league know one MIGHT be on drugs. I guess he needed to know if he needed to clean the body out or not.

More later as I need lunch.........

Yuck.......

To the few fans I have out there, my apologies for not blogging more, but I have had my arse kicked by a nasty sinus infection which has had being at the computer a challenge. Other than my head killing me and not having a voice for three days, here are the updates:

1) Good job by UNF in their defeat of then sixth ranked Florida State. It was a great ballgame in Tallahassee, and I had a blast working with UNF SID Eric Scott. The man tossed a few zingers out there which kept even me on my toes.

2) On March 31st, I will be broadcasting the finals of the Collegeinsider.com post season basketball tournament for Fox Sports College. This will be my first national gig and I am very appreciative for the opportunity. Yes Mom, I will be in a shirt and tie.

3) The ABA is still a joke with the "playoffs" set to start this weekend. Teams who have barely played have "qualified" for the tournament including the newly formed New York Knights. The Knights have played a grand total of ONE game and somehow qualify for the playoffs. So much for the rule that says teams have to play in 70% of the scheduled games to make the playoffs. Another one from the insane world of Joe Newman.......

That is all for now, I am taking a nap.

Some self-promotion and my condolences

Munson named USBA Director of Communications

The United States Basketball Association (USBA) has announced the hiring of Chris Munson as their Director of Communications. Chris will also be responsible for broadcast duties for the Jacksonville Admirals.

Chris is the former Sports Director for ESPN Radio Vermont and has written for Our Sports Central, US Basket, the Vermont Times, Vermont Guardian and d3football.com. Currently Chris lives in Jacksonville, Florida and is a broadcaster on Atlantic Sun Network coverage of University of North Florida athletic events.

Munson says of his hiring, “This is a tremendous opportunity for me. This is a great step for me in my professional career and will allow me to work directly with a professional sports league.”

USBA president Duane Jenkins says, “Chris brings a strong knowledge of the media and how to work directly with them. His experience in the field of journalism and minor league basketball will be a tremendous asset to the USBA.”

About the United States Basketball Association (USBA)--- The USBA is a mid spring through early summer professional basketball league. League offices are in Atlanta, Georgia. The USBA is an independent league and does not have affiliations with any other league. Players can be catapulted to enjoy further opportunities in the National Basketball Association Developmental League, as well as be exposed to other professional basketball leagues from around the world. The league age requirement is players be 20 years or older.

For more information on the league, go to usababall.com. For media inquiries, please contact Chris Munson at chris.munson8@gmail.com

This is going to be a big challenge for me and one I am very much looking forward to. This is a very natural progression in my career and it is something I have always wanted to do. Cross one more thing off the bucket list.......

My condolences go out to the family of Barre-Montpelier (VT) Times Argus sportswriter Pete Hartt who died suddenly yesterday afternoon. Pete was a wonderful man who had a smile, a joke, and wisdom when it seemed to be needed the most. Pete, you were too young and you will be missed. Thanks for all of your help when I first broke in with ESPN Radio Vermont, and thanks for welcoming me into the fraternity of Vermont broadcasters and sportswriters.

Ahhhhhhhhhh, baseball season

Tonight is the night I look forward to the most; the start of baseball season. Well, at least for me.

I have color duties for the University of North Florida against Michigan and can't wait. I just love the game and broadcasting baseball is more fun than watching George Bush Jr leave office for the last time.

Preparing for baseball is a different animal. One has to have just about every piece of information about a player as there is so much dead time in between pitches, pinch hitters, etc. One has to be able to have the ability to paint the picture of a game so a blind person can "see" what is going on.

What I do is this: I will give the temperature and weather conditions every couple of innings so the listener knows what the players are facing. If the wind is at the hitters back, the ball will fly and the pitcher has to keep the ball low. If the wind is in the face of a hitter, maybe the pitcher can get away with hanging one as he knows the wind will knock the ball down. Weather is important, especially in baseball.

Also, I will set the defense, mentioning how far off the lines the corners are; whether or not the infield is in, and where the outfielders are. I will walk through what both the pitcher and hitter are doing on the mound and in the batter's box and then describe the pitch. Everything has to be described to create the visual effect for a listener on radio.

Baseball is timeless. I have seen games go an hour and 50 minutes to five hours. One has to be prepared and also have a broadcast partner with a sense of humor. Two of the best I have ever seen are Jerry Remy and Don Orsillo with NESN in Boston. Those two play off each other better than any two I have ever seen or heard. When things get a bit boring, Orsillo will set up Remy and vice versa. When that happens, all bets are off as Remy usually starts laughing so hard he can barely speak. Yes, it keeps them amused, but it also shows the viewer that they are having fun together. Yes, good chemistry is important.

Now, for my baseball compulsions. I HAVE to be at a game in time to watch batting practice. Generally I will go on the field, check out stances, the wind and what the field conditions are like. How can I paint the picture if I don't know what is happening before the game?

I need pencils and plenty of them. Honestly, I am not the greatest at keeping a scorebook so I need pencils so I can erase my countless mistakes.

Gatorade....Must....Have.....Gatorade. I talk so much that if I don't have plenty of fluid, I will sound like an obscene phone call gone bad.

Normally I have a glass of red wine before a game. I do this because I was once told red wine is good for the voice. Superstitions are a pain in the tush to break.

Tonight's game will be on the web at www.1320wbob.com starting at 6:45 Eastern Time. John Lawrence and I will have the call starting at 7:00.

My never ending issues with the ABA

As many who have followed my work on Our Sports Central, US Basket and other publications know, I have some serious issues with the ABA. The thing is, as every day goes by, I seem to have more and more issues with the league that simply will not go away and simply die.

At last count, I have over 220 franchises that have been announced as entering the league, then they disappear. Some, like the Vermont Frost Heaves, have valid reasons like moving to a real league. Others cite ownership issues, have their owners arrested for fraud, players don't get paid, and more issues than there are teams who have folded.

Here is one of the latest good ones from the league. The Georgia Gwizzlies (Named for a typo....No, I am not kidding) were suspended by CEO Joe Newman for the rest of the season for failing to show up for a scheduled game. Well, the Gwizzlies and their typo filled releases are STILL playing against ABA teams. I guess Embry and his delusions of wanting to play in the CBA aren't allowing him to make even remotely sound judgements.

What is even better is an e-mail exchange that between CEO Newman and Our Sports Central president Paul Reeths that was posted on OSC. In the exchange, Newman makes the claim that teams missing games doesn't hurt anyone. Now mind you, this is a league who played 38% of their games last year. This year, no one can tell what percentage of the league's games have been played since there isn't even a master schedule on the site.

It really gets me that Newman seems to think missing games doesn't hurt anyone. How about the fans who made plans to see a game and then there isn't one. What about the sponsors who aren't getting the exposure they paid for? Does he factor in the players; many who get paid by the game? Nah, no one gets hurt by missing games, no one at all.

I will end up going on about this disaster of a league at another time as I have countless stories that I have accumulated over the years. Now, time to go to a ballgame.

How I prep for a game

People often tell me they think all I do is sit in front of a microphone and yap about a basketball, baseball, hockey game, etc. What people don't realize is there is a ton of other work that goes into actually preparing for a game. Trust me, the last thing I want to do is to look or sound like a fool on the air. Here is a general list of what goes into my preparation for a basketball game:

Two days before:

Go to each team's website and grab rosters, stats, and media guides. I then go to the conference and NCAA sites and grab the leaders. Print those out and start highlighting stats, accomplishments (Player of the Week, academic honors, etc.) and comparing common opponents the two schools may have played. I then highlight (With the trusty yellow highlighter) the leaders on each team in each category and where players rank in the conference and in the NCAA.

Contact each SID and ask for game notes, pronunciations, etc. Start a general review of the players so I have a base knowledge before I start the rest of my prep work.

One day before:

Take all of the information I have and create what I call a spot chart. This has the player's number, name, hometown, stats and any other information I think will be pertinent throughout a broadcast. This can be quite tedious, but reinforces the information in my head. Also, if a name is difficult to pronounce, I make sure the name is phonetically spelled out on the sheet. This way I am not guessing and pronouncing it in 300 different ways. Really, what I end up doing here is taking about 70 pages of information and condensing it into two sheets of paper.

Next, on that same chart I take the team rankings in PPG, defense, rebounding, three point percentage, three point percentage defense and turnovers and put it a bit apart from the individual information. This always comes in handy during pre-game. I then print it all out and staple the information by team and by league. Really, I want everything at my fingertips when I need it.

Day of:

Check my bag for highlighters, pens, media guides, throat drops, stats, etc. If I forget something, I tend to go into a panic and that is the last thing I want before a game.

Before the game I grab a bite to eat and have ONE glass of red wine. It is superstition as I was told once that red wine is good for the pipes. Especially if I am doing a game solo, I need my voice to be as strong as it can be. While eating, I either look over stats and info or just read my book. Both are actually quite relaxing.

Upon arrival at the arena, I check the setup, talk to the coaches, talk to the SID's, watch warmups and do sound checks. I am compulsive about getting to the arena at least an hour and 15 minutes before a game so if anything goes wrong, it can be fixed before the game starts.

About 30 minutes before airtime, just don't bother me unless you have to. I am usually going over things with my PBP or color guy and like to get into my little zone. I hate not being prepared and this is my last chance to do so. I will say each name about five times, regardless of how easy it is to be safe.

Ten minutes before, we do a final sound check which takes all of about 30 seconds to do. People hear us going "Check, check, check", singing, swearing (We like to get it out of our systems) or having a running conversations with the officials. Many of the refs are very cool, so we will give them a hard time when they think we are on the air.

One minute before, we are ready to go and it is the time of the day I love the most......Gametime. The proverbial red light goes on and I just hope I don't screw up too bad.

Total time it takes to prep is about four to five hours. When I was with ESPN Radio in Vermont and doing this three to five times a week, I would spend countless hours doing prep. The more work one does, the better the broadcast will be.

The 21 year old pro basketball GM

As posted at www.oursportscentral.com


The world of basketball is a small one. Yes, there are a ton of players out there, but if you want to get into the front office, one needs some experience, some passion, and the desire to make a minor league team appear major league. You would think age would be a factor as well. If you thought that, you haven't met wonder kid Adam Dantus.

Dantus is a mere 21 years of age and is the general manager of the Maryland Nighthawks and works closely with running the operations of the Premier Basketball League. With the Nighthawks taking the year off from league play, he's concentrating on league operations this season. Not only does he work with the team and the league, but to add to all of this, he is a senior at the University of Maryland and is set to graduate in May. Oh yeah, he is also the youngest general manager in all of professional sports.

Here is Adam's long resume:

At age 18, Adam was the on the Nighthawks sales and marketing staff, and was the radio play-by-play guy. At 19 he was the stats guy for the Nighthawks, sales and marketing director and was the team's communications director. This is when they had Sun Ming Ming and media from all over world was at Maryland games and they sold out on a nightly basis. At ages 20 and 21 he was/is the Nighthawks General Manager, and the PBL webmaster and stats manager. Dantus also designed the new website and is responsible for updating it daily and takes care of stats for league. At age 20 he founded Advancing Athletes, Inc., which represents 15 players playing in minor leagues in the US and overseas. At age 21 most of us were worried about chasing girls and drinking beer.

The love affair with minor league basketball started with a little pushing from Adam's mother. His mother found a job with the Nighthawks that was advertised in a local paper. Initially, Dantus wanted to just concentrate on school, but his mother pushed him along so he could start to fulfill his dream of working in professional basketball. Some say that if Dantus did not take the job, the PBL would not be where it is today.

Being in school, running the Nighthawks and being an instrumental part of the success of the league is a daunting task.

"To be honest with you, it's tough," said Dantus of his tight schedule. "Being a fulltime student, working 60 hours per week, plus having a girlfriend, it can be rough and not everyone is happy all of the time; It is very hectic but I love it.

"I usually wake up at 7AM and check my email...on game days I normally receive over 100 emails so that takes a lot of time just reading through them and getting back to everyone. I make an effort to get back to everyone. After I am done responding to my morning emails I make the necessary updates on the league website and then it's time to create the game files to send out to the score keepers. Then at around 11AM I'll go on OurSports Central and read the media articles and occasionally I'll read what the fans are saying on the message boards. Then I'm off to classes.

"When I get back around 2-3PM it's back to checking emails, voicemails, returning calls and making more updates on the website, sending out press releases, etc. When the games begin to be played I have to be by my computer in case anything goes wrong and once the stats, photos and recaps start to roll in, it's back to updating the website and getting the press releases out to the media."

The work for Adam, despite the long work weeks and trying to balance family and school, seems to be rewarding and a labor of love.

"I like to see everything that I put an effort in to be a success. If any little thing goes wrong, I won't be able to sleep," he said. "I am very unselfish and don't like to be in the spotlight. I'm a team player and I like to see the players and teams that I work with be successful. The best feeling I get is seeing my hard work and time pay off. I also like seeing players who I have built a professional relationship with be successful on and off the court and advance their careers. The best feeling I get is knowing I made a significant impact on the lives of these players."

When it comes to the future of the PBL and minor league basketball as a whole, despite the challenges the industry faces, he is optimistic.

"I have a feeling this league is going to be successful and around for a while," Dantus added. "If you look at all of the other minor basketball leagues, they have failed because of their business model. You have to go outside of the box, take a risk and differentiate yourself from the competition and that is exactly what this league is doing. No other minor league has a national TV deal and is doing the things the PBL is doing. The PBL is going to be in millions of households on the @Sports TV network and the exposure for the league and its players is going to be tremendous."

Dantus has quite a few fans, one of them is Battle Creek head coach Terry Sare.

"Adam is well beyond his years and that is what is important," said Sare. "When Adam is around people with knowledge, he is a great listener and absorbs everything. Adam works so hard and that is what sets him apart. Every time I talk to him, he is doing something and I often wonder if he ever goes home. It is the countless hours he puts in and that is what makes him what he is. Other young people figure they are owed something but Adam just doesn't think that way. I look in the future and I hope I get a chance to work with that young man. He has a great situation, but if I have the chance to work with him, I will."

Chris Munson is a freelance sportswriter based in Jacksonville, Florida. Chris has written for Our Sports Central, US Basket, the Vermont Times, Vermont Guardian and Varsity Magazine. Chris is also the former Sports Director for ESPN Radio Vermont.

Farve and A-Rod

Another sunny day in Florida today as I write, ponder and look for a job. Yes, this sitting around waiting for the phone to ring and the economy to improve is getting old. Anyhoo, here are my thoughts on the two big sports stories of the week:

Brett Farve has retired and who really cares with the exception of ESPN? He has finally hung it up but the thing is, who didn't expect this? He played for 17 seasons, retired once because he was a baby and now he is doing it again. Now the question is, will he come back yet again and where will he play? Yo Brett, go fishing and hunting and call it a career. Don't keep coming back so a great legacy does not get ruined.

A-Rod.............HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! That is what I have to say about that. The man cheated and this time actually admitted it. He lied before and we know he is lying when he says he doesn't know what was injected into his own body. How can a top caliber cheater not know what is going into his body? Oh yeah, he knew but just isn't bright or honest enough to admit it.

Now, the new rules for those who have been on roids:

Hitters:

1) If beaned in the head, the batter is out.
2) 15 balls for a walk, one strike for an out. Hey, they are cheating so why shouldn't the rules change?
3) No leading off the bag. If you have that much speed from juicing, you don't need any other advantage.
4) All plays are force plays with an outed roid user on base.

Pitchers:

1) Bean a guy, you are suspended for 50 games. After all, there is rage in that body of yours and obviously counseling is needed.
2) 15 strikes and one ball. CHEATERS!!!

Anyhoo, there are my nickel opinions for the day. As I sit waiting for the phone to ring, I wonder if I should start watching soap operas. Nah, there is still writing to do.

Randomness for the morning

Just a few things from the mind of Chris on this Thursday morning:

1) PLEASE support the Special Olympics of Duval County and for that matter, wherever you are. These are amazing, incredible and remarkable people who will be showing off their abilities at the Duval County Summer Games on the 28th of this month. We will have appearances by Ronald McDonald, the UNF cross-country team, Gator Country, Movin 100.7 and many more. We are expecting over 600 athletes and 500 volunteers. Please come out to the Bolles School in Jacksonville from 8:30-4:00 and give a big hand to those with intellectual disabilities.

2) There isn't much going on in the world of minor league basketball and I am giving up ripping on the ABA for one whole hour.

3) Be patient with President Obama. He already has his critics but he has a royal mess to clean up and it will take time. Remember, he has been in office for two weeks and progress takes time.

4) Congratulations to Julie May Syquio of the UNF women's basketball team for being named the Atlantic Sun Player of the Week. Julie May has improved her defense, her shot and her overall game. This is a great accomplishment and keep it up.

News from minor league basketball

Here is the latest from the world of minor league basketball:

ABA: The league continues to have its issues with a lack of a league schedule, standings, stats, or really any information on the league with the exception of continued expansion. It is nearly impossible to tell who is in and who is out of this train wreck of a league as CEO Newman doesn't mandate his teams report anything to the league office. Teams come and go without any notice from the ABA. As always, the ABA gets an "F-" for being an utter disgrace to the world of minor league basketball.

The Georgia Gwizzlies have been suspended by the league for failure to meet obligations. The Gwizzlies missed a scheduled game against Knoxville which lead to the suspension. In an e-mail, Gwizzlies owner Embry Malone said, "We were loading up ready to go 3 hr to Knox,I called knox said we are running late and found out last minute our van was not available,then joe sent me this threating email if I don't play I'm suspended,this after he cussed me out two days befroe about another matter,we could hade played,moved the game to 6:00,not 5:00pm,but Knox said no so we stayed in Atlanta.We still going to play 12 more games with teams already booked,those teams could careless what the League office say cuz they aint paying the bills to play.Final for 10-20 K the ABA give you a piece of paper and 36 basketballs and that is it and call it a League,that's a joke." I think that says it all.

CBA: The league has suspended operations for the remainder of the season. The league will play its three game title series in Albany this weekend and then hang it up and reorganize.

PBL: The PBL is running on all cylinders with some great games and great individual performances. Look for Augusta's A.J. Millien to make an impact the rest of the season and possibly move on to an overseas team. Millien hit for 44 the other night and is averaging 33 a night.

The league has played 100 percent of its games, are issuing regular press releases, awarding a Player of the Week, and issue a weekly PBL report done by Chuck Miller. Stats are updated each night, standings are updated as soon as the games are final, and the league is running very smoothly. The league gets a solid "A+" for its effort, solid crowds, great games and outstanding communication from the league.

USBA: The USBA is looking to have a 16 team league starting April 11th. The teams will be based in the southeast US and seem to have solid financial backing and the help of some of the bigger names in the world of minor league basketball. There is also a chance that yours truly will be named the Director of Basketball Operations for the Jacksonville franchise.

My issues with the ABA

Here is the thing that bugs me: When I met Joe I found him to be personable, likable, funny and a very pleasant man to talk to. Q is a hysterically funny man, great personality, great stories and was fun to talk to. Personally, I like both men but I don't approve of the things they have done.

Am I sarcastic and cynical when it comes to the league? Yes, I am and I admit that. Outside of being a journalist, I am a fan of the game. I LOVE going to games, seeing Bump the Moose; the "Free Kerry Lyons" fan club; the outrageous promotions and the fact that these are guys playing for next to nothing because they want to hang onto their dreams.

There is nothing more I like that watching a perfectly executed fast break, great defense, and the fact that every time I go to an arena, I will see something I have never seen before. The funny thing is, I get paid for this and love every nanosecond of it.

I want minor league basketball to succeed. I want to see solid teams, I want to see the fans be able to attach themselves to a team and I want to see kids have role models in ABA players.

I want the league to succeed and some of my comments come from the fact the ABA just isn't cutting it right now.

Gwizzlies foul

OOPS!!!! As tends to be the case at times, there was a random misspelling in one of my posts. As my buddy Adam pointed out, "parity" is what is going on in the PBL. "Parody" is the mockery the ABA is making of professional basketball.

At least I correct my grammatical errors. This is unlike Embry "The Human Typo" Malone in Georgia.

Speaking of Embry, the man who touts everything is now quiet as he missed a scheduled game against the Knoxville Thunderbolts. What happened Embry? Are you now part of the continued parody that is the ABA? Were you typing a press release in the van and when you performed a grammar check your laptop exploded? HOLY FLYING COMPUTER PARTS BATMAN!!!!!!! Obama thought the world was being attacked by a hard drive!!!!

The Early Report on the PBL

This is part of an article I am working on for Our Sports Central, and of course I hit writer's block so I am tossing it out here. For some reason things look better when I re-write things on the blog than on boring MS Word.

The PBL is in the third week of its season and to myself and many observers, this league is going to stay around for awhile.

Joe Newman may accuse me of being a "PBL Stooge", but that is not the case and not why I am complimentary towards them. Look at this one, in the first week of the season, the average margin of victory was seven points. Seven freaking points over a weekend of games? How is that for parody?

Stats are updated daily; transactions are put on the website when they actually happen; standings are updated and oh yeah, they have a national TV deal. Take that Joe Newman.

Teams are required to submit their game stories to the wonderkid who does everything, Adam Dantus. If they don't submit the wrapups within a couple of hours they get fined. A player is signed and Adam doesn't know about it at least 24 hours before the team's next scheduled game, they get fined. Heck, CEO Doyle has "mystery fans" at each game to ensure teams are doing things in a professional manner. Newman, you should have listened to Tom and Dr. Sev.

So far, the league gets an "A". It would be an "A+" if not for the fact that many of the teams don't have the ability to do live stats on game days.

The league is solid, all the games have been played and man alive, the Heaves ended Rochester's 48 game home winning streak. Watch out, this league is going to be fun this season.

Time to drop sports for a minute

Today, there are more important things going on in the world; the inauguration of Barack Obama.

Parents, keep the kids out of school today, plop them in front of the tube and watch. Watch what could go down as one of the most important events in US History. Today, the first black president will be formally given the title of President Obama.

I have not been a fan of this country for many years. Being the cynic that I am, I have seen discrimination; bigotry; racism and poor treatment of minorities. Today, I see that we as a country have ignored the color of one's skin and elected a man based on his abilities, what he can do for an economy in peril, and a country that still has problems with race relations.

Mr. Obama has the chance to make a tremendous impact on America and on the world. Mr. Obama, please fix our economy, please help us to see what is in a man's heart and soul as opposed to the color of one's skin, and please help us find peace in a turbulent world.

Today is a great day in history, and for the first time in years, I am proud to be an American.

See you all in front of the tube.

ICE STORM WIN!!!

From the Barre-Montpelier Times Argus:

By CHRIS MUNSON Correspondent - Published: January 18, 2009

MIAMI – The motto of the 2008 Ice Storm season has been, "Are you average?" in memory of special teams coach Mike LaBarre, who passed away in August. On Saturday at the USA Bowl in Miami, the Ice Storm proved they are well above average.

Montpelier native Brad Ruderman went 10-for-30 for 180 yards and a pair of scores to Austin Partain, and coach Doc Perez earned his 100th career victory as the Vermont Ice Storm defeated the DC Explosion 17-12.

The Ice Storm defense set the tone early by stopping a nine-play drive by DC as Donny LaFluer sacked DC quarterback Jacob Foster on a fourth-and-inches play from the Ice Storm 35.

The Ice Storm could not take advantage of the opportunity as kicker Evan Hicks missed a 32-yard field goal, and following a pair of punts, the first quarter ended scoreless.

Ruderman went through a rough patch in the second quarter, throwing two interceptions, including one that was returned 74 yards for a score, but redeemed himself as he connected with Partain on a 41-yard touchdown pass and the Ice Storm took a 7-0 lead into the locker room.

The Ice Storm defense was a big part of the story, holding DC to only 41 total yards in the first half and forced DC quarterback Jacob Foster to throw four interceptions. Chris Coppins, Cory Belida, Kyle Bombardier and former Quebec Titan Andrew Blevings had interceptions for the Ice Storm.

The proverbial icing on the cake came two minutes into the fourth quarter when Ruderman once again hooked up with Partain; this time from two yards out and the Ice Storm took a 17-6 lead. The Explosion scored with a minute to go on a Foster 19-yard TD scamper but failed to recover the ensuing onside kick, and the Ice Storm came out with a 17-12 victory.

"This was a total team effort," Perez said. "DC has phenomenal athletes, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The only way we won this game was because of the way we played as a team."

Also on the Ice Storm roster are Barre's Kevin Matott and Lloyd White and Montpelier's Dan Lawson.

The weekend in sports

Well, the weekend in sports in my little world.

Tonight: JU at UNF--www.asun.tv at 5:15 Eastern Time. Mike Ridaught on PBP and I have color duties. JU is tough with some solid up front play and the Ospreys are struggling having lost ten straight. Jen Bowen needs to have a good game and Jen Guldager has to break out of her season long slump if UNF is to have a chance. I hate to say it, but I don't see this being a close game with JU winning by 20.

This is a River City Rumble matchup, so there will be a big crowd at the UNF arena.

Injuries: Jadken Kerr out for the season with a knee injury. Rachelle Rasley did not play against Mercer due to an undisclosed injury.

Saturday: At Miami in the USA Bowl, the DC Explosion take on the Vermont Ice Storm. I don't know anything about DC but they have to be aware the Ice Storm are not to be taken lightly. The Ice Storm run the West Coast offense and are 30-2 over the last two seasons. As I don't know a thing about DC, I am not going to make a prediction in fear of bulletin board material being shown in the Vermont or DC locker rooms.

No radio or TV, but there will be live coverage via AOL chat starting at 11:40 Eastern Time. Go to www.vermonticestorm.com and go to the forum section for more information. I will be doing live PBP and will be doing PA at the same time. GO ICE STORM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The shot clock in high school basketball

Mike Ridaught, my partner in crime for broadcasts of UNF women's basketball games, sent out an article on a low scoring game that took place last week. (http://jacksonville.com/sports/high_school/2009-01-11/story/pointless_strategy_results_in_victory) For those who can't click on the link, the halftime score was well, scoreless with Mandarin defeating Sandalwood by the football score of 17-14.

This then begs the question as to if a shot clock should be implemented in high school basketball. I am of the opinion that there should be a shot clock for the following reasons:

1) Games like this one just make the game look bad. Who in the world wants to actually watch a game that is scoreless at the half and only 31 points are scored for the entire contest? My niece's six year old team scores more in a quarter than that!!

2) A shot clock helps kids get ready for the next level. I have seen kids on the UNF women's squad who have no clue how to manage the shot clock. I have seen countless 30 second violations because it is almost like the kid doesn't remember the clock is even there. Implement the rule and players will be better prepared to play at the collegiate level.

Here are some of the responses from Mike's e-mail:

A shot clock would be nice, but likely won't happen because of finances. Would cost too much to put in every school.

Boy that's really teaching the kids a lesson. "Hey guys, lets try to find a loophole in the rules so that we can win" "Lets dont try and work hard in practice and try with everything we have to win the game" "Instead lets (in a round-a-bout way) cheat to win"

Way to be a leader coach! I'm guessing he would tell me that he's teaching them to be winners?!? Yeh, you bet coach!

ACD / Rex Morgan, would do the same thing with 2-3 minutes remaining in each of the 4 quarters of almost every game. What a weak move. There's a time and a place to ice the clock. Not taking a shot the entire quarter, and icing it with 3 minutes to go, is not the time and place

I find any coach that does that appalling. I guess I just miss the lesson learned from kids playing the game that way.

Shot clock MUST BE implemented.

If schools are having to drop games and sports, they probably can't pay for shot clocks. This is the world we live in right now.

Opinions are welcomed........

Nothing new going on, so one from the archives.......

Originally published March 25, 2008 at www.oursportscentral.com


Barre, Vermont - As some know, I have been one of the more outspoken critics of the American Basketball Association. (ABA) I have been critical of the way CEO Newman responds to the media, and the countless teams that have come and gone since 2000-2001. This commentary though is not about the league and its problems, this is about some of the fun the ABA can give.

First off, this year's All-Star Game was the brainchild of Frost Heaves owner and CEO Alexander Wolff. Wolff wanted to host the game not only as a way of showcasing the best in the ABA, but also to give the fans of Vermont one more game. Somehow, I think the game was a way of saying "thank you" for the support of the cowbell ringing fanatics at the Aud in Barre.

Through my work broadcasting the Premier Basketball League, I got to know one of the great guys and one of the rising young talents in the coaching ranks: Texas Tycoons/Dallas Defenders coach Jean Paul (JP) Afif. Afif has played all over the world with stops in Lebanon, Italy, the D-League, and had a cup of coffee or two with the Sacramento Kings in the NBA. Afif has an incredible amount of knowledge, and his coaching style is very motivational and positive. I remember hearing JP during the Dallas/Quad Cities "Triple S Scouting Showcase" game in Chicago yelling encouragement at guard Mario Kinsey. Afif yelled to Kinsey, "Mario, I see how hard you are working down there. I see you are doing the things we talked about in practice. Keep up that work and you will go places!!" I swear, I could see Mario's confidence surge, and his other players seemed to respond as well.

When I got to the Aud in Barre, one of the first people I saw was JP. We caught up on the PBL playoffs, some of his players, and talked about assistant coach Mike Setters who was not with the team. According to Afif, "We haven't been home in the last two weeks and Mike really needed a couple of days off and some time with his wife." After catching up on things, Afif asked if I was working and I told him I was writing an article on the game. Jokingly, I asked JP if he needed another assistant coach so I could get a courtside seat. He told me, "Heck yeah, you are more than welcome." So, instead of sitting in the stands, or in the press area, the scope of my article changed in about three seconds flat.

Before the game, Afif was fairly loose and looking forward to the contest. Afif had one of his own players in Tycoons guard Mario Kinsey, with Randall Williams scheduled to play but was out with a bad ankle. Taking the place of Williams was volatile Manchester power forward Cedric McGinnis who came to the Millrats after being released by the PBL's Wilmington Sea Dawgs following a confrontation with head coach Kevin Whitted. The one thing Afif was concerned with was players not coming out and playing defense. With NBA scouts in the stands, Afif didn't want the day to turn into a playground contest and wanted his guys focused on the game at hand.

When it came to the start of the game, the players were pumped up, and so were the 1,500 cowbell ringing fans. The biggest ovations came when Vermont's Issa Konare and Antonio Burks were announced. These are two guys, along with Vermont head coach Wil Voight who have brought quite a bit to the table when it comes to the Heaves. We Vermonters do love our basketball, and our hometown players.

Right before the opening tip, Afif went to work on his players. He told them he wanted to see an up tempo offense, solid defense, and to give the scouts a show. Afif could not have been happy with what he saw in the first quarter as the West went down seven at the break. At the first media time out, Afif said to his guys, "I want you to push the tempo and start running the baseline. You need to work!!" The East looked as if it was playing harder and more together than the West squad who seemed to be more in this game for themselves than actually winning the game. The East set the high screens, had some patience, and seemed to be more in the game than the West.

The frustration was all over Afif's face who tore into his players during the last time out of the first quarter. Afif said, "Guys, how you play in the first half determines how much you play in the second. For the first half, it is hey, you are in an All-Star Game, you play, thank you very much. The second half is about winning this thing."

In the second quarter, the officials seemed to get the best of the West. When calls weren't made under the hoop, the guys from the West would sulk and then in turn not get back on the defensive end. What the West failed to realize is that this is an All-Star Game and they won't get close calls, the officials want the guys to play. During a timeout Afif emphasized that point when he said, "Don't even think about looking for a call in an All-Star Game, you won't get one. Now get out there and play basketball."

The frustration continued in the second as the guys from the West just did not seem to be in the game and the East took advantage with a couple of big runs and a pair of Crookshank slams. When Cedric McGinnis came out of the game I asked him, "So Cedric, are you having fun?" His response was, "Nope". At one point, the frustration of Orange County's Robin Kennedy came out when he said to no one in particular, "I am the only one scoring and I am on the end of the bench?"

Overall in the first half, the West was just terrible on both ends. Shots were being forced, there was no defense to be seen, and when a shot was missed or a call wasn't made, players would just walk back up court which led to more fast breaks than I could count. On the other hand, the East continued their strong play behind Anthony Anderson, Eric Crookshank and Issa Konare. The thing that stood out was I could hear the guys from the East communicating with each other. On the offensive end they were motioning for screens, calling out screens on the defensive end, and seemed to be more in tune with each other than a very lackadaisical West team. The defensive effort was so bad that at the half, Afif said to me, "I am going to need to pay these guys to play defense." After the game he told me he actually offered to do just that. "Chris, I pulled out my wallet, threw a hundred bucks on the table and said to the guys I would give the cash to the defensive player of the game, but only if we won. Can you tell how well that worked?" With the East leading 72-54 at the half, Afif needed all the motivational tools he could pull out of his bag of tricks.

The poor play continued in the third quarter for the West as Crookshank, Konare and Anderson took over. Crookshank, who played for the Halifax Rainmen, has the potential to be a dominant player, but it wasn't known if he would even be able to play in the game. Earlier in the week, the Rainmen withdrew from the playoffs and the ABA because of differences with the way the league has been run. Crookshank didn't seem to be fazed by the whole episode as he hit for 28 points and pulled down 14 rebounds.

On the bench, I had an interesting conversation with San Diego forward Jerome Hamel. Hamel, who is averaging 18 points a game for the Wildcats, is looking to catch on somewhere as a role player. Hamel said, "I don't care if I score two points a game. I will do what I can and do what it takes to win; regardless of individual stats." Ironically, Hamel picked up a rare All-Star Game technical after he ran his mouth to one of the officials about a no-call.

I hate to bash on the West squad, but they just didn't seem to be in the game at all. There were countless occasions where guys like Robin Kennedy would miss a shot, or not get the ball and then sulk all the way down the court. In the case of Kennedy, after not getting the ball when he thought he was open, he sulked so badly that he stayed in the corner while the East went on a five-on-three break. What they failed to realize is that there were NBA scouts there and they did not create a good impression. Even though it was an All-Star game, guys had to go out and play hard and prove they can play at the next level. Having a terrible attitude and complaining about everything does not give that solid impression to the scouts. All it says is "Me, me, me, me and I don't care about the team, I just want to look good for myself."

The rest of the game was more or less a track meet with the East picking up an easy 161-140 victory. The real story of the game was the play of Crookshank and Manchester's Anderson who won MVP honors. Anderson finished with 33 points that included seven three pointers. For the West, it was San Diego's Cardell Butler who had a game high 34 and seemed to be the only player for the West who was interested in playing a team game.

I have to say that sitting on the bench for a game was about as fun as it gets. First of all, Jean-Paul Afif will be an NBA coach. Even in an All-Star game he teaches, he is intense, he is a motivator, and not the slightest bit demeaning to his players. He is tough, but not in a nasty sort of way. I saw him at the PBL's "Triple S Scouting Showcase" and was impressed then and that impression continued in Barre. Being able to see and listen to the players in the huddle and on the bench was something. When broadcasting a game, I don't hear those conversations. Guys like Cardell Butler were doing some coaching and trying to get guys into the game which is the sign of a solid floor leader. Hearing the officials talk to guys, hearing the coaches coach, and even feeling the floor vibrate when a big guy like Atlanta's B.J. Puckett hit the floor really gave me a unique perspective on things. Thanks JP for letting me sit on the bench.

Notes and rumblings:

Sources are saying Atlanta owner Quinton Townsend may be purchasing a part of the ABA. When asked about this, Townsend denied the claim.

CEO Joe Newman said next season there will be a team in Oakland, CA and two teams in Las Vegas.

Merger talks between the CBA and PBL seem to be heating up. Multiple sources say a deal could be reached shortly after the end of the season. There is the possibility that ABA teams such as Manchester, Vermont, Montreal and the former Halifax franchise may be invited to join the new league.

The Texas Tycoons are rumored to be leaving the ABA but that could not be confirmed. One source says it is due to issues with the ABA, another has said CEO Newman may be removing the Tycoons from the ABA due to the fact some Tycoons players have been playing for the PBL's Dallas Defenders who are coached by Tycoons coach Jean-Paul Afif.