June 15-18, 2017
2006, maybe? I'm trying to think of the last time that I played in an organized basketball game with referees and substitutions. It might have been back when we had a company team in Seattle, and I used to bring in my friends as ringers, but I honestly can't remember. So when I decided in early 2017 to start playing in my office's Monday night pick-up games, it had been over 10 years since I played anything resembling proper full-court basketball.
Ever since the Sonics left Seattle (that is, since they were stolen from us by some jerkfaces), I've held a bit of a grudge towards the game. I simply don't like the Oklahoma City Thunder. I don't think it's anything personal to the fans or the players, but the only time I follow the NBA these days is to check if OKC lost. I don't care who wins, as long as OKC doesn't. I follow the playoffs only to make sure OKC gets knocked out. I might need some therapy to deal with how much I want them to lose. I'm trying not to get off track here, but the point is that I haven't really loved the game of basketball over the past 10 years. I'd catch a few Husky games, but those weren't always a pleasant experience. Gone were the days of playing and coaching several days per week, pick-up games at the IMA, or various leagues with friends. It was a lifetime ago when I ordered, by snail mail, a fitness plan to improve my jumping ability, which helped me to be able to nick (not slap) the backboard on a lay-up and to graze (not grab) the rim. Now I'd be lucky if the wind from my flailing arm managed to move the net on a jump attempt.
During that first pick up game in early 2017, I lasted about 30 seconds. That's what she said. Sure, I was in decent shape from running, swimming and the gym, but after running up and down the court a couple times, I couldn't breathe and my legs felt like they were made of stone. But I didn't give up. After a few weeks of playing very poor basketball, I started playing only medium poor basketball. I didn't have any of the marginal "quickness" or shooting touch that I like to think I used to have. Not to mention the overall deterioration of skills. And when you are a foot shorter and a decade older than everyone else on the court, those things are kind of important. Anyway, it was still fun, and the guys were nice, so I kept going. Playing once a week was manageable; anything more would be hard because of the blisters, shoulder pain, and knees still hating me for all the running over the past couple years. In other words, this made me realize how old I'm getting.
But when "the call" came, I forgot all about it. One of the organizers of the PwC team asked me if I wanted to join the team that would be playing in the international PwC tournament. Despite my best attempts in the pick-up games to de-press everyone (is that the opposite of "impress"?), I was needed on the team to travel to Cyprus. All I heard was "do you want to go to Cyprus?" and I didn't listen to anything else. They needed a back-up point guard, and since I'm shorter than everyone else on the team, I qualified for the role. This seems to have been the only requirement.
I started taking the weekly pick up games more seriously, and the team even organized a couple practices. I tried to use some of my coaching experience to implement a few drills and plays, but that only lasted about 2 weeks. Somehow people lost interest in my clipboard, and I didn't have much credibility, because, well, I sucked. But it wasn't why they asked me to join the team, so it didn't matter. I was the team's short guy. I needed to stay in my lane.
The tournament approached quickly and we were soon on our way to Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus. I felt like an Olympian.
From the beginning, everything was very well organized. The guys in the Cyprus office did a great job planning the hotels, transport, facilities, and of course the games. After we arrived and checked into the hotel, we were welcomed by a dinner reception at the PwC Office...with a large outdoor space for the hundreds of tournament participants, supporters and organizers. There were 13 teams overall, and the US was the favorite (as usual). Apparently they recruit former college players from around the country to play, and there is so much interest, players are only allowed to play in one tournament. I didn't realize we had so much basketball talent there. The players don't know each other before the trip, but since they're all experienced players, it only takes a game or two to find their stride and dominate...or so the rumors went. I felt that it was my obligation to reach out to all of the Americans, and to convince them that they should let Poland win. I really wanted to hate them, but turns out they were all nice guys and girls (some of the teams were co-ed, which was great).
At the end of dinner, the groups were drawn. And lucky enough, we got the US. Also joining our group were Italy, Serbia and Slovakia.
We played 4 games that first day, and my legs and toes wanted to crawl into a hole and die. Our team had 11 guys, so we rotated a lot, but it was still tough in my old age. We beat Italy and Slovakia, lost a close one to Serbia (who had an "intern" that could both dunk and shoot NBA-distance 3s with ease - which made me wonder about their hiring practices), and got beat pretty badly by the US team. But we still managed to qualify for the knock-out round the next day.
That night they took us to a nice traditional restaurant, with food similar to Greek and Turkish (I hope I'm not offending anyone by saying that). We also got to learn a bit about the history and culture of the island and city. Cyprus is an EU country, which somehow surprised me, in the Mediterranean Sea. Most of the island (and city) is Greek Cypriot, and part is Turkish Cypriot. After some conflict in the 1960s and 70s, they separated and are now split by a militarized zone. Turkey recognizes the Turkish Cypriot part as a separate country, though the rest of the world doesn't. Nicosia is in the middle of the island, but there are also some very popular beach towns, such as Limmasol, where they took us for a party on the third night, and Larnaca, where we spent some time on the beach on the last day before the flight home.
On the second day of the tournament we had a big game against Germany. Most Polish people will tell you that if there is anyone they want to beat, at any contest or activity, it's the Germans (or Russians). So I could tell that everyone was fired up for this one. The German team was coached by a guy who used to play in the NBA (though I'd never heard of him), and they had some really big dudes. They reminded me of the German team in Beer Fest. We should have beaten them (of course everyone who loses says that), but a couple breaks didn't go our way and we lost a close, very intense and emotional game. This put us in the losers bracket and seemed to drain our motivation. Losing an emotional game is tough. Having to play another one shortly after is even harder. Unfortunately we caught a very inspired and energized Lithuanian team next, and they simply had more fight than we did. I can't say that they were better than we are, but they definitely deserved to win (see, I didn't say that we shoulda won). Our last opponent forfeit because they didn't have enough healthy players to field a team (old accountants after a weekend of games, you know?). So we finished in 7th place out of 13. Not bad, but considering we came out on the short end of a couple close games, it wasn't satisfying.
I don't know when or where the 2018 tournament will be, nor if I will even be invited, but I'm ready to try again! Not that I think we'll be able to take down the US (or Cyprus, which came in second). But the atmosphere and spirit were great. Save for some shouting with the Germans, everyone was really friendly, we interacted with people from all the countries, and I saw some guys I knew from other offices. I just need to work on my game. I remember when I was in high school and college, we always played against older guys, some in their 40s even, who were somehow very clever and sneaky good at basketball, even though they looked "old and slow". Someday I hope to become that. Maybe there is some sort of mail-order program for that?
The Cyprus guys put together a video of the event. I am not in it (they tend to not film guys slouching on the bench), but you can at least see that a great time was had by all.
2006, maybe? I'm trying to think of the last time that I played in an organized basketball game with referees and substitutions. It might have been back when we had a company team in Seattle, and I used to bring in my friends as ringers, but I honestly can't remember. So when I decided in early 2017 to start playing in my office's Monday night pick-up games, it had been over 10 years since I played anything resembling proper full-court basketball.
Ever since the Sonics left Seattle (that is, since they were stolen from us by some jerkfaces), I've held a bit of a grudge towards the game. I simply don't like the Oklahoma City Thunder. I don't think it's anything personal to the fans or the players, but the only time I follow the NBA these days is to check if OKC lost. I don't care who wins, as long as OKC doesn't. I follow the playoffs only to make sure OKC gets knocked out. I might need some therapy to deal with how much I want them to lose. I'm trying not to get off track here, but the point is that I haven't really loved the game of basketball over the past 10 years. I'd catch a few Husky games, but those weren't always a pleasant experience. Gone were the days of playing and coaching several days per week, pick-up games at the IMA, or various leagues with friends. It was a lifetime ago when I ordered, by snail mail, a fitness plan to improve my jumping ability, which helped me to be able to nick (not slap) the backboard on a lay-up and to graze (not grab) the rim. Now I'd be lucky if the wind from my flailing arm managed to move the net on a jump attempt.
During that first pick up game in early 2017, I lasted about 30 seconds. That's what she said. Sure, I was in decent shape from running, swimming and the gym, but after running up and down the court a couple times, I couldn't breathe and my legs felt like they were made of stone. But I didn't give up. After a few weeks of playing very poor basketball, I started playing only medium poor basketball. I didn't have any of the marginal "quickness" or shooting touch that I like to think I used to have. Not to mention the overall deterioration of skills. And when you are a foot shorter and a decade older than everyone else on the court, those things are kind of important. Anyway, it was still fun, and the guys were nice, so I kept going. Playing once a week was manageable; anything more would be hard because of the blisters, shoulder pain, and knees still hating me for all the running over the past couple years. In other words, this made me realize how old I'm getting.
But when "the call" came, I forgot all about it. One of the organizers of the PwC team asked me if I wanted to join the team that would be playing in the international PwC tournament. Despite my best attempts in the pick-up games to de-press everyone (is that the opposite of "impress"?), I was needed on the team to travel to Cyprus. All I heard was "do you want to go to Cyprus?" and I didn't listen to anything else. They needed a back-up point guard, and since I'm shorter than everyone else on the team, I qualified for the role. This seems to have been the only requirement.
The squad
The tournament approached quickly and we were soon on our way to Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus. I felt like an Olympian.
Off to the Olympics!
Streets of Nicosia
From the beginning, everything was very well organized. The guys in the Cyprus office did a great job planning the hotels, transport, facilities, and of course the games. After we arrived and checked into the hotel, we were welcomed by a dinner reception at the PwC Office...with a large outdoor space for the hundreds of tournament participants, supporters and organizers. There were 13 teams overall, and the US was the favorite (as usual). Apparently they recruit former college players from around the country to play, and there is so much interest, players are only allowed to play in one tournament. I didn't realize we had so much basketball talent there. The players don't know each other before the trip, but since they're all experienced players, it only takes a game or two to find their stride and dominate...or so the rumors went. I felt that it was my obligation to reach out to all of the Americans, and to convince them that they should let Poland win. I really wanted to hate them, but turns out they were all nice guys and girls (some of the teams were co-ed, which was great).
At the end of dinner, the groups were drawn. And lucky enough, we got the US. Also joining our group were Italy, Serbia and Slovakia.
My view for the Opening Ceremonies
We played 4 games that first day, and my legs and toes wanted to crawl into a hole and die. Our team had 11 guys, so we rotated a lot, but it was still tough in my old age. We beat Italy and Slovakia, lost a close one to Serbia (who had an "intern" that could both dunk and shoot NBA-distance 3s with ease - which made me wonder about their hiring practices), and got beat pretty badly by the US team. But we still managed to qualify for the knock-out round the next day.
That night they took us to a nice traditional restaurant, with food similar to Greek and Turkish (I hope I'm not offending anyone by saying that). We also got to learn a bit about the history and culture of the island and city. Cyprus is an EU country, which somehow surprised me, in the Mediterranean Sea. Most of the island (and city) is Greek Cypriot, and part is Turkish Cypriot. After some conflict in the 1960s and 70s, they separated and are now split by a militarized zone. Turkey recognizes the Turkish Cypriot part as a separate country, though the rest of the world doesn't. Nicosia is in the middle of the island, but there are also some very popular beach towns, such as Limmasol, where they took us for a party on the third night, and Larnaca, where we spent some time on the beach on the last day before the flight home.
Beach time
The heartburn is worth it
On the second day of the tournament we had a big game against Germany. Most Polish people will tell you that if there is anyone they want to beat, at any contest or activity, it's the Germans (or Russians). So I could tell that everyone was fired up for this one. The German team was coached by a guy who used to play in the NBA (though I'd never heard of him), and they had some really big dudes. They reminded me of the German team in Beer Fest. We should have beaten them (of course everyone who loses says that), but a couple breaks didn't go our way and we lost a close, very intense and emotional game. This put us in the losers bracket and seemed to drain our motivation. Losing an emotional game is tough. Having to play another one shortly after is even harder. Unfortunately we caught a very inspired and energized Lithuanian team next, and they simply had more fight than we did. I can't say that they were better than we are, but they definitely deserved to win (see, I didn't say that we shoulda won). Our last opponent forfeit because they didn't have enough healthy players to field a team (old accountants after a weekend of games, you know?). So we finished in 7th place out of 13. Not bad, but considering we came out on the short end of a couple close games, it wasn't satisfying.
We're pretty good when the other team isn't on the court
I don't know when or where the 2018 tournament will be, nor if I will even be invited, but I'm ready to try again! Not that I think we'll be able to take down the US (or Cyprus, which came in second). But the atmosphere and spirit were great. Save for some shouting with the Germans, everyone was really friendly, we interacted with people from all the countries, and I saw some guys I knew from other offices. I just need to work on my game. I remember when I was in high school and college, we always played against older guys, some in their 40s even, who were somehow very clever and sneaky good at basketball, even though they looked "old and slow". Someday I hope to become that. Maybe there is some sort of mail-order program for that?
The Cyprus guys put together a video of the event. I am not in it (they tend to not film guys slouching on the bench), but you can at least see that a great time was had by all.
This is in Warsaw, but at least there's proof that I play!
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