by Shawn Arnold
As the new commissioner of the YLS sports league, I will begin my first column by promising never to use the term metrosexual or ever write a column about women’s shoes. I promise to report on the news of the league. I will confine any attempts at humor to the trials and tribulations of old men playing young men’s games.
On that note, the law league basketball season ended with the young legs coming out as champs. Florida Coastal’s “A” team entered the playoffs at 8-0 and they left as the undefeated champions. “A” dispatched the Coastal “B” team 46-39 in a game that was not a close as the score would indicate. In the other semifinal, Team Hummer defeated Smith Hulsey 48-45 in a game that had six lead changes in the second half. Led by the scoring of Eric Berger, Team Hummer was able to overcome some shaky free throw shooting with stout defense down the stretch to defeat a game Smith Hulsey group.
The final game was a spirited 31-28 affair. Yes, they did play both halves. With no three-point line, each team seemed content to play NBA Eastern Conference basketball and let the other team shoot from the outside by playing a tight zone and physical defense. Hummer relied on interior passing led by Todd Eikner to keep the game in doubt until the end.
FCSL’s “Coach” Micheal Orr, who someone told this writer has been the president of every group he has ever belonged to, urged his team to keep their heads despite some heated comments being made towards the referees. Coastal got out and ran in transition and got to the free throw line; however, “A’s” inability to hit free throws consistently nearly gave the game to Hummer. Up three with 21 seconds left, “A” missed two free throws. Hummer rebounded and got a David Dearing jumper to close it to one. With 11 seconds, Michael Orr made one of two free throws to make it a two point game. Hummer pushed the ball up the court, but an unforced turnover by Hummer sealed their fate. A late free throw by Brian Savy provided the final margin.
With basketball season over, the league moves into a summer softball season for a final time. Beginning next year, softball will be moved to spring when the weather is cooler, drier, and the City can get us a field with fences and no live oak tree taking up 30 feet of fair territory down the right field line. Basketball will move to summer, when we can play indoors and have better access to courts with a three-point line, all the while beating the heat by playing in the air conditioning. With age and shear numbers of possible players on their side, FCSL might be building a basketball dynasty. However, next year they will have to prove they can make some three pointers.
About half way through the softball season, three teams remain undefeated, the State Attorney’s Office, Pajcic and Pajcic, and the New York Yankees of the Law League, Pappas Metcalf’s squad “PMJM,” advertising itself as practicing “dirt law” has risen up to buy the old Bedell team and added other talent to challenge the defending champ SAO squad and last year’s runner up Pajcic. Pajcic recently defeated the previously unbeaten FCSL team. With upcoming games scheduled between all the undefeated squads, seeding should work itself out prior to the playoffs. In my biased opinion, look for the SAO to repeat.
Finally, new this year I propose a four on four basketball league that will be played between softball and football season. It will encompass the first six teams to reserve a spot and last six weeks, including playoffs. Please contact me at 351-0900 if interested. The league will likely run from mid-August to the end of September, after which summer will be over and it will be time for law league football.
With a shorter court and a three-point line, maybe FCSL will be vulnerable to us “old” guys who can shoot but won’t have to run so far.