Winter 2011: SML League Champs: Cold Blooded

DYNASTY Cold Blooded back on Top - Wins Sunday Morning League for the 3rd time in 5 seasons
Cold Blooded 107 Sunday Morning Legends 91

Nothing like getting championship morning started with a medium hot coffee and croissant sandwich, only to find that I\'m the one that\'s going to have to be the solo official in the Finals.  If you all thought you were upset that I\'d be behind the whistle in jeans and Docker kicks, imagine how I felt. I hate all of you, especially Tommy and Kaplan, AND I don\'t get paid OT for stepping in where I\'m not wanted.  I\'ve given refs my fair share of abuse, just ask DMac and so knew I was in for a chewing out at some point.

Thankfully the game started out pretty cleanly, if a bit sloppy.  No one could buy a bucket early, and no it wasn’t because I wasn’t calling any fouls. 

The Sunday Morning Legends were in a tough spot.  They were supposed to have the D-PoY, Maloney, fill in for them but he didn’t show up.  I think his no show was some elaborate Situation prank to screw them over!

Vladi, despite a ‘horrific’ and ‘painful’ broken ankle (his brother must have crossed him up) suited up to give it a go without any subs.  No one wants to play in the championship game 3 v 4.  So he gamely gave it a go, trying to erase the “Mr. Invisible” moniker that seems to crop up every season around playoff time. 

His squad kept it close.  DMac was bombing away from downtown and Majic was going to work in the post.  That’s right, the POST.  Despite his complaints, he got to the free throw line 7 times, which is more than I expected to send both teams combined in this one.  Didn’t your parents teach you to be thankful for what you were given and not ask for more?!?

But Cold Blooded wasn’t going to make it easy on SML.  They’ve been in this spot before, with Nim leading his boys to the first 2 SML titles.  Then they made a disasterous decision to add Tommy Kahana for the third season. More like he begged his way on the team, but whatever.  Since then, Cold Blooded has been plagued by attendance issues and early playoff flameouts.  But Nim continued to tinker with the roster, adding Joe Pagliuca last season and he broke out in a big way in the Winter, average 30 points per game.  Yocum, after a 1 game tryout last session, made a big impact on this team in the middle as well, freeing up jump shooters to do their thing. 

This, in Kahana’s last season, was the final chance to prove that he wasn’t the curse.  Rumor has it he’s retiring after winning the B1 4v4 and now the SML championship in the same season to try and solidify his case for inclusion in the CAC Hall of Fame.  Hell of a way to go out if he’s not coming back.  RoY-VP hit a couple Js early, found Wachtel on the break and picked apart the SML D by getting his guys with mismatches the ball in the half-court offense. 

SML should have tried a zone at some point, as they were getting eaten up by Cold Blooded’s size on the boards.   Of course, that’s what they get for dropping AB and I from their squad.  DMac and Kap’s 3 point shooting kept them within 6 at the break.  But question, why does Kap pick up his dribble right after the 3 point line?  He gets baited into shooting loooong 3s by defenses.  Keep the dribble and get closer man! 

The second half was all Cold Blooded.  The 6 point edge quickly ballooned to 10, then 16 before SML could stop the bleeding.  Tom Cray went to work on the block and it opened things up for Pagliuca and Kahana on the perimeter.  Wachtel, of course, just did his thing no matter who was guarding him. And I’ve got to say, he did a hell of a job on DMac in this one.  Yes I know, that’s kind of like congratulating DWade for ‘holding’ Ray Ray to 28 last night, but the D was better than the stats suggest.  If you check out the all-star game stats (if Tommy posts them or a recap) you’ll see that DeeMeezey was just getting warmed up and goes OFF when the D doesn’t play up tight on him.  So yea, good work on him Josh, I think I’ve got to officially give him the Finals MVP, since I couldn’t decide on one during the game and the scoring was too even across the board for me to make a case for someone on offense!

SML wasn’t able to make a serious run at this thing in the second half, and I’m glad because that meant I could swallow the whistle.  Majic started hoisting 3s in desperation and Vladi was gamely limping around the court, potentially doing serious damage to that ankle, but they just didn’t have the horses in this one.  Hell of a season though, from what I can tell!

Huge thanks to Ebon who kept stats and the score for this one.  It’s not in his job description, but he rolled with the punches.  As for me, you get what you pay for, which was nothing.  Just be thankful that I didn\'t once

A) Take out my cell phone and start texting, ala Ceddy,
B) shrug and say \'eh, I don\'t care\' like Terry,
C) huff and puff while calling ridiculous charges like BFab or
D) drink any Yuengling during the game that Tommy brought me from PA. You’re welcome.

Congrats to Cold Blooded, who after a three season hiatus are back on top of the Sunday Morning League! Next season Kaplan is taking over the scorekeeping reigns, and with BFab behind the whistle (yes, every week!), will have plenty of solid material. Can anyone stop Cold Blooded, CAC’s second official dynasty (Big Nice, A2) from winning their fourth championship?

Scores, Box Scores & Write-Ups

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