Recap

0-8 and staring a Detroit Lions type season straight in the eye. A zero-win season and a LIFETIME of taunts, barbs, and general harassment looking back at them. The quote (in your best Rock voice), “It doesn”t matter what you think you went 0-fer” being said to you everytime you try and talk at the bar. 0-8 and playing Curt “Mr. 52” and his goons who were trying to get to a bye.

Well ladies and gents you can forget all that -ish!!!!!! The impossible happened. Santa Clara, Holy Cross, George Mason all rolled into one. Al Michaels commentating, “Do you believe in miracles?” Honestly folks this wasn”t an upset. Eskimo Bros. took control from the beginning and never let it go.

Bang Bang started in zone and allowed Eskimo Bros to find a rhythm. Shots were found early and often and the ball found energy moving through the “molasses in January” 2-2 zone. Captain Worm (6 pts) and Mike “Punchclock” Ford were able to get their mid-range games going early. As the half progressed, the Grinders crowd noticed a trend for Bang Bang…….misses. Captain Crash Bang himself and “Mr. 52” took turns trying to build the yellow brick road to OZ as jumper after jumper assaulted the rim. Not a pass to be found. The crescendo of the first half was provided by Grinders legend Pauly P who buried his first career 3-pointer……..at the buzzer……from mid-court!

As the second-half went, it was more of the same. Ford (17/10) beat up Matt “Baltimore Strong” Vaillancourt on the inside and Joe “Rambis” Marie (8/3/3/3) found his scoring touch down low as well. Tirado (12/10/5) found his scoring touch late, but the game was over at that point. Curt (7 for 28) looked more like Helen Keller than “Mr. 52″ and couldn”t buy a bucket. As a matter of fact if it wasn”t for a solo run by Matt “Baltimore > Buffalo” Vaillancourt, this would have been a bloodbath. Vaillancourt (16/14/ 24 GAPE) scored about 8-10 straight to get the game under double digits.

Ladies and gentlemen, the major player of this game hasn”t even been mentioned yet. A man who has withstood the arrows and slings of constant ribbing in the Signal chat. One Michael “Athletic AF” Boccio. His gameplay has been a source of fodder and jocularity at the bar in most of the season. Well folks, you can stop all that -ish. “The Bocc” has himself a career day. He went 7 for 14 for 14 points. He added 14 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block, to the tune of a game high 31 GAPE. He made ”Lil Josh his bitch on the block, stopped several comeback attempts with key steals for layups, and showed the Grinders world that he belongs!!!! Kudos kid!

Oh, Joe Marie locked Curt down all game and Curt complained about “hand-checking”. Meh.