Trash talk invades South intramurals
by Jason Hollins, reporter

     Back in the 1800s when James Naismith, the father of basketball, was using peach baskets to play his newly created game, there must have been no way for him to know his sport could grow so big.
     Not only was the National Basketball Association (NBA) formed, but basketball has now become deeply embedded in the hearts of young hopeful future stars of the sport.
     Case in point, Lawrence Alexander, Brian Blakely, Matthew Mcinnis and Patrick Kalimy.
     All competed in the fall 2000 intramural one-on-one basketball tournament Monday, Oct. 30, on South Campus.
     Before the competition even began, the trash talking had already begun with Blakely and Alexander proclaiming their impending athletic victory.
     After play began, round one matched Blakely and Kalimy.
     This was a hard-fought, very physical contest. Both players were pushing and shoving—fighting for every inch in the paint.
     Later, Blakely used his outside shots to prevail 30-28 after being down 21-11 at one point.
     “I got a hand on the ball that was key; it saved the game for me,” Blakely said.
     At the other end of the court, however, it was just the opposite. Alexander used his speed to continually beat Mcinnis down the lane and his quick hands to play tough defense.
     Alexander dominated the match 30-14.
     The final game paired Blakely, who played despite suffering back spasms, and Alexander.
     Because of his back, Blakely had lost his ability to play inside and could not find the mark on his outside shot. Subsequently, he lost to Alexander in a rout 15-0.
     As for our winner, his final comment was typical of the style of his NBA idols.
     “It was too easy,” Alexander said.