Sammie Hardy ’11 & Nicolette Weinbaum’12
Web Sports Editor & Staff Writer
It’s Thursday night. The majority of junior and senior boys are not settling in for a typical night at home studying. Instead, they trade in their homework assignments and pencils for sleeveless muscle tees and basketball shoes.
It’s time for Rec basketball.
Starting at 7:15 pm players like Danny Marriot ’11 of LSU walk through the doors of Bedford Middle Schools gymnasium with pajama pants on and headphones draped around their necks.
However, it doesn’t end there. “To get my adrenaline pumping I go skydiving a few times,” said Marriot. Alternatively, Eric Sawyer ’11, of Notre Dame, said, “I listen to Danny Marriot and Jon Camche’s rap demo before the game.”
It would be an understatement to say that these players take the Thursday night league seriously.
The decision to be a part of this league is not just a commitment, but also a lifestyle choice, as Jason Davis ’11 of Duke put it.
The high level of tension within the gym is a clear indication to any audience member that the popularity of Rec Basketball is equivalent to that of Varsity Basketball games.
“Staples Varsity Basketball wishes they could play Rec. We are better and can beat them any day. I play Rec because it will most likely set me up better for college,” Aaron Wallace ‘11, otherwise known as “A-Wall” of Georgetown, said.
One player that does not make an appearance during these Thursday night activities is Gabe Seidman ‘11, a member of the Varsity Basketball team.
“There is a lot of tension between the two leagues. The Rec league gets a lot more press than we do. They are a joke. The players join because it is somewhere to go on Thursday nights. It is a huge social thing, and all of those players obviously lack in their social lives,” Seidman said.
Despite the comments made by Seidman, Rec players still take great pride in their league.
The first round of the game on Thursday, Jan. 7, is Georgetown vs. Miami. As the game is filled with flawless free throws made by Marc Himmel ’12 and smooth passes by Wallace, the intensity elevates.
As 8:15 approaches, the second round commences. With the 9:15 players arriving early to watch, the night only becomes increasingly competitive.
“This is a competitive game. If you don’t know what you’re doing, get off the court,” Davis said.
However, the skills each player has are less important than looking the best for each game. From sweatbands on random limbs to knee-high socks, Rec fashion has potential to be featured in GQ Magazine.
Mike Nicklas ’11 said that “it’s all about swag.”
Unfortunately, there are some stereotypes that come along with looking good. “The ones with headbands are tools,” Dylan Meissner ’11 said while wearing a headband.
As the end of the night of champions approaches, there is no holding back. “There are tears of joy and sadness,” Will Bitsky ’12, member of Miami said.
Even the referees need to be cautious of the overly dogmatic and emphatic coaches.
Into the final stretch of the evening, the intensity of the prior games leaches onto the incoming players.
Ricky Snyder ’11 walks into the gym with his signature boombox balanced on his shoulder. Music pounds out of the speakers as the surrounding players can’t help but turn their heads.
It cannot be denied that Thursdays are the most anticipated night of the week for Staples senior and junior boys. From the nail-biting plays to Jeff Caffery’s incredibly short shorts; Rec Basketball is the quintessential upperclassmen tradition.
“You got to know what it is, to know what it ain’t,” Nicklas said.
