DC7 Generates Fun and Funds for Worthy Causes
This year's Drini Classic was another fun and enjoyable day. Early on, it looked like the seventh annual event would join a long list of Classics rescheduled due to rain. In fact, the night before one beach-bound alumni (Gravy) even called hoping for an early cancellation from the commish so he could stay out late at the bars. However, it turned out to be a beautiful day. If anything it may have been too hot and sunny as witnessed by the many-sunburned players.
Surprisingly, DC7 started close to on time - a rare occasion at the Classic. The 12 teams quickly got into the action and the games went according to plan�with a few exceptions. All or Nothing lost a closely contested match-up to the all-undergraduate Twinkees. The game, which likely set a DC record for most fouls called in a game, was a heated battle that ultimately saw youth prevail behind a big game by Jon Weg. In the other division, the alumni trio of Creep Show shocked the crowd with their upset of Vegas favorites Aces Full.
Possible the most shocking win of the tournament came in a relatively meaningless game between AKLholics, who some considered a possible playoff team, and Spare Parts, which one analyst called the "worst free agent team" ever assembled. But that is why they play the games. Spare Parts, who had scored a total of 4 points in their first 5 games not only found a way to score, they found a way to win. Embarrassed by both the loss and their 0-6 record, the members of the AKLholics called it a day and made a quick exit.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day for the majority of players was the six game regular season schedule. Despite playing six games during the 2004 tourney, some were caught off guard by the marathon of games and even more were downright exhausted as a result. But by the end of the regular season, the extra game did not seem to cause any major upsets as the eight strongest teams advanced to the playoffs.
In the first round, # 1 seeds Prime Rib of Propecia and Creep Show advanced rather easily despite valiant efforts by # 4 seeds Return of La Cerveza and Team TBD respectively. The match-ups between the # 2 and #3 seeds would end up being slightly closer contests. Aces Full withstood some early challenges from Tallahassee Warthogs to hang on for a 26-18 win. In the other bracket, the game featured a rematch between the Twinkees and All or Nothing. All or Nothing jumped out to an early lead and then battled back from a mid game slump to take a 21-20 lead behind the hot shooting of Jim Alessandrini. But the Twinkees out hustled their older competition down the stretch to pull out a 26-21 win.
The semi-finals proved to be much less competitive. Prime Rib dispelled the myth that youth is better than experience. Behind the clutch shooting of Brian Addvensky, physical presence and down-low play of Matt Spinella and the all-around solid performance by Mark Pereira, Prime Rib beat the Twinkees 25-9. In the other division, the game paired a rematch between Aces Full and the team who upset them in the regular season, Creep Show. Aces Full paid back Creep Show when it counted and took advantage of a team that seemed to run out of gas and lose their poise, winning the game easily 25-8 behind a dominating performance by Joe Farrell.
Prior to the final game between Aces Full and Prime Rib of Propecia, the two top teams going into the tourney according to Vegas odds, Ara Bethcakdjian took a few minutes away from his championship preparation to edge out Jim Opitz in the 3-pt contest. Unfortunately, Ara's luck in the Finals wouldn't be as good.
The Finals could really be summed up in one word - Spinella (both good and bad). Like Andrew Taft in 2004, Matt Spinella turned in a dominating performance in the Finals. Despite his size, early in his career Matt seemed to avoid the inside game. He clearly learned from that mistake and was a monster on the boards and showed a strong low post game in the Finals. Spinella even showed some range by hitting a few long-range jumpers. Unfortunately, he also continued to show his famous temper through the playoffs. First yelling at the Sacketts and "quitting" the game and then again in the Finals by pushing Joe after a foul. Joe, Ara and Koo pulled close in the middle parts of the game, but several clutch shots by Spinella down the stretch sealed up the victory for Prime Rib. Spinella earned his first championship trophy, and picked up the MVP honors along the way. Meanwhile Brian Addvensky and Mark Pereira each added to their growing collection of Classic trophies.
Win or lose, all the players and fans seemed to have a great time playing ball, eating some yummy food and hanging out with friends. And if it wasn't obvious before, the growing number of children at the event just begs for a Jr. Drini Classic in the not too distant future. Most importantly, the Classic once again raised a significant amount of money for two worthy causes. DC7 raised more than $2,100 for the American Diabetes Association and another $1,000 for the AKL Gamma Gamma housing fund.
Congratulations to this year's winners and thanks to everyone who helped make the event possible.
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