Title Hangover

Edited 7:24 pm


I got word just an hour ago that Lemark Clark passed away today. I never coached Lemark, but we talked on occasion as I tried to recruit him a couple of times: Lemark was a very talented young player who had a world of potential. About eighteen months ago, it was discovered that he had a serious heart condition and that his basketball playing days were over; if I recall correctly he got a heart transplant last year and it looked like he was getting better. I don't know the details but he passed away today on the operating table.


 We lost someone today and the whole hoops family hurts. We compete on the court and yeah sometimes we fight and bitch at each other, but at the end of the day I like to think that we are one brotherhood of hoops, all involved in a sport we love. RIP Lemark. 

One of the quirks of our season in Costa Rica is how the season is split into Apertura and Clausura. Win one of the two "halves" and you have an automatic ticket to the National Finals. That can be a very dangerous situation because their is a normal human tendency to relax after winning Apertura. One of the remarkable things about Barva in their championship run is how they have taken care of business in Clausura, even when they win Apertura.

My Favorite Tar Heel Players

I'm a fan of the unsung Carolina players, the guys that make their teammates better, that rotate over on help defense. Now, not all my favorites are the unsung type, but you'll definitely see a pattern.

1. Derrick Phelps:

Not a great scorer or passer, but he was a deluxe on-ball defender and was skilled in running a team and keeping everyone involved. I can't say exactly why I loved Derrick...maybe it was because he always put the team ahead of himself. Dean Smith loved the word savvy to describe players, and Phelps is the first guy that comes to mind when I hear that word.

National Finals Game 2: Barva 72 Sanatura 76

Defending champ Barva had not lost any games at home this season. We let a lead a game slip away in double overtime earlier in the season that really stung. In fact, if my memory is correct they have only lost once at home (to Escazu) in the last two seasons (or is it three seasons?). To go into Palacio de Deportes and get a win is no simple feat, let alone in the second game of a playoff series in front of a packed gym.

National Finals Game 1: Sanatura 81 Barva 80

In the two games we've played against defending champ Barva in the regular season, we've gone to overtime both times. In this first game of the Finals, we didn't need overtime to get a winner, but it was high drama til the final whistle. Either team could have won this game.

Semi-Finals Game 3: Sanatura 76 San Ramon 63

We've only lost twice this season, both in hard fought games going to overtime. Losing on Friday night wasn't a surprise; San Ramon has an excellent team playing in front of their very supportive crowd. The loss left a sour taste because we reverted to some poor habits from earlier in the season; a successful season is about growth, about a team improving as the season goes along so you can play your best basketball at the right time. Sometimes you need a loss to nudge that process along. We got that nudge on Friday night.

Semi-Finals Game 2: Sanatura 80 San Ramon 81

Out-played, out-coached and out-administrated. Pretty much all there is to say. San Ramon wanted the win more than we did. They played with fire and passion. Always a tough place to play, the San Ramon organization did a great job in creating a real playoff atmosphere. Game 3 will be Sunday at 4PM in San Ramon.

Very frustrating loss.

Edited to add:
San Ramon almost got jobbed by a very inept officiating crew last night. I try to not get into the officiating on this blog, not because we have such great officiating in this league, but because I know refs would take it personally and take it out on my team. The crew made a mistake and then didn't acknowledge it, which would have given San Ramon the win in regulation.

Semi-Finals Game #1: San Ramon 62 Sanatura 87

For those of you who don't live around here, it rains a lot in Costa Rica. We have two seasons: dry season (roughly from November til March) and then we have the rainy season (April-October). The first half of the rainy season is not too bad with a pretty regular afternoon showers that last few hours, while the second half of the rainy season brings sustained downpours that can last for days.