March 4, 2013

Basketball brings students together

William Miko
Agora staff

Sports

mcccagora.com The Agora

|5

A sheet of snow and ice blanketed Raisinville Road early Friday afternoon, but it didnt stop the dedicated ballers in MCCCs intramural basketball league. Although the college does not have a basketball program, there is still a chance to play in an organized fashion. The Intramural basketball league was started by Karen Turner, the Fitness Coordinator at MCCC. This league helps the students bond, and helps get to know other people on campus, Turner said. Curtis Ledford, who studies criminal justice at MCCC, helps with the organization of the league. He is also the score keeper and color commentator. I dont play, it wouldnt be fair to the other teams, Ledford joked. This is the fourth season of the intramural basketball league; there are sessions during both the fall and winter semesters. The intramural basketball league consists

of four teams of eight players. There are two games every Friday, with two 20 minute halves. Ledford and Turner run the scoreboard and keeps the stats. Even though it is a small league, there is a lot of passion as students play for bragging rights on campus. For most college students Friday is a day of rest, the majority of students attend classes Monday through Thursday, with Friday their only day off. Why dedicate yourself to a small intramural basketball league on your day off? Matt Little, who is studying communications and broadcasting, has been playing in the league every season that it has been available. I love basketball. Its been my entire life, Little said. He said he joined the league so that he could keep playing a competitive style of basketball, and also said that it is great conditioning. Kenny Stritt, who is studying accounting at MCCC and works at the YMCA, also plays in the league. Stritt said he signed up for the league because it is more competitive than

playing an ordinary pick- up game. Karen does a good job of organizing, Stritt said. He said he doesnt mind coming on his only day off. Id come even if I had school, he said. On Feb. 22, the Cupid Stunts beat The Shizz 65-61 in a game that came down to the wire. Nick Dempsey, who plays for the Cupid Stunts, was thrilled about the victory. It feels good to win ready to take this team to the title, Dempsey said. The playoffs start March 8 at 11 a.m. All games are played in the gym inside the Health Education building. Although its a small league, the teams play with passion. There is a surprising level of talent that is showcased on Friday afternoons. Id come even if I had school, Stritt said. Several students said there are a lot of talented players at MCCC who want to play organized basketball maybe even enough for the college to one day support an official basketball program.

Photo by William Miko

Karen Turner and Curtis Ledford run the scoreboard for MCCCs intramural basketball.

Photos by William Miko

Above: MCCC students seporate into teams for a fun way of relieveing stress after a long week of school work. Left: Players work hard to block the oposing team from passing the ball. Bottom right: Both teams are in position, as they wait for the outcome of the free throw attempt. Bottom left: Students move quickley to recover a ball during a free throw shot.

NBA trading deadline ends

Josh Rains
Agora Staff

The NBA trade deadline has become a favorite part of the season for many fans. They get to see where their favorite players will end up, and if there team is willing to take on additional salaries to make a push for the playoffs. The deadline came and went this past Thursday without much happening. The biggest name to be traded was J.J. Redick, a longtime backup, playing starters minutes for the first time this year.

Based on the activity of teams over the past few seasons this came as a shock. In each of the prior three seasons, former all-stars and big contract players were traded This is in stark contrast to what happened during this year's deadline. The most logical explanation for the inactivity at this year's trade deadline can be found with new luxury tax laws found in the newly negotiated Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Under the new CBA teams can go over the salary cap, but they have

to pay the league a dollar for every dollar they spend above what the league calls a "tax level". The tax level for the new CBA is much lower than that of the previous CBA. This new law was intended to deter teams from overspending and help smaller franchises compete. When in reality, it might have had the opposite effect. Big market teams like the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers continue to spend big money, while smaller market teams like the Memphis Grizzlies shed some of

their bigger contracts, and best players in a trade earlier in the season, to make it under the tax level. For fans hoping to have an exciting trade deadline it was a disappointment, but under the new CBA this might become the new norm.

JJ Redick born June 24, 1984 currently plays for the Milwaukee Bucks, while holding six years of experence under his belt.