WESTCHESTER, NY: A Westchester Thanksgiving - Who's Coming To Dinner?

We always ask. You always want to know. It’s the comfort of knowing who you will be around, with whom you will be spending your T-day. Every Thursday night at Lifetime Fitness, Ultimate Hoops basketball league has its own big family. It’s the fighting, bickering, laughing, crying and sheer competitiveness from all of our members under one roof. For this Thanksgiving I’ll describe each team in relation to a type of family member who shows up at Thanksgiving dinner at every household… Whether we want them there or not!

The Newlyweds – Free Agents are the newlywed couple who just tied the knot. They’re excited about their games, always smiling (expect during post games), and are always eager to read more of my hilarious articles! ;) This is all new to them. The attention is all on them. FA are still figuring each other out. They are learning on the fly — much like the Thanksgiving newlyweds. They are always asking questions and inquiring about what’s next. Whether it’s a new player they need, or how to stay connected to team members or just how to get better, they are ready to learn.

All The Crazy Kids- The headache, the “never know what you’re going to get” crazy kids. Even though they get older every year, there will always be a kids table and kids running around. That’s our DieNasty! Week to week I don’t know what to expect. Will they be the mature kids who are surprisingly good at math and science? Or the kid who couldn’t even tell you his math and science teachers’ names? They have so much potential.Mike Smalls could be a better player than he already is if he just channeled his emotions positively into his team. Right now DieNasty is 2-5 and riding a 3 game losing streak. I’d say they don’t know their teachers names!

Your Crazy Controversial Uncle- Our embarrassing, controversial, basketball junkie family member, is Pippen Ain't Easy. These guys led by Steve Schwarzbaum know the game in and out. Whether it’s running up to the scoring table to grab a pen and paper to draw up a play or just discussing the game, these guys know it all. Like the crazy controversial uncle, they may be right about their opinions, or really wrong. At least these guys follow what’s going on and know there is a solution to the problem.

Your Hip Cousins Super Hot smokeshow Girlfriend – Insert The Bombers. These guys have it all the flash. The Speed of Dane Samuels, The Shooters : Andrew Kirk, Ryan Kelleher, The Muscles of Tim Munch and of course the looks of Pete Milani. And like the hot girlfriend, they don’t have much to say. They come in and take care of business. They strive to be the best person in the room… and they usually are.

Drunk Uncle! Drunk Uncle! – I know you were waiting to see who was crowned as the drunk uncle. If you have to think about it then you obviously don’t know Westchester. McBuckets is by FAR our drunk uncle. They come in loud, pompous, and maybe even drunk—just kidding. Just like your drunk uncle, you are excited to see McBuckets. They are always alert to everything that’s happening whether it’s playoff standings, transitions, article etc. But then…. there are those few times where you hit your head and say “Ahh, that’s why he’s my drunk uncle”. It might be an occasional fight or a technical foul here and there. But, they always mean well. When push comes to shove there isn’t anyone else you’d rather sit with and watch all three football games.

Last but not least. The most important person in the room….
Grandma! Grandma is the queen in any Thanksgiving household and our Grandma is Massa Coastal. Every year they are there. They deserve and get the most respect: Back to Back Championships and the best player in the league Steve Serwatka are some reasons why. Grandma knows it all and has the most experience. They’ve been there and done it all. Whether or not they’ll make it to next years Thanksgiving is still a question that nobody wants to ask (until you get in the car ride home). We will just have to wait and see.

In the end Thanksgiving is always a success. We eat food, everyone smiles, laughs, and has a great time.

I’m thankful to be apart of such a great league here in Westchester. To the staff Jamelle and Marquese, Our Regional Mooney, and our players:
Thanks for coming back to dinner each week & season!

-CC out!