1.7 MILLION MAN: My epic journey to two Detroit league championships

It was going to take a miracle.

I still remember it fondly. A little over two years ago I signed up to play in the Veteran’s league and was promptly placed on the worst team in the entire league. The Boston Celtics. As I walked onto the court, I immediately knew I was in trouble.

They needed me to shoot.

So I played into their team concept and calmly enjoyed the consistent beatings by the Demarcus Reids, McKinsey Golfins, and Mike Harringtons. After losing each game, by an average of 40 points (or more, so it seems) I walked up the guest service desk and make one request.

Please place me on a winning team where I can be a good 7th or 8th man. I just want to play a role.

So imagine my excitement, the following year, when I was added back to the...wait for it...

Boston Celtics.

And so it became apparent that if I was going to win, I needed to find another path.

Fast forward to this past year.

After winning our 2nd straight Veterans League Championship, I was messaged by Jeff Wertz asking me to join his Shelby Rec League team. Asking “me” to play in the Rec league. Are you fricking crazy? I’ve seen this league play. It’s fast… it’s young… it’s thin…. Three things I am not. I had visions of being crossovered by Johnnie Brown, being beat down by Mikey Petrovic, or even worse being outscored by Aston Sokolnicki.

I responded, “Oh you need a sub?”

Wertz responded, “No, I like the way you play. We have 4 other guys.”

Memories of the Celtics started to run through my mind. Should I be selfish, and take this role and completely accept the fact that we are going to be a horrible team all season? Or do I do what is right? If you haven’t noticed a theme in my stories, you haven’t been paying attention.

I hate to lose.

“No, Jeff, I don’t belong in that league as a starter. Let me make a couple calls and get a couple other guys.”

In the next 12 hours, I made the appropriate contacts and Golfin and Jason Sawinski were added to the team. And later Tony Muscat.

So do I take credit for the fact that I woke up this past Sunday with both a Veterans and Rec League Championship?

No.

It is a great honor to be able to celebrate this with my fellow Warrior teammates, Sawinski and Muscat. I also felt very proud of Golfin and Wertz who had to really adjust their games to play alongside each other.

It was a great feat.

In fact, so great that Sawinski now holds the records for most Championships (12) and Muscat holds his head high after stopping NCAA scoring assassin, Rashad Phillips, in the Rec League championship.

I had the pleasure of sharing these moments with unstoppable big men: Jovaughn Wilson and Brent Wichtner.

And the excitement of seeing role players step up and make big plays: Nico Genova, Steve Maceri, and Jim Polyzois.

After being an afterthought, being forced to play on a team that really resembled the Bad News Bears, I made my way to the apex of Shelby Ultimate Hoops.

I guess it’s time to make my way to the Top Flight league. Time to make some more new friends.

(Rashad, whats your phone # buddy?)