Q&A: Wes's Farewell Tour begins

On the heels of Dan's In Memoriam tribute video, I caught up with the odd's on favorite to be the next head on the PCTI chopping block. (although the timing was coincidental) 

Wes addresses reports of his PCTI farewell tour, reveals an alliance that I never knew existed (question 4) and gives a pretty good breakdown of both squads. 

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1. Lets get right in to it. It's been widely publicized that this is your last year, is that the case and if so how did that decision come to be? 

It appears that way, but I may end up begging to retract. It comes from a) the resident hypochondriac's email that he oh so conveniently left me off only to later call me out (anyone shocked?) b) my poor participation / performance in all aspects of the weekend (blog, email, basketball, relationships, etc.)

2. If now is the time to bow out, why not do it this year? 

Because I really don't want to, as well as, there was enough other changes happen that I didn't want to burden it. I love PCTI and everything it was intended to be from its creation. I've just not showed that over the years and after so much time of that not changing, I'd be a fool to believe it would be much different moving forward.

3. Do you feel a little like Kobe? 

Haha, mostly no. But there is that whole thing where about half the teams he played on were terrible because of him. Difference, his was probably more ego and mine is much more performance

4. Who will you miss least when you leave? 

Easy answer, Ahop because he is the only one I quasi consistently see.

5. There's questions about your commitment, as you are rarely heard from. But every time I think you're going silent, you pop up with a sentence or two. Care to clear the air one way or the other? 

I rarely don't read immediately apart from an occasional afternoon of reading when I wake up (night shift problems). I've tried to throw in more comments. I don't post because I'm not creative and take forever to write my thoughts (off and on working on this for 3 hours).

[Editor's note: This email hit my inbox at 2:30 am. So, yeah]

6. You've became infamous for booking your PCTI flight a few weeks out, why?

Have you seen a theme? Procrastination and lack of effort toward commitment.

7. What should we expect from you this year? 

I'd like to tell you to expect something different. IF any of you believed that you would be nearly as big as fools as I am.

8. What's your opinion of your squad? 

Whose on my team again? Kidding. We've got 3 very good scorers, 2 quasi post (hard thing to be in PCTI) and 2 guys that are spot up guys (only one of them is the real SPOT and then me which is a spot to avoid). I think the biggest question will be how well do we move the ball and how do we respond when something doesn't go well (and something always goes wrong in a PCTI).

9. How would you size up the opponent? 

It is definitely a Ben Wilson drafted team. I know nothing about TP or Godon's game except the stuff we can't believe written by others.We lack historical ball movers, they are nearly all guys who look to pass first. With that, typically "pass first" ends up being guys who can't create / make their own shot at times, excluding Beas & Ben. I also can't wait to just wait on your spin move for the easiest charge in the books circa the last time I played with my captain.

10. As PCTI's resident beer snob, what's your strategy heading in to Cincinnati? 

Cincinnati has some better offerings than what you would think. Nothing compared to Portland & Denver, but you won't be forced into beer flavored water.

PCTI's Fallen Soldiers

With Memorial Day rapidly approaching, it's important for PCTI to #neverforget the one's no longer with us...

It's also important to #neverforget to comment.

Q&A with some people's favorite: Spotlight!

I caught up with Spotlight via email recently for the most tension-filled exchange we've had in our 13 plus year relationship. To be fair, I deserved it and should have known better than thinking he would let me off easy. But as Spot is wont to do, he made me feel better at the end. The same can't be said for Ratings Man Dan.

My recommendation for reading this: Throw on a nice back beat, similar to what Beas had pumping out the speakers during last year's Friday night festivities at his crib spot. Something about the way Paco puts it down - even through email - just has a nice rhythm to it.

Here we go:


1. Ever since you and Beas entered this thing in PCTI III you guys have competed for the "Most Popular" superlative. Yet this offseason I feel like you've come under a little fire for the first time. How much of that is just a creation of Dan Dan the Ratings Man and how much of it is valid?

I'd probably flip that question back at you, seeing as you're Second (in) Line Sass Ma(s)ster in Chief, no? I have no doubt the Fruit Snack harbors very real resentment towards me, and he's been vocal about the origin story for that (Rumble 2015). I got SUPES toasty on accident the night before flying to meet up with him, you know like then 32 now 33 year olds do all the time. And again, as then 32 now 33 year olds tend to do, I rode the struggle bus for about two days afterwards, including the Rumble day/night. Combine that with my Abe-induced Game 5 perfectly time-released LEGAL high last year, and my reputation for irresponsibility (and somehow insubordination?) has apparently cemented. I'm cool with it. Danny actually loves me, he's just not ready to be transparent about it.

2. You're on the short list of guys in PCTI whose basketball opinion I value most. I think you get the game well and do a good job of contextualizing it. With that said, what's your take on your squad?

I think we present a pretty significant matchup challenge for the Bratwursts. Obviously Joe and Abe have learned to coexist, with only the Denver Derp feeling like a blip on the radar, which means they'll demand a ton of attention. So my guess is someone not named Danny and not named My Best Friend is going to have to chase Sabin off screens and run him off his mid range, and someone is going to have to chase me fucking everywhere. I'm intrigued to study the tape of IIIII to understand the offensive patterns during me and Sabezilla's shared court time.

3. What about the opponent?

Motor. You could argue the Peanut Brattles have the five best motors in PCTI. Two guys who I fucking love playing with (Beas and you, even though I'm currently beefing HARD with you) because you're both relentless while balling out and mostly composed (game not attitude). One guy (Fart, I mean Fruit) who is essentially my polar opposite, static bordering on dead sloth on offense, balls meet wall on defense, and two newbs who self-proclaim to be leave everything they have on the court types. For the record, I never did nor would I have considered going near the word "hustle" in my PCTI intro features. If those two dudes prove to be blowing smoke, it sucks to be them bc no captain will ever trust them again. Welcome to PCTI guys.

Also Hops and Benji, my bestie and my bearded Buddha. Love em, miss em. Motor not relevant.

4. There's been a lot made of Ben passing up picking you in the draft. What did you make of that, especially now that you know TP is still very much recovering from a serious knee injury?

I knew it was coming. Ben believes TP is one of the four or five best players in PCTI; FACT. I'll let the gen pop rank order and chew on who Ben disrespects near the top, but let me just season the pot by saying it ain't Abe and it ain't Joe.

5. Since Day 1, you completely embraced the nickname Spotlight. Has its usage spread outside of PCTI?

Not to a single person. Literally. Even when I wear my jersey to hoop, people just assume it's weirdly related to a movie about the Catholic Church and Priests gone real bad.

6. At PCTI Portland you mentioned that after this season you might be moving to Europe next year. Where does that stand and how it affect your PCTI status after this year?
There's a coded reference in one of my answers about my longer term trajectory, but for the shorter term the plan is still London in the fall, then Nairobi for about 3-5 years before repatriating.

7. Back to your game, too much has been made of your rebounding prowess, or lack thereof. In my mind, not nearly enough is said about your ability to finish in the lane, as I would say only a few guys in PCTI do it as well. After a few years in this thing, how do you assess your game and where you fit?

I'm an exceptional pickup player because defense isn't necessary, so I've actually improved a lot in the last three years or so off the bounce and at the rim bc I unashamedly intend to shoot every time I touch the ball in my pickup or league games. So I can fill it up a lot of different ways when I'm rolling.

My ability to accept role player status and do the little things was always touted as a strength of my game in my early days in PCTI, but that always disgusted me. So this year, as maybe fourth or even fifth scoring option on my squad, after a couple years intentionally working hard to shed my perception as a good teammate, should be interesting. Likely scenario, I bitch and pout all weekend about not getting enough shots. Best case scenario, Abe, Joe, Sabes, and our bigs draw doubles and pass well, in which case I'm launching uncontested bombs all weekend.

8. Who's the most underrated player in PCTI?

McFish.

9. Is the man bun/ponytail gonna still be on the menu come Cincinnati time?

100%. It's Activity A in my efforts to recapture the Spotlight brand from the Church.

10. How's married life and New York City living? Those are some drastic changes to take on in the same year.

City's crazy, wife is a BOSS, come visit I miss you.

Post from the Passed "I'm Not a Playa I Just Crush A Lot" SPOTLIGHT.... Pat Higdon.

Looking back to the intial intro of the Unit from 2/2/2012.

1. Nickname: Paco, Higs, Higgy, Saunch, Sanjay, 3Ball. Haven't gone by my actual name in> so long I don't even remember what it is.

2. Height/Weight: Unknown

3. Employer: United States Gub-ment, need to know basis

4. College: Self-Educated. Internet.

5. Favorite Sports Team: Titans, Vols, Fulham FC

6. NBA Comparison (Why): CJ Watson. Career backup PG, explosive scorer, bearded, once slept with Floyd Mayweather's baby mama.

7. Favorite PCTI Teammate: BC. Unbelievable character, glue guy. Fearless hook shots, with either hand. Having a natural lefty is vital to any championship team.

8. Biggest PCTI Enemy: Krow. Most overrated passer in the history of PCTI.

9. Favorite PCTI Moment: The picture in this blog post: http://pctinvitational.blogspot.com/2011/12/where-you-going.html

10. Biggest Question Mark on Breaking Bad? Can Thompson contain his vitriol and avoid breaking his shooting hand on Sabin's face?

11. Bold Prediction: I average 10 points per game.

12. Not So Bold Prediction: I average 10 turnovers per game.

13. Even Less Bold Prediction: I average 10 rebounds per game.

14. Gun To The Head Guarantee: I foul out atleast two games.

EDITOR'S REACTION:

1. 3Ball sounds made up. I'll give you a more fitting nickname by the end of the weekend.

2. Big Brent already has the "Mysterious" label wrapped up. I'm not sure if this was an attempt to make you feel like Kane, but it's not working.

3. Considering the government is my least favorite part of life, this just adds fuel to the Krow/Higdon rivalry.

4. If this were true, I would give you mad props. You're just another one of the loser UT grads in PCTI. Man I'm glad I went on my own.

5. Another PCTI "Athlete" aligning himself with losers!

6. Take out the explosive scorer and you're spot on.

7. Is there anyone on the planet that doesn't fear BC's righty hook? If he had a penny for everytime he scored with that move....

8. Ben Wilson would argue that claim.

9. Best answer yet. Could this be the start of another member jumping on board the "I hate Scott Donley" bandwagon? It's filling up by the second....

10. Judging from last year, you won't have to worry about Thompson breaking his hand, but rather fracturing his palm.

11. Bold is right.

12. Not so bold is right.

13. Good luck pulling that off playing 10 minutes a game. Don't you know Pitto needs his minutes???

14. Very possible because TLFTK know the weak link on D. We will be exploiting you all weekend long!

Krow/Higdon 2016

Roommate Draft Rankings

I had this tee’d up yesterday but after Dan the Intimidating Man threatened everyone through email to make a post, I decided to hold off just to prevent DIM from thinking he called for some action and someone responded. As there is some questions around why the roommate draft has not be announced and it seems like the BORED is hiding something, I decided to put together a roommate power ranking.

When thinking through this, I thought I could go in 1 of 2 directions. The first would try and be fair and balanced and think of what most participants would want in a roommate. Things like, are they clean, will they be in bed before 11 pm, what book will they be reading, and will I enjoy them. That seemed to boring for me. As everyone (except the rooks) know very well, I love to hoop but I also love alcohol. Should I tone down my drinking (in life) at PCTI? Probably. Will I? El Oh El. So this is my personal roommate draft rankings, which means I am looking for people that will drink a lot of booze, smash some late night eats (don’t get me started on the street meat gyros in Denver), and wake up the next day feeling like hell and trying to piece the night together. Also, some factors: being able to talk hoops 24/7 especially PCTI’s history and future, being able to bring the laughs, being good looking, someone more responsible than me to make sure I’m awake when need be, QP member, being able to keep my attention, etc.

1.       Spotlight – he really hits all the marks. Good looking, a skosh more responsible, intelligent and interesting, QP member, and we always have a good time together. We’ve shared many drunken nights and many hungover mornings together. Fun fact for you, Spot and I are the only 2 guys to go out every night of PCTI that we have participated in. All reasons why he is in a 3 way tied for 1^st.

1.       Beas – Who doesn’t want to room with Beas? He is incredibly good looking, he always has interesting stories of being in nature or having sex or a combination of both, he has his own lingo which I always pick up a phrase or two, and he loves hoops. Easy to rank him first as well.

1.       Abe – Another one tied for first, he and I have shared more drunken nights together than most friends do sober. We go way back, used to be roomies, and are best of friends.

2.       Joe – He is like the point guard for social events, he builds up everyone’s confidence because he laughs at every joke like you landed it perfectly. He is always pushing for bigger and better socially. When he goes out, he goes hard. The cons are he is hit or miss to go out.

3.       TP – What a ranking for a rookie! He has come out of the gate strong. I’ve had the pleasure of getting housed with this guy multiple times and when he says he is down for anything, he ain’t lying. Shotgun this beer – Sure! Want to walk to this random strip club a mile away – Duh! Let’s get weird!

4.       BC – Loves talking all hoops but especially PCTI. A great guy to have an engaging conversation with and makes you think he cares about what you are saying. Gets out and gets loose with his DARK beers. I also think he makes me laugh more than anyone in PCTI.

5.       Ben – A deer friend of mine that makes me LOL. Brings some bomb ass jams (music not preserves). He also will get turnt which I think will only increase this year with his partner in crime TP joining the fold. 2 cons, he is a disgusting human and sheds like a golden retriever in summer.

6.       Wes – Pros – beer connoisseur, world traveler, VFL, and small in stature. Cons: his hair takes forever to do, he usually is upset because he “sucked today”, and when drunk he gets loud.

7.       Bruiser – This dude loves his beers. He can drink a case of macro brews by himself. I worry about his drinking performance coming off of a year off and a child. He may also be wired to get up every two hours.

8.       Scotty – I’ve roomed with Scotty before and have enjoyed it. Another guy that wants to talk hoops all the time. I worry he will be distracted being home and will try and show out to try and be big man on campus. Then again, hosts are usually running all over the place and not in the room during the day which is ideal for my hangover nap.

9.       Rainbow – No idea who this guy is. I don’t even know what race he is. But he can’t be worse than the last two.

10.   Sabin – Constantly trying to convert you to become a Mormon, but doesn’t even get the benefit of multiple wives. OUT. Joseph Smith this, Joseph Smith that. Just kidding, he does not do that, but he also does not drink, so he may as well.

11.   DK – Only perk of this guy is he usually has extra fluids that are crucial for hangovers. Nothing positive otherwise.

There you have it, my rankings for roommates. As I was doing this, I realized that the BORED is probably getting an Airbnb or something and we won’t have roommates (or some won’t). This has been discussed in years past, but never worked out. Honestly, it doesn’t matter who my roommates are as this is the best weekend of the year.

*Side note: Deuce would be a clear 1 if he was involved, but usually gets his own spot to slay his prey*

Early PCTI7 Logistical Answers

Every year, I do my very best to communicate as many specifics as it relates to the upcoming PCTI as possible... Every year, the select group of mis-fits who don't give a damn about my time don't bother using the documented information on the blog and reach out to me with questions.  Losing B. Mac helped (last year he called me three weeks before asking when PCTI was), but with Wes, Stickman (who isn't a mis-fit but doesn't trust what I put out) and notorious F'Up Spotlight, there's no telling how many times I will have to repeat myself.

Now that my rant is over, it's not always bad... The highlight of my PCTI career was when Ben revealed he's brought extra laces every year (it's going to pay off, I promise).

That said, a couple things....

• ARRIVAL DATE: Wednesday, July 6th (anytime).
• DEPARTURE DATE: Sunday, July 10th (anytime).
• GAMES BEGIN Thursday AM and will end on Saturday.
• IF YOU'RE FLYING IN: Any attempt people have made to come in day of has ended up costing them more money and the group stress.  Book your flight back on Sunday.
• IF YOU'RE DRIVING IN: Plan as if games will start at 10:00 am.  I don't see a reason to get up at 4:00 am if you're coming from Nashville, so BC is probably the only one that could rationalize driving in TR morning.  
• ANNUAL DINNER is Saturday night... I know some people are driving and might be tempted to drive back Saturday, but out of respect for the group, don't be that guy.... We do this once a year and talk about it all year long.  Make the most of it.
• AIRPORT OPTIONS (Ranked):
• Cincy.
• Dayton (Southwest fliers--Hour away).
• Lexington (and ride with BC, about 1.5 hours).
• Louisville. 
• FLIGHT BOOKINGS: The best time to book is 54 days out on a Sunday afternoon at 3:00... Otherwise, pick a Tuesday or Wednesday, but don't book yet.  Flights are outrageous and should get cheaper with nothing going on in Cincy the weekend we are there.  
• JERSEYS: Actor is in the process of getting new one's and will have for PCTI7.  
• PAYMENTS: Instead of the traditional routine where we wait until we receive the final bill and everyone has already spent all their money, this year we will begin the requests earlier so you're not getting hit with one lump sum at the end... And the person fronting it isn't stuck either.

Scotty will provide the specifics closer to time, but above will give you some things to think about and work off of.  

Q&A with TP

It was nice getting to learn a little more about one of PCTI's two rookies. I think this may be the most revealing Q&A session yet.

A LOT of good insight here.

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1. This is among the burning questions in PCTI: where are you at health wise? Actually, for those who don't know, why don't you also lay out the story of when, where and how you got hurt.

I'm borderline ready to play again right now. Im hitting those final stages of recovery. It's to the point now where I really feel like I can play, but from shear time standards and uncertainty it makes me nervous to just jump back in. (@ PCTI I will be just under 11 months out of surgery). I will be easing into running games early to mid May. By June leading up to PCTI my plan is to be playing 2 days a week full speed. Luckily I have access to regular games in Knoxville, and also have a pretty decent set up at my house so I will be able to get the most possible time between the lines. I got hurt playing pick up basketball in Chatt almost exactly a year ago. I waited to have surgery till August due to getting married and having a lot going on last summer, so it put a hold on the surgery for a while. The injury was a non contact play gone bad. I was coming down the lane and went to jump stop for a pull up 4 footer and my knee just completely gave out. I knew instantly it was not good, and sure enough, it wasn't (full ACL tear paired with a Lateral and Medial Meniscus tear). I was extremely angry about it because I had done squats earlier that day, and knew that wasn't and shouldn't play that night. I had a buddy call and was slightly persistent that I man up and come play, he also knew that I was a sucker for pick up bball and wouldn't say no and here we are 1 full year later.

2. We definitely worked hard this year to stabilize the depth of the PCTI roster and the benches should help the quality of play. With that in mind, do you plan to either limit how much you play with the knee early to see how it holds up or do you expect to have to manage your minutes a little come day three since three days of hoops - even for the able-bodied - is a grind?

Its really hard to tell, and until I start playing again I wont be able to accurately guess how I will handle the games. My therapy/training sessions are long and strenuous, so I really feel like I am doing the right things to turn some heads as far as my preparedness for basketball this early off a tough injury.

3. I saw the picture of you throwing down a two hand dunk and I think Dan used it in his trailer video he recently published. Some folks may not know that picture was taken recently. Should we expect a dunk? An in-game dunk would be a PCTI first.

Ben and I had breakfast about a week ago when he was in town for the day. I'm still trying to decide if he really wanted to hang out, or was just looking for a status report on his draft pick. Anyways, I told him I was feeling better and better, so later that day when I was shooting around I snapped that of myself and sent it to him for a little proof. As far as putting one in during a game, who knows. I'm definitely not scared to go to the rim aggressively, I guess the only question will be if my wind hold up enough to muster up the energy for that type of maneuver.

4. What have you heard about the game flow of PCTI? I ask because sometimes it's difficult for a non-guard (I like this term over big men...because really that's all a big man is in PCTI...a non-guard) to figure out where to pitch in and how to get in the flow of the game.

Seems to be a guard heavy game. I also hear about games getting tough later in the series with which my concern would be when people get tired they tend to shoot quickly and poorly.  I'm not necessarily a back to the basket player, but if needed I can be. Playing with a fair amount of different skill sets of players, I've learned to be a chameleon in basketball. It will not take me long at all to grasp our team's motives and execution level and find where I will be best suited.

5. How do you assess your team?

I feel like this is an extension of my last answer.

I've played a lot of basketball with Ben. I know his offensive mind set, I know he can use his big body when he needs to (BTW has anyone talked about how he's probably lost 25 lbs since last year???). I know Danny is an aggressive type hustle player, I'm also assuming he's a very vocal player. Beyond that I don't know the first thing about anyone else's game. So it will really be up to me to make quick assessments as to who fills what roll on the court with out changing my favorable pace/style of play.

6. What is your reaction to all the criticism Ben has received for picking you over Spotlight? It's pretty clear Ben thought this was a no-brainer.

Having not played with Spotlight its tough for me to say I deserved the pick, but its done and now its more about me living up to the hype. Ben for sure had a slight advantage because he has played with me so much, not that that justified the selection, just a simple truth. All in all I like the buzz, I like the pressure, and I guess we will see what happens from here.

7. Do you know enough about the other team to have a feel for what they're about? If so, what are your thoughts?

I've played with Josh a few times over the years and I know his skill level. Other than him I am rolling in blind, but I have a feeling that our team is coming in as the villains.

8. Those who know you have obviously tried to give us a scouting report and you jokingly did the same thing. But in terms of #realtalk how do you see yourself helping your squad?

Ben pretty closely laid out my game. I'm an outside - in player and can be a streaky scorer at times. I know my style of defense isn't as appealing to the eye as some others, but I feel like I get a little under appreciated on that end of the floor. I definitely try to take advantage of my long stride and length as much as possible often trying to bait people into playing to my strengths with out them knowing. My biggest thing is that I absolutely hate losing. I'm not a player that gets frustrated and make a bunch of dumb plays necessarily, but when games are close I am going to do everything I can to make sure we have a chance to win. I guess the stat sheet will show all at the end of this, but I think my advantages I'm bringing to the table will be a positive addition to what Mr. Wilson has put together.

9. One thing we haven't touched on is night life. Give us a peak behind the curtain as to what we can expect in that regard.

Sadly, this is probably my strongest category. I'm down for whatever and whenever. Not sure what the mentality normally is here, but you won't hear me complaining about bar, restaurant or event choice. I can have fun at the corner pub drinking Bud heavies shooting pool, or getting the glow sticks out and hitting the rave. I enjoy it all as long as the people I'm with are able to enjoy themselves. Biggest fault on this is I'm usually one of the last to bed. I have a hard time giving up on a night of fun.

10. I guess I should have started with this, but instead I'll close with it. Give us all the non-basketball info so we can all skip the small talk once we get to the Ambrose Asylum. Job, city, marital status, anything else I missed, etc.

I work in logistics as a freight broker and living in Knoxville. My wife's name is KJ and we have been married for a little less than a year (Smo was a no show at the wedding Ben was in attendance). I just moved here, but this was moving back home for me as I was born and raised in Knoxville. I previously lived in Chattanooga for three years. This is where I met Smo and we became friends over a short time as co workers. I liked it in Chattanooga and didn't want to leave, but my wife had been commuting to Knoxville daily so not much of a fight was put up when she decided it was time for a change. Mostly I like all the normal stuff we all tend to like, Sports, booze, music, food etc.. Like I said before I'm usually up for anything almost to a fault.

Message from The Bored: Prepare Yourself

Greetings PCTI:

For each of you little minions voicing your displeasure with the BOD, allow me to borrow a line from The Miz: When my hand goes up, your mouth goes shut. Right now, my hand is up.

Sure, Abe brought up some fair suggestions and valid questions when he decided to turn his Q&A session in to his personal soap box. But you really think The Bored hasn't already discussed when we're going to do the roommate draft and when we're going to release a preliminary itinstick? We didn't turn this thing in to the greatest spectacle in middle of the pack pick up basketball by accident. We've considered everything. So each of you should just sit back and eat another Twinkie and let the adults in the room handle the business.

To prove my point, I'm going to bring something to your collective attention that I'm positive none of you idiots have considered:

After we make our long anticipated trip to the Ambrose Asylum, Cincinnati, Ohio, we will have exhausted all our original host city options. That means, faithful reader, that one of you is going to have to step up for once in your life and make a pitch for hosting PCTI 8. Since I expect none of you to come to the table Saturday night prepared, allow me to look in to my crystal ball to make a few projections and with any luck, inspire you to, for once in your life, do something for the betterment of PCTI.


Some cities that could host: a list meant to inspire or frighten

1. Lexington: I'm back in Lexington so we could return to the birthplace of PCTI and the home of PCTI I and II. The guy who ran the gym we played at excused us of stealing shoes out of his office, so I actually have no idea if he would have us back so we could re-create the cramp game and someone could break a bone slipping on the blue tile. Personally, I have very little interest in repeating a host city (especially for a third time and especially this particular host city) but if I need to, I'll step up.

2. Los Angeles: The best way for the growing contingent of West Coast PCTIers to save on travel is to band together and bring PCTI back to the West Coast. Actor has been in LA for a sneaky long time now and probably would be able to put together a successful weekend.

3. Charleston: A city that has been tossed around from year one but that does not get considered as an "original suggestion" because Pitto was the one who originally championed the idea. The advantages are obvious, as PCTI is made for a medium sized city and Charleston is one of the finest options in that regard in the country. The challenges are twofold and significant. First, nobody lives there and someone would have to step up to host and do so from offsite. Second, it's not an easy place to get to and would be a real pain in the ass for the West Coasters.

4. Chattanooga: We're all familiar with Smo's pitch for Chattanooga. Of course Smo won't be around this year and probably has zero interest in hosting, especially in a place where he no longer lives. There's a chance TP lives in Chattanooga and if that's true (I have no idea where he lives) perhaps this emerges as a serious contender. Otherwise, I would assume the ship has sailed on PCTI Chatty.

5. St. Louis: As mentioned, Smo has campaigned to host several times and has deep ties to St. Louis. I also have a history with the city, having gone to college there. Obviously, the central location is attractive. I feel like this could actually be a sneaky good pick, but again, does anyone want to host in a city where they don't live? It would be asking a lot.

6. Dallas/Plano: Probably the best option if we settle on a repeat. The Sabin/Dan The Ratings Man combo guarantees we'll be well taken care of. As a wrinkle, we could expand to other parts of Dallas to liven up the off-court activity. In that regard, it would be a totally different trip than Kittens Disaster year.

7. Nashville: Is it finally time? You can make a compelling argument that it is. Originally we wanted to avoid Nashville in order to build up the weekend as a true "basketball trip" and we feared that some of that would be lost if we went to Nashville, considering so many of us grew up there and many in the league continue to live there. I don't think that is a concern any longer as fewer of us in PCTI call Nashville home and those of us who are living elsewhere have been gone for so long that a trip back would feel like visiting a city as a tourist. The other concern with Nashville was that having it at home would mean we would get inundated with requests from hoopers we know in Nashville who would want to play. Again, I think with time (as this would be PCTI 8) people will understand that this is not something they can simply expect to join. It may be worth it to see how Bruiser handles PCTI coming to His City.

HERE COME THE BRATS

Wesley Snipers better be on notice.

Rainbow's Highlight Reel

It's no secret to anyone at this point the man known as Rainbow has an unorthodox, unique, effective, yet very volatile approach to basketball.  It remains to be seen which of his many alter-ego's will show up to PCTI7, but for his squad already knows as The Brat's, they better hope it's not this one...

Want a re-draft Wilson?

PCTI - NBA Offspring, Part III

The first two parts of this post went by relatively quickly, as I felt like those mentioned earlier had easily identifiable clones in the League. As we have progressed through the PCTI roster, it has become a bit more difficult to match PCTI players to certain NBA players, but I searched the annals of the Association for the best available comparison. Without further hesitation, here is Part III of PCTI players and their NBA spirit brothers.


1) Anthony Hopkins - Wesley Matthews


Although he did much of his best work in the hinterlands of Portland, lesser-known Wes Matthews is one of the toughest dudes in the NBA. He has made a name for himself with timely shooting, outward leadership, and dogged defending that consistently leaves his teammates fawning over him. There have been games this season with the Mavericks where his shooting could've been more consistent, but there were many more games where he willed his team to victories through competitive fire and strength of character. He's the type of player that an analytics enthusiast will dismiss and discount, and yet every teammate loves playing with this guy. In my experience, that's good enough for me.


Likewise, Hops does much of his best work in relatively anonymous Tennessee. This player is one of PCTI's toughest, having made his bones with incredible leadership, dogged individual and team defending, and timely shooting. Teammates like Krow fawn over him and consistently yell "Shooter" and "Backbreaker!" as Hops loads another 3 ball. Have there been games where Hops' 3 ball has deserted him? Sure, but how many more games has he played where his competitive will and strength of character have shined through to help his team compete and win? Although analytics guys like Eskildsen may dismiss his shooting percentage, I've yet to come across any player in PCTI that doesn't love playing with Hops and rave about his intensity, character, and leadership. One thing that will always be said about him is that he brings it. At the end of the day, that's good enough for me.

2) BC - Karl-Anthony Towns


KAT is an anonymous, destructive basketball player. I'm not sure I remember the last 20-10 guy in the NBA who operated with such little fanfare and relative anonymity. Is it because he is a rookie? Is it because he plies his craft in Minnesota? Is it because he is outshined by sexier, flashier guards like Andrew Wiggins and Zach Lavine? I don't know the answer to any of these questions. But the reality is that the BIG KAT has a beautifully destructive inside-outside game, perhaps among the best in the league. He defends, rebounds with enthusiasm, blocks shots, and his motor always runs at maximum output. I have a feeling that we will look back on this guy in a few seasons and say something foolish like "Where did he come from?" or "When did he get so good?" when the very clear reality is that he is just a damn good ballplayer that precious few recognize as such.


Likewise, BC is consistently among PCTI's best ballplayers, recognized as a standing threat for producing double-doubles and always regarded as a top draft choice. And yet, for whatever reason, he is consistently overlooked as an impact player to his team and as a guy who always influences the outcome of a series. Is it because he is PCTI's best personality? Is it because he also has camera and interviewing responsibilities? Is it because he is looked at as a guy who can make everybody laugh? Is it because he has a singular freak-out moment with officials at every PCTI and that overshadows his performance? I don't know the answers to the questions. All I know is that I always look up at the box score and dude has a big double-double with a team victory. I think we will look back in a couple of years and realize that BC has been a destructively good basketball player for a long time....shame on us for not recognizing it until now.

3) TP - Brook Lopez


I have to admit, I know very little about Brook Lopez. He plays in the Eastern Conference, so my Mavericks only see him twice a year. Most games, he has been injured so I haven't had the chance to evaluate his work. Given his injury history, I have never had him on my fantasy teams to judge his scoring, rebounding, and blocking ability. All I really know about him is that he has a strange haircut, an awkward interview voice, an uncoordinated brother, and a very big basketball game when he is healthy.


Likewise, I know nothing about the player TP. I really don't even know what TP stands for besides the obvious bathroom apparatus that makes going number 2 less base. All I really know about him is that he is a tall human, has serious game, and is recovering from injury. I certainly hope he does well at PCTI, just not too well where I regret drafting him.

4) Jeff Godon - Will Barton


For those who may not know, Will Barton is a high-wire, live-body, acrobatic, one-man fastbreak that is making a name for himself in Denver. In fact, he began the season as an afterthought, only to have put himself in position to win the coveted 6th man-of-the-year award in the League this season. His YouTube videos are the stuff of legend as he is just as likely to take the ball coast-to-coast for an amazing slam as he is to trip over his own feet and stumble out of bounds. His conditioning is at the top of his class, and he routinely makes plays that other players are too tired or too apathetic to make. If there is a player who has risen to the class of great player with the singular skill of energy, it is this guy.


Likewise, Jeff Godon is an energetic, active, enthusiastic ballplayer who routinely makes hustle plays that others do not or cannot. I can see him making a name for himself in PCTI with fastbreak buckets, offensive rebounds, and energy plays for his team. World-class conditioning, and his talent of playing with energy is simply better than anybody else's in PCTI. The only thing that is gonna hold back his PCTI career is his nickname, Rainbow. I mean, seriously, WTF? [Sidebar] Jeff, I've assigned some of the top nicknames in PCTI, including Cockstrong, Bambi, and Wes-Fil-A. My work is relatively unchallenged in this area. I recommend that you drop your current nickname endorser (Krow) and give me a shot at re-branding you. Your value will scream up the boards along with your game. Open invitation...

5) Wes Murray - Matthew Dellavadova


Dellavadova is a nasty, dirty, smallish Australian-rules football player who somehow landed a job playing basketball for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He came to some prominence last season after Cleveland's top 7 guards got injured and he was forced into extended playing time. He is hairy, unkempt, and has a difficult time connecting words together. His teammates describe him as gritty, tough, and all-heart. The translation is that he is dirty, foul-prone, and has a hard time completing basketball plays. Yet, he has found the pulse of the Cleveland blue-collar fan as they routinely support him and love him for his eccentricities. He has ended more careers than Kendrick Perkins. Let that sink in for a second.


Likewise, Wesley has made a name for himself as a potential threat to end PCTI careers with nasty box-outs and unnecessary headlocks. Wes has showed up to PCTI several times hairy and unkempt, and I mainly remember him for not saying much during a two-hour ride in Bruiser's car back to the airport. Yet, he has completely galvanized his PCTI team, who is named in his honor, and whose rallying cry is "Win One for Wes!" He certainly has connected to the pulse of the Wesley Snipers and has even begun to chime in with timely blog comments and email contributions. He has nearly ended Danny's playing career, and that act alone will ensure that never has an opportunity to join the BOD.

Sabin

PCTI Analytics

As I'm sure everyone knows, I've been mourning the loss of Sam Hinkie along with the other 100 people in this world smart enough to recognize what he was trying to do.  To pay tribute, I dug through the numbers to try and see if there was anything in them that jumped out as a surprise.

A few call outs of from the analysis...

• We are really, really bad at shooting free throws... And continue to get worse.
• The only consistent reflection of our overall shooting each year is it's poor.
• Winning the TO and Rebounding battle does not correlate to wins as much as you would think.
• Yet winning the Blocks and Steals battle does.
• Assists have become more relevant to wins, which I believe is a reflection of us getting more used to playing with each other.

Looking at things year over year with a breakdown of the winner and loser....

PCTI - NBA Offspring, Part II

As the two-time defending champion of my fantasy basketball league, I take great pride in knowing completely irrelevant and useless information such as who is the Miami Heat's 3rd string shooting guard or when JJ Barea has a groin injury. I have found that my ability to process this seemingly trivial data has helped me to gain an edge over my league competitors, who perhaps have more meaningful lives than me and choose to spend their time in more productive pursuits.

At the same time, because I dedicate so much time to knowing NBA personnel, it gives me unique insight into who they are, how they play, and what type of game they have. For example, I could tell you that Andre Iguodala is a guy you would love to play with and have on your team, and yet you would grow to hate him if he were on your fantasy team. Given that and without further adieu, I present Part II of PCTI players and their NBA counterparts:


1) Joe Thompson - Kyle Lowry


Kyle Lowry is a highly-coveted, competitive bulldog of a guard that has risen to the elite level over the past several seasons. He has sneaky and underrated athleticism that helps him to make plays and finish at the rim. Also very sneaky at jumping passing lanes and getting steals that few others have the opportunity to make. Unfortunately, he plays in the wasteland of Toronto, so only the most die-hard of hoops junkies know who this guy is.


Joe is also a competitive bulldog. Perhaps the best guard athlete in PCTI as well as the best "wolf" stealer of the ball. He is not somebody that you want to see in your area if you are a shaky ballhandler. Over the years, Joe has risen through the PCTI hierarchy to become one of the top players in the league. Unfortunately, Joe plays ball in the wasteland of Hollywood, so nobody ever gets to play with him.

2) Donley - Jae Crowder


Crowder came into the league as a second rounder without much expectation or fanfare. Yet, his hard work and strength of character forced his coaches to love him and find a place for him on the floor. A grinder with no defined position or skill, dude simply gives you max effort and makes contributions in every category. He defends, boards, scores, and is cockstrong. The only real criticism on his scouting report is that he has a terrible haircut.


Donley came into PCTI II as a newcomer whose talents were not fully realized behind the exploits of Abe and Mike Hite. But his strength of will forced him to be recognized with strong play and a swashbuckling style. Some call him a grinder without a true position, but he can guard anyone and the box score is stuffed with his contributions. Maybe the best nickname in all of PCTI. Unfortunately, he also has a terrible haircut.

3) Beas - Marcus Smart


An interesting study, Marcus is the rare guard who generates a lot of value to his team without having to necessarily score the ball. Smart is unique in that he plays with pre-cognition, the ability to see plays before they unfold. This gives him the ability to be disruptive and get steals on defense, as well as to make plays in the open floor before other players have reacted. Although his shooting is streaky and inconsistent, you won't find a better competitor to lead a team emotionally. Has a distaste for teammates who don't play with the same motor that he does. Can be a turd, but fully embraces this part of his personality.


Beas is a tough, hard-nosed competitor, maybe the best in all of PCTI. He is one of the few players that can own games without scoring, contributing winning plays on defense, in transition, and on the boards. Streaky shooter, but has also had games where he leads his team and the game in scoring. Demands that his team plays at the same tenor that he does, and does not like it if he senses your effort is less than his. Bit of a maverick when it comes to supporting the BOD of PCTI, and he is clearly making a play to get a write-in vote. Unfortunately, he has the worst nickname in PCTI.

4) Ben - James Harden


The Beard has been referred to as a polarizing player in the NBA. There are many who will tell you that he is among the most talented players in the league, with a tantalizing combination of shooting skill, creation, and finishing ability. His critics say that he has a tendency towards inefficiency, a shoot-first lead guard that doesn't always get his teammates involved. He has many games where he single-handedly leads his team to victory, and a few games that are forgettable. The reality is that he is probably a little bit of both. His other reality is that he is a hairy dude and could probably use a shave.


Ben has had polarizing performances in PCTI. His prodigious performances in I, V, and VI are spoken of in hallowed reverence, while his performances in II, II, and IV left his team wanting. He has had many games where his talent has been responsible for leading his team to victory. He has also had a few games where his Sabin Productivity Score were negative. But whatever performance you get from this guy, he is really hairy and is always in need of a good shave.

Sabin

Q&A: becoming one with Nature

This may be the most honest Q&A to date. In fact, even his seemingly tongue in cheek answer to question number 5 I have since learned is actually completely true. 


-------------------------------


1. I feel like you've been under siege this off season more so than normally. But maybe it's just Dan the Man trying to get at you. Either way, do you feel like you're on the defensive?Dan the gossip man is about one thing, ratings. He is going to do whatever it takes to get the PCTI ratings up. That means no one is safe.  Having said that Dan has every reason to be coming at me. I don't play ball much these days, my lack of blog participation, and his lack of appreciation for nature really have put us at odds. I will say this, Dan has awaken the koala from a nice eucalyptus slumber.

 2. Last year was a frustrating year for you. Take us through how that went down.Pretty cut and dry, we couldn't do anything well. It was extremely frustrating.

3. Your first year was the Kitten's disaster. You bounced back well from that. What are the biggest challenges you face this year to respond that well again?Since I moved to Portland I  have had a difficult time finding a game that results in enjoyment.  So much of playing ball is enjoying the people you play with.  Basketball turns into something to look forward to every day, not a chore.  I haven't had this since leaving Tahoe.  Therefore, I think my biggest challenge is finding a game that gets me excited to play again.

4. What most excites you about your squad?The fact that this squad looks a lot like Denver squad. That was the most fun I have had playing ball since I lived in CA. Ben's move to pass on Spot in the draft really was a head scratcher and quite frankly it hurt my feelings.

5. What is your biggest concern?Probably air pollution and the general lack of regard for nature we will face in Cincy. Cincy consistently ranks in the top ten worst cities when it comes to air pollution.

 6. Have you gone corporate? If so, how has it changed you?Yes. I think the biggest thing is how much I cherish time that is spent not working. It has left me doing things that I truly enjoy, and not wasting time doing things I don't.

7. It's no secret people seem to compete for your approval more so than maybe anyone in PCTI. Who's your favorite teammate?Abe because he is the best player in this thing. He makes everyone better who plays with him. I like to pass first, and when you have someone to pass to who moves well without the ball and scores, it makes playing a lot easier.

8. You're one of the most dynamic players in PCTI and give a ton effort. The unintended consequence is sometimes that makes it hard to know how you're best used. If this PCTI played out perfectly for you on a personal level, what kind of impact are you having on a game and how are you going about doing it?I wish I had the answer to that question. I am not sure. My offense feeds off my defense. If I am active on defense and on the boards everything else usually falls in place.

9. We've all boiled down each other's games down to a quick summary. With that in mind, is there anyone you think gets credited with something they don't do often/well or anyone else who is misrepresented?Not really. I have had enough of the mcfish breakout hype though.

10. Coming out of the draft livechat when you had a picture of a koala representing you, it seems the nickname koala is picking up momentum. Your thoughts?I love nick names. I spent some time studying in koala land, aka Australia. I too like the koala enjoy eucalyptus. I enjoy trees, koalas live in trees. I only wish I could get a fraction of the sleep a koala gets. They sleep 18-22 hours a day.

PCTI - NBA Offspring, Part I

As the two-time defending champion of my fantasy basketball league, I take great pride in knowing completely irrelevant and useless information such as who is the Miami Heat's 3rd string shooting guard or when JJ Barea has a groin injury. I have found that my ability to process this seemingly trivial data has helped me to gain an edge over my league competitors, who perhaps have more meaningful lives than me and choose to spend their time in more productive pursuits.

At the same time, because I dedicate so much time to knowing NBA personnel, it gives me unique insight into who they are, how they play, and what type of game they have. For example, I could tell you that Andre Iguodala is a guy you would love to play with and have on your team, and yet you would grow to hate him if he were on your fantasy team. Given that and without further adieu, I present Part I of PCTI players and their NBA counterparts:

1) Dan Krow - Boris Diaw

I actually thought this one was relatively easy. Boris Diaw masquerades as a power forward in the box score and on the roster, but it is easy to see that he is simply a power point guard in a large body. IQ is off the charts, can do all basketball skills well, vision is unique, and chooses to beat the defense with the pass versus the dribble. Only thing that holds Boris back is his diet and weight problems.

Danny is the same. He is a power point guard who has great IQ, vision, creativity, chooses to beat you with the pass, and can do all the basketball skills well. However, Danny is also packing too much weight and constantly struggles with his diet, namely with bread and alcohol.

2) Bruiser - Steven Adams

For those who may not know, Steven Adams is the starting center for the OKC Thunder. He is an imposing mountain-of-a-man from Australia who teammates love playing with and opponents hate playing against. A constant threat to knock opponents over with screens, flying elbows, wild offensive-rebound crashes, and general rage issues.

Bruiser is Steven Adams minus the awful, slightly pornographic mustache. He is a mountain-of-a-man that imposes trepidation into his opponents' mind and spirit. Nobody likes getting into physical altercations with this guy, and for good reason. And I love seeing his inner rage monster come to play at PCTI. One of my favorites.

3) Abe - Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo is a unique scoring machine, equally adept at dominating an opponent on the block as he is swishing the 3 ball. In a one-on-one competition in the NBA, I would bet a fair amount of money that this guy would come out on top, given his size, strength, shooting ability, handle, and ability to do anything offensively that he wants. His indifference to defense keeps him from being mentioned with the best players in the game.

Abe is as dominant an offensive player as we have in PCTI. Can drive it, shoot it, post it, and otherwise offensively lead a team in every PCTI game. Helps keep his team from falling into the inevitable scoring droughts that PCTI teams experience. Probably saves a little bit on the defensive end given that he is expected to perform well on offense. Universally admired for his talent on the floor and his unabashed waitress-hounding off of it.

Spotlight - Kevin Martin

Several years ago, Kevin Martin was an all-star caliber shooting guard who routinely went for more than 20ppg. His star was on the rise given that he was a knockdown shooter and could get to the free throw line. In the past several seasons, his star has lost some luster due to his inability to get along with coaches and teammates, as well as the fact that he weighs 145 pounds. Also has an allergic reaction to rebounding and defense.

Spotlight burst on to the PCTI scene like a supernova, universally beloved an acclaimed as a favorite among many participants. His ability to knock down timely shots in games was just the cherry on top of the tantalizing sundae. However, over the past few seasons, his popularity has waned given his inability to co-exist with the BOD and his disdain for the founders' vision of the future. Also weighs 145 pounds and has allergies to rebounding.

Part II to be released soon.


Sabin

DTB's Internal Power Rankings

It's no secret I play favorites in all aspects of life, and PCTI is no different.  I want to make sure it's clear to the new, welcome back guys, and the returning guys the importance of staying on my good side and not getting out of line.  On the heels of Spotlight's insubordination, now is a perfect time to let everyone know where they stand with me.

In Order from Best to Worst

The Good:

• Abe Steven: My comment on his most recent Q&A said it all.  He's a PCTI building block, a shrewd businessman, a great player, and a guy I've spent a decent amount of behind the scenes time with every-time I visit Denver.  His ability to stay at the top despite his attempt to destruct PCTI during it's toughest time shows he's near impossible to kick out of the top slot.
• Ben Wilson: We share similar approaches to being Brat's, most notably anytime we volunteer ourselves to do something for the greater good of PCTI then turn around and whine about it (his playlist that wasn't played for three years, notably).  His work at A. Hops's trivia session goes down as the single most dominant PCTI performance in history.  I appreciate him drafting me high three years running than supporting it by insulting my game to build up my confidence until the tourney begins.
• Actor: Formerly a me-first, high attitude guy that has transformed into an on-court chameleon. Besides being my favorite teammate, his "progressive" mentality as Chief Innovation Officer has brought ideas like the blog and podcast, and his stubbornness brought us a great nickname PCTI (but worst full name) for our prestigious tournament.
• Hops: A Founding Father and Face of PCTI's Mt. Rushmore, Hops leadership and ability to corral new talent and make them feel loved is a gift that no one else has.  A testament to his ability as a visionary was when he went through his bad boy phase and wouldn't let the agitators throw a wrench in his trivia session he put together, which still goes down as a top 3 night in our history.  We are due for another one of those, just saying.  Lastly, I love knowing that when he's on the court, I know someone has my back.

The Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Good:

• Sabin: He is PCTI.  The greatest wrestler's in WWE history typically share one quality-They were a top heel and babyface.  Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Shawn Michaels, Hogan... The list goes on.  All of them were able to make everyone love and hate them equally.  Sabin is no different.  Whether you're on either side, we all love having him around.  On the court he brings the pace up, is ultra competitive, and truly cares more than anyone about not letting his team down.
• The Brat: My conversation with him when initially proposing PCTI will be permanently entrenched in the back of my brain, but outside of that The Brat is probably the consensus top choice for guy most important to the success to PCTI.  Whether it be a witty or emotional post, his work on the podcast, his high levels of performance on the court, or his even more impressive on and off court humor, the guy brings it every way possible.  His underhand chuck at the ref is a PCTI moment.
• The SD: The only guy that was invited to 1 but had a legit scheduling conflict that made it not possible to attend, I'm very thankful we needed his services for 2. Scotty and I probably talk more PCTI than anyone save BC, and he's one of the few that I think can match my love for this weekend.  He also takes his uniform coordination seriously and helps make the picture better, something that's very important to me.
• Stickman: Would be much higher on this list if he ever played and didn't point out my inability to stick to a time schedule.  The Stick Money Man is arguably the world's greatest guy to sit down and enjoy a drink/convo with, a rare person that will ask you questions and genuinely be interested in a response.  I look forward every year to when him and Deuce get matched up together and talk about knocking people's helmet's off.
• TP: He's in a fortunate situation that I haven't gotten enough time with him to formulate an opinion.  His relationship with Ben helps, but being in this slot simply means he hasn't done anything to get on my bad side yet, which the rest below him can't say for themselves.  

The Ugly:

• Rainbow: It's a real testament to my detest for certain people that this guy doesn't come in dead last by a landslide.  There hasn't been a soul since Bryan McKinney in high school who's on court success when I play against him makes me rage more.  Both play insanely hard and REFUSE to engage in any trash talk, or say anything for that matter... Which makes me boil even more.  His laid back approach to being high strung is always a pleasure when he calmly throws an air punch or kicks a ball into the rafters.  Just wait until you get your first experience with a Rainbow Bratout, he makes The Brat look like a rookie.
• Nature Boy: His inability to show good decision making skills by aligning with the next guy on my list will forever hold him back.  Natch has turned into your classic bad attitude produce guy who takes his anger on not being able to send good quality tomatoes out on The Bored whenever he feels like it.  If he had his way, everyone would be cut for not playing good or cool enough.  On a side note, it also infuriates me he never posts because he would be a top producer.
• Spotlight (ugh): Just the name makes me cringe.  The best way to explain my hatred for this guy is when his lifelong best friend chewed him out for getting too drunk playing beer pong the night before our big Royal Rumble weekend (something they had talked about doing since they were 5 years old), causing him to almost miss his flight and him barely being functional upon his arrival.  BEERPONG.  Spot has a packing issue everywhere I've ever been with him because of self-inflicted situations that make my blood boil.  Then comes his random shots at the Bored.  I detest this guy and he's an AWFUL rebounding.
• Wes: The one list he wasn't last on changed last year when he got frustrated not being able to contain my pass from the post game and took a shot at my neck unit.  Then he had the audacity to try and tell me he didn't purposely try and injure me, which thankfully the film brought truth to.  After six years he still doesn't post, barely comments, and books his flight three days before, all things that continue to get under my skin.  He knows it annoys me and doesn't care, which annoys me.  He also boxes out, which REALLY annoys me.  This guy is just annoying. WOOF.

There you have it.  Congrats to the Good and Pretty Good.  As for the Ugly, you have a long, rough road ahead.  

Q&A with Abe

I altered the format a little this time and instead of a "complete the thought" format, we went with a straight Q&A.

Abe didn't just pleasantly surprise me, he went above and beyond by taking the opportunity to not only answer the ten questions but ask a few of his own.

As for the colors, it's the way it showed up in my inbox and in the spirit of this being Abe's forum, I've elected to keep it in its original form:

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1. We've heard good things about the dog walking business is going, can you give us an update? I could bore the hell out of everyone with details, but things are going really well. One might even say we are growing like a weed here in Colorado. Bazinga.

2. Did Ben give you advance notice that he was going to pass up the first pick? 

Nope. 

3. Did you take that move personally? 

Nah. I could see myself doing something like that. Gamesmanship... I dig it.

4. Ben seemed to suggest that he did it because if you two were on the same team there would be no stopping you guys. Would you agree with that? 

Yea I got that impression too. I think last year was pretty good evidence of that, though. We should all take a moment to applaud his generosity.

5. The most underrated player in PCTI is? 

McFish. Guy is primed for a breakout year.

6. You shot the ball the first five times you touched it in last year's PCTI, was that intentional? 

Had no idea that was the case but just went back and watched. It wasn't. 5th shot came with about 3 minutes left in the first half with a lot of touches in between. And you call yourself a journalist...

(EDITOR'S NOTE: I took a risk on this one hoping Abe wouldn't call me out and he did. Truth is, I had no idea how many or few times he shot it before passing it. Though I will say that I didn't just make this statistic up. Someone told it to me a few days prior to our Q&A.)

7. Your game is among the most discussed, what do you think everyone gets wrong about you? 

We all have each other's games pegged pretty well at this point, so most of what's said is spot(light) on. (are we still doing those?) If I had to choose, I think I rebound at about 10% of my potential, primarily due to lack of effort, even though my numbers are usually good. I'm going to shoot for 20-30% of my potential this year.

8. When are your thoughts about your squad this year, assuming you know who is on your squad?

Yea I know 'em. Curious to see what father time has done to Jeff. Injuries from playing with small children doesn't bode well for competing at PCTI's highest level.

9. Are you tired of hearing that Danny is the best guy to guard you? 

He is the best. He takes this kind of thing more personally than anyone else in PCTI. He's willing to sacrifice everything to make my life difficult on the offensive end. 

None of us care as much as he does. So no, not tired. It's well deserved. On a side note, I thought it was interesting that he chose Ben as his least favorite to guard. He is my least favorite to guard, too.

10. What do you think of the opponent? If you have not idea who is on the other team, you can use this space for whatever you please. 

Definitely a lot of question marks with the new blood as far as what to expect in the PCTI environment and how they will live up to their hype and assessments. Since they both are on the same team, that makes it even more of a factor. Hell, it may even be advantageous to them since a lot of us don't know their games and tendencies as well as we know everyone else's.

To the BORED...

Since this is our version of a "Golf Trip", would it be worth investing in a decently nice golf style trophy, a cup perhaps, that we can engrave with the winners team name every year? As to who get's to keep the trophy during the offseason... I think it should be a punishment that can be decided by vote. Mainly a punishment because, who wants to keep track of that and be responsible for it all year? Danny of course would. We could have it be it's own post weekend category when we are voting on All Tourney and MVP. Maybe change the category every year like dumbest turnover, most embarrassing drunken moment, worst shooting percentage, etc. that is announced pre weekend. Please consider.

more importantly...

WHEN IS THE ROOMMATE DRAFT??? 

Q&A with DAN THE MAN

PCTI's first commissioner reflects on years gone by and looks ahead to Cincinnati. 

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1. Rank the the top 5 PCTI nicknames:

• Spotlight.
• Dan The Fruit Man.
• The Brat.
• Rainbowboy.
• Nature Boy.

2. Everyone knows me as a ball security, defensive specialist but what some people sleep on when it comes to my game is... I set a great moving screen and have never been called on it.

3. As the guy who sees Sabin more than anyone in PCTI (though not nearly as often as a few years ago) I expect his game this year to be... The Sabin I always see--13 points, 60% shooting, great ball movement and leadership.

4. The guy I least like to guard in PCTI is... Ben but this will be my fifth year playing with him so it's a moot point.

5. The guy I least enjoy guarding me is... Actor when he's paying attention.

6. If I had free Roman reign to change anything about PCTI it would be... Erasing Beer's performance from my 

brain and the PCTI history book.  #tarnishedlegacy

7. The biggest concern with my squad is... Overconfidence.

8. The biggest advantage I see us having over team Sabin is... Comraderie.

9. When I hear the name Michael Beasley, I think... How misrepresented he is as a nice guy.  

10. Knowing what I know about the plans for Cincinnati, I'm most excited for... Donley hosting... Top three guy I trust to put on a show.