An Open Letter to PCTI

As you heard, me and Abe sat up late drinking some wine spritzers, gabbing about PCTI. Most of you know that Abe and I have known each other since we were 5, have played all types of sports together, lived together, and are basically brothers. We talked about other things, but PCTI dominated the conversation. The thing that we kept talking about is how special PCTI is. So I wanted to share some things with everyone that we talked about.

The first few years, I had a "power struggle" with Dan on who to add. This is probably one sided and DK didn't notice. It took me a while, but I finally realized that DK has always been open to things that I have brought up and it is way more efficient to let him, BC, and most anyone else know that I'm there to help but stay out of the way. I had to admit that I was on the wrong side of the fence a couple times. The first was when DK wanted to add Beas. I was against it and voiced my concern. I could sit here and give you all the excuses, but there's no point. Same thing happened a few years later with TP. I again was against it. I couldn't have been more wrong being opposed to them joining. After year 2, there have only been great additions. MY BAD FELLAS!

PCTI keeps us wanting to improve ourselves and basketball players and stay in shape. Abe actually said he would have retired from basketball by now if it was not for PCTI (dramatic much?). I would still play but probably play way more golf. The fact Sabin is old af and still performs at an incredible level drives me to be better. Seeing Beas shirtless makes me want to hit the gym more. Seeing Spotlights legs in his short shorts makes me want to shave my legs better. Seeing Smooth get fired up on defense and talk shit makes me want to do defensive drills. Watching Smo handout waters makes me want to hydrate better. Having something that pushes us, not wanting to let our teammates down when we show up is a great attribute of PCTI.

We talked about every single guy throughout the night. We didn't have a list we went down but at some point during the conversation all 17 guys were discussed. It has been cool to get to know these guys on a personal level. The posts, emails, and texts are all things that help keep us connected better than people we live in the same city with.

I told Abe this is a fraternity. You might not see someone for a year, but as soon as we get to our next city, a beat has not been missed. The intensity of the games is so great but the time we spend with each other off the court makes this trip what it is. This brotherhood is special thing and this year I'm expecting to be the best yet!

The 10th PCTI is less than 8 weeks away.... Let the anticipation build!!

Wrestling Comparisons - Current WWE

To force change from my previous wrestling comparisons, I'm going to use the current WWE crop.  I'll finish the rest at a later date.

Beas: Velveteen Dream
Zodiac Comparison: Taurus/Leo
Commentary: Eccentric, attractive, athletic with a knack for teasing people this combo couldn't be easier.

Psycho Carney: Drew McIntyre (The Scottish Psychopath)
Zodiac Comparison: Gemini/Gemini
Commentary: Previously rail thin converted physically imposing, these two Gemini's share good good mic skills and both have nothing short of 100 screws loose.

Actor: The Miz (The A-Lister)
Zodiac Comparison: Libra/Libra
Commentary: Hollywood wanna-be's that consistently deliver the highest level work but are chronically under appreciated due to sub-par physical make up and flair for the dramatic.

Donley: Roman Reigns
Zodiac Comparison: Gemini/Gemini
Commentary: Superior physical makeup, both men carry their company's banner, work hard, loves what they do, and brings it everytime they play... Most fittingly, both arouse passion for better or worse....

Huck: Brock Lesnar (The Beast Incarnate)
Zodiac Comparison: Capricorn/Cancer
Commentary: Both showed up to something new and used their superior skill set to dominate right out of the gates.  Combining size, strength and skill, both Lesnar and Huck have earned the right to be called "The Beast."  They both also prefer mouthpieces rather than put a lot of time in on the mic.  Huck's hook and Brock's suplexes are two of the most used, and successful moves I've ever seen.

Hops: Triple H (The Game)
Zodiac Comparison: Leo/Leo
Commentary: Both Hops and Triple H have grown in their respected fields through their love for the game.  They both somehow end up in the middle of everything, wear many hats, have a history of leading factions, speak slowly, and bounce from super serious to comedic relief non-stop.  Take away Triple H's bodybuilder look, and these two are the same person. 

PCTI - Longest Yard Comparison

Taking some motivation out of the Beast's posts, and acknowledging that I did not watch a second of the Super Bowl, I figured I would throw together a post about two football teams I legitimately enjoy.

The Beast: Guard Englehart

Key Similarities: Personality swings/anger issues/emotional moments.  Couldn't you see the Beast tossing the water cooler upside down, than crying at dinner after one of his speeches?

Smooth: Brucie

Key Similarities: Overconfidence, disinterest in women when crowds are around, heavy interest in women behind the scenes, gets hyped when it's his turn to shine with no regard for his teammates state of mind.  Poise.

Smooth when his team is down 50 and he hits a three...

Smooth poised under pressure.

Smooth at the 53 mark.

Hops: Warden Hazen

Key Similarities: Competitive spirit, leader, no frills, speechmaster.  Couldn't you see Hops giving one of yearly in huddle ass chewings?  It's only a matter of time before he stops giving it to his team, and starts threatening the opposition.

Donley: Cheeseburger Eddie

Key Similarities: Business acumen, great body, athleticism, center of attention, creativity, good rhythm.

Smo: Caretaker

Key Similarities: Humor, desire to be involved in everything but the game, trouble starter.  Pretty sure Smo has started, and not engaged in fights very similar to the below.

Sticky: Switowski

Key Similarities: Freak of nature strength, sensitivity, soft on the inside, protective nature.  Would guess 90% of Sticky's ass kickings he's delivered is because of defending smaller motormouths, similar to the below.  Side note: If you watch this, please acknowledge the amazing delivery of the word "Bitch" by Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Huck: Deacon Jones

Key Similarities: In game dominance, physical presence, quiet demeanor, elite talent.  Similar response from The Beastie Boys when he walked in and took over PCTI9.

Juice: Meggett

Key Similarities: Nice guy that's not nice, compliant guy that's not compliant, unassuming, speed and stamina, unafraid to do what needs to be done if rubbed the wrong way.  The below video covers Juice in a nutshell.

Sabin: Coach Nate Scarborough

Key Similarities: In game strategist, longevity, crunch time scoring, heart.  Rest assure Sabin's PCTI career will end in one of two ways: Death, or a similar situation like the below.

Abe: Captain Knauer

Key Similarities: Elite talent, quiet before the storm demeanor, prone to flipping out on teammates.  Around the two minute mark is Abe, at least once a year.

The Boy: Turley

Key Similarities: Dumb, rivalry with authority, loose screws, stiff.

Spotlight: Torres

Key Similarities: Resistance to authority, Hispanic, well cultured, political views, exotic.  Spot as Torres around 3:45 mark.

Beas: Papajohn

Key Similarities: Looks, jaw structure, athleticism, rivalry with Turley/The Boy, world class tantalizer.

Ben: Fat Tony

Key Similarities: Lack of commitment, funny guy, lazy demeanor.  The 1:00 mark reminds me a lot of Ben's current passion in his PCTI bretheren.

Actor: Paul Crewe:

Key Similarities: Hollywood showman, uber talented, shady business dealings, in game volatility, big plays, public displays of affection, love for the camera.

My Top 5 Memories from Minny (Off Court)

I enjoy off the court stuff during PCTI almost as much as the battle on the court. I try and engage with everyone at least for a little bit, whether that’s catching up on personal stuff, talking hoops, or just enjoying the moment. One of my favorite parts of PCTI is getting to explore a new city and some of the things it has to offer (especially the local watering holes). I also like to reflect on highlights off the court, because while our play is well documented (thanks Deuce), the off the court activities sometimes get hazy due to excess booze, promiscuous women, late hours and few only a few pics/vids (thank God). When looking back at last year, PCTI9 was so great off the court, I didn’t even dive into Abe sending a nude pic he received from a girl to everyone at 5 am or Juice showing out every night, including a Sunday date and wallet mishap. Here are the top 5 memories for me from PCTIIX:

1.       TP Shotgunning in DK’s face

Dan organized an incredible day on the lake with 2 boats for the crew and in typical Dan fashion immediately made it a competition by having a draft to see who is on which boat. IMO there were 3 potential #1 picks, TP (power gap), Beas and Deuce. Deuce went first, Beas went 3^rd, and TP went…. 14^th? Dafuq? In real life, TP is on the lake in East TN constantly and loves the water. What a slap in the face from Dan (and BC) to be drafted so low. TP decided to symbolically dunk on Dan and hang his nuts in his face by climbing on top of one of the boats, yelled at Dan, and shotgunned a beer while looking like a Greek god. From that moment on, TP was in charge of the lake. This moment kicked off an afternoon on the lake that I will never forget.

2.       The QP growing into the “Cool Guys”

Cincy really changed the landscape of PCTI because we consolidated to one house to all stay in. I think the group dynamic really changed because of the addition of some new people and everyone hanging together at the house. Unfortunately, we got duped in Minny and was physically impossible for all of us to stay at that 2BR apartment. This created an unintentional divide in the group by separating us. The group that ended up in the hotel were QP and the BeardenBoyz, all of which are eager to tie one on at the local pubs. Since PCTI7, the QP had been in serious talks about expanding but nothing had ever fully presented itself to do so. NOW WAS THE TIME. The hotel made it easy to expand, but we needed the Bored (and others) to disapprove. We got that confirmation from DK when he labeled us as “The Cool Guys” and others decided to pile on. The above mentioned and Juice, were labeled going forward. Luckily, we lived up to the hype. So, thanks DAN!

3.       Joe’s Grind Sesh

Another unique thing happened this year: Friday night was THE night and Joe owned the night. Joe is usually in the mix to own a night when he goes out, but he took this night to a level that I’m not sure he knew he had. After dinner, people had spread out at different bars. A group of us wound up at some wanna be night club and tried to get everyone to come meet us there. After a small group got rejected for dress code, Joe transformed into JT$ingz and somehow got the group into the bar. A hype man with a microphone appeared and loved Act and kept referencing the “guys from LA!” Joe hits the dance floor, showing off the best moves in Minny since Prince (RIP). The next thing I know, the dance floor is packed of people watching multiple black girls, all weighing over 230 lbs, grind all over Joe. It kept escalating until one went face to face with Joe, leaned back as far as she could, pulled her titties out and bounced them up and down. At that point, we all knew we were shutting the bar down that night.

4.       Beas Starting the Question

Before Joe’s big night dancing, we started the night with a nice family dinner. Good food, great conversations, and just a very chill environment. Then things escalated. I believe Beas initially asked Spot the question, but soon each person was being pulled aside asked. There were a few people who did not want to answer (I guess for fear of being viewed as an actual homosexual). The reason I thought it was hysterical was every time Beas asked someone, they actually thought through the answer. The explanations were hysterical because of the explanations for who they chose someone or not choose someone. I don’t remember all the details, but I do know Smo was a fan favorite.

5.       The vids

I did not get to chill and watch a lot of the games at PCTI9 due to taping the video with everyone. I honestly thought it would take about an hour and a half to get through all the interviews and be able to have a laugh or two. It turned into something much better though. It took a long time, but I laughed in every interview and everyone took time to seriously answer the questions. The most lasting impression I had was how great of an event this is and how much this group of guys means to us all. I honestly got chills many times during this. Hopefully this video turns out half as good for the audience as it was for me.

PCTI9 will be hard to top but I think PCTIX is going to do that!

PCTI Super Bowl LIII comps

Time for a Super Bowl themed PCTI comps post, courtesy of Beast. Nobody gets Brady, sorry. 

The Rams: 

DAN - Jared Goff: The QB is always the leader of the team and Dan is the unquestioned (actually, always questioned) leader of PCTI. But this comparison is more about their shared career arc. Goff went from possibly being a bust to possibly being elite almost overnight. Dan had a similar trajectory, going from arguably a bottom-five player, to arguably a top-five player. Also, Goff famously admitted on Hard Knocks that he didn’t know if the sun set in the east or the west…Would it shock you if Dan didn’t know this either? 

HUCK - Aaron Donald: Both are immune to double teams, though coach Sabin chose to single up Kyle for much of last year, resulting in one of the most prolific stat lines in PCTI history. Don’t look for Bill Belichick to be as thick-headed when dealing with Donald. Physical specimens who have lived up to the hype, like Donald, not a lot is known about Kyle, other than he’s really, really good. 

SABIN - Andrew Whitworth: The easiest comp on the list. Whitworth is among the oldest players in the NFL and is considered the current player most likely to become a head coach upon retirement. How is Whitworth still around? Like Sabin, despite his age, he’s remained one of the best at his craft. Both are consummate family men and devoted fathers, as well as beloved teammates. Both also had their primes wasted by playing on trash teams. Whitworth with the Bengals (apologies to Donley) and Sabin to the Kittens and others. 

SMOOTH - CJ Anderson: Just like Smooth, Anderson was a late addition, joining the Rams in the last month of the season. Just like Smooth, Anderson appears to have done nothing in the way of training, despite knowing full well he was joining a group that would be in tip-top shape. Yet neither seems to care that they’re out of shape. They know they can play, they know they’re only needed in limited roles and they’re completely comfortable taking opportunities as they come with the utmost confidence. Do they care that they look like bums or that they’ll only play half the game tops? Not even a little. Probably wouldn’t want it any other way. Are they strangely effective? Yep. 

BRUISER - Nndamoken Suh: How much could I destroy Bruiser by comparing him to some soft offensive player? I’ll pass on the chance. Suh and Stick Man both are big, strong and crave physicality. Both also take special treatment and a team that is willing to cater to their idiosyncrasies. Suh washed out of Detroit and Miami. Bruiser does best surrounded by ‘his guys.’ Despite that neither are plug-and-play from a culture fit perspective, both are considered immensely talented and both are noted for being good teammates. 

BEAS - Sean McVay: McVay may be the only figure in sports who has built a more bullet-proof reputation than Biz. Simply breathing the same air as the Rams’ boy-genius coach has advanced the careers of countless other coaches. Short of having a desk in the Oval Office, there may not be a more scrutinized or criticized career than NFL head coach and yet McVay can seemingly do no wrong. Likewise, Beas - himself singularly immune to comparative statistical analysis - could take a dump on the center circle and still get at least a handful of A/T votes. How do they do it? Certainly a proven track record of success is a big part of it. But soo to is looking damn good in the moment. Sex sells. 

TP - Todd Gurley: From a fringe MVP candidate in consecutive seasons to, “wait, is Todd Gurley active? Did I miss something?!” The recent career arcs of both TP and Gurley are strangely similar. Both have to be injured, right? To each’s credit, they never blame the injuries and are quick to take blame and praise teammates. When  either is healthy they can swing games in a moment. 

The Patriots: 

BEAST - Julian Edelman: Both are ruggedly handsome and annoyingly above average in terms of consistent. Edelman has made a career out of five straight weeks of six catches for 65 yards followed up by 11 catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns. Both guys walk around mouthing off and generally carrying themselves like that 11/140/2 guy when the rest of the world rightfully sees them more so as 6/65/0. 

JUICE/PISS ANT - Chris Hogan: Both guys are known for being relatively new to the sport. Hogan famously played lacrosse in college before trying football his senior year. Juice allegedly was sub-five feet for much of high school and thusly didn’t find his way on to a basketball court until sometime in college. (Good thing he had that best friend in HS to kick it with instead of hooping…you know, that guy who allegedly exists and is making us plan PCTI around his wedding). The Juice Man and Hogan capitalize on long, wirery frames and plus athleticism. With a little refinement, watch out. 

ACTOR - Rob Gronkowski: Both are goofy showmen who’s antics are accepted as, “that’s just Act/Gronk being Act/Gronk.” Teammates and outsiders are ok with the obnoxious behavior because both guys are experts at knowing exactly when to turn it off and go in to competition mode. It’s never a distraction and the competitive fire possessed by each guy is as evident as their love for dancing. Also, both guys have never played at 100 percent and are always nursing a random injury to a seemingly different body part every year. Both guys are among the best at their position and have been for a long time. Both guys also publicly flirt with retirement each off season. 

ABE - Josh Gordon: While with the Browns Gordon had among the best seasons ever for a wide receiver despite later admitting that he routinely played games while high. Need I say more? Both are absolute size/speed freaks. Thankfully, Abe seems to have an exceedingly better mental chemistry than Gordon and unlike Gordon has been able to keep his life on the rails (thus far).

SPOTLIGHT - Drew Bledsoe: Both are tremendously popular ex-pats. Bledsoe’s career was cut short by injury and younger players stealing his shine. Spot is in the midst of a similar arc as he deals with a two year journey of injury, fatherhood and MAGA. Here’s hoping (and guessing) that unlike Bledsoe, Spot has plenty left in the tank and more good days ahead. Working in his favor, a Tom Brady doesn’t seem to be lurking in the log jam of PCTI’s younger wings.  

HOPS - Devin McCourty: McCourty is among the least appreciated Pats, despite being a core piece of several championship teams. He shows up, does his job on defense at a high level, quietly leads and stays out of the limelight. Hops uses a very similar recipe. McCourty has transitioned between outside corner, nickel corner and safety in his career. Similarly, Hops has helped balance big teams with wing play or smaller lineups by shifting to the front court.

DONLEY - Cordarelle Patterson: These two VFLs look like create-a-players and always ace the eyeball test. The challenge is finding the way to best tap in to the wide skill set. Belicheck has lined up Patterson all over the field on offense and special teams for the Pats. Versatility is never a negative but it can pose usage challenges. We’ve seen the same with Don, who needs the right pieces around him to be at his best. 

SMO - Brian Hoyer: By most accounts, Brian Hoyer should be out of the NFL. Twice failed as a starting QB, that would spell the end for most players. But Hoyer was smart, rather than waiting for the league to realize his short comings, he saw it first in himself and retreated back to New England to be Tom Brady’s backup, a job he had served for years prior. Recognize your inefficiencies, position yourself as a last resort, be a great teammate to your friends and have no mental reservations with possible upward mobility, despite that you are likely a more than capable reserve who (if mental approach was shifted to believing in one’s self) could probably still perform at a higher level than some starters.  But why risk it? The bench is a safe place. And in Smo’s place, it’s also a good spot to take and make phone calls for Kool Logistics LLC.  

Bonus: 

DEUCE - Tony Romo: Very rarely does a member of the broadcast overshadow the game. Romo’s soothsayer tendancies have fans as excited for him as any of the Rams and Patriots. Those of us in PCTI can relate as Deuce, operating as the league videographer, has bent the main attraction for years. 

Astrological Analysis

Astrology... I mean, how could people born during the same month ever have similar characteristics? What a crazy idea?!?  No way, right?!?  Well, I'm not here to sell you on if there's value in it.  Actually, I prefer you all think it's a crock. Like most people, feel free to say yes the strengths are accurate, but the weaknesses aren't.

All that said, let's do an analysis on a little PCTI compatibility chart with Scorpio... For those that don't know enough about me... I believe in it so much, I simply won't go on a date with a woman that isn't in my chart.  It's time I put that plan in place with PCTI as well.

Let's begin with the Scorpio's...

Sign: Scorpio.
Symbol: Scorpion.
Element: Water.
PCTI Members: TP and DK.
Famous Scorpios: Hillary Clinton, Katy Perry, Drake, Ryan Reynolds, CM Punk, Jalen Ramsey.
Scorpio Strengths: Resourceful, Passionate, Loyal, Assertive.
Scorpio Weaknesses: Distrusting, Secretive, Violent. Jealous, Manipulative.

Commentary: Anyone that follows signs knows you either love or hate Scorpio's... There's no gray area, just like theirs none with Scorpio people... You always know where you stand with them.  Famous for their "Sting" if you ever betray their trust, or push them to their limit, they will cut you off for life (feel me Smo).  They will always give you every thing they have, and know if you're doing anything with them, you will always get their best.  They also don't care what anyone thinks.  I love being a Scorpio, and wear it like a badge of honor.

Sign: Gemini.
Symbol: Twins.
Element: Air.
PCTI Members: BC and Busy.
Compatibility w/Scorpio: LOW.
Famous Gemini's: Donald Trump, Kanye West, Clint Eastwood, Angelina Jolie.
Gemini Strengths: Quick wit, adaptable, charismatic, smart
Gemini Weaknesses: Being alone, indecision, temper.

Commentary: Ahh yes, the life of the party sign!  Yes, everyone look at me! God I hate this sign.  Whether it's Scotty giving a presentation in front of large groups, or Brent delivering the news, this sign is always out in front showcasing that world class wit.  The only thing stopping this from being out of control accurate is no known temper issue out of Donley.  Gemini's are the "Twins" sign, signaling multiple personalities... Speaking of which, is there anything more well known than The Beast's temper tantrums?  The Beast should no longer be blamed for his PCTI4 snap out on the ref... Chalk that loss up to the stars.  The below should be as no surprise, as both members of this sign are known for their performance.



Sign: Leo.
Symbol: Lion.
Element: Fire.
PCTI Member: Hops.
Compatibility w/Scorpio: Low.
Famous Leo's: Barack Obama, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Lawrence, Madonna.
Leo Strengths: Creative, Genuine, Cheerful, Humorous, Talkative, Loyal.
Leo Weaknesses: Impatient, Self-Centered, Sensitive, Lazy.

Commentary:  After leaving the "Borderline Genius Ideas" to take a post as PCTI's "Ideas" guy the king of creativity shows himself well representing the Leo brand.  Leo's are known for being the most popular sign, one that tends to hold high posts in political office, and describes Hops reputation in PCTI.  They also are known for loving a good ego stroke, and equally don't enjoy any negative feedback, or any negative discussion towards them for that matter.  My rivalry with this sign simply comes from being so beloved by people... I prefer the underdog.  Leo's were born with a similar set of life tools to a five tool baseball player.

Sign: Aries.
Symbol: Ram.
Element: Fire.
PCTI Member: Spotlight and Sticky.
Compatibility w/Scorpio: Below Average.
Famous Aries: Kourtney Kardashian, Gaga, Leondardo Da Vinci.
Aries Strengths: Courageous, Determined, Confident, Passionate.
Aries Weaknesses: Impulsive, Short-Tempered, Moody.

Commentary: In all seriousness, if you haven't heard any of some of Spotlight's stories about nation developing, you should.  I applaud the courage and determination to make a difference, and the world needs more of it.  Enough with the nice stuff.   My compatibility with Spotlight will forever be tied to his escapades of "impulsively" getting caught up in a game of beer pong, that apparently was so stimulating that he HAD to play until 5:00 am, and almost missed his flight to Philadelphia for the Royal Rumble... He could barely function the next day, and was in a bad mood because of it.  Fortunately, I have no choice but to chalk that decision up to the stars, and Spot and I have been able to move on because of it.

Then we come to Sticky... Who does all the things in a completely different way than Spot... Anyone that's known him for a while can attest to the fact that the guy has probably kept the majority of his friends alive at some point growing up.  The amount of fights he's been in defending other people is probably quadruple the amount I can remember.  If there's a guy you want defending the Alamo with you, it's Sticky.  On the other hand, there's next to no one who's can get more worked up faster than this man, as seen by any gray area in the itinerary.  It's taken on it's own as a joke, but has stemmed from the fact that it truly drives him crazy.



Sign: Libra.
Symbol: Scales.
PCTI Members: Act.
Compatibility w/Scorpio: Average.
Famous Libras: Will Smith, Hugh Jackman, Snoop.
Libra Strengths: Fair Minded, Gracious, Social, Diplomatic.
Libra Weaknesses: Non-Confrontational, Self-Pity, GRUDGE HOLDER.

Commentary: It's time we stop joking about Act's grudges... Let's chalk it up to the stars.  Libra's are known as the mix of all the signs, a diverse portfolio if you will..  Act can relate to anyone and everyone, as shown as he's beloved by the PCTI brethren.  You can put Act in any situation, and he would have no problem.  There's also not a guy I know who an act of kindness in any capacity goes further with.  You will never find a Libra that doesn't understand things, and I find them incredibly easy to get along with.



Sign: Virgo.
Symbol: Maiden.
PCTI Members: Abe and Smo.
Compatibility w/Scorpio: Average.
Famous Virgo's: Michael Jackson, Keanu Reeves, Mother Theresa.
Virgo Strengths: Loyal, Analytical, Practical, Observant.
Virgo Weaknesses: Critical, Obsessive, Attention.

Commentary: Hampered by being known as the "Perfectionist" of the Zodiac, Virgo's tend to be overly critical of both themselves, and others because of it.  Known as great employees due to their keen attention to detail, it's almost impossible to get anything passed them... They simply don't miss anything.  Sound like Smo?  20+ years with this guy and he doesn't miss a single thing.  Abe on the other hand?  I think his ability to drug himself keeps him a little more even keeled.



Sign: Taurus.
Symbol: Bull.
PCTI Members: Biz and Juicy.
Compatibility w/Scorpio: Boom or Bust.
Famous Taureans: John Cena, Megan Fox, Liberace.
Taurean Strengths: Reliable, Patient, Practical, Devoted, Responsible.
Taurean Weaknesses: Stubborn, Uncompromising.

Commentary: God I hate this sign.  I can't get away from them.  Everywhere I turn, there's another Taurus.  Known for their "sensuality" or, better known for ability to order expensive food, buy expensive clothes, or waste money on nice cars, they pride themselves on having a "Keen Eye for Aesthetics."  Wow, how amazing!  They can spend top dollar and get good stuff!  Let's applaud them!  Their stubbornness is a quality that they wear like a badge of honor, like a sign of toughness.  I hate them.  Please make them go away.  At a dinner recently, Juice walked in, complained about the lighting (the lights immediately dimmed upon his request), then complained about the plates not being up to his standard.  Don't even get me started on Beas.  The other funny thing is they try and offset their expensive taste by trying to claim to be outdoorsy people.  The type of people that go to the mountains, stay at a Ritz, than claim they love nature.  I HATE THEM.  Now go to where you really like to be....



Sign: Capricorn.
Symbol: Sea-Goat.
PCTI Member: Huck.
Compatibility w/Scorpio: Good.
Famous Capricorns: MLK, Ali, Ben Franklin, Isaac Newton.
Capricorn Strengths: They are good at everything.
Capricorn Weaknesses: They know they are good at everything.

Commentary: I'm rattled.



Sign: Cancer.
Symbol: Crab.
PCTI Members: Sabin, Wilson, Smooth.
Compatibility w/Scorpio: Very Good.
Famous Cancers: Elon Musk, Tom Hanks, Sly Stallone.
Cancer Strengths: Tenacious, Imaginative, Loyal, Emotional, Persuasive.
Cancer Weaknesses: Moody, Pessimistic, Suspicious.

Commentary:  I love this sign, and it's no surprise I love all the guys in it.  Deeply intuitive and sentimental, Cancers are known for being challenging to get to know, part of what I love about them.  While the initial PCTI meeting would have people gravitating to the big mouth Gemini's and Leo's (Scotty, BC, Hops), I would have been in the corner getting to know the less loud, much more interesting (and funny) trio of Cancers... I'm starting to realize all charisma actually means, is loud.  I'll ride or die with these guys... And don't sleep on them!



Sign: Pisces.
Symbol: Fish.
PCTI Member: Deuce.
Compatibility w/Scorpio: The Best.
Famous Pisces: Bieber, Einstein, Washington.
Pisces Strengths: Compassionate, Creative, Intuitive, Wise.
Pisces Weaknesses: Overly Trusting, Claiming To Be A Victim, Sad.

Commentary: Should be no surprise Deuce is a Pisces, and a Pisces is most compatible with Scorpio.  His creative ways have kept PCTI in business, and the guy brings a whole new meaning to "intuition."  This doesn't just go for Deuce, but any Pisces I've met are mature and wise beyond their years, and are great people to learn from.  As it relates to weaknesses, I can say from my perspective Deuce doesn't have any.  All hail the most important member of PCTI!

PCTI9 ALL-TOURNAMENT AND MVP

There are a lot of great things about PCTI, but one of the best things about it is the competition that takes place. Not only has this weekend driven us to play hard for one weekend, but it has shaped our life throughout the year in working out to help our team win and for some, to get recognized for our performance. Most of us leave thinking about the plays we could or should have made, or the game that we had bad stats in, but we want to celebrate the great performances on the court that happened in Minny. Before we get to the All-Tournament team, here are the guys that received votes but didn’t make the cut:

MISSED CUT

BW (1)

A little surprising that Ben received one vote, mainly due to the fact that when he receives votes, he is usually dominant offensively. This year he took a lesser role on a team that had a great scorer and balanced scoring across the team. His team needed him to focus on defense and rebounding and he did that. Averaging 7.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, and 3 apg helped his team over the hump. He also had 4 blocks and 6 steals on the weekend. Is this the momentum he needs heading into X to get back onto the AT team?

Beas (8)

Another player that can be explosive on offense but instead focused more on defense, Beas took the challenge of slowing down Abe. While Abe’s numbers were impressive (per always), he had to work very hard and shot a lower percentage than his lifetime average mainly due to Beas. While he didn’t have the offensive output he would have liked to have, he played great D to help his team win and established himself as the leader of the “Cool Kids”.

ALL-TOURNAMENT

Abe (13)

Abe adds more hardware to his impressive collection. Abe was consistently double teamed (sometimes tripled) and still was able to be a force. He is always asked to be a top scorer and rebounder and he rarely doesn’t deliver. One of the most consistent players in PCTI, he managed to have games of 18 and 10, 26 and 6, and 23 and 7. While he had a game he would like to erase from memory, he will still be considered one of the most dominant players in the tournament.

BC (13)

BC turned in some great performances, many times kept his team in games when they struggled to create offense including clinching game three in OT with his timely 3s. He is very good at creating his own shot and also knocking down shots from deep. He lead (tied w Sabin) all players shooting 50% from 3. He was also tied for the lead in stocks with 11 (3 blocks, 8 steals). BC also had to jump from chasing guards around to banging with bigs down low. One of the most complete players receives another All-Tournament award.

Act (16)

Joe rounds out our AT team after being a great compliment to Kyle. He secured his spot with a big 22 point, 8 rebound effort in the series clinching game. Shooting 44% from 2 and 38% from 3 helped put his team over the top for the weekend. Can Joe build on this momentum and return to MVP form?

MVP

Huckins (17)

I believe this is the first ever unanimous MVP. Coming in highly touted, Huckins did not disappoint. Kyle established himself as post player with an array of moves, the ability to knock down 3s, and a big paint presence. Shooting 59% while getting to the line 36 times helped him average 20.7 points per game. Huckins confirmed in his first year that he will be a force in PCTI for years to come. Now let’s see if he can draft as well as he plays and try and halt DK’s impressive win streak!