Trash talk, technical fouls and fights. And it was all for charity.
When I laced up my 1995 Nike Airs and hit the floor at Wells Fargo Arena for Blazeketball on Saturday, I knew it was going to be more than just an informal, fun basketball tournament.
In our vintage maroon T-shirts we ran the floor like Kobe and Michael, and under the boards we played as physical as Shaq - minus the talent but with all the spirit.
We struck fear into the hearts of our opponents. Some would ask, "Why are you so mad? This is all for charity, man."
No. This was for pride.
We definitely didn't deserve the sportsmanship award, but our intensity was unparalleled. One of the only girls in the tournament may have been smaller, slower and much better looking than me, but I still stuffed her shot like a Thanksgiving turkey.
Battle on the court was so hostile in one game between The Blaze and ASU's favorite daily newspaper that the game had to be terminated when a reporter decided he wanted to make a foul violent enough for the Police Beat. But I still say it was all ball.
Unfortunately for Team State Press, most of our hoops skills come from street ball - chain-link nets, vicious picks and no blood, no foul. After our pre-game "1-2-3 Fight!" chant, we started to get some questionable calls. Those refs may have been able to blow a whistle, but they couldn't stop our hunger to win.
We played for the East Valley Crisis Center. We played for the children. But we also played for blood.
We lost. Real bad, too.
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Ben Honingford is a journalism sophomore. Reach him at benjamin.honingford@asu.edu.
