It's Official - Mission Accomplished!! Put in the Books!! Porterhouse Pub are 2010-11 WP Men's Champions!!!

It was a lesson in Goal Setting!

It was a lesson in Perseverance!

It was a lesson in Teamwork and Comraderie and the quintessential Never Quit attitude!

It was also a lesson to keep your mouth shut when the ref says to and you are down by 5 in the final seconds of the Championship Game!

All of the stars came out for this exciting event! 

Sports Page with their backs to the wall versus the Pubbers wih the Pubbers leading the Best of 3 series
1 game to zero.

Many "A" list celebs were in attendance, such as Larry T (moving deftly, looking spry and ready to get back on the court with his teammates), Bobby OT -despite the injury he sustained battling with the Pubbers in a regular season game - consistently a steady presence of support and encouragement and basketball expertise on the sidelines all season, the regular under-12 yr old crowd who were more loyal than labrador retrievers in fairy tale!!  Timmy OT stepping back on the court to aid his team in a crucial time of need for his prowess, physicality, skills, and overall positive influence!!!

They came out to support and to see if the Pubbers could deliver what they promised way back in April 2010  -- a DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!

And it is safe to say the Pubbers did not disappoint!!

After a tough, hard fought and gritty 3 and 7/8 quarters of play in the 2nd of 3 possible Championship games, the Pubbers at last hoisted the Men's "D" Division Championship Banner - having done the rarest of accomplishments - winning both the regular season title and the Championship title in the same year!

As was so boldly trumpeted on this very blog close to a full year ago, the team GUARANTEED a Championship title and they certainly delivered it to their loyal fan base last night!

There was a bit of a feeling of uncertainty from the outset as the Pubbers quickly found themselves in an 11-2 hole very early.  Shots were not falling, the D was not as crisp as normal, and the Page was bringing the threes! 

Nonetheless, the Pubbers, in typical Porterhouse 2010-11 fashion, righted the ship and found themselves with a close 2 poing lead at the half!

Brooksie brought the fire in the second half with a typical Brooksie display whereby none of his shots even hit the rim, and the rest of the team followed that lead - playing hard D, hitting clutch free throws, rebounding and pushing the ball, culminating in a satisfying and cathartic Championship game victory over the Sports Page.

As expected, the Page brought their not-so-secret weapon, #33 - who proceeded to hit a string of threes in the second half to keep the game very tight.

Reminscent of the last game, the Pubbers threw the kitchen sink at this guy and had guys draped on him, yet still hit the shot - keeping the Page's season and hopes alive.

Defense by the Pubbers and key baskets and free throws turned out to be the difference as the game wound down and the referees called it due to constant chatter and complaints about the officiating by the opposition!

Oh how sweet it is!!

I want to thank my Pubber brethren for a tremendous season - facing a breakdown early in the season as we dropped to 2-2 in the league, hard work and tenacity paid off in spades as we won the next critical game and ran the table straight through to last night's tremendous victory!!!!

We showed our true colors all season long and now we can reap the rewards!!!

I could not ask for better teammates of character, spirit, heart and soul -- EVERYONE played a part in this championship!  EVERYONE played a role!!!  It was truly a GREAT TEAM effort!!!

Special shout out to Henry who boldly steered this ship to victory every single game - both on the court briefly and off -- you and Bants were tremendous leaders all year, with gutsy and insightful calls, insights, strategies and defenses -- and we look forward to having you back on the court full time next season!!!!

And I cannot wait to get back on the court with ALL of you guys as we begin the Quest to REPEAT!!!!!

See you all Tuesday at Porterhouse!!!

Tonight!!!!!

For those of you unfamiliar with the time and thought and effort that has gone into this Quest for the WP Men's Division "D" Championship run, just take a look at the first post on this blog!

April 15, 2010!!!!

Almost a full year ago we decided that our GOAL was to redeem ourselves from last year's disappointing loss at the buzzer to the loud team - and capture the WHOLE ENCHILADA!!!!

We have all worked at it - contributed sweat, blood, ligaments, and tears (I cry myself to sleep nightly but that is not basketball related) - and TONIGHT.... TONIGHT we can make that year long dream come to fruition!!!



Yeah - We lost some along the way -- but  they are still with us tonight!

If not in physical form, then in unquestionably in SPIRIT!!!

One of our ranks is watching from his perch up in Heaven - the Great FISH  - the late, great Kevin Bass of Iona College and Dunn's Pub Fame!!!  

We owe it to him and to Russ and JD and Goose and Tommy Nangle and so many of our brethren who came before me and who can celebrate our VICTORY along with us when we pull it out!

Let's do it for ALL of them tonight!!!!!!

We CONTROL our destiny tonight boys!!!  Win tonight and sleep like rocks - and finally silence the demons of "runner-up" once and for all!!!!!

This DREAM is going on a year - and tonight we close it out for good!!

See you all there!!!

DF

Live Blogging Retirees Goose and JD's Reaction to Last Night's Victory!!!

Calls requesting comments were not returned.....

Live Blogging Larry T's Reaction to Last Night's Victory!!!

Live Blogging Bants' Reaction to the Pubbers Game One Finals Victory!

Jimmy Bants, currently traveling and attending the Nick Bolletieri Fantasy Tennis Camp in Florida, was relayed the news of last night's victory via text message and we have captured his reaction below!

We welcome Bants back next week for what is sure to be an epic battle for the WP Men's D Division Title Monday night at Eastview Gymnasium.  Expect our opponents to come out swinging and physical from the opening tip and let's match - nay, EXCEED their energy, tenacity, and physical play!!!!

Two chances to win One for all the marbles boys!!!  But I, for one, do not want to play on Wednesday!!!!

Shoot around this weekend -- stay limber and FOCUSED!!!

If we execute we will reap our reward!!!

Peace
DF

Game 1 of Finals goes to Pubbers in bizarre match!

One down and one to go! That is a fact for the Pubbers this evening as they managed to secure a double digit victory against the Sports Page team who so brazenly knocked off the Brazen Fox last night to earn a berth in the White Plains Finals.

This game was a dramatic shift in pace having faced the young, thoroughbreds of CW Post the prior evening, with the pace slowing down to a crawl in the first half. The man to man defense held up for the Pubbers and free throws were critical and made all night long by the Pubbers.

In perhaps the most bizarre turn of events in a basketball game that this reporter has ever seen, the opponents had a player who could not be stopped from behind the three point arc in the second half and his threes had kept them in the game. It was a clinic in three point shooting from deep and with guys draped on him. With a little over a minute left and the Pubbers clinging to an scanty 8 point lead, the player inexplicably benched himself it seemed. There appeared to be a little team argument brewing and after his departure the Pubbers were able to spread the floor and wait for the fouling to begin.

So game one goes to the Pubbers with two games left to win one for the ultimate prize. It will not be easy as the opponents can certainly score, were missing their big guy down low tonight, and hung tough down the stretch.

Next game Monday at Eastview! Rest up, heal thy wounds, and let's make next Monday the final game of this season!

Reminder about Tonight's Game

"Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile."

Vince Lombardi -  

 
 
We have done the hard work all season- every play, every game -- and we have at least two more games of hard work left!
 
Let's make sure none of our efforts are in vain and we leave ALL of it on the court tonight - from the opening tip to the Final Buzzer!!
 
 It is ON boys and we willl make it happen!  No other result is an option!
 
See all of you tonight!!!!
 
DF

Reminder!!!!! UPDATED!! No Game this Thursday!!!!

UPDATED!!!!!

Guys,

It's official. Last night's win, combined with Brazen Fox's loss on
Monday, gives us the regular season title again this year.  Way to go!!

The Playoff schedule is below.  We play the CW Warriors this Monday 3/14
at 7:00 at EASTVIEW.  VICTORY!!!!!

If we win, the championship round is 2 out of 3 and starts the next
night - Tuesday 3/15 at 7:00 at EASTVIEW.  TONIGHT!!!!!!


Managers -

Monday - March 14, 2011

7pm                1st place                vs   4th  place @ Eastview

8pm                2nd place               vs    3rd place @ Eastview

Championship - 2 out of 3

Tuesday - March 15, 2011


7pm               Pubbers vs. Opponent @ Eastview



Monday -        March  21, 2011 -   
                      7pm @ Eastview Gym  

Good Luck !!!!!

FRANK  R.  MAGALETTA

RECREATION SUPERVISOR II

WHITE PLAINS PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT

914 422 1336

E-MAIL: FMAGALET@WHITEPLAINSNY.GOV

______________________________________________________________________

Game Faces on -- Tonight is our Night!! Round 2!!!

No question - We are Burning the Boats tonight Gentlemen!!! 

There is no retreat, no surrender, and no turning back now!!!!! 

We have come way too far to let up now!!

Take the Advil, Aleve, Tylenol - whatever you need!  Just bring the same fire as last night and no one can match us!!!

See you there Boys!!!!!

The Monkey is off our backs! Round One Playoff goes to Pubbers!

It seems like just yesterday the Porterhouse Pub team stood in disbelief on the court at the Highlands School gymnasium. Shocked, in utter disbelief at what had just occurred to them, all the while watching the ecstatic and crazed team who just stole their dream from their grasp celebrate with their crowd of 50 strong!

But that was not yesterday. It was a year ago.

I will NEVER forget that feeling. And I never want to feel it ever again!

Tonight this strong team took one step closer to the goal that they collectively set during that painful evening in 2010 - the Championship Ring!

Tonight we banished that monkey off our backs for good in a thorough and convincing beat down of our adversary.

Despite a slow start for the Pubbers and much noise and yelling by our opponent, we were able to slow down their offense, work our own patient offense by playing tough defense and bang it inside repeatedly for hard earned hoops!

In what has become a recent signature for the Pubbers, patience, tough defense, good looks inside and smart choices decided the outcome of this game.

Coach Henry once again saw the opportunity to go to the 2-3 zone defense late in the first half and it worked like a dream in stalling their offense, drives, and open threes!

The grit, aggressiveness, and tenacity of the Pubbers in the face of wide open play at both ends made the difference tonight!

And victory was sweet indeed!

But enough celebrating....it is time for the real challenge and real work to begin. Whichever team won tonight in the other match will give us a tough time down low and we will need all hands on deck, the same attitude and fight we brought tonight, and we have 3 chances to get this thing done!
Get some rest, well done to date gents, but bring your A games again tomorrow night!

7pm...East view again!

Ps. For those of you who do not know me well, I would not never jeopardize a close game with my histrionics and can sleep well knowing tonight was an Irish anomaly, deeply calculated and with an end goal in mind :). capisce?

Two more wins boys. Two more wins!

Order the 2010-11 Vomitous Green Shirts!!!! Pubbers take the WP Regular Season Title for 2nd year in a row!!

As the Pubbers filed into the Eastview gymnasium for their final regular season at 8 pm last night, they fully expected to be playing for a piece of the WP Men's League Division D Regular Season Title and hoping to end up tied for first place. 

Amazingly, the buzz in the gym was that the other team in this fight for the title had allegedly dropped their game the night before to a hungry, young team and this made last night's game for the Pubbers "Win and we are in"!

It was now for sole possession of the Title - for the 2nd year in a row - and the visions of another beautiful green t-shirt (or possibly a plastic trophy if the team votes that way) slipping over the Pubbers was enough to fuel this short bench team into a frenzy.

From the opening tip, it was clear the Pubbers were focused and determined to repeat their regular season title run last night!!!

The passing was crisp and patient - -the shots were falling, the defense (save for a seemingly 10-10 three pointer performance put on by their point guard OVER yours truly) was staunch, the rebounding and driving were firing on all cylinders!  It was one of our best performances by all of the squad and it could not have come at a better time!!!

When the dust settled and Jeff had gotten so into the head of one of their players that a proffer to engage in pugilistic activities ensued -(it was denied and never commenced) - the Pubbers had decimated their opponent and basked - ever so briefly - in their repeat title performance!!

However, that basking lasted all of 13 seconds as the focus shifted to the next round and our next playoff opponent for the REAL QUEST  - the Ring!!!!

All hands on deck, Pubbers --- we hit one milestone last night, increased to 10-2 overall - Regular Season Champs - but we now face our biggest battle!!!!!

We will do it --- we will insure all of our hard work was not in vain -- and we willl fight to the death in our pursuit of this Title we came ever so close to capturing last year!!!!

GAME NOTES:  TJ turned ankle slightly but is ok.  Doug pulled off hot three point shooter and kid goes O-fer rest of game -- nice work Rob et al.  Best Defense vs own team however does go to DF!!  Great TEAM effort and win -everyone contributed!!

Next game and playoff schedule TBD!!!!

URGENT Communique from El Capitan!!!!!!

Guys,

Tonight's last regular season game is at Eastview at 8:00 against the Caucasin Invasion. I sent an e-mail this morning to the league asking:

a) Who won last night's Brazen Fox vs. CW Warriors game?

b) When do the playoffs start?

If CW won, we need to win tonight to win the league. A CW win last night is however, unlikely because their squad was hit with a bunch of academically ineligibles - but you never know!

If Brazen won last night, and we win tonight, we will both both have identical 10-2 records, but fall to second place due to the head-to-head tie breaker with Brazen.

If Brazen won last night, and we lose tonight, we get third (Sports Page would be in second).
If I get some answers before game time, I'll let you know.

Hopefully we can have everyone there tonight, earn the W, and get ready for next week.

- Bants

Down to 1 Game!!! Pubbers make it 9-2 and inch closer to the Playoffs!

But not so fast!!!

There is still work to be done tonight as the Pubbers take to the Eastview Gymnasium at 8pm and face a tough competitor anxious to knock off the high flying Porterhouse Squad.

Last week, many of the Pubbers watched intently as tonight's opponent battled down to the wire against another tough squad and tonight will not be an easy victory!


After a rather slow start last week, the Pubbers (at the brillliant suggestion by Nangle and Henry to move from man to man to a zone defense) clamped down on the D, started running and blew out their worthy opponent by a large margin.

Harry was back in the mix as was Robert OT and Rob G and the sqaud got the job done nicely!

We need all hands on deck tonight --- even if you have not been to the past few games WE NEED YOU!!!

Let's get it done tonight  - take care of this business!!!

He's MarrrrrrrrrrrBAAACCCKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!

Melo who???

By the time the final buzzer sounded last night in our game at Eastview Gym in rural White Plains, NY, no one was talking about the final score (a drubbing of utmost proportion put on by the THIN Pubber bench by any standard), no one was talking about the 180 degree temperature in the gym, nor about Steve's golden tan in tribute to Larry Togs no doubt,

....nor about Todd's son's Monster Rebounding and Ball Hawking skills at such an early age!!

No -- in fact they weren't even buzzing about TJ's SECOND three pointer in as many attempts this season!!! (BTW - TJ recommends "Ray Allen - You TOO can become a Three Point Shooting Star in 3 short weeks" available on the Kindle for $9.99).

No Sir -- the REAL story came at about the 6 minute mark in the fourth quarter as the substitution whistle blew and strolling onto the court, having shed the sweatpants for perhaps the first time this season, was none other than our fearless leader -  Henry Marbach!!!!

Henry, obviously a little amped by the entry into the contest after such a long absence, fired up a three that just missed the mark as he adjusted his trajectory!  He then made a spectacular alley-oop pass from three to  TJ who converted it easily!

And then - the old Henry kicked in and stuck a three from the right foul line extended as the bench and crows erupted in raucous cheers!!!!

SWISH!!  SWISH!  SWISH!!!!!!

It was a thing of beauty!!!

And he was not done just yet --- he fired up an nailed at least 4 more threes (unofficial scoring by me but I believe it to be accurate) and sealed the much needed victory for the Pubbers!!

Even TJ, who pulled up and carded a smooth three at the buzzer himself, seemed blown away by Henry's performance!

A great TEAM win with everyone contributing on offense and defense -- passing and moving well -- penetrating and hitting the cutters --- it felt good!

But the feeling of joy at the win was not even close to the welcome sight of a healthy Henry sticking his patented THREE !!!!!  Finally!!! 

It was a sight for sore eyes as Henry took the court and proceeded to nail three after three despite the long injury hiatus!!! 

He's Baaackkkk -- and just in time as the Pubbers grow to 8-2 and have 2 games remaining in this regular season!

We will need all hands on deck tomorrow night as Brooksie is getting some work done (calls to his publicist went unreturned on the topic) in the Phillipines and we NEED these next 2 wins!!!!!

Welcome back Henry!!!