Friday, July 31, 2009

AAAAAAAAAAAArrrrrrrrrgh!

With the Milwaukee Greyhounds building up an 11-point lead half-way through the fourth quarter, members of the Chicago Gale team broke open a case of champagne to prepare to celebrate their first playoff berth in eight seasons.
Then Philadelphia, the three-time defending champion, mounted a comeback for the ages, with the lowest-scoring team in the league racking up 35 fourth-quarter points on the way to a stunning 90-86 victory that clinched the second Eastern Division playoff spot.
The comeback began with a 3-point bomb from Philly point guard Paul Reed-Smith, who was fouled by Othos Wives of Milwaukee. Wives, who had scored 20 in the game, fouled out on the play, a record eighth time this season.
From then on, Philly dominated, led by Hall of Famer Cam Bodia (19 points), Smith (20), center Rafe Hollister (18) and the 5-9 "Spit Can" Sammy Sampson (21).
Sampson continues to be unbelievable. After spending four years in the cut pile, he was added to the Phobia roster but saw little action this season until Ross "Cement Head" Harris was injured in game five. Since then, Sampson has averaged 17 points.
This was a contest that was supposed to be low scoring, pitting the two most inept scoring teams in the league. Instead, neither team could miss, with both shooting over 60 percent for the game.
Every time the MBA attempts to drive a stake through the heart of the Phobia, this resilient team wiggles out of the way and triumphs.
Prior to the start of the year they lost Curly Hogbottom, the best player in league history, to retirement, and future Hall of Famer Mamadou Zongo in the draft. Then Harris goes down. Then in this last game power forward Shoo-Shing Wine is badly injured (out for seven playoff games) and the team is down by 11. But somehow, they come back.
Philadelphia ends the regular season 6-4, while Milwaukee finishes with its worst record in history at 2-8.

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