Where You At?

Newburyport, MA - I know what you're thinking. You've been checking the blog, hoping for wit and wisdom (as well as stupid player nicknames and game recaps). But, there's been no updates from the Cap'n. Well, fear not - for OU is simply on a mini-hiatus in an effort to regroup and re-energize.

"We've been playing back to back sessions for almost 5 years," said Shu-ter Patel. "The summer is a good time to take a break, and we'll be back in the fall with 6-pack abs and dead-eye jumpers". Word on the street is that Danger Dan Fisher has been running courts 3 hours a day in the D (Dorchester), and James "Stretch" Hogan IV has been named mid-summer MVP of the mid-coast Maine pick-up league.

This year's summer session is a shortened 9 week season, without playoffs. OU has been promised a spot in the always-competitive fall session - and should return to near full roster at that point.

Look for an update in September... Enjoy the rest of the summer.

Intervention: Intervale Ends OU's Rough Spring

Reading, MA - Origins Unknown finished the 2009 Reading YMCA Spring 4 on 4 Basketball league Thursday night with a playoff loss to top seed Intervale at the Palace in Reading Hills. And, while the game was a blow out for the last 25 minutes, OU should keep their heads held high after battling through a tough season without a consistent line up.

Big props to the three OU battlers who were able to make the game: Cap'n, Danger Dan Fisher and Danger Derek Chicarilli. The three, along with Jeff Yeakley-bombs, took on the challenge of facing an Intervale team that had all six of their horses.

For Intervale, their guard play is top-notch, with Mark Mulvey throwing daggers from all over the court. Mulvey is a former St. Mike's standout baller and buddy of Cap'n Mike, James "Stretch" Hogan, and Jay Wandtke. He and his stellar back court mate (who I am told played at Suffolk) are a handful, and tough to contain on the perimeter. Matched with versatile big man Jim Murphy down low, and a core of other solid players, Intervale will be the favorite to win it all again this session.

OU did their best out of the gate and actually kept the game close for most of the first half. Cap'n Mike struggled to find consistency with his outside shot, but everyone else kept scrappin' to keep things tight. OU was within 4 with less than 5 minutes to play, but a quick Intervale run - spurred by torrid shooting by their guards - ballooned the lead to 14 in short order.

Things got f-ugly in the second half, as Intervale decided to make about 10 three pointers in a row, from all over the court. OU was fatigued, and it showed as their opponents picked apart their poor excuse for defense and lowered the boom. As the lead continued to grow, Yeakley attempted to keep the game from getting out of hand by hitting several late threes of his own.

In the end, the game was never in doubt, and the OU players (or at least me) are left to wonder how close it would be if we had all of our big guns available. Perhaps in a session down the road, we will find out.