Basketball got interesting. What they did to ramp up interest was to create a play in tourney that stretches the number of playoff teams from 16 to 20. Those games started yesterday and the East kicked it off with some good games. The Hornets showed that they were not ready, getting blown out by the Pacers. The Wizards caught an L but they get to play on against the Pacers for a chance to face the #1 seed. Fun, right?!
It is kind of cool–especially since tonight gives us Lakers v. Warriors and the Curry show. That game is a big one, because whomever wins gets to face the 2 seed. The loser has to play again to see if they can make the playoffs proper. I like it. My ‘what do I have some small input in within my world’ brain suggests that this is how we start to develop youth playoffs. This helps to create sensible seeding that allows teams to be in the grouping where they will have the best and most competitive games. This won’t happen of course, because youth sports is governed by influence and the ones who have influence are the ones who aren’t trying to get the best games for everyone but are trying to plot their own path to a so-called national championship.
I’ve given up on competitive youth football. I am focused on seeing my kid through this last year by expanding his skills and skillset in a way that prepares him for high school. He’s done the thing where he travels for a ‘ship and wins. He’ll probably be invited to do that in Florida this winter, though I presently have zero interest in supporting that. Now he just needs to get better and get faster and smarter at the game.