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Season 17 NT Camp: Day 1 - Part 1

Feeling extra crispy and renewed after waking up in my own bed here in America, my almost 2 week vacation was over as it was time to get back to work and bring a championship back to Team USA! Our team's practice facility for the first day of camp was in Phoenix, Arizona at the US Airways Center, home of the Phoenix Suns.

As I was ready to make my grand appearance into the practice, I kicked open the doors only to find that the gym was completely packed with 78 players and that kicking open the door smashed and concused Kelly Varner (We wish him well.)

I was also surprised to find an entire new coaching staff ahead of me. Apparently I forgot after the Season 16 World Championships Jfarb took his earnings and ran, leaving the community to vote for a new NT Coach in GM-Jason! As I introduced myself, Jason strangely looked me down, spat in his hand, and excitedly said "Put it here". Thus our new work relationship had started.

The camp was underway! The various players were working with coaches and managers to see if they could improve or had what it takes to be part of such an amazing squad heading into Season 17!

New assistant head coach Brian was working with guard prospects when I stopped over.
SpF - Hey Brian, how are some of the guards looking?
Brian - Well some of these guys have potential alright, look forward to working with em again if they make cuts tomorrow!

All of a sudden a huge commotion was breaking out by a basketball hoop.
They were at it again.
Perry Gipson - Alright! I didn't come all the way from Greece for nothing! We have business to settle Lundy.
Willis Lundy - Well **** Son, if yu went tu git beatz, den you gunna gitz beatz!!
* Lundy takes it to halfcourt before Gipson stops the game*
Perry Gipson - Oh I know about your gameshape, how about we ware you out a bit one on one full court!
Willis Lundy - It'z goes time muda****
* An amazing game followed with dunks and trading baskets!
With Lundy up 19-17, Gipson broke free for a jump shot to tie the game at 19.
Willis Lundy - Alrit yu have nit ben able to stop me yet, here wez go.
*Lundy dribbles up the court when Gipson steals the ball!
Perry Gipson - Haha you're about to lose Lundy!
* As Gipson dribbles up the sidelines he is suddenly Tripped! (A man in the crowd vacates the scene) Lundy picks up the ball, waits for Gipson to guard him and Dunkfaces Gipson to win 21-19.

SpF: Wow.. what a game.. I feel bad for Gipson though..
Oriole: You're telling me.. I wonder who did that?
Coco: Has anybody seen Fatcurry?

After the game, I walked over to Jason working with some of our bigs including Lorenzo Bland, Morris Scales, and Alton Johnson.

SpF: Hey Jason mind If I ask the guys a few questions?
Jason: No.
SpF: :(
Jason: Ha I'm just kidding go ahead!
SpF: So I guess to all three of you.. What do you think about the team we're gonna have this year?
Bland: Yes
Scales: I think we're going to have a great year!
Johnson: We've got a great staff, and hard workers so no doubt going to be a great year!
SpF: Ok.. What do you think of your own chances of making the team?
Bland: I am
Scales: I might be a stretch, but if you have faith in me, I'll perform!
Johnson: Same here, I'll work as hard as anybody to prove I deserve to be here!
SpF: Umm Lorenzo you seem very... bland..?
Bland: No.








Last edited by SpF at 8/4/2011 2:58:47 PM

Season 17 NT Camp: Day 1 - Part 2

After a hard first half of the day of workouts, the team gathered to eat at the cafeteria. Today's cook was Jairo Alejandro Renteria! On the menu was the classic taco, burrito, crispito, taco-burritos, and the favorite burrito-tacos.
Sitting at a table with Ronald Trickle, Dexter Dennison, and Ade Maples, I asked them a quick question before Dexter Dennison just walked off.
SpF: Where's he going?
Trickle: Dexter.. umm I have no idea? why do you ask me? I don't know?
SpF: Ok.. sorry..
Maples: He's doing drugs.
SpF: No way!
Trickle: Aww it's too much pressure to keep a secret!
*All of a sudden somebody jumped from a nearby balcony and landed near us.. It was "Good Old" Ismael Grubbs.
Grubbs: How do you think he does it? NBBA, Cup, B3, The guys gotta stay awake somehow.
SpF: Huh.. I never would have guessed it.. Yeah.. How'd you know Ismael..?
Grubbs: I know everything.

After Lunch I walked over to talk with the "Big 3"
- Joe "The Show" Bronson
- Martin "Money" Medrano
- Ricardo "Rainmaker" Madrid

SpF: Hey guys! what do you think about the talent you see in this camp and your potential teammates?
Bronson: Some good kids, some experienced ballers, a good combination of guys we have here today, It's nice to see them go up and down the floor and play with intensity.
Medrano: *Kisses his B3 Ring* Yeah maybe one day one of those guys will be a great as me
Madrid: I look forward to working with some of these players, hopefully we put a team together that will compete in this years America's Tournament!

After watching more players go up and down the floor, I walked aimlessly around until I found Jelme working with Paul Owens, When I noticed Irwin Velasco walking over to join them. I listened in:
Velasco: Can I play coach?
Jelme: *Gives him a look* Uh.. gah.. Don't you want to go home or something.. you know stay away from the camp?
Velasco: But I love the NT soooo much! Plus you, You were a great coach!! See my I love Jelme Tatoo on my neck!
Jelme: Yes Irwin.. I see it everynight in my nightmares.. Here we'll do this you and Owens one on one and I'll even help you!
Owens: I'm game.

- As Velasco had the ball he tried to do a give and go play when Jelme launched the ball at Velasco's face!
Jelme: Remember! Hands up!
- The next Velasco possession had him posting up Owens when he asked for the entry pass in which Jelme kicked the ball right into Velascos.. well private area..
Jelme: Be ready for anything! The game of basketball can be crazy!
- In Velasco's final possession as he was about to rise above the rim, Jelme tackled him in midair
Jelme: Contact, contact, contact, you gotta take it son!

Overall a pretty successful first day here at NT camp! However with 78 players the list will be trimmed and the best of the best will play to their potential when it counts when cuts will be announced later tonight/tomorrow! Stay tuned and follow the camp to see what American superstars will represent our country in the Season17 America's Tournament!

I hate that Velasco guy....

First Cuts:
Final 48:

-Joe Bronson
-Martin Medrano
-Dexter Dennison
-Jamie Nix
-Derrick Anglin
-Jared Wilkinson
-Homer Frye
-Robert Wilson
-Ricky Logsdon
-Ricardo Madrid
-Charles Dube
-Willie Dillard
-Mikey Bergman
-Perry Gipson
-Damian Gan
-Keenan Jacobsen
-Haníbal Bustamante
-Richard Ugona
-Willis Lundy
-Zane Ritter
-Crispiniano Villaverde
-Bradley Waller
-Elroy Barrow
-Irwin Velasco
-Bill Weeks
-Rob Oldham
-Ruben Ramos
-Ismael Grubbs
-Clifford Turpin
-Jairo Alejandro Rentria
-Nigel Marcus
-Lorenzo Bland
-Ade Maples
-Amilcare Insinga
-Mikey Maguire
-Gavin Wood
-Eugene Williams
-Morris Scales
-Andres Felipe Hartmann
-Juán Echols
-Paul Owens
-Matt Hurst
-Timothy Wang
-Victor Watson
-Ernest Jameson
-Alton Johnson
-Carl Apfel
-Cary Jones

Day 2 summary tomorrow afternoon followed by more cuts to our final 24!

Perry didn't get cut!?
And isn't the Panama game tomorrow?

Okay, below is the up to to date list of players still in contention to make the initial USA NT roster. It's been a firece competition with some up and comers trying to edge out some of the veteran NT players for a roster spot. A few guys seem to have become a little complacent thinking they are untouchable as they spent a little too much time playing Xbox and eating twinkies, and it shows in their game shape, or lack of!

Tonight will be a midnight practice as we see some of these guys go head to head to battle it out to be first batch of players to make the team! Final cuts will be announced after the practice, or first thing in the morning if any further deliberation is necessary.

-Joe Bronson
-Martin Medrano
-Dexter Dennison
-Jamie Nix
-Ricky Logsdon
-Ricardo Madrid
-Charles Dube
-Willie Dillard
-Perry Gipson
-Haníbal Bustamante
-Richard Ugona
-Willis Lundy
-Zane Ritter
-Elroy Barrow
-Irwin Velasco
-Bill Weeks
-Ruben Ramos
-Ismael Grubbs
-Jairo Alejandro Rentria
-Nigel Marcus
-Lorenzo Bland
-Ade Maples
-Paul Owens
-Matt Hurst




Last edited by Jason at 8/7/2011 6:43:06 PM

Day 2

With time running against us the camp moved the next morning to Panama City, Panama! The Final 48 were given a taste of the travels they could be a part of if they made the team.

As we got off the plane I looked over at Zane Ritter, who was bending over in pain..

SpF: Zane are you alright?
Ritter: SpF, I, I think i'm pregnant
SpF: What? You're a guy, You can't get pregnant!
Ritter: Well I went "InZane" at a party last night and ate sooo many of Jairo's Burritos and Ricardo's Taco's, My stomach hurts..
SpF: You must have a stomach ache than..
Ritter: NO! I can feel a kicking in my stomach
SpF: That's not a good sign, I'd hit a bathroom asap Zane!
* Zane Ritter vanished for the remainder of the practice*

Another interesting day here at USA NT Camp, as soon as we were shown the practice facilities here in Panama City, Our coaching staff and players hit the hardwood for training and team sessions.

A commotion was rising at the far east court. Walking over I noticed once again it was Willis Lundy and Perry Gipson.
Lundy: Whaz yu means I cheateds??
Gipson: You Know Lundy! We all know I had you!
Lundy: Haha butt you'ze fall!! How yu maked pass cutz neway?

*Coco emerges to settle argument*
Coco: You two are longtime rivals, I respect rivalries but sometimes it becomes too much, I'm going to test you two, Willis Lundy and Perry Gipson are teaming up! But trust me you two will not have an easy task, Your rivalry will challenge one of BB's greatest as you'll be playing Ismael Grubbs and our NT special guest Dirk Trujillo.

The Gym fell silent.. Grubbs and Trujillo looked down one another and likewise so did Gipson and Lundy.

The game that followed was.. interesting.

As Lundy took the ball up the floor, he refused to pass to an open Gipson and on the other side of the ball Trujillo was left alone to guard Lundy because Grubbs was waiting to be the one to get the rebound first.

When I asked Willie Dillard what his thoughts were he responded with:
" I can't tell if they're playing 2 on 2 or 1 on 1 on 1 on 1!"

As Grubbs was about to go up for a layup he was suddenly rejected by his teammate Dirk Trujillo
Trujillo: Just like the semifinals right Ismael, Missing layups.. tisk tisk
*Grubbs grabs balls and dunks down over Trujillo*
Grubbs: Just like last seasons worlds.. OO yeah you weren't there.

In an amazing coincidence.. The score was tied 20-20.. but really the 4 players each had 10 points.
*Next Basket Wins - Gipson's Ball.. err I mean Gipson and Lundy*
As Perry dribbled up court he spun around Dirk Trujillo for an open floater when Lundy blocked it and took it up court, halfway to the rim he was stripped by Ismael Grubbs who in turn was rejected by Trujillo on the other side of the court. With the other 3 fuming over their teammates Dirk Trujillo with a wide open layup to win the game went up and had his shot Rimmed out..

*Coco picks up the ball*
Coco: We all learned a valuable lesson today.. Always Dunk The Ball.

After the game I walked on over to assistant head coach Brian and head coach GM-Jason!
SpF: What do you think about the final 48 here today in Panama City?
Brian: All of them good players, but we're looking for great so I want these guys to show up today in these practices to see what they're really made of.
Jason: I agree, it's put up or shut up, go or slow, rise or fall, HAM and Bologna for these guys and I hope they know it, because we'll find out.. we'll find out...
SpF: What are you going to do with them?
Brian: You see that canal over there? *points to Panama Canal*
Jason: They're swimming it.
SpF: That's hardcore!
Brian & Jason: We Know.

Stay Tuned tonight as the final cuts are posted than tomorrow our final roster followed by our game with Panama!

-SpF-





Last edited by SpF at 8/7/2011 5:04:00 PM

Day 3:

24 remained. With one more cut left, these 24 players had to play their hearts out to make final cuts and have the chance to play tomorrow night against Panama!

I went over to talk to Assistant NT head coach Brian..
SpF: So how did the swim go with the players?
Brian: Umm.. Some didn't make it..
SpF: Oh No! That's awful!
Brian: No I mean they didn't make the cuts
SpF: Oh well did they all get a cross the canal?
Brian: For the most part, it helps when you threaten them with deadly Piranhas.
SpF: You and Jason sure know how to make the players work.
Brian: Were running a tight ship here, no laziness will be on this team!

After chatting with Brian, once again another commotion by a basketball hoop. Guess who? Perry Gipson and Willis Lundy.
Lundy: You'sa cozt us ta game dawg
Gipson: I cost the game? I think you did Lundy!
Lundy: Bull**** yo lucky I don't drop you!
*Jason interrupts*
Jason: I've stood by watching you two go at it for the last few days and I'm going to let you know that a lot of us are sick of it, I suggest being friends for a day.. even better as your coach you're going on a play date, Lundy pays and takes care of dinner and Gipson a fun activity.. Keep it legal.

Lundy takes himself and Gipson in Lundy's new Camaro SS.
Gipson: How'd you get this? Do you know where to go?
Lundy: I goz conections.. I don drive, I got da On-Star
*Lundy pulls up to a Waffle House*
Gipson: WTF is this.. it's dinner time Lundy.
Lundy: I luv waffles an who don't love surup.

Gipson had reservations for the two at the movies for The Planet of the Apes.
Lundy: Psst.. hey Perry dat one mokey lookz lik you!
Gipson: SHH this is the best part
*Nothing is happening in scene*

The Two returned.
Jason: Well how'd it go guys?
Gipson: That "Thing" will always be my rival
Lundy: *Chewing on Bacon* ditto dog.
Jason: I don't know what to do with you two!
Logsdon:*Stumbles over a trash can* I doooo, come on guuyyys follow meeee.
*Logsdon takes them over to Dexter Dennison*
Dennison: Ya'll want some craaaaaack?!?
Gipson: Aww.. I think I just want to go home to Greece
Lundy: What'z crack?

Arriving in a private jet outside our practice facility, former NT Head Coach Jfarb had barged in.
Jfarb: What is up everybody??
*Jairo starts to cry hugs Jfarb, vanishes for a second and returns with a bottle of Gatorade he throws on Jfarb*
Jfarb: I missed you to Jairo.

With our full NT staff together the next few hours were filled with analysis of the players, checking their gameshape, skills, and how much they wanted it.

At the end of the day.. Coach Jason stepped on the midcourt and called attention to all to announce the players for the first call-ups this NT season!

-SpF-

Elroy Barrow on the final list of 24!?!

Hooray for people I drafted.