STILL HERE --- A BASKETBALL TEAM WITH AN AVERAGE AGE AND AVERAGE MIDRIFF SIZE THAT MATCH!

It’s old man basketball time again.

On March 13-14 and (hopefully) 15, STILL HERE will be on the road with its team of relics to compete in the 50-55 year-old age bracket at the 2009 Buffalo Masters Basketball Tournament.

Of interest to statisticians, the average age of our team of eleven fossils is 53. That is EXACTLY the same average size of our waistbands. We have somehow achieved a remarkable harmony with the universe.

Our average height, by the way, is 6 feet even but there is suspicion afoot that some have lied about their vertical challenges. A quick glance at the squad suggests that we have recruited at least a few leprechauns.

The 2009 STILL HERE (BARELY HERE) TEAM consists of:

Damon “D-Rex” Skinner
Bart “WIlbur” Skinner
Rick Burgess
Paul “Pops” Stallings
Joe Rog
Eddie “The Falcon” Smith
Paul Liesem
Steve “Vanilla Quake” Meadows
John “JT” Takacs
Rock “Rock” Supan
Mark Bruner

You’ll notice that we have more nicknames than a mafia family.

This year’s official tour name is:

STILL HERE --- THE FALCON TAKES FLIGHT

This is in honor of Eddie “The Falcon” Smith’s efforts in 2008 when he played on despite having lost the ability to see in color. That was shortly after he also had lost complete sensation in one half of his butt. It is only fitting that his ability to rise again and take flight be recognized by his teammates.

We are very pleased to have Joe Rog and Paul Liesem join us this year. Both are smart, reliable basketball players. At least that’s what they tell us. Joe is a veteran of STILL HERE’s Iceland tournament and a vicious three point shooter. Paul is a veteran of some very productive STILL HERE beer drinking sessions and has a great mid-range shot.

The most uproariously funny suggestion so far, in fact, comes from Paul Liesem who, in all sincerity, suggested that we develop a few offensive plays for the tournament. Poor guy. STILL HERE hasn’t run a preplanned play since 2004 when Damon set a pick during the third quarter, then wheeled left to the concession stand for a hot dog and Pepsi. THAT was a preplanned play!