O Captain, My Captain

Tensions were high today at Kenwood PE headquarters as Commissioner Maley divulged who would be captaining the teams in this year's league. Fortunately, for those in attendance, the fireworks were quickly extinguished by the ultimatum put forth by the commish that it was either this or a dreaded fitness day. With the thought of having to actually run and improve their cardiovascular endurance, classes quickly quieted down.

Excitement grew as the details of league were laid out . The idea behind the league was pretty straightforward and well received. There was one major area of contention in today's meeting that was voiced by KPE Player's Union President Santario Mitchell regarding The Conduct Detrimental to the League policy. League rules state (as seen here) that a player may be suspended for anything that is particularly annoying or disruptive. Mitchell challenged the rule vehemently, citing ambiguity and a violation of the founding fathers opposition to tyranny specifically dictated by the con

stitution of the United States of America. He further went on to state that the Player's Union would rather strike then watch Commissioner Maley violate their inalienable rights as United States citizens. After Mitchell got done taking bows from the standing ovation that he received from the class, Maley responded with the following:

"Mr. Mitchell, while I appreciate you're concern for the rights of your fellow classmates, democracy simply can not and will not function without a set of laws which outline the code by which we live our lives. If you truly have a problem with that, you are more than

welcome to do sit-ups and push-ups as an alternative to playing basketball in order to fulfill your state mandated physical education requirement"

After a couple of seconds of weighing his options, Mitchell responded with "Nah I'm good," and wrote down in his planner to remember to bring the point back up in talks between the Union and The League regarding a new collective bargaining agreement scheduled for the Summer of 2012. At that time Mitchell thought, Maley won't have the bargaining power that he does today and will be hard pressed to play the "Fitness Day" card like he did on Tuesday.

With that said, it is our hope that the league's discipline office won't get much action this year. Hopefully, the captains in these classes will step up and lead by example.

Speaking of Leadership....Let's Take a Closer Look at The Team Captains

Period 3

DJ Langston: While he is more known for making the radar gun read 8o mph (with his fastball, not his car), this guy's athleticism and versatility makes him a tough cover for anyone in the league.

Joshua Larry: This guy absolutely loves to participate in health class, and doesn't let little things like raising his hand hold him back. He is ultra-competitive and is expected to draft girls and guys that fit that same mold.

Amber Luckes: I have not seen Ms. Luckes play before, but if her game is anything like her drawing ability, she is going to be a heck of a player. Good Luckes Amber and happy drafting.

Kalekey Love El: Where do you think her little brother Khensura got all his moves? She has been conducting individual workouts for Ra ever since he could walk. There is no question that her pedigree as a coach will earn immediate respect from her players.

Kayshawn Woods: As long as he dresses, Kayshawn is going to be a force to be reckoned with. If he is fortunate enough to get first pick, look for him to snag Latrell Atwood to run the point for his team.

Period 4

Taylor Fowler: Even though she is new to the school, rumor has it that she mastered a sky-hook in the off-season. She is tough and has been known to finish consistently around the rim even if you Fowler.

Santario Mitchell: We have already spoken at length about Santario. Nonetheless, he hopes that what he learned on the Frosh-Soph team this year will translate as he makes the jump to a more demanding KPL (Kenwood PE League) schedule with tougher competition. I have to think he could have benefited from some D-Rose pointers after the Bulls game.

Tariq Muhammed: He has all the tools. Now we will just have to see if he can put it all together. I for one believe that he can as long as he has the right supporting cast around him.

Roldy Michel: Soccer is his game but breaking people's ankles on the hoops court is his name. This upperclassmen looks to take advantage of the young and inexperienced class of 2014.

Kolajo Okanlawon: Even though he always seems to have a smile on his face, his game is serious. He has the size, strength, and speed that will make him the best point-forward in the league.

Period 5

Requan Powell: Probably the best pure-shooter in the league and has a quick first step to go along with it. He has the ability to trash-talk with the best of them (just ask Raynard Jones), but he must be able to keep it clean in order to stay on the court. He has unlimited potential, it is up to him to make sure he reaches it.

Khensura Love-El: While Big Sis is the coach in the family, Ra is the ball player. He has great footwork and has proven to be dedicated in the classroom. Look for him to make some savvy moves at the trade deadline to ensure his team's success.

Myricc Owens: He is the preseason favorite to win the "player most often mad that his classmates are talking, and thus he has to wait for them to stop in order to hoop" award. Hopefully he will channel this aggression and live up to his reputation as a defensive stopper. Look for him to guard all-world swing man Tayshawn Richmond when their respective team's match-up this season.

Period 7

Darien Hollins: This guy brings unbelievable energy to the table. His mouth goes 100 miles a minute and put him in the discussion (no pun intended) for top trash talker in the league. Unlike some guys though, he can back it up. Look to see some highlight reel dunks from Darien and make sure you don't get caught in the poster!

Brittney French: I've played against some first round draft picks and even some future NBA Hall of Famers, but if I had to pick one player that I would least want to attempt to guard, it would have to be Brittney. Her one dribble pull-up is top notch and her penchant for knocking down big shots is uncanny. As a captain, she is old-school and is not afraid to discipline her players. Be cognizant of this as a member of her draft class before you try to step out of line.

Yahshae Bonds: While she seems friendly and outgoing, on the court Yahshae don't play. She reminds me of a combination of Joakim Noah, Manu Ginobili, and Candace Parker all rolled into one. The only concern I have is that she might want the KPL title so much that she will consider anything less than that a disappointment and thus put undue pressure on herself.

Greg Stepney: The transfer from P-West honed his skills on the playgrounds in Bellwood. He's looking to make a name for himself in the city and hopes that his performance in KPL will prove that there are good ball players from the burbs too.

Note: The above blog post was based very very loosely on a true story

******* All misspelling and grammatical errors were intentional in order to improve your overall proofreading skills, a necessity for ACT preparation. You're welcome. ********