Da Villanz Take Championship in Skid Row 3 on 3's Second Season
Ed Fuentes
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — On a hot Saturday afternoon, top seeded Da Villanz (22-2) prevailed three games to one over second-seeded Liquid Halo (15-9) to take the Skid Row 3 on 3 basketball league championship.
As could be expected at the end of a long season, emotions quickly ran high on the court and in the stands. Points made and fouls (not) called were points of contention. Despite the talk and tempers, though, order prevailed.
League commissioner O.G. Man created the Skid Row 3 on 3 league with an aim toward teaching participants how to work within the rules of life. The league's motto reads: "It's more than a game."
“How are you gonna handle what a boss tells you to do?" said O.G. during an extended timeout between game two and three. “The ref makes the call, and you don’t like it. What does that teach these men? Life is not always fair, but you have to keep going.”
All four contests were close, with Da Villanz winning game one 15-10, game two 15-11, falling short of game three 15-13, and getting game four 16-6 on a two point jump shot. The contest took place on the new recycled-rubber court at Gladys Park, just re-opened at the end of December.
manuel compito aka OG Man on January 21, 2009, at 09:46PM – #1
As one of the 3on3 Commissioners, there is so much to be said about the 2008 Season. Wait for the DVD! The energy, time, sweat that it takes to run a "community league" designed to "inspire" a neighborhood that has been told, over and over, "it can't be done"! But, 2008 brought a Women's Division ( again, something Service Providers didn't do). 2008 brought a "new court" and the attention of Nike. Our fans ( Skidronians)and Central City East,DLANC, Gunnar, Lesley Taplin and others bring the love and support ( something that money can't buy).