Schedule for 2011-2012 Season

Schedule: http://www.regent.edu/admin/stusrv/intramurals/bball/schedule.cfm
Standings: http://www.regent.edu/admin/stusrv/intramurals/bball/standings.cfm

Unaccompanied Minors

Welcome back to intramural basketball season 2012! I've been looking foward to this season to start back (almost as much as I'm looking forward to Hollywood Award season starting!). It was fun seeing the boys play again, and getting to cheer with the other Pavlov's Dawgs fan base. And, back by popular demand, I will start blogging again this season! (When internship stuff or my Bachelor blog doesn't interfere...gotta have my priorities.) And our first game was a win, 37-35! Way to go, Dawgs!

After tackling such topics as sportsmanship, displays of affection, emotional regulation on the court, injury protocol, and team fashion unity, I was unsure what new insights and observations I would glean this game. Fortunately the cheering section always helps add to my insights and the game provides interesting fodder.

First, the title of this blog refers to two things: 1) the amount of children and babies present at the game (which I love), and 2) the immature and uncalled for behavior sometimes displayed by players on the other team (which I love...not so much). Several players and fans bring their children to the games, which provides me a source of distraction and excitment when I am bored. Not to mention, Luke LaPoint knows more about basketball then I do, and frequently clears up my questions about plays and the score. What would I do without him? And baby Becca was such a good cheerer for her daddy! The kids definitely added a lot to the game, but also almost got injured by an outburst of anger from the other team. The player ran into the door, and flung it open in a rage, which could have hit the children who were right outside in the lobby playing. This player was severely berated by the members of our team, who in true psychologist fashion, included threats of "anger management" for the player, and "trauma narrative and processing" for the children. I think our verbal aggression could improve, guys.

The game was very exciting though at the end, when with less than 2 seconds, Pavlov's Dawgs made the winning shot! I guess this proves that Pavlov's Dawgs is ready for an amazing season (and it gives me something to use against my law school friends who were playing for the other team). Please share your comments/thoughts below!

Week 5 Schedule

WEEK 5
Saturday, 1/15

9:30 AM These People v Kermit's Krew
10:30 AM Virginia Squires v Rose
11:30 AM The Champions v Kermit's Krew
12:30 PM Tidewater v All We Do is Win
1:30 PM Here We Go Again v Jersey Shore
2:30 PM That Team v TBD
3:30 PM Pavlov's Dawgs v Jersey Shore
4:30 PM These People v TBD

P.D.A.A.

Tuesday night's game against the Squires ended with our team's loss. Final score was 40-38. The game was very close up until the last few minutes and the Dawgs played well overall. The referees made several questionable calls and many of the players got fouls. Oh well, blame the refs for the game loss!

But despite the disappointing loss, I was able to make a lot of observations and impressions while watching the game. I have to thank the girls watching with me for contributing to these ideas. First of all, we weren't sure what school the Squires team was from. So we played a guessing game trying to deduce the team's school just by watching the players. We quickly surmised that the team 1) had matching uniforms, which means they have money, and 2) were attractive. In sum, law students. I also should have guessed from the name: Squires, Esquire... Almost as clever name as Pavlov's Dawgs.

Now to our main reflection on the game: P.D.A.A., or Public Displays of Athletic Affection. We noted that athletes have a certain type of affectionate behaviors that convey camaraderie and team unity. The most common form of P.D.A.A. appears to be high-fives, low-fives, pat on the back, etc. But there is one very intriguing gesture that is unique to the basketball court: the butt pat, or what I have been told is called the "attaboy." Outside of the athletic arena, this gesture would be questionable, but is perfectly acceptable within the context of sports. We also observed the unusual verbal affection the players offered each other, such as "good hands, Haber" and other remarks that could easily turn into a "that's what she said" if it wasn't in reference to basketball. Other verbal affection included a lot of "good shots," "good job," and sticking up for the team when bad calls were made.

I also learned how athletes handle emotions, particularly disappointment when they get fouls, bad calls, and lose the game. First observation is: don't talk to a P.O.'d athlete. One of the fans made that mistake when she tried to ask an ejected player why he accrued a foul. He replied, "don't talk to me." So I guess it's best to leave them alone and allow them to deal with their emotions how they may. I also heard that one of the players couldn't sleep all night because he was thinking about the game, why they lost, and what they could have done better. I had no idea that much thought and anxiety goes into the game. I don't think I've lost that much sleep worrying about how something turned out since the last Bachelor finale.

Please post your comments, thoughts, reactions below! And also "follow" the blog through the link on the right, using your google account.

Week 4 Schedule

Tuesday, January 4
7:30 PM Flint Tropics v Pavlov's Dawgs
8:30 PM These People v That Team
9:30 PM Here We Go Again v Rose
10:30 PM The Champions v The Nexus

Saturday, January 8
3:00 PM Tidewater v Jersey Shore
4:00 PM All We Do is Win v Kermit's Krew
5:00 PM That Team v Flint Tropics
6:00 PM Pavlov's Dawgs v Rose

Week 3 Schedule

Here is the schedule for this week. Come out to support Pavlov's Dawgs on Saturday at 11:30am and 2:30pm!!

WEEK 3
Saturday, 12/11

9:30 AM Kermit's Krew v Rose
10:30 AM The Nexus v Jersey Shore
11:30 AM Here We Go Again v Pavlov's Dawgs
12:30 PM Kermit's Krew v Jersey Shore
1:30 PM The Nexus v All We Do is Win
2:30 PM Tidewater v Pavlov's Dawgs
3:30 PM The Champions v That Team
4:30 PM These People v Virginia Squires

Team Victories and Injuries

Team picture (l to r): back row-Heidi Jo, Matt, Ryan C, Jonathan, Adam, Ryan A, Dr. Jones

Front row (l to r): BJ, John, Trevor, Jake

Pavlov's Dawgs won their first two games of the season! The first game was against The Nexus (final score 38-35) and the second game was against Kermit's Krew. I forgot to write down the final scores, but good job guys! :) There was a good turn-out of fans too, as we cheered the Dawgs in their first two victories.

Several team members also sustained injuries during the game. This led to several minutes of groaning while laying on the court and clutching the injuried leg/hand/face, followed by the player stumbling up and limping back to the bleachers on said injuried limb. The audience then applauds. Then, and only then, could the player's wife/significant other (who had been biting her nails and holding her breath in anticipation for the several minutes her husband was incapacitated) approach her husband to attend to his wounds. The game provided me with a new education of appropriate injured behavior, but as far as implications for or the connection to the real world, I'm still thinking that through.

In addition to observing the protocol for sports injuries, I also observed the fashion of the games. Team colors designate unity and a sense of the ingroup and outgroup (there's some social psych for Dr. Jones!). Also, basketball shoes play a central role in the players' preparedness for the game. The Ryans informed me that they have to buy a new pair of basketball shoes every season! And they said college or professional basketball players have to rotate their shoes for every practice or game. It seems like basketball shoes are also a source of status and role for the players and there may or may not also be some kind of correlation between height and how bad a** the players shoes are. Hmm...so girls are not the only ones who show their status and style through their footwear!

I hope you enjoyed my very uneducated and humorous look at the world of intermural basketball! I'll be at the next game, People magazine in hand!