Emerson Boys Hoop It Up at the NBA All-Star Jam Session

I spend many a weekend coaching boys and girls sports teams at the middle school where I teach: flag football in the fall, basketball in the winter, softball and soccer in the spring. If I posted about each of these weekend events, all Throwing Cookies would be is an Emerson Middle School sports blog, but this weekend, our student athletes had an opportunity that only comes once in a lifetime and with that I present my first Emerson Sports blog. Los Angeles hosted the NBA All-Star game and Emerson's boys basketball team earned their way into the NBA Jam Session Invitational.

FIrst, Emerson had to beat Nightingale at Miguel Contreras Learning Complex. They pulled off a come-from-behind victory almost as dramatic as their win the previous week over Palms. 

When our student-athletes arrived at the Los Angeles Convention Center, an NBA rep met us and provided our players with shooting jerseys and Gatorade starter packs. They then escorted the team through the Convention Center to the Jam Session.

The team stretched and shouted out one last Emerson before their first game.

On Saturday, Emerson met Henry in their first game and after scoring four points in the first ten seconds they never trailed. In their second game, a tough team from Gompers led by six in the final two minutes. Tough Emerson d, clutch foul-shooting, and a last second shot sent Emerson to the tournament's final four in dramatic fashion.

On Sunday, foul trouble and a tough Portola squad ended Emerson's tournament run. Congrats to all our Panthers and thanks to the NBA for an amazing experience for all of the teams, families and schools.

ESPN's 30 for 30 Series: Required Watching

I know there's a whole lot of sports to watch right now with the MLB LCS, along with college and NFL football, but if you are a sports fan and you haven't started recording ESPN's documentary series 30 for 30, you should.  I arrived a little late to the show and still have a few to catch up on, but here are my favorites so far.

Run Ricky Run A thoughtful look at the complexities of Ricky Williams.

June 17, 1994  I'm sure this date rings a bell.  The Knicks were playing the Rockets in the NBA Finals, the US was hosting the FIFA World Cup, and Arnold Palmer was ending his career, but none of us could turn away from OJ Simpson's white Bronco. This film has the footage to prove it. 

The Two Escobars  This is the film I imagine Entourage's fictional Medellin could have been.  It illuminates the lives and deaths of Columbian soccer player Andres Escobar, and the drug lord Pablo Escobar.

Guru of Go  LMU, Paul Westhead, Hank Gathers, Bo Kimble, and a left-handed free-throw that still brings tears to my eyes. 

Four Days in October  Remember when the Red Sox were a team of playful, lovable idiots, cursed for 80-some years?  Remember when you felt for Red Sox and sympathized with their bad luck before they became almost as annoying as Yankees fans? Here are the four unbelievable days that changed Red Sox Nation forever.