AFBLog

It is with mixed emotions that I announce my resignation as President of the AFBL. I am moving to the west coast. Almost 10 years ago I recognized a missing element from our city and community. In the Summer, at Ben Woodward’s parents house basketball games would break out and everyone would have a great time. This good time inspired the creation of the AFBL. For the last 9 seasons we’ve grown the league and over 100 players from far and wide in music, art, video and various other fields have hit the linoleum at McCall.

Nicky has been one of the most steady players (and a great painter) over the last 6 years of AFBL and has been key in keeping the play alive during the “offseason” with games outside. He has agreed to this transition of power and will lead the AFBL into it’s 10th season with a willingness to shoot the ball at moments notice. I know he will do this thankless job well and without a second thought.

On a last serious note, the AFBL has been a true pleasure and a great gift. In some ways, I created the AFBL for myself and looking back I can honestly say that I’ve had more fun on that elementary school court than anywhere I can think of in Philadelphia. When times were tough in my life, the AFBL was a great refuge and a place to release the stress. In the best times friends gathered to get sweaty, talk trash and play like children. I don’t think this is easy to replicate and I will think of it often. I may even watch some of that awful video footage with a smile.

A big thanks to Don Kahler, who helped me kick off the AFBL back in 2001. Thanks to Jay Yarow for breathing new life into the web site and inspiring a new level of trash talk from 2004 through 2007. Lastly, I want to thanks everyone who has ever played AFBL and had fun doing it. Keep the dream alive, I will return to shoot threes and cherry pick–that is a promise.