IV abruptly retires & the Buzz trade for Gr3g

Coming off a disappointing first year playing in the BeerCityHoops Gr3g League, starting point guard and Buzz team ambassador IV dramatically walked off the court mid-game and subsequently retired this past Tuesday.

While the team continued on to a defeat at the hands of the Crew, league officials were already in contact with each other during the second half about the future of players (IV & Gr3g, specifically), the players still on the floor for the Buzz and the Broad Leaf franchise, in general.

Having taken the lead for the Buzz since late last summer, IV had shown promise as a team owner/ambassador as he put together a roster of competitive hoopers. Although the Buzz hadn’t entered the league with the type of success and fanfare as the Crew or the City, the stability as a franchise seemed to be on par with that of the Nines and the Ligers. But, if he doesn’t want to play during the hard times, the players union has already spoken and declined to allow IV back on the court.

the players union has already spoken and declined to allow IV back on the court

In a meeting just prior to new year, Gr3g talked with Grizzly Doug, the founder of the Broad Leaf Buzz, and admitted that his days playing for the Nines were numbered (mostly 15, 36 & 52) but would continue as a role player on the Alpine Route if needed and would gladly accept a move away from “an environment I once enjoyed but can’t exist in anymore” as soon as possible. The worst part, he added, “was asking Money to join me over there while not really knowing if I could stay”.

The advice?

“Tell ’em all to go take a flyin’ bleep on a rollin’ donut!”

Gr3g’s agent, Michelle, added,

“YOU DO YOU!”

And so here we are, the league’s founder will be traded back to the Buzz for a 2022 late-round pick trying to fit into a squad that has enough talent (and possibly enough time to mesh) to compete in the playoffs. Gr3g will wear the yellow #8 jersey for the Buzz.

Maybe it works. Maybe it fails miserably. Word is they’re just going out to hoop it up.

Check out the league games on YouTube

 

 

 

AG, ****, The Juice & Coach Drew heading to defending Champs

 

Less than 12 minutes into the first game of the season, the Greyline Nines saw Drew wince and grab his right arm. He knew. We knew. He’d be out for the next 10-12 weeks with a fracture (broken arm) just above his right wrist.

While it didn’t change the outcome of the Week 1 game against the Buzz, it definitely caused some concern for the front office of the Greyline Nines.

On Monday morning, the Nines reached out to Ryan 4ce, the GM/lead ambassador of the Red Hawks of Force to inquire about a major shakeup to both rosters. Becoming Coach Drew for the remainder fo the regular season, he’s a better fit on the bench for the Hawks as opposed to pacing the sidelines for a Nines team wrought in familiarity and the 4ce sees that.

Joining Coach Drew on the move to the Hawks are newcomers A.G. and ****, as well as wily Military Veteran The Juice.

In return for the major haul of talent, the Hawks will send Mr94Feet and the returning player rights to J. Barrett (aka “Double Barrett”) to the Nines.

With the trade, the Hawks gain some much needed production in the lane (****) and a guard (A.G.) who can both create off the dribble and light the fire from distance like a viking sparking the funeral pyre. Adding “The Juice” to the mix only makes it a higher possibility that the opposing team goes home to drink Bloody Mary’s as soon as possible.

On the other side of the trade table are the Nines, who’ve made some interesting moves over the past 6 months. After acquiring Tyco from the Hawks for draft picks over the summer, they were notified during pre-season that the big man, along with 2020-21 League MVP Los, were opting to play “overseas” (in some cheesy YMCA league, per an unidentified source) and wouldn’t be returning to the Gr3g League for the 2021-22 season. Losing their two biggest players (both physically and “in the news” this summer), the team targeted the best outside shooters on the market to go with the returning “get buckets” duo of MJ and Boston.

After finding a deal to put Money in a Buzz uniform, the Broad Leaf ambassadors shipped him to the Nines to clear space for incoming draftees from Summer League. Knowing the Buzz was going to fill the roster with the “highest upside”, the Nines again reached out to the Buzz to inquire about the availability of BeerCityHoops‘ founder, Gr3g. The high-motor, “recklessly defensive of his parquet” point-forward returns to the League with hopes of pushing his Buzz #8 and Nines #15 jerseys into a HOF #36 before he retires and takes the broadcasting helm.

The Nines now have some of the best outside shooters in the League. Finding some space inside the 3-point line for Gr3g on the block will allow the others to spot up and fire up some 3’s and 3G’s.

We know they have the talent, do they have the health to compete? 

Coming off a knee scope for MJ, a scattered schedule for Boston’s little leaguers, Gr3g’s age and the unknown of the newcomers, including Buggs, who signed today, signify a change of direction in philosophy for the Nines but also shows that the front office understands last year’s game plan fell flat in the Playoffs. This team is now the oldest of the Original Six, with Money being the only under-30 player on the team.

What now for the defending Champions? 

The sudden addition of a near-full squad that has played together in other markets definitely puts them back on the map. Losing key players Mr94Feet (Nines), Bandit (no-show), and Big Baby (playing in Norton Shores with Whores) and some deep bench players (Tyco, Jerms, Berlin Wall), the Red Hawks will rely on Cake (returning from injury), I’ll Will (their own Eric Beverly) and rookie Daniel BK, who joins the League as the first player from the Congo.

 

https://beercityhoops.com/calendar/2021-22-season/