Alumni Tourney Code of Conduct

During the past couple of years, I've spent considerable time putting together the "play room" I dreamed of having as a kid. Through "in-kind donations" from friends, some low-end purchases, and rummaging through old boxes in my Mom's garage, my dream has become somewhat of a reality. What's resulted in my garage is a space that to some would resemble a run-down community rec center:) I have a 30 year-old ping-pong table, an air hockey machine with a broken scoreboard, a pop-a-shot machine, and a gaming center with the old school 8-bit Nintendo (I'm taking on all comers in Tecmo Bowl and RBI Baseball). The walls are littered with posters from my childhood, including some classic MJ and Barkley wall art. The one piece of photography that has evaded me to this point is this classic image from the '84-'85 NBA season that defines what that era of basketball was all about:

What I admire most about this pic of Dr. J and Larry Legend choking each other out is that it symbolized an era of basketball where teams genuinely despised each other, and would literally duel it out like this if it meant flexing their superiority over the rest of the league. You knew that when the Celtics got together with either the Sixers or the Lakers, it was going to be an absolute battle. Best part of this fight: it occurred in a game that took place in November. Can you ever seen LeBron and Carmelo getting fierce like this ever, yet alone during the first week of the NBA season? I miss the old school NBA:)

With that, I want to reemphasize my annual reminder about the EHS Alumni Tourney Code of Conduct. Our tournament needs to be more NBA 2011, and less 1984. More about D-Wade and Amare working out a pre-game hug, less about Magic and Laimbeer exchanging cold stares. More about John Wall helping Derrick Rose up after a foul, less about a Bad Boy Pistons' close line to stop a layup. More about the model behavior of Ray Allen, less about the profanity-laced tirades of Charles Oakley.

Prior to last year's tournament, the tournament committee made a commitment that our group would model appropriate behavior for both the current crop of players, and for the families and friends that are in attendance. This is defined by the Code of Conduct (see below). Because really when the tournament is done, what matters is that we were able to get together, reminicse about old times, play hard, and call it a day without any setbacks or injuries. Because no one really cares or remembers who wins it all or what happens, just that we had fun. Kinda like the 2011 NBA.

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Everett High School Alumni Basketball Tournament

Code of Conduct

Mission Statement - To celebrate and positively promote the legacy and tradition of Everett Seagull basketball through the spirit of competition.

Welcome to the Everett High School Alumni Baketball Tournament! As former Seagull players, it was commonly relayed by our coaches that putting on the uniform and competing was a privilege, not a right. Through this lesson, we've all had experiences that collectively bring us together each New Year's Eve to commemorate the wonderful heritage of Everett High School basketball. To this end, it needs to be understood that our ability to play in this annual tournament is a privilege, not a right. Our behavior not only represents our respective graduating classes, but is on display to the current group of Seagull players who look up to the collective example we're setting. More importantly, with friends, family and children in attendance, it needs to be understood that we need to model exemplary behavior.

With this in mind, we require that each player adhere to the following code of conduct.

Each player shall:

• Display sportsmanship, and agree to compete in a manner that exhibits integrity and honesty.
• Adhere to rule decisions made by tournament organizers.
• Respect and abide by a fellow player or official's decision, and agree to refrain from verbal or physical demonstrations against a decision.
• Abstain from using profanity or other disrespectful language.
• Refrain from using unnecessary rough tactics during game play against an opposing player.
• Demonstrate respect for players, coaches, and fellow alumni.

If any player is found to be in violation of any of the aforementioned requirements, Tournament Organizers will require that the player leave the facility immediately.