Staff vs. Student Basketball Game
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by Biff Burns

Two years ago, the undergraduate students upset the faculty and grad students in the almost-annual basketball game with a late rally. That was the first undergrad victory in twenty-eight years. The faculty licked their wounds for a year while recruiting several of those undergrads for grad school and the staff team. A grudge match was set for December 5,1997.

The undergrads looked great in the pre-game warm-ups. Brett Vinciquerra was swishing twenty-foot jumpers and Dave Dunham was slam dunking. Peter Bick demonstrated his basketball prowess for his girlfriend on the sidelines. Andy Materna did some tricky dribbling while Eric Linskey displayed all-round skills. Mark Sinclair and Steve Durgin showed some unorthodox moves. They looked like an awesome machine.

The staff seemed to be in a bind. Krafty Gordon Kraft couldn't play due to an injured elbow. At game time, Brian Kirk still hadn't arrived (traffic jam). Jeremy Pallotta had recently dislocated his shoulder but would play in pain. Wayne Smith and Chris Williamson hadn't been playing much lately, and were showing signs of age as well as rust. And the fifth starter, Grandpa John Pokoski, was in his 60's. Since only four staff players had arrived at game time, fifth year senior (and double major) George Fitch (GAF) volunteered to play for the apparent losers. Jennifer Bernhard couldn't be enticed to play, but provided moral and vocal support from the sidelines. It looked bleak.

A transformation occurred with the starting whistle. Suddenly Pallotta became Jordan and Pokoski was Bird. Williamson and Smith looked like Malone and Stockton. GAF was a whirling Kevin McHale, and late arrival Kirk was super sixth man Hondo Havlicek. An equally astounding transformation took place on the undergrad team. Suddenly they looked like the Our Gang Kids being coached by Charlie Chaplin. Their shooting resembled Mr. Magoo's, and they seemed to be using the dictionary definition of dribbling. To make the story of the game shorter (hence more merciful), the staff demolished the students 69-39. In reality, it wasn't that close.

ECE Again Wins CEPS Hoop Championship: In April (playoff time) the ECE staff-student team once again won the CEPS basketball championship. The key game was a victory over the Chemistry Department. ECE was led by two rookies. Sophomore Brett Vinciguerra dazzled the fan (Peter Bick's girlfriend) with uncanny accuracy on his long-range jumpers. Dave Dunham scored repeatedly on open court drives and a variety of short and medium range shots. Both played tenacious defense, and rebounded relentlessly. Peter Bick made some key hoops, and the usual crew of Kraft, Williamson, Smith, and Pokoski provided key support.The only other team to make an appearance was Civil Engineering. However, they had to forfeit their games, since only four players showed. ECE student Jeremy Pallotta along with a Chemistry student, joined forces with ice to allow them to make a respectable showing in their exhibition games.