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Do you accept me?

I intend to use my slow wit to comment on posts around these parts from now on, so it's only fair I properly introduce myself to you good folk.

Star-divide

My name is Keith, I'm 29 years old and I live in the UK.

I fell in love with basketball quite late in life at the age of 14 and was most attracted to the Phoenix Suns - something about Michael Finley being part of the team (I have no idea why he would convince me to follow a team).  I followed the team loosely for a number of years but due to a combination of growing up, alcohol and girls, I grew apart from basketball.

But then, a few years later, I was in Thailand and realised how much I missed the game and decided that I needed to follow a team for good. A team I could call my own.  What was wrong with the Suns? Nothing at all but for some reason I had forgotten they were my first team.

With this new found determination, I set about choosing my team by the best method possible - write down every team in the NBA on a separate piece of paper, screw them up and then pick them one by one until I had one remaining.  That final scrap of paper would be my team.

I recall writing them out and screwing them up and distinctly remember thinking 'Please don't be the Milwaukee Bucks'.

One by one I picked out those pieces of paper...until one remained.   It was the Milwaukee Bucks.  It must have been fate right? Either that or some pretty crappy picking skills by me.

I was disappointed but also determined to make this new found relationship work.  Until I returned back to England, pretended it never happened and returned to my previous Suns affiliation.

The community over at Bright Side of the Sun is like a second family to me, full of dirty older uncles, alcoholic parents and downright low life.  And I love them.

But having visited my older brother in Wisconsin, felt a part of the community where he is, visited the Bradley Center and been disgusted at the lack of recognition for the Bucks and the rejection that the state appears to dish out to the NBA outfit, I feel it is now my duty to adopt the Bucks as my team and with it, become possibly the only Buck in England.

I know the franchise may be on the shortlist of potential contraction/relocation candidates but I will be with them to the bitter end from here on out.

You've heard my story, read about my tales of international travel and seen that I am as disloyal as a WWE tag team partner but I hope you appreciate my honesty.  So now I have one question for you:

Do you accept me as a Bucks sympathiser/fan? 

Poll
Do you accept me as a Bucks fan?
Yes.
17 votes
Yes.
6 votes

23 votes | Poll has closed

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Comment 41 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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Welcome, Keith!

Btw, I voted the first yes :)

As someone who grew up in Wisconsin, I sometimes joke about being “stuck” with the Bucks—which makes me really appreciate everyone who actually goes out of their way to make a conscious choice to join our small, long-suffering fraternity. Self-deprecation aside, it is nice having a fairly blue collar, under-the-radar bunch to call your team.

Adding Keith also further expands our coverage of the current/former British empire: we’ve now got Aussies, Canadians (OK, one Canadian!), and now a Brit. I don’t know how Palomba fits into the equation, but a little South American flair never hurt anyone :)

by Frank Madden on Nov 15, 2011 11:20 PM CST reply actions  

Welcome to the wonderful world of being an international Bucks supporter and faux correspondent!

I vote that from now on, we all have to have a national flag after our usernames to identify our national allegiances…it’s just getting to be too difficult to keep up with it all these days :)

Squad Six is to the Bucks what beer is to Milwaukee (or anywhere else for that matter)... the catalyst for you doing dumb things in public and not feeling self-conscious!

by Big Crazy Dave on Nov 16, 2011 3:36 AM CST reply actions  

Ta Da!

Well, had to change my profile pick instead of the signature, but you get the idea!

by Big Crazy Dave on Nov 16, 2011 3:47 AM CST up reply actions  

*sobs* Thank you so much for accepting me... *sobs*

I like writing a lot of basketball related nonsense on twitter at strange hours of the day. Come join me: @keiththejourno

by keiththejourno on Nov 16, 2011 5:55 AM CST reply actions  

I love the first post here...quality stuff!

Your first task: make NBA basketball come back.

SB Nation Brew Hoop - Editor
SB Nation Midwest News Desk Contributor
SB Nation Chicago - Writer
@stevevonhorn

by Steve von Horn on Nov 16, 2011 10:39 AM CST up reply actions  

Ray Allen (Bucks fans somewhat oddly still tend to claim him) lived in England for a bit as a young chap, so I think this is all only natural.

by Alex Boeder on Nov 16, 2011 9:17 AM CST reply actions  

As you have taken me under your wing, I need to ask a favour…. can I borrow 22k? I need to get my house and car fixed up and my internet bill hasn’t been paid in about 7 months but I promise I’ll pay it back. I’m just going through some tough times right now but I have this invention which is about to be picked up and then I’ll have the money, you ju……

I like writing a lot of basketball related nonsense on twitter at strange hours of the day. Come join me: @keiththejourno

by keiththejourno on Nov 16, 2011 10:02 AM CST reply actions  

Check's in the mail

I addressed it to “Keith, UK”…hopefully the Royal Mail sorts out the rest.

by Frank Madden on Nov 16, 2011 10:40 AM CST up reply actions   1 recs

Looks like yes has a healthy lead over yes in the poll. I voted yes, but not just because that’s the cool thing to do.

Welcome aboard! And no, we can’t write prescriptions for anti-depressants. Not after last time. Again, I’m sorry about that one guys, but at least I was able to put the fire out.

by Dan Sinclair on Nov 16, 2011 10:06 AM CST reply actions  

There's not many of us

So the more the merrier

How do you feel about one of your country’s deported convicts being the lynchpin of our defense?

(it was the only UK-centric joke I could think of)

http://twitter.com/WhalesLarry ...but only if you want to see someone still trying to figure Twitter out.

by Mitchell Maurer on Nov 16, 2011 3:42 PM CST reply actions  

Just from the replies to this post, I am excited about being a part of your community.

Bonus points to Frank for recognising and name checking the ’ Royal Mail’.

Minus points for Frank for misspelling ‘cheque’.

I like writing a lot of basketball related nonsense on twitter at strange hours of the day. Come join me: @keiththejourno

by keiththejourno on Nov 17, 2011 3:09 PM CST reply actions  

Ohh

Minus points for Keith for misspelling “recognizing”.

A samurai sword collection. If you can do it. I don’t know if you’re allowed.

by TwoShoesMcGooze on Nov 30, 2011 2:25 PM CST up reply actions  

Actually, 'recognising' is the correct spelling of the word.

‘Recognizing’ is an American bastardisation ;)

Fear the 'Dear'? You're damn right I'm scared of my wife!

by Big Crazy Dave on Dec 1, 2011 12:40 AM CST up reply actions  

That sounds like a great band name: American Bastardi(s/z)ation

SB Nation Brew Hoop - Editor | SB Nation Midwest News Desk Contributor | SB Nation Chicago - Writer | Twitter: @stevevonhorn

by Steve von Horn on Dec 1, 2011 8:54 PM CST up reply actions  

I dig it Steve!

Fear the 'Dear'? You're damn right I'm scared of my wife!

by Big Crazy Dave on Dec 2, 2011 2:08 AM CST up reply actions  

welcome, and may god have mercy on your tortured soul

I was born into fandom on this team, and I’ll die with it. thanks for coming to the green side.

Go Beer, I mean Bucks

by Take Back Our Bucks on Nov 17, 2011 5:33 PM CST reply actions  

Still herein Korea, back to WI in a few months,

 I got to watch former Buck, Ha Seung-Jin play against my cities team last year, and I’m sure all make it to a few more. Court-sides in leather recliners are only about $16 and you can bring your own beer into the games. hahaha

Go Beer, I mean Bucks

by Take Back Our Bucks on Nov 21, 2011 7:55 AM CST up reply actions  

Welcome, Keith

I’m really happy you’re with us: you’re Michael Finley fandom puts my Carlos Delfino one on a nice, new and bright perspective, I think.
By the way, I thought Slovenian fans would be arriving first.

by palomba on Nov 18, 2011 8:54 PM CST reply actions  

UK and Euroleague

Any Euruleague teams in the UK that might employ some of our Bucks while the lockout is being resolved?

by Southern Marxist on Nov 19, 2011 2:13 PM CST reply actions  

Britain isn't exactly a hotbed of hoops at the moment...

From wikipedia:

As of 2011 no British teams compete in European competition. To compete in the third tier EuroChallenge competition, clubs must play in arenas with a capacity of at least 2,000 people (3,000 if they reach the Final Four stage).11 Currently the only BBL team that meet the Eurochallenge requirements are the Newcastle Eagles, with the Glasgow Rocks awaiting construction of their new 5,000 seater stadium as part of the city’s Commonwealth Games bid.

by Frank Madden on Nov 19, 2011 3:57 PM CST up reply actions  

Oh Frank, you spoiled my surprise.

The BBL (British Basketball League) is where I am cutting my media teeth and it’s great for me. A ton of access to players and coaches with a lot of them happy to talk at any time.

The standard is a little low for Bucks players and the whole ‘Ron Artest wants to join the Cheshire Jets’ stuff was just nonsense. The club couldn’t afford him and he wouldn’t come.

But like I say, the experience is invaluable for me so I’ve got only positive things to say about the league. (Except for the part where I said the standard is too low for Bucks players and where I said the Cheshire Jets were penniless!)

I like writing a lot of basketball related nonsense on twitter at strange hours of the day. Come join me: @keiththejourno

by keiththejourno on Nov 19, 2011 6:32 PM CST up reply actions  

That's great

Always interesting to see how the sport is evolving in different countries, as well as the extent to which interest in local teams is tied or independent of interest in the NBA/international game. I’m curious to see if having Deng on the national team, playing NBA games in London, etc. can stoke broader interest in the sport or not. It does strike me as a bit odd that Britain hasn’t embraced the game in the same way that the continent has. What gives, Keith?

by Frank Madden on Nov 21, 2011 11:02 AM CST up reply actions  

If I’m being brutally honest about basketball in the UK, it is struggling. Struggling in the sense that funding for the sport is minimal, the BBL (British basketball league – semi-pro) doesn’t have much recognition, the NBA is rarely seen on TV and the NBA games in London generate very little publicity.

Having said all of that, the sport is slowly growing which gives me encouragement. I cover one of the teams – and have seen an increase in interest amongst casual fans and the media to the point where Sky Sports News (our version of ESPN..kind of…) has started showing highlights which was previously unheard of.

The fact remains though that basketball is only just above the status of being an ‘underground sport’ which breaks my heart when I know the huge benefits being involved in the game brings.

There are some extremely dedicated folks over here who are determined to help the game grow within the UK and get the recognition it deserves and it’s thanks to people like that that you’re able to see Lebron dunk over a child – – (except the child didn’t get dunked on at all…since when is dunking with someone relatively close by classed as ‘dunking on’?!)

I like writing a lot of basketball related nonsense on twitter at strange hours of the day. Come join me: @keiththejourno

by keiththejourno on Dec 3, 2011 4:05 PM CST up reply actions  

The two links that were due to show up above were:

The team I cover – http://www.leicesterriders.co.uk/
The video of Lebron dunking near a child – http://www.hoopsfix.com/2011/11/video-lebron-james-takes-kid-1-on-1-and-dunks-on-him/

I like writing a lot of basketball related nonsense on twitter at strange hours of the day. Come join me: @keiththejourno

by keiththejourno on Dec 3, 2011 4:07 PM CST reply actions  

You cover them? Interesting.

Who do you write for?

The Artist Formerly known as Speedingtime/Speedy

www.BrewHoop.com

by Jacob Grinyer on Dec 4, 2011 3:13 PM CST up reply actions  

I write for their website – most of the content is stuff I’ve done – and I write articles for two or three other sites as well.

I like writing a lot of basketball related nonsense on twitter at strange hours of the day. Come join me: @keiththejourno

by keiththejourno on Dec 4, 2011 4:01 PM CST up reply actions  

It's a really good opportunity for me to get into sports journalism..

..and the best part is, the players are usually open to talking to me which means I have excellent access to them. Same goes for the coach. He’s unbelievably generous with his time and because he’s worked with ESPN before, he has a background in media so is very savvy.

I like writing a lot of basketball related nonsense on twitter at strange hours of the day. Come join me: @keiththejourno

by keiththejourno on Dec 4, 2011 4:07 PM CST up reply actions  

Interesting stuff.

He’s worked for ESPN? Huh.

The Artist Formerly known as Speedingtime/Speedy

www.BrewHoop.com

by Jacob Grinyer on Dec 4, 2011 7:06 PM CST up reply actions  

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