The Chosen Ones.

The Untouchables.

Oh, Them.
Bob's Favorites.

The Knights Boys 8th.

Who are these guys?

Christian, Edward, Andrew, Jordan, JT, Sam, Quinn, John, and Ryan.

Honorary Knight by Special Appointment (From Me) in Recognition of all her Hard Work in Support of Knight Causes:

Alexi Hedland

This team's humble beginnings are well documented in the pages of the Book of Knights.
 

• They began to take shape when a fearless group of Asian all stars/Icemen rejects were looking for more; when a fearless mother braved the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and approached the Fearsome One (me) to see if I would consider taking the Knights to Asian and traveling to meet the real bad boyz out there. All she had to offer was a skinny Asian all star, long haired hippie freak for a son, that she loved so much, and her own larger-than-life reputation as being a selfish, headstrong, meddling, stage momma. To add to the deal, she also offered two parents who were infamously notorious as Asian parent punching bags with a little chihuahua for a son who dreamed of playing basketball when he should have known that basketball can only be played by BIG GUYS; who they loved so much.

  All they wanted was a chance for a meaningful high school career.

• They began to take shape when a fearless, formidable father braved the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and approached the Fearsome One (me) asking if the Knights would possibly let his ESPN freak/Total Impact bench warmer, who was so well thought of over there that he couldn't get into the game when his team was losing by 40 points, that he loved so much; come in from the cold.
  He also offered the warmest, most understanding mother who would support her son unwaveringly through thick and thin because she loved him so much.

  All they wanted was a chance for a meaningful high school career.

• They began to take shape when a mother brought her tall, awkward son from football, from the mean streets where he was harassed for his clumsiness and braved the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and approached the Fearsome One (me) to see if he could escape his insecurities and have a chance for a meaningful high school career.

• They began to take shape when the Knights original JP (Jewish Princess) brought her juvenile delinquent wanna-be son, who she loved so much; that she braved the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and brought her boy to the Fearsome One (me) asking to please try to keep him out of jail and maybe learn some basketball in the spare time.

  All she wanted was a chance for a meaningful high school career and life.

• They began to take shape when a couple who spent their entire lives creating a regal lineage of Knights, finished donating the last of their three kids to the Knights and braved the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and brought their prodigy, who they loved so much, to the Fearsome One (me) and demanded that I get it right this time.

  All they wanted was a chance for a meaningful high school career.

• They began to take shape when an athletic, still b-ball playing, father brought his tall, shy, mild-mannered, Stanford dreaming boy and braved the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune to bring that dream to the Fearsome One (me) and hoped he made the right choice.

  All he wanted was a chance for a meaningful high school career (and beyond)
   

• They were completed when a F.O.R./Total Impact playing boy was told by his sage poppa to find the place where he could blossom. The boy braved the slings and arrows of really outrageous fortune and brought his dream to the Fearsome One (me) and cringed behind his buddy who he brought as moral support as he tried to make up for lost time. The buddy came too.

  All they wanted was a chance for a meaningful high school career.

How could such a gathering of mutts and misfits become such a potent 8th grade team?

As you peruse the roster, where is there a superstar that was a superstar when the team began?

All right, Sam was highly thought of, but only as a support player on the "other" Knights team to the team that he was playing "up" on.

Therefore, Sam was not Sam when he came to the team.

Now, they are THE team.

The Pride of the Knights.

The team everyone wants to be like.

Well, they are special.

From Day 1, this team and it's parents have done everything that was asked of them and maybe a little more.

Momma Tammie (Tammie) and bacon fried rice and killer ribs.

The Ambassador of Cabernet (Philip) buying out the entire stock of a certain Cabernet (11 bottles) from a restaurant owner after the game at the Anaheim Pond. That was when we lost. What would he have done if we had won?

The Papparazzi Twins (Denise and Tracy), showing up to each game dressed as they were attending the Cannes Film Festival.

Denise would wear high heels to run the Boston Marathon.

Tracy would buy new clothes to go shopping for new clothes.

SIR DAVE (Dave BS) acting like an excitable dog who just got out of the house through the screen door and terrorizes the neighborhood every time we went traveling.

THE WHO? (Dave M). I once asked an official to see my assistant. His response was: WHO? Dave was sitting right in front of him.

What am I gonna do without you guys in Lancaster, San Diego, Temecula next year when the new travel season rolls around?

Maybe you guys can travel with us without your boys.!

They were asked to not miss clinics, not miss any opportunity to play, not miss any opportunity to clump, to devote their lives to help their boys realize their dreams.

They never missed clinics, they never missed any opportunities to play, they definitely never missed any opportunity to clump (after plyometrics at the beach, no less) and they clearly devoted their lives to help their boys realize their dreams.

Their travels are now legendary. Their stories are legendary. Their clumping is second to none; though the Boys 3rd, led by the now legendary SpinDog, is on their tails.

They were told to run sand dunes. They ran the sand dunes.

They were told to attend plyometrics. They didn't miss a session.

They were told to play in all the tournaments. They not only made all the ones scheduled, but requested more.

They invented clumping. With them, they have elevated clumping to an art form. They have not only clumped, they have taken clumping to an entirely new level and have become family to each other.

When I look back, I can see that this team destined for success because it's parents would move both heaven and earth to ensure that this team had the opportunity to persevere through any circumstances.

Their support of myself and this program and their sons have set standards that can never be forgotten, that can only, maybe be equaled (SpinDog), but never surpassed.

Let's see where all that love and support and dedication stretched over YEARS of sustained effort and sacrifice has gotten them:

Christian, Andrew, JT, and Jordan have decided to attend North Torrance High.

They have gone straight to the JV level MINIMUM and all four boys are practicing with the VARSITY as INCOMING FRESHMEN!

North Torrance High was a C.I.F. playoff participant last year and is favored to take their league this coming year and is a real threat for a C.I.F. title.

Sam and Quinn have decided to attend Peninsula High.

Sam and Quinn have made the JV level MINIMUM and are continuing to practice with the VARSITY as INCOMING FRESHMEN!

Peninsula High was a C.I.F. playoff participant last year and is favored to take their league this coming year and a real threat for a C.I.F. title.

Ryan and Edward have decided to attend Palos Verdes High.

Ryan and Edward have made the Sophomore/Freshman level and are the among the top freshmen in the program.

Palos Verdes High had a rough year last year, but with talented freshmen as Ryan and Edward coming in, the future is indeed bright.

John has decided to attend Loyola High.

John will undoubtedly make his mark as one of Loyola's top freshmen once their program gets going.

John is a tremendous player who's future is as bright as any.

Loyola is a traditional C.I.F. power who is always in the mix for a C.I.F. title.

Nicholas Magnana left the team recently, but all of his contributions to the Knights can never be forgotten.

Nick has decided to attend Bishop Montgomery and is one of their top freshmen.

Best of luck to Nick and we miss him.

Bishop Montgomery is also a traditional C.I.F. power.

This is the Knights Fab Freshmen Class of 2008.

I am so proud of these boys because they epitomize everything that the Knights stand for.

They and their parents have so completely immersed themselves into the Knights program and basketball that I am already missing them and cannot wait for their return to our Knights high school program.

It has been my privilege and my happy duty to oversee their progress over these past years and I love each and every one of these boys and their parents.

Are they my favorites?

As much as I love them all, I also love the Knights...all Knights.

No favorites.

While there are no favorites in my little world, I DO look at the dedication levels of all those who say they want it.
Clinics, tournaments, plyometrics, clumping.

All show HOW MUCH a team or a player wants it.

It is to those factors of dedication to which I respond with my responses.

To the Knights Boys 8th:

You are all on your way to realizing your dreams of a meaningful high school career and beyond and you will all deserve EVERY wonderful second that you will enjoy.

You will always be with us.

We will always be with you.

To the Knights Boys 8th parents:

YOU DID IT!

YOU GOT THEM TO WHERE THEY WANTED TO BE!

WIPE YOUR TEARS AND TAKE YOUR BOWS!

THE FUTURE IS HERE AND NOW!

I only hope that you are all NOT like Tammie and only see me through your rear view mirror!

By the way Tammie, your artist called me by mistake and he wanted me to let you know that your full length, wall sized portrait of Gary Duperron is ready for you to pick up and ready to hang in your office.

NOW Boys 7th!
How will we spend your last youth year here?

YOUR HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN TRYOUTS ARE 10 MONTHS AWAY