SE Washington, DC - NBA Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant graced the gates of the famous Barry Farms Coliseum yesterday to get a bird's eye view of a super tripleheader that headlined last year's champion 3rd Eye and a revamped Rare Essence team lead by superstar guard D-Nice.  Yesterday's action also featured the first ladies matchup in Goodman League history which is a very exciting turn of events.

The temperature was close to 90 degrees at courtside and the ladies action on the blacktop made it hotter. "I just wanted to give ya'll a change of pace, spice it up a bit." Miles said on mic.  Lady Love and Encore mixed it up in the gates in a major way and displayed the kind of fundamental basketball the ladies game is known for such as hustle, discipline, defense, and no intense competition for the spotlight.

Super guard Keisha and her teammate Pocahantas led Lady Love to victory over Encore 37-30.  Coach Chuckie Booker said after the game, " The ladies play at the Capital Sports Complex and they display great fundamentals and shot selection.  They are also easier to coach, no egos."

 The second game featured The Squad, a mostly Trinidad NE neighborhood contingent taking on George's All Stars.  A word of note, The Squad team is an incredibly scrappy, hard nosed bunch and nothing to fool with.  Perry was a member for the Goodman All Star team last year and can really bring the lumber.

Omar Weaver (Coolidge High), Perry, and newcomer Deuce (Emmanuel Jones) proved a three headed monster for The Squad.  Weaver was on absolute fire as if he walked on the court straight outta hell and nailed two 3 pointers just a minute into the game.  Both teams battled aggressively until the 10:00 mark when Deuce beat his man off the dribble with a sweet crossover, then stole the ensuing possession and finished with a emphatic dunk to open up a lead over the All Stars that would never be relinquished.

The Squad's triad of Perry, Deuce, and Weaver closed the game out in the second half 52-43.  Deuce (Texas Pan-American University and California Riverside JUCO) said "The coach just wanted me to take over the game, so I just took it upon myself to do what I know I can do."

The headliner featured reigning Goodman League world champion 3rd Eye versus a formidable Rare Essence powerhouse lineup.  Before the game, Rasheed "Sheed $ Dollar" said, "We should defend the title.  If we win today we'll go 2-0 which will be a good sign. If we get by RE and HOBO we might go undefeated.  This will be a barnburner today."

Rare Essence on paper and in the layup line look awfully powerful.  The Essence team suited up former Maryland power forward and intrical part of former NCAA men's basketball champion Maryland Terrapins in addition to superstar guard D-Nice.  Lonnie B. looked fit and trim and ready to roll and he did early. 3rd Eye star Eddie Basden had just flown in from Germany to get a bump and Wizards Andray Blatche handled the center duties.  Reigning Goodman MVP Terence Whiters handled the point for 3rd Eye.

The temperature in the gates had cooled down considerably as all was in order courtside. The season ticket holders were in place, the VIP and BF Crazy sections were waiting in anticipation as Miles gave the order. "Move em!"

Both team started out just a little sluggish and worked to find a rythmn until two minutes in the when Essence power forward Lonnie Baxter began to put his stamp on the game and establish his presence down low with aggressive drives to the basket, nice mid range and fadeaway jumpers and a conversion at the free throw line.   Baxter looked like his junior year at Maryland. Baxter finished a monsterous breakaway reverse dunk at the 14:06 mark of the first half.   Rare Essence opened up a 17-7 lead after the Baxter finish as he and D-Nice had it going early and often. When Baxter missed a few heat check baskets, D-Nice drove the lane for reverse layups and mid-range jumpers.

Slowly but surely Eddie Basden, who should be in the league, began to assert himself. Around the 13 minute mark in the first half he lead his team back.  Terence Whiter struggled early to find his shot but Andray Blatche and Eddie B carried 3rd Eye to within two at halftime after a hard Tony Durant dunk.  It was 46-44 RE at the half.

In the second half, the reigning Goodman League MVP Terence Whiters fired up the blowtorch and began to cut a hole in the Rare Essence defense.  Whiters softened up the Essence defense with continuous drives to the basket while Eddie B. delivered the knockout blows.  3rd Eye took the lead 3 minutes into the second half and never relinquished it.

RE's Lonnie B. just didn't get the touches he got in the first half while D-Nice sat out for a stretch while 3rd Eye padded their lead.

3rd Eye forward Harvey Thomas's reverse dunk at the 10:00 minute mark of the second half gave 3rd Eye a five point lead that would swell to ten until Rare Essence made a furious comeback after D-Nice came off the bench in the second half and converted free throws on technical fouls from 3rd Eye's Young Zo, who was ejected from the game at the 4:15 mark of the second half. 

Rare Essence got to within two points of 3rd Eye at the 1:07 mark but just didn't have enough in the tank to pull off the comeback.  3rd Eye's Andray Blatche, Terence Whiters and Tony Durant closed it out 93-87.

After the game a jubliant Kevin Durant said, "I love coming home.  I've been coming here for 3 or 4 years now. I've always like it here."

Kevin, Co CEO of the 3rd Eye organization said, "We're always fighting back. We had to push for 40 minutes. It's no quit until the clock reads zero."

Sheed Dollar's response was shorter. "The cream rises to the top."

3rd Eye's Eddie Basden said, "It's a great feeling for me.  This is where it all started.  I wanted to get a little bump to stay in shape.  This is great for the community. It's good to be back."

Highlight moves of the day: 

 There were two.  At the 7:49 mark of the first half, D-Nice did a slow, methodical between the legs dribble as if to lure the defender to sleep, then stepped to his right with a slight hesitation move and sunk a step back jumper. It was vintage D-Nice.  I had D-Nice unofficially with 31 points.

At the 7:19 mark of the second half, Eddie Basden does a behind the back, between the legs dribble move in which he squatted down and handled the ball behind his back then proceeded to break to the basket with a spin move and assist to Young Zo who unfortunately didn't convert the layup. Unbeliveable.  I had Eddie B. unofficially with 21.

3rd Eye is off to a good start with a 2-0 record. For game schedules check back to

www.thegoodmanleague.com.  For archives of weekly game writeups go to www.dcmetrosports.com/dcmsblog