WAVERLY TWP. — It all began in the summer of 1992 when a group of men employed at MetLife decided to get together after work to shoot some hoops.
“We played on a local playground a few times and it went well,” group leader Mike Brislin said in a news release. “With the advent of the fall, we started to look for a place to play indoors.”
Brislin doesn’t remember who suggested he contact the Waverly Community House (Comm), but he did just that. The Comm was able to offer them a Monday evening 5 to 7 p.m. slot in its gymnasium, and the men have faithfully shown up to play every week from September through May for 25 years.
According to Brislin, the Comm was a perfect fit, as it was close to work for the majority of the men, the facility is top notch and the court is the right size for their group, which plays four against four.
He said in the release, the men “keep it as simple as possible.”
“There’s nothing at stake, no contracts, no scholarships and definitely no fame and fortune. Just bragging rights.”
The men, all friends, keep the play loose with a healthy dose of humor thrown in for good measure.
Only two of the original group members still play today, but most of the others have been going to the Comm Monday nights for more than 15 years. The group currently has 14 members and most Mondays, everyone shows up. When asked how the league has lasted 25 years, Brislin gives most of the credit to the entire group for its dedication, and to the Comm for offering the venue and accommodating the group in many ways.
The Comm offers its rooms and gymnasium for rental throughout the year. For more information or to book a space, call 570-586-8191, ext. 2.
