Gil Thorp by Henry Barajas and Rachel Merrill for February 21, 2011

Ah, the “paint.” Used to be called the lane, before Al McGuire came along. The problem is, most high school and college courts no longer have painted lanes. On some courts, the lane is the only part inside the 3-point arc that isn’t painted. Doesn’t stop announcers and writers from calling it the paint anyway. I guess they feel hip 40 years after the expression popped up.

Yeah, well, people talk about being “three sheets to the wind” or “being taken aback” long after full-rigged sailing ships stopped being standard cargo carriers or “dialing someone up” on the phone long since dials stopped being on phones. I think we can give the announcers and writers some leeway.

Hey, there’s ANOTHER obsolete nautical expression. Go figure.

Coming soon to Milford - home computers, the I-phone and indoor plumbing.

Why is Jamaar wearing a white jersey at Goshens gym, while Tim is wearing black? And where are they playing, in a barn?

Goshen’s famous gym is “The Barn” and the team nickname - years ago - was the Barn Swallows. Of course the name was changed to “Clowns” in more recent times.

Speaking of swallows, why the shift in attention from Lini?

Good to see The Ghost enjoying the fiber of a “Leather Sandwich.”

Does Tim Kiska play for MIlford or Goshen?

I am not sure which team he plays for, or for that matter where in the heck this plot is going but I do know that his father works for or used to work for the Detroit newspaper. He also does some TV and radio work.

I think he works in a paint store. Or in a lane store.

Does Tim play for Parker’s team or Lini’s team?

Good match-up 5’ 6” vs 6’ 9” Our boys have been to another coaching clinic.

Is that Gil in P2? Can’t be, but looks like him.

Ah, The Barn. The only school in the conference that doesn’t have large plate glass windows in their gym.

@Ravenswing: There’s no doubt I’m overly sensitive to stuff like that. I’m a sports copy editor and see phrases catch on and spread like wildfire. It’s not too bad at first, but when you read the same “hip” stuff over and over it becomes tiresome. This year, for example, wide receivers no longer had to get open. They needed “separation.” The hot one at the moment in basketball is “getting stops.” Why coaches everywhere quit talking about playing good defense and started talking about “getting stops” is a mystery. It’s as if someone presses a button.

Dazed. Confused. Befuddled. Bewildered. Pick one as that’s what I am right now. Please end the madness.

There’s another guy on Goshen named Joe Knish.

Chuckster -

End the madness??? It’s almost March, and that’s when the madness begins!!

Will the Mudlarks make the playdowns? Lini might help them get a “seed”.

Chuckster,

I’m with you. I assume it will all work out in the end.