Goodman League’s First Annual Charity Game Sure to Please

Ron Bailey, Publisher

G'Town's McDonough Arena is set to host the 1st Annual Goodman League Charity Game Sunday.

August 20, 2009 – The George Goodman League, also known as the ‘Barry Farms League’ for its location in that Southeast Washington, DC community, is well known on the professional summer basketball circuit – it’s not uncommon to see National Basketball Association stars like Kevin Durant and Gilbert Arenas mix it up on the concrete courts with local pros such as Andrew ‘Spongebob’ Washington. At ‘The Farms’, there is no quarter asked or given.

According to Miles Rawls, founder, administrator and game emcee of the Goodman League, it is a labor of love, as he noted today “Contrary to popular belief, there is no money (to be made) down there”.

Attempting to address that fiscal necessity - costs are numerous and include cleanup, a sound system, referees, etc - as well as the needs of another non-profit, Project Giveback, is the Goodman League’s First Annual Charity Game.

Miles Rawls before a Goodman League game.

Held this Sunday, August 23rd, and consisting of two games, one amateur the other professional, Rawls shared of what drove him to conceptualize the event was “Basically to raise money for the league and to help my man out”; he met Project Giveback’s Director, Ransom Miller last Thanksgiving, when the former provided 50 turkeys for needed people in Barry Farms. “He was telling me how much he appreciated the league and what we do, and I felt similarly, so I told him I would help him out if I could”.

Proceeds from the event will be split amongst the two organizations, and what a happening it will be.

First high school-aged players from D.C. and Baltimore will face in yet another round of the ongoing struggle to answer the perpetual question, who has the best hoops, The Chocolate or Charm cities? In this case, travel team squads Team Takeover (DC) and Baltimore Assault will match up.

Next comes the headliner, which boasts confirmed players like NBA pros Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Mike Beasley, Jeff Green, Jarrett Jack, and Pops Mensah-Bonsu, (Javaris Crittenden and Nick Young, both of the Wizards, are also likely participants). Others like Isaiah Swann, Andrew ‘Spongebob’ Washington, Baby Shaq, Jon Wallace – professionals in their own right – will also lace them up.

Rawls indicated he will have a surprise in terms of headliner game team makeups, one that will guarantee good, hard play, with Durant and a group of non-NBA pros taking on NBA players. His thinking is the NBA guys have a tendency to loaf during charity events, but when faced with motivated professionals not in The League, ones likely trying to make a name for themselves at their expense, NBA players will be forced to play hard.

Event specifics follow:

Site – Georgetown University’s McDonough Arena

Time – Sunday, August 23rd, 2009, first game 4:00p, second 5:30p

Ticket information – call 240.381.9404 and at all HOBO, Shooters, Madness, All Daz and We R One locations, as well as today and tomorrow at the Goodman League playoffs.

Don’t miss the Goodman League’s 1st Annual Charity Basketball Game. For those interested in furthering the missions of Project Giveback and the George Goodman League – which are feeding/educating people and providing positive recreational experiences respectively – but can’t make it, both organizations are registered non-profit entities and accept tax deductible donations.

By attending Sunday, you will do that and get thrilled to some of the best summer basketball available anywhere.