Would you watch H.O.R.S.E?

[EarlJam]

Okay, I'm being serious here.

ESPN asked Nate McMillin if he would ever consider an NBA comeback. His response was, "No, but I'd play professional H.O.R.S.E. if they had a league. I love H.O.R.S.E. and..."

I'm paraphrasing, but I found his comment very interesting. Why ISN'T there a professional H.O.R.S.E. league? ESPN has all these other BS "sports." With all the mind games and trick shots and such that come with it, I'd watch former NBAers slug it out in H.O.R.S.E. any day. I think it could be very entertaining.

Heck, I may even try to get the league started myself!

What do you all think about a professional H.O.R.S.E. league? Would you watch it? How would you make the game more interesting?

-E.A.R.L.J.A.M.

[hc5duke]

Would you watch it? How would you make the game more interesting?
-E.A.R.L.J.A.M.

No; booby traps? maybe if you hook them up to batteries, and each person has 2 chances to shock the other person into missing.

[DevilAlumna]

I can see it.

Match play, win to advance, or Teams of three, rotating IN ORDER amongst the members (allows for specialization.)

Probably want to have categories of shots, and you (or your team) has to do at least one per category per match. I'm thinking:

* Dunk
* Facing away from the basket
* Free throw
* Lay-up
* bank shot
* 3 pointer
* half-court heave

The team rotation plus having to do at least one of every type of shot will really bring strategy into play. Is the other team's dunk specialist up next? Do you have your long distance bomber go for the risky, but potential "dagger blow" half-court shot, or play it safe and get the standard 3-pointer, which the dunk guy might be able to make?

The biggest rule issue will be how to win the match -- does the player that is about to lose get only one shot to make the bucket, or two? Maybe this rift-to-be will be so huge that it will necessitate the creation of two divisions in the H.O.R.S.E. league (a la the designated hitter.)

Yeah, it would be better than "who's now."

[captmojo]

I was astounded to see that ESPN Classic was today running a Scrabble contest. I s&^* you not. It was a scholastic competition.

Years ago there was an amusement establishment in North Myrtle Beach, SC, reminiscent of a Putt-Putt, except for basketball. They had 18 separate goals in different configurations, like a wavy cloverleaf-shaped rim or a 2 square foot backboard and different positions and distances to shoot from. Each player got 3 shots per goal with differing values per goal. Sadly, it went out of business the very next year. The property was sold to erect a Quincy's steak house.

[rthomas]

I'd put money on Laettner. Just let him go first. Money.

[YmoBeThere]

The property was sold to erect a Quincy's steak house.

Now that is progress.

[captmojo]

Now that is progress.

Quincy's? Progress? :eek:

Maybe if it had been Ruth's Chris.

[YmoBeThere]

Quincy's? Progress? :eek:

Maybe if it had been Ruth's Chris.

Have you seen the video? They are going a new direction in '92!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=AksEqhKS54M

I mean they posted this not long after Al invented the internet.

[captmojo]

Have you seen the video? They are going a new direction in '92!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=AksEqhKS54M

I mean they posted this not long after Al invented the internet.

Fantastic looking wait staff. Oh, and the mullett-headed customers. Simply wonderful. Thank you so much for the enlightenment.:rolleyes: Was the boss really that tall or were his underlings that under?

[EarlJam]

Okay, post has been hi-jacked. I'm passionate about this one as it's something I may take action on.

Again, would you watch professional H.O.R.S.E.????

What new rules (realistically) would you put in?

-EarlJam

[EarlJam]

I can see it.

Match play, win to advance, or Teams of three, rotating IN ORDER amongst the members (allows for specialization.)

Probably want to have categories of shots, and you (or your team) has to do at least one per category per match. I'm thinking:

* Dunk
* Facing away from the basket
* Free throw
* Lay-up
* bank shot
* 3 pointer
* half-court heave

The team rotation plus having to do at least one of every type of shot will really bring strategy into play. Is the other team's dunk specialist up next? Do you have your long distance bomber go for the risky, but potential "dagger blow" half-court shot, or play it safe and get the standard 3-pointer, which the dunk guy might be able to make?

The biggest rule issue will be how to win the match -- does the player that is about to lose get only one shot to make the bucket, or two? Maybe this rift-to-be will be so huge that it will necessitate the creation of two divisions in the H.O.R.S.E. league (a la the designated hitter.)

Yeah, it would be better than "who's now."

Awesome. Great ideas!

-EarlJam

[YmoBeThere]

Okay, post has been hi-jacked. (Yes, for a good reason?) Again, would you watch professional H.O.R.S.E.????
-EarlJam

No see below for why...


I can see it.

Match play, win to advance, or Teams of three, rotating IN ORDER amongst the members (allows for specialization.)

Probably want to have categories of shots, and you (or your team) has to do at least one per category per match. I'm thinking:

* Dunk
* Facing away from the basket
* Free throw
* Lay-up
* bank shot
* 3 pointer
* half-court heave


Many of these shots uncontested would be relatively easy...heck go back a few years and I could manage a semblance of a dunk. You would end up with a trick shot/long distance shooting competition ultimately, which would be fascinating in highlight form but wouldn't keep me glued to the TV set.

Start a rec level league first...and see how that goes. That should give you a much better sense if it really has potential. Regarding ESPNClassic & other outlets programming, they do whatever they can to fill airtime. IIRC, they were showing something on ultimate frisbee a while back.

[knights68]

I think I'd watch the professional H.O.R.S.E. competition, definitely.
It would be a chance to see some players get creative and to really step up.

I think a pro HORSE league would be more interesting than what the NBA has become today.

[EarlJam]

No see below for why...

Many of these shots uncontested would be relatively easy...heck go back a few years and I could manage a semblance of a dunk. You would end up with a trick shot/long distance shooting competition ultimately, which would be fascinating in highlight form but wouldn't keep me glued to the TV set.

Start a rec level league first...and see how that goes. That should give you a much better sense if it really has potential. Regarding ESPNClassic & other outlets programming, they do whatever they can to fill airtime. IIRC, they were showing something on ultimate frisbee a while back.

I recommend a glass of creative thinking, with a side of vision. Hey, golf shots are uncontested, but it still works pretty well. There is much room for creativeness here. Nate McMillian says so. And when Nate McMillan speaks, people listen!

-EarlJam

[Bluedawg]

Okay, I'm being serious here.

ESPN asked Nate McMillin if he would ever consider an NBA comeback. His response was, "No, but I'd play professional H.O.R.S.E. if they had a league. I love H.O.R.S.E. and..."

I'm paraphrasing, but I found his comment very interesting. Why ISN'T there a professional H.O.R.S.E. league? ESPN has all these other BS "sports." With all the mind games and trick shots and such that come with it, I'd watch former NBAers slug it out in H.O.R.S.E. any day. I think it could be very entertaining.

Heck, I may even try to get the league started myself!

What do you all think about a professional H.O.R.S.E. league? Would you watch it? How would you make the game more interesting?

-E.A.R.L.J.A.M.

It already sounds more interesting than the NBA itself.

[EarlJam]

It already sounds more interesting than the NBA itself.

It would be like a glorified Slam Dunk contest. By glorified I mean much better. The Slam Dunk contest has long gotten boring. The tournament aspect of it would make it fun and retired players could play, adding an extra "nostalgic" element.

Come on naysayers! You have to admit you'd be tempted to watch a showdown between Christian Laettner and Grant Hill, or Chris Webber. One of Laettner's shots could be a re-do of his '92 Kentucky shot. Could even bring Hurley back to play.

Lots of possibilities.

-EarlJam

[JasonEvans]

Years ago there was an amusement establishment in North Myrtle Beach, SC, reminiscent of a Putt-Putt, except for basketball. They had 18 separate goals in different configurations, like a wavy cloverleaf-shaped rim or a 2 square foot backboard and different positions and distances to shoot from. Each player got 3 shots per goal with differing values per goal. Sadly, it went out of business the very next year. The property was sold to erect a Quincy's steak house.

That place did not go out of business in one year-- it was there for like a decade at least. I used to go all the time with my family. We loved the place. In fact, we really wanted to open one of these in the triangle area with Duke, UNC, and NC State themed shots. In addition to the crazy-shaped rims and backboards, we would have a special shots where you had to duplicate famous shots from ACC history. For example:

* Laettner's shot - we would have a machine that threw the ball from long-distance to right around the FT line. There would be a mark where you are supposed to stand and we would place a cardboard cutout of John Pelphrey right in front of you so you had to shoot over it. There would be a timer so that exactly 4 seconds after the ball was thrown (it takes a second or two for the ball to get to you once thrown by the machine) the buzzer would go off and you have to shoot by then or the basket would not count.

* Whittenberg to Charles - there would be a spot about 30 feet from the basket where you had to shoot. A special net is attached to the front of the rim that catches the ball and puts it in the basket.

* We never really came up with a Carolina shot other than placing an X exactly 17 feet from the basket where Jordan hit his jumper in the 1982 finals. Kinda dull. We need to work on that.

My family really thought about this. We wanted to do it-- but none of us live in Durham so we never got it done. I still think it could have been huge!!

-Jason "as for a professional H.O.R.S.E. league-- this may be the best idea I've heard in weeks!" Evans

[Bluedawg]

It would be like a glorified Slam Dunk contest. By glorified I mean much better. The Slam Dunk contest has long gotten boring. The tournament aspect of it would make it fun and retired players could play, adding an extra "nostalgic" element.

Come on naysayers! You have to admit you'd be tempted to watch a showdown between Christian Laettner and Grant Hill, or Chris Webber. One of Laettner's shots could be a re-do of his '92 Kentucky shot. Could even bring Hurley back to play.

Lots of possibilities.

-EarlJam

The NFL has the QB contests where they compete this would be similar. I'd watch, and you are correct, the slam dunk contest has gotten very old. How hard is it for 6-10 to 7 feet tall players with a 7 foot wingspan to reach up an dunk? the NBA games have become a slam-dunk contest more than a game anyway.

[Bluedawg]

That place did not go out of business in one year-- it was there for like a decade at least. I used to go all the time with my family. We loved the place. In fact, we really wanted to open one of these in the triangle area with Duke, UNC, and NC State themed shots. In addition to the crazy-shaped rims and backboards, we would have a special shots where you had to duplicate famous shots from ACC history. For example:

* Laettner's shot - we would have a machine that threw the ball from long-distance to right around the FT line. There would be a mark where you are supposed to stand and we would place a cardboard cutout of John Pelphrey right in front of you so you had to shoot over it. There would be a timer so that exactly 4 seconds after the ball was thrown (it takes a second or two for the ball to get to you once thrown by the machine) the buzzer would go off and you have to shoot by then or the basket would not count.

* Whittenberg to Charles - there would be a spot about 30 feet from the basket where you had to shoot. A special net is attached to the front of the rim that catches the ball and puts it in the basket.

* We never really came up with a Carolina shot other than placing an X exactly 17 feet from the basket where Jordan hit his jumper in the 1982 finals. Kinda dull. We need to work on that.

My family really thought about this. We wanted to do it-- but none of us live in Durham so we never got it done. I still think it could have been huge!!

-Jason "as for a professional H.O.R.S.E. league-- this may be the best idea I've heard in weeks!" Evans

Don't forget Dockery's 40 ft shot against VT!

[captmojo]

That place did not go out of business in one year-- it was there for like a decade at least. I used to go all the time with my family. We loved the place. In fact, we really wanted to open one of these in the triangle area with Duke, UNC, and NC State themed shots. In addition to the crazy-shaped rims and backboards, we would have a special shots where you had to duplicate famous shots from ACC history. For example:

* Laettner's shot - we would have a machine that threw the ball from long-distance to right around the FT line. There would be a mark where you are supposed to stand and we would place a cardboard cutout of John Pelphrey right in front of you so you had to shoot over it. There would be a timer so that exactly 4 seconds after the ball was thrown (it takes a second or two for the ball to get to you once thrown by the machine) the buzzer would go off and you have to shoot by then or the basket would not count.

* Whittenberg to Charles - there would be a spot about 30 feet from the basket where you had to shoot. A special net is attached to the front of the rim that catches the ball and puts it in the basket.

* We never really came up with a Carolina shot other than placing an X exactly 17 feet from the basket where Jordan hit his jumper in the 1982 finals. Kinda dull. We need to work on that.

My family really thought about this. We wanted to do it-- but none of us live in Durham so we never got it done. I still think it could have been huge!!

-Jason "as for a professional H.O.R.S.E. league-- this may be the best idea I've heard in weeks!" Evans

Boy CRS is a terrible thing. I can't remember it being there for so long but I bow to your powers of recall, Jason. I'm glad anybody else could even remember the existence of the place. I had to think hard to remember it was Quincy's that replaced it. Man, it was great. Wish it could return. Then again, if you ever went there, some aspects of it has to be still stuck in your mind. It was a lot more fun than miniature golf!

Earl, I would watch HORSE. Heck, I saw scrabble. I just wouldn't go for dunks. I'd want to see older jumping impaired guys and gals trying to relive some old glory days and win fabulous parting gifts.;)

[tecumseh]

Years ago the NBA sponsored an HORSE tourneyment and put the games on at halftime during the season. The finals was Westphal v Maravich. Westphal had all this weak hand stuff that was deadly he was very ambidextrious, Maravich had trick shots which were deadly in HORSE. I thought it was pretty entertaining and wonder why they never did it again.

[ivduke]

But more importantly I would want to play! So therefore the rules need to be simplified to account for an aging former player:

No Dunks
Off-handed shots are a requirement at least once a game
Anything else is essentially legal

This would allow me to pull out the shot we all used as a kid where we stand behind the hoop and throw it over the backboard with the hopes of it dropping in......

you know we all did it....

[Clipsfan]

I was astounded to see that ESPN Classic was today running a Scrabble contest. I s&^* you not. It was a scholastic competition.

Years ago there was an amusement establishment in North Myrtle Beach, SC, reminiscent of a Putt-Putt, except for basketball. They had 18 separate goals in different configurations, like a wavy cloverleaf-shaped rim or a 2 square foot backboard and different positions and distances to shoot from. Each player got 3 shots per goal with differing values per goal. Sadly, it went out of business the very next year. The property was sold to erect a Quincy's steak house.

It wasn't just one...they've been running the last 5+ years in sequence. Repeatedly.

[Clipsfan]

The NFL has the QB contests where they compete this would be similar. I'd watch, and you are correct, the slam dunk contest has gotten very old. How hard is it for 6-10 to 7 feet tall players with a 7 foot wingspan to reach up an dunk? the NBA games have become a slam-dunk contest more than a game anyway.

I think that you're ignoring the fact that in HORSE the actual mechanics of the shot often have to be imitated. As a result, it's not just doing a dunk, but doing a reverse windmill off of a cartwheel etc.

[YmoBeThere]

I recommend a glass of creative thinking, with a side of vision. Hey, golf shots are uncontested, but it still works pretty well. There is much room for creativeness here. Nate McMillian says so. And when Nate McMillan speaks, people listen!

-EarlJam

created a whole new system of accounting/revenue recognition. Very creative. They "visioned" a world of tradeable bandwidth and weather futures. How did that work out? (Or were they just before their time? Like the terrorism futures market that got shot down by poor marketing.)

You will notice, I gave the idea an out by suggesting starting small. I'm skeptical(as always) but willing to give it a look with a prototype form.

And who is this Nate McMillan guy anyway?

Don't worry, I know who he is

[YmoBeThere]

I think that you're ignoring the fact that in HORSE the actual mechanics of the shot often have to be imitated. As a result, it's not just doing a dunk, but doing a reverse windmill off of a cartwheel etc.

Which would turn a matchup between the 40 year old and 22 year old into a dunking competition(based on certain assumptions that I am obviously keeping to myself). And it would make being the first person to act extremely important. Lots of rules and game mechanics that need to be worked on and tested.

[mapei]

So have age classes. If there are things grandpa just can't do, allow him to compete against other grandpas. That's what bike racing does, thank goodness . . .

I would enjoy watching HORSE, but pay much money to do so? Maybe not . . .

[tecumseh]

HORSE the NBA version was somewhat entertaining but the players tended to use the same shots so it would not be that much fun to see the same players over and over. For instance Maravich had the spin the ball on the finger, pop it into the air, punch it up against the backboard and put it in. Now for him that was like a layup so he would pull that on everyone.

When playing HORSE one on one the whole key is control of the ball so you need shots that are difficult for the other person but easy for you. For Westphal it was a lot of "easy" weak hand shots. With no limits on how often you can go to the weak hand a guy like Westphal could just shoot an endless number of short weakhanded shots, which is not super exciting to watch.

[DevilAlumna]

Tecumseh and Ymo have now both pointed out the flaws with allowing just any old shot in the game of professional H.O.R.S.E.

That's why, in my imaginary league, every shooter (or team) would be required to make all sorts of shots (see my above post on the various types.)

So, while Pistol Pete could easily get his opponent to H.O.R.S. on his fancy spin/bounce/shoot move and other outside shots, if Maravich couldn't dunk, his opponent would still be in the game until Pete could get a slam down.

[Lavabe]

Umm... of course I'd watch HORSE, under the guidelines stated by Larry ("no dunking"):
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_oACRt-Qp-s

Cheers,
Lavabe

[tecumseh]

The best shot I remember not sure who did it was dribble up towards the right side of the backboard, grab the support and use it to swing underneath the basket for a reverse layup on the other side. FYI Maravich was injured prior to filming of the finals so Westphal won by default.

[Bluedawg]

I think that you're ignoring the fact that in HORSE the actual mechanics of the shot often have to be imitated. As a result, it's not just doing a dunk, but doing a reverse windmill off of a cartwheel etc.

I am fully aware of that...thank you.