After some delay the Game Over Web Store is now open!  Check out The Monster T-shirt, available in White, Black or Gold and only for $19.00!  For that price, you need to pick up a Nemisis T-shirt as well.  And that is just the beginning as Game Over rolls out its newest line.  Be the first in your school to own the Panorama T-shirt.  We'll be adding more gear this month as we role out the Spring line for your ballplaying and styling needs.  Whatever you do, don't be last, cause then it'll be Game Over.

They say that the NCAA is a coaches league, where high school ballplayers go to a school for the program run by a coach.  Now the NBA is a players league, where we, the spectators go to watch some of the finest athletes in the world play basketball.  Then why is it that there are more timeouts in an NBA game than there are children named Jordan after Michael Jordan?

Did you watch the Christmas Day game between the Heat and Cavaliers?  During the run by the Cavs in the third quarter, how many time outs were called by Pat Riley.  Hey Pat, check it out, your squad is worse than the Knicks.  A time out is not going to help.  Or several of them.  However, if you were to think about me, the fan watching at home, you would be giving me one less opportunity to raid the frig and therefore adding to my obese state.  I want to watch the players play, not go back to the kitchen for a second round of chips and soda.  In fact, watching is so bad on the eyes I think I'm just going to pick up my ball and head to the park.  That way I'll won't eat this crap and maybe I can play for you in a few years.  Your team needs my help.  Game Over.

The holiday season starts te best part of the year, at least some of us at Game Over think so.  Why? - because now starts 12 hour Saturdays and triple-headers on weeknights of college basketball.  Speaking of which, did you check out the Memphis - Georgetown game yesterday?  We did and we learned more from what we saw than from what was said.

College basketball really took off on television when New York's own Al McGuire retired from coaching after winning the 1977 NCAA Championship with his Marquette Warriors (now Eagles) defeating the Dean Smith UNC Tar Heels.  The reason - he teamed with Billy Packer on the NBC College Basketball broadcasts and we, the public, had a coach that taught us the game as coaches think and teach.

The loss of such a teacher was evident during the Memphis - Georgetown game.  Now we know all your coaches tell you how when the ball is passed you need to see the ball and your man.  And when your man moves you have to open-up so that you can see the ball and your man as he runs his part of the offense.  Well . . . , lets just say someone is doing laps today at Georgetown for not doing what he's supposed to do.

The play opened with the ball in the right wing, passed down to the block.  The defender on his man at the top of the circle didn't open his shoulder so that he could see the ball drop down to the block and therefore his man set him up, cut down the lane and recieved a nice pass for a lay-up.  This is fundamental basketball - on the defensive side.  There is NO EXCUSE for allowing that play to happen.  So what happened on that play? - the defender on the ball was trying to get by with just his talent instead of increasing his court talent with knowledge and movement to prevent the easy play from happening.  He apparently hasn't learned from countless times going through the shell drill how to jump to the ball.  Ballers, young and old, male and female, it takes more than talent to be a great baller - it takes the teachings of your coaches to make you a superior player.

And there was no one to discuss the play as we had with coaches such as Al McGuire.  When we watch a game, we want it to be our classroom as well.  There is no reason any High School Ballplayer cannot come to Monday's practice after watching games on Saturday and becoming a smarter player.

So when you watch games, don't just look at what happens with the ball, look off the ball and understand defensive movement.  It's the men off the ball that direct how the ball moves more than the defender on the ball.

Some of you must of heard us when school got back into session.  There was movement in the standings as we crown a new leader-or-the-pack, Yves Jules of Canarsie.  Yves, not in the top ten as of last week had heavy voter turnout.  But he wasn't the only one as Keith  of Jefferson jumps from a tie for 6th into 2nd place.  Last weeks leader, Lance Stephenson, holds 3rd Place.  Sylven Landesberg of Holy Cross takes 4th with Erving Walker of Christ the King holding 5th Place by himself.  Eric Touche of Jefferson and Kembas Walker of Rice share the 6th - 7th spots while Brandon Romain of Boys & Girls is in 8th.  Curtis Loving of Wadleigh shares 9th with Kevin Jones of Mount Vernon.

Long Island has joined the party as several write-ins have now appeared on the voting page.  Don't be shy and register for the free Game Over Monster shirt.  It's gong to someone - why not you?  See you Sunday with the next update.  Game Over.

The best part of Thanksgiving (besides no school and leftovers) is the college basketball season gets into full gear.  Depending on your cable system, there wre 12 (tweleve!) games on tv on Friday alone.  Talk about getting stuffed.  And of course we had a great side helping of NBA games.

We're now a month into the NBA season and let's face it, if your a New York Knick fan, when do we officially start the clock on the draft (and do we have a 1st round draft pick this year?).  Yesterday's survival against a team that is as woeful as the Knicks (Da Bulls), was their Thanksgiving meal.  Now they face the Jazz, the Suns and the Celtics.  Oh boy.  And the NJ, er, soon to be Brooklyn Nets, aren't actually doing much better.  So who is the best Metropolitan area team?  Early voting goes to undefeated Seton Hall!  How about Bobby Gonzalez - comes from Manhattan and is making his impression felt right-away in the Big East.  #23 Virginia went home with a spanking.  The Pirates will make the season fun to watch in the metro area, even though they may not be able to take down Big East favorite Georgetown.

We are going into Thanksgiving with four leaders in the Game Over All-City Voting.  Erving Walker, Sylvan Landesberg, Brandon Romain and Darryl Bryant are in the short lead going into the weekend.  Eric Troche, Keith Spellman (big opening night of 29 pts in Jefferson win over Wadleigh) and Kemba Walker are 5, 6 and 7.  Write in Devon Elliott of Bishop Loughlin is now eligible for votes so please consider him as you look at the top NYC high school basketball players. 

Voting has officially opened.  We need to hear from you, your firends, your family, and everyone else.  Get the word out.  The Top Ten finishers all receive Game Over All-City trophies.  And voters, we haven't forgotten about you, with registering with your Email address and name, are automatically qualified to win gifts from Game Over.  To kick the voting off we are going to give one lucky winner an exclusive Monster T-shirt.  Not yet available in stores or online from www.gameovernyc.com (but will be for X-mas, so don't worry if you don't win, you can still get one, or five!) you can be the first to wear it proudly.  Be sure to register to win.

A new voting update will be posted on Sunday, so vote today to make yourself heard.  Game Over.

One thing about the New York press is its like a bulldog - once it locks its jaws on a story, it isn't letting go until its satisfied.  And the story they are keen on is Isiah and the Knicks.  Yeah, they stunk the house out last night, losing to the Warriors 108-82.  What's worse it the boos that are now following Isiah.  When can we get back to the business of winning?  We were sold on the idea that Zach Randolph was going to be the missing piece to finally have us play in late April and early May.  Is MSG just waiting until it gets so bad that it has no choice to let isiah go?  Or do they really feel he is the best man to do the job?  Whatever, just make a decision.  Game Over.