Sports 4 Dorks

I just got off a bus after an eleven-hour ride. We don’t bus often, but I’ve still figured out a very good system for getting a solid amount of rest. I bring four cushions from my teammate’s couch, two of my own pillows, my comforter, and my travel bag onto the bus. I then put the bag in the aisle so that there is no gap between the 2 rows of chairs. I then lay out the couch cushions over the seats and my bag, creating an 8-foot-long bed. Boom. I throw on my noise-canceling headphones and call it a day.

No matter how well you prepare, you never feel that great stepping off of a bus ride from Bismarck, North Dakota to Des Moines, Iowa. I relied on a lot of adrenaline to get myself going down in Hawkeye nation. It helped that we played in front of our largest crowd all year. Usually when we go to Iowa there are a fair amount of hecklers all throughout the crowd. Those guys made it a point to give me a hard time early this season. That always gets me going.

This trip was a little different though. As I took the floor for Saturday’s game, there was a different vibe. One of my hecklers yelled out, "Hey, Benson, what’s up?" I turned and gave him a thumbs up. He laughed. Another guy offered to buy me a shot if we won. There was a woman a few rows up from the home bench with a "Boom Tho" shirt on. Nice, I thought as I lined up for the jump ball, "The Movement" is spreading!

Later, as I walked to the bench after picking up my third first half foul and ensuring my spot on the bench until the third quarter, I heard a guy behind our bench yelling out the standard, "Wizards suck!" I was a little frustrated, so I wasn’t about to look over there at this guy and give him a reason to engage me. The guy then starts yelling my name over and over again. I finally look over and it’s an Iowa fan with purple and orange face-paint wearing an orange wig. Just when I started thinking that it was gonna be a long day having to hear that guy, he points at his shirt. I squint to get a better look. The shirt reads:

"Go Benson. The rest of the team sucks."

Even the most selfless, team oriented players would have to laugh at that shirt. I don’t claim to be either so I was rolling.

I had two goals this season: to make the NBA or to make a ton of money overseas. I didn’t exactly plan on turning hecklers into fans. I didn’t exactly plan on being a Dakota Wizard all season. I didn’t plan on breaking the single season league rebounding record by 100 rebounds. I didn’t plan on spending my April 4th weekend on a bus.

As they say, "The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men Gang aft agley." I can say that there have been some nice consolations for a season that went a different direction. One of those consolations was made official yesterday as I was named to the All D-League Second Team:

"Sioux Falls Skyforce forward Kasib Powell, the 2008 NBA Development League’s Most Valuable Player and 2007 MVP Randy Livingston an Idaho Stampede guard, headline the 2007-08 GATORADE All-NBA Development League First Team. The squad is rounded out by Colorado guard Eddie Gill, Los Angeles forward Sean Banks and Austin’s Ian Mahinmi, an assigned center from the San Antonio Spurs.

Two members of the Dakota Wizards – guard Blake Ahearn, currently with the Miami Heat and center Rod Benson - earned spots on the GATORADE All-NBA Development League Second Team. The duo from Dakota is joined by Austin guard Andre Barrett, Colorado forward Kaniel Dickens and Idaho forward Lance Allred, currently with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The GATORADE All-NBA Development League Third Team consists of Colorado guard Billy Thomas, Utah’s Morris Almond, a guard on assignment from the Utah Jazz, Dakota forward Carlos Powell, former Austin forward Marcus Williams, currently playing with the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles center Jelani McCoy."

Even though I didn’t plan on it, it’s nice to be recognized. Whether by the fans with the All-Star game, or by the coaches with the All D-League teams, there’s nothing like being rewarded for what you actually do. I’ve now won a D-League championship, an All-Star game, and been named one of the top 10 players in the league. There’s nothing left to achieve here. If you’re thinking I might return to the D-League next season, I’ll tell you straight up: I wouldn’t plan on it.

Rod Benson
is a Cal grad who plays for the D-League’s Dakota Wizards. He also
blogs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on Ball Don’t Lie. Read his archive, pay a visit to TooMuchRodBenson.com and always support the Boom Tho movement.