Many believe that Georgetown’s basketball season ended three weeks ago with its first-round National Invitational Tournament loss to Baylor University. In reality, it ended last Wednesday night in Gonzaga College High School’s gymnasium in downtown D.C.
There, a team of Georgetown Law Center professors and staff (the “Hoya Lawyas”) faced off against a squad of congressmen, senators and congressional staffers (the “Hill’s Angels”).
Two hours before the game, Professor Michael Frisch sat with his hands behind his head, watching his team warm up. By day, he is an adjunct law professor at Georgetown Law Center. But last Wednesday night, Frisch donned a basketball jersey and served for the first time as coach of the Hoya Lawyas. His team consisted of eight Georgetown Law professors, two deans, a third-year law student and six other law school staffers. The average age of his starting lineup, joked one player before the game, was 57 years old.
“Do you guys have an ambulance lined up?” a fan asked Frisch, referring to his squad’s age and its noticeable prevalence of knee braces.
“Yeah,” Fisch responded seriously, “but Congress gets priority.”
The event, called Home Court, began in 1988 when Georgetown Law students decided to host a basketball game pitting congressmen against Georgetown Law faculty to raise money for the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless.
This organization aims to protect the rights of the homeless by offering “direct representation, class action litigation, policy and budget advocacy, and community outreach and organizing.” Its 200 volunteer lawyers and paralegals work to combat the prevalence of homeless in the District.
The Home Court fundraiser has a storied and star-studded legacy. Senior Assistant Dean Everett Bellamy – who has attended the event since the beginning – spoke of the early days. He recalled Bill Bradley giving the ceremonial tip-off and remembered defending Tom McMillen – a Democratic congressman from Maryland, retired NBA professional and, at 6-feet 11-inches, the tallest-ever member of Congress. “He toyed with me the whole game . but I got a block on him,” Bellamy said with a wide smile.
Asked about the nature of the competition, Bellamy told the story of Rep. Martin Russo (D-Ill.) who came “close to fisticuffs” after a rebound didn’t go his way.
Bellamy also pointed out that Congress refused to put women on the court until only a few years ago, whereas the Lawyas had female players on the roster from the start.
The overall spirit of the competition, said Bellamy, is friendly and reflects the worthiness of the cause.
When it came to preparing his team, Professor Frisch was anything but competitive. He organized two practices. Three people showed up to the first.
“Julie came because I talked her into it,” he said.
The second practice had a more impressive turnout of 10, allowing for a five-on-five game the night before the event.
But on Wednesday night, the Hoya Lawyas turned out in force.
Donald Burris carried the honor of being the oldest member of the Lawyas, at 66 years old. Burris graduated at the top of his class from Georgetown University Law Center in 1969. He specializes in litigating Holocaust stolen-art cases.
The rookie for the Lawyas was Patrick Walling, a third-year law student who won his position in a silent auction benefit. His basketball experience dates back to middle school.
Coach Frisch listed Professor David Vladeck as a player to watch. Vladeck said he played a year of college basketball at New York University but added a disclaimer: “That was 40 years ago.” Professor Vladeck teaches federal courts, civil procedure and government and has a strong jump shot.
Another weapon for the Lawyas was Tom Karr, a tall and imposing center. Asked for his strong suit, Karr answered, “Rebounding and fouling.”
On the other side of the court, the Hill’s Angels began filtering in, fresh out of the House and Senate chambers, where they had been reviewing important legislation.
The first to arrive was Rep. Jose Baca (D-Calif.). Baca was appearing for his eighth straight appearance at the event. The small but scrappy representative plays with a group of fellow representatives in a pick-up game at 6:30 a.m. every morning in the House of Representatives’ Rayburn Office gym. He’s asked President Obama to join them, but the president has yet to accept the invitation. Baca praised Home Court’s “fun atmosphere” and “good cause.”
“There are no losers,” said Baca. But he also added that, since 2000, the Hill’s Angels have more wins. Who can fault a congressman for keeping score?
Also on the Angels’ roster was Rep. Mike Arcuri (D-N.Y.). Stretching before the game, Arcuri spoke about not wanting to embarrass himself. A teammate walked by and joked that he hoped to see Arcuri after his second term expires. Because representatives face re-election every two years, their positions on the team are never a guarantee.
In an unprecedented show of bicameralism, two senators attended the event for the first time ever – Sen. Robert Casey Jr. (D-Pa.) and Sen. John Thune (D-N.D.).
Thune played college basketball at Biola University in California, but called himself “out of practice.” Still, he attracted a sizeable cheering section. As the tall and muscular senator warmed up, girls in the hallway outside the gymnasium could be heard talking about Thune’s “guns.” Another female fan claimed a front-row seat and excitedly lifted a sign reading “Thunder Thune.”
Also on the roster for the Angels was Mervyn Jones, son of Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio), who passed away last year. Tubbs Jones coached the Hill’s Angels and chaired the event the last three years. In a letter to the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, Hillary Clinton wrote, “Tonight, as you gather to raise awareness and resources for protecting the rights of the homeless and changing lives, I know Stephanie is smiling down on us, with that famous smile, a smile that would warm your heart and light up the room. Let’s make her proud!” Before the game, event organizers retired Jones’ jersey. Mervyn spoke about his mother’s love for the event and commitment to the cause.
After this dedication, the lineups were announced. Though the Hill’s Angels’ roster was read in its entirety, only the starting five Hoya Lawyas were announced, provoking mock resentment from the Georgetown players and fans.
Jones – a tall and weighty center – won the tip-off with ease over Vladeck, and the Angels ran off to an early 4-0 lead.
Among the notable moments was a foul against Casey in the first half. Casey drove to the basket and the referees whistled a questionable foul against Associate Professor David Wolitz. The call evoked faux anger from the crowd and prompted one man to hoist a sign that read “Refs should not defer to the legislature.”
The Lawyas trailed heavily at the half but rallied to tie the game at 39 with 2:18 remaining in the second half.
With just under 40 seconds to play, the scoreboard read 39-43 in favor of the Angels.
Rebound and foul specialist Karr hovered at the three-point line, his jersey drenched in sweat. A broken play put the ball in his hands and without hesitation, he launched a three-pointer. 42-43. The Lawyas had a window, and the crowd was on its feet.
Then, Mervyn Jones raised the bar on the Lawyas. He played inspired basketball – powering in two vital layups and earning the “and one.” With his mother’s jersey on the sideline, his performance served as a touching tribute to the event she so loved.
The final score read 48-42 in favor of the Angels, but it was all smiles in the gymnasium. Fans mingled with the players and congressmen did their best to sound articulate through their heavy breathing. The event raised $335,000, providing invaluable funds for the men and women taking shelter from the rain that night under alcoves and plastic tarps.
Asked for a postgame comment, Coach Frisch didn’t hesitate: “We’ll get ’em next year.” And so, yet again, we must wait and hope for victory next season. But there’s a bright side: If our Hoya Lawyas can’t beat the Hill’s Angels on the court, they can always vote them off the court.
Andrew Dubbins is a sophomore in the College. He can be reached at dubbinsthehoya.com. Breaking News appears every other Tuesday.
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