The All-Time Starting Five for $15 Game: Colorado Basketball Edition

If you're anything close to a basketball fan, you've undoubtedly seen this photo that has been sweeping the internet over the last few weeks.  The wizards over at BallIsLife.com came up with the perfect bar discussion game when they asked their readers to choose an All-Time NBA starting five from a pool of greats... only with one catch.   Every player is tabbed with a particular value, $1-$5 within each position, and you're slapped with a draconian salary cap of only $15 with which to build your 'team.'

Overnight, the $15 game became an internet sensation, and the talk of the basketball world (outside, of course, that whole 'NBA Finals' thing).

It's simply brilliant.  If given free reign over the pantheon of basketball's greats, anyone could piece together the best starting five by simply taking the best player at every position.  The valuation and salary cap makes everything much more complicated.  Do you sacrifice your shooting backcourt to lock down the paint? What sacrifice will you make to secure the services of the great Michael Jordan?  Is Kareem really worth an extra buck over Bill Russell? The discussion points are endless.

(For the record, my $15 five looks like this: Stockton ($2), Jordan ($5), Pippen ($1), Duncan ($3), Shaq ($2), and a $2 well at the Dark Horse.)

Not content with just debating the merits of the best in NBA history, hardwood aficionados have taken the game and made it their own, applying it to individual teams across the playing spectrum.  Given some prodding from the Mayor himself (and Zach Ruebesam!), I figure it's CU's turn, and have agonized over the history of our beloved program to set up the playing field.  See below, pick your five, and hit me up in the comments or on Twitter (@Rumblinbuffalo) with your All-Time CU Starting Five for $15.

(Disclaimer: No current players included in the main game)

PG –

Chauncey Billups - $5
Jay Humphries - $4
Spencer Dinwiddie - $3
Stevie Wise - $2
Marcus Hall - $1

SG –

Alec Burks - $5
Richard Roby - $4
Cory Higgins - $3
Donnie Boyce - $2
Michel Morandais - $1

SF –

Ken Charlton - $5
Scott Wedman - $4
Andre Roberson - $3
Chris Copeland - $2
Blair Wilson - $1

PF –

Cliff Meely - $5
Shaun Vandiver - $4
Bob Jeangerard - $3
Stephane Pelle - $2
Bob Doll - $1

C –

'Burdie' Haldorson - $5
David Harrison - $4
Jim Davis - $3
Chuck Gardner - $2
Scott Wilke - $1

(My 5?  Mayor, Boyce, Cope, Meely, Davis.  Scoring for days.) 

- Now that you've picked your five, add some spice with a free walk-on, or add $3 and select a coach -

Walk-On - 

$0 - Beau Gamble
$0 - Billy Boidock
$0 - Preston Slaughter
$0 - 'THE' Brett Brady
$0 - Trent Beckley

Coach -

$5 - 'Sox' Walseth
$4 - Tad Boyle (Praise be his name)
$3 - 'Frosty' Cox
$2 - H.B. Lee
$1 - Ricardo Patton

Quick-Post: A (mostly) tongue-in-cheek proposal

We are all familiar with the Rock Mountain Showdown's continuing attendance issues.  With both CU and CSU putting forth, frankly, pathetic efforts on the gridiron, the prospect of seeing bad football in an out-of-the-way and expensive locale isn't moving the needle like the schools had hoped when they signed the 10-year deal in 2009.  The inflated attendance statistics can't cover up the fact that no one cares anymore.  The game has become a symbol of the withering soul of non-professional football in this state, and has long since entered 'embarrassment' territory.

So, why not replace this sham of a marquee game with an event that not only shows off the best this state has to offer, but one that people would be happy to plunk down money for?  An event that the entire State of Colorado can be proud of. 

Why not replace the football disaster with the Rocky Mountain Hardwood Showdown?

Just think of it.  Boyle vs Eustachy, two rising regional programs that are testaments to their institutions, on a grand stage.  You could still host at Invesco, with the court set up at midfield.  You could even have DU vs Air Force as a local primer before the Buffs and Rams tip-off.  It'd be like Colorado's version of those aircraft carrier games made popular over the last few years.

What's more, I'll bet you that the actual butts-in-seats attendance for my Hardwood Showdown would kick the crap out of what it will actually be come Sept 1st for the football game.

Unfortunately, we're still stuck with that ugly boil of a football matchup. *sigh*

Quick-Post: I am at a loss for words

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Seems like a convenient time to remind everybody about BuffsMadness: Friday night, 8:30pm at the CEC.