Twas the Night Before Tip-Off

And NBA Moms in their 'kerchiefs, and Players in their cap, are just settling in for one last pre-season nap. When up on the scoreboard there arose such a clatter, they sprang from their beds to see what was the matter. Away to the scorers table, they flew like a flash, tore off their warm-ups, and threw the seasons first pass.

The shot-clock ticked down with a magical glow and gave the lustre of All Star games to players below, when, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a green & gold sleigh and eight bags of NBA gear. With a thundering yell, so lively and fun, they knew in a moment it must be Tommy Gun. 

More rapid than eagles, his Players they came, and he whistled and shouted and called them by name: "Now Marcus! Now Time Lord! Now, Kemba and Payton! On, Tatum! On, Tristan! On, Carsen and Jaylen!

To the top of the standings! With the SLAM of the ball! Now DISH away! DISH away! DISH away all!" As erasers and markers before Heinsohn fly, he draws-up an inbounds play, and shouts, "Shoot from the sky!"

So up to the rim the Players they flew, with the hoop hung with candy canes, and shot blockers too. And then, in a twinkling, they saw on the court the dribbling and passing of reindeer in shorts. As they drew in their heads and were turning around, down the scoreboard #15 came with a bound. He was covered in shamrocks, from his head to his toes, and he screams, "That's Bogus" when the Ref's whistle blows.

A bundle of basketballs he had flung on his back, and he looked like a gym rat just opening his pack. His eyes--how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry! His tongue filled with jabs, his tantrums were scary! His big grinning mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the favor for Boston spilled all over press row. The stump of a microphone he held near to his teeth, and a Hall-of-Fame halo encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a kind face and a cozy round belly, that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly. He was a player and coach, a super-sized elf, and Players laughed when they saw him, in spite of themself. A wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave me to know they had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, and filled all the stadiums, then turned with a jerk. And laying his finger inside of his RINGS, and giving a nod, the ANTHEM he sings.

He sprang to his sleigh, the Ref' blew the whistle, And away they all flew like the launch of a missile. But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight, "Happy Hooping to all, and to all a good night!"