"Union Dudes" Post First Loss In Hoops Tourney

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

“Who’s that dude? He’s a Union Dude” said the announcer at the George Goldman Shooters League Tournament Thursday. The purple and orange jerseys of SEIU’s Union Dudes basketball team vied with the black, white and red of the Madness team in the second round of the Shooters League Tournament at the Barry Farms Recreation Center. On Thursday, July 6, over 500 community members, food vendors, and fans gathered in the half court of the Recreation Center to cheer on the summer community tournament that draws dozens of amateur, professional, and NBA players. The setting sun peeked through early-evening clouds as the Union Dudes dribbled and dunked to the beat of tournament DJ Storman Norman’s Jams. Despite a three-point half-time lead, at the final buzzer the Union Dudes fell fifteen points short to the Madness challenge. Although Union Dude Moock Johnson was disappointed by the loss, Johnson declared that the Dudes would “make the union proud” in the next round, scheduled for next week.

- Report and photo by Sara Wallace-Keeshen