Schwartz: The Basketball Tournament Allows Hoop Dreams To Come True

By Peter Schwartz
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Every kid who grows up playing sports has that same dream.

Youngsters envision making the game-winning shot to win the NBA title, hitting a home run to win the World Series, firing in the Stanley Cup-winning goal or scoring the game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl. For many, those dreams can also come true in college, high school or even little league.

Just being on a championship team is a goal for every athlete, but sometimes that dream ends unfulfilled or without even a chance of competing at the highest level of a sport.

From a basketball standpoint, there's new hope for the professional athlete who came up short of a title, the college player who never cut down the nets or just the everyday pickup players who always thought they had what it took.

The Basketball Tournament is a 64-team event that has taken place over the last three weeks with squads from all over the country. The nationally televised final four of the $2 million winner-take-all tournament takes place Friday at Fordham's Rose Hill Gym, with the championship game set for Tuesday. The semifinals will be held Saturday.

"For having launched a little over two years ago, I'm certainly happy with how far we've progressed and how much we've been able to grow the fan base," said tournament CEO Jonathan Mugar, who launched the event in 2014.

The tournament is a chance for fans and athletes to live out their hoop dreams and go after that coveted championship. Over the first two years of the event, there were over 400 team entries and more than 100,000 participating fan entries from around the country. The players on the teams range from professional players and recent college stars to average Joes who play in recreation leagues, gyms and playgrounds.

Now in its third season, the tournament is designed to be the most open and accessible professional sporting event in the world, with the participants being athletes who love basketball, individuals who can connect to people and drum up fan support and those who don't feel a sense of entitlement.

"Diversity among participants is a byproduct of that model," said Mugar.

The end result is a tournament filled with players of various skill levels, from people who never played to former NBA players.

Former Knick Michael Sweetney plays for No. 1 seed and Northeast regional champion City of Gods. No. 2 seed and defending champion Overseas Elite is the South champion, and their roster includes former St. John's player D.J. Kennedy. The Midwest champion is No. 9 seed Always a Brave, a team comprised mostly of the 2006 Bradley University team that went to the Sweet 16. Rounding out the final four is No. 5 seed and West champ Team Colorado -- all 11 of their players are University of Colorado alumni.

The mastermind of the tournament is excited for the final four.

"I'm as excited as a player would be or as excited as someone who has bet their life on the outcome of a sporting event," said Mugar. "Any of the four teams remaining would make a great champion."

Mugar is hoping to take this tournament to other sports, as well as to other countries, and looks to the year 2035 as a target date for the concept's explosion.

"TBT 2035 is massive and exciting, and I can't wait to get there," said Mugar, who believes that the tournament will eventually change the way that people consume professional sports.

"What we want to bring to professional sports is an ability for a fan to be watching an event the magnitude of the NBA Finals or Super Bowl one year and actually jump into the event the next," said Mugar. "It's a true, real, honest competition that strips away talent evaluation and replaces it with evaluation of one's ability to work hard, organize people and commit to something."

When it comes to sports at the highest levels, only the best of the best have ever had the chance to compete. For most jocks throughout the country, the dream of athletic success and glory is generally saved for the playgrounds or gyms. But The Basketball Tournament is hoping to change that perception as it evolves and increases in popularity.

It's a tournament that likes to be known as the world's first truly open sporting event, as anyone can play and anyone can win. The ultimate winners get the glory -- and $2 million.

Don't forget to follow Peter on Twitter @pschwartzcbsfan. You can also follow The Basketball Tournament @thetournament.