Brown Vs. Swan

The gauntlet was thrown down last spring, and it was a raucous but lighthearted basketball challenge between Senator Scott Brown and Springfield's Reverend Talbert Swan at the Dunbar Y Community Center in Springfield.

It was a charity event for the benefit of  the Path to Manhood program, and the recently destroyed South End Community Center. Both teams were aided by a bevy of local politicos.

Both teams came out swinging and came here to win. The game was fast paced and as typical a little bit physical, but the mood always remained in the spirit of good fun and charity.

Brown defends against Swan.

Brown takes a shot.

Brown is knocked down, and helped up by Sarno.

Brown's team discusses strategy.

Swan and Brown race up the court.

Sarno takes a free throw.

Sarno defends against Rivera.

Neal makes a pass.

Williams and Rivera take a break.

Brown cools off.

A moment of levity between play.

Suddenly, late in the game, Swan goes down with an injury.

Brown helped Swan back on his feet.

and Swan is helped off the court.

The game resumes as the final minutes wind down...

...culminating in a literal last second basket- putting Swan's team one point ahead for an exciting win.

The crowd, of course, went wild.

It was a great game for the players to play, the spectators to watch, and the charities to benefit. A three point shot.