The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT July 3, 2010

More than 400 teams were crowned champions at the 21st Hoopfest 3-on-3 basketball tournament last Sunday in downtown Spokane.

For the "Huppin's Hoopsters," that achievement has become normal after a second straight 35-and-over competitive championship last Sunday.

The team is made up of Spokane native Jamie FitzGerald along with Todd Thompson, Kenny Smith and Kent Carter - all of whom have played either professionally or the college level.

Thompson, 47, is a former wide receiver for the University of Southern California. Smith, 50, played baseball at Big Bend Community College, as well as at Eastern Washington University. They started playing together in the first Hoopfest.

FitzGerald, 45, who joined the team two years later, is a former defensive back for the Minnesota Vikings who also played football at Idaho State.

Carter, 47, who joined the team as their fourth player this year, also played football at USC.

"We all met while I was playing in the NFL," said FitzGerald, who works out at Peak Health and Wellness in Coeur d'Alene. "We heard about them doing the first tournament here and started playing together and have all become good buddies."

The team formerly competed in the elite division of Hoopfest, winning five championships in 10 chances at Center Court in Riverfront Park.

THEY ALSO won the competitive championship last year, despite having a player out with a shattered knee.

"Todd shattered his knee last year and left us with three players the entire weekend," FitzGerald said. "We haven't lost on Hoopfest weekend in two years, despite the injuries."

Health has been a concern for the team over the past couple tournaments.

"Between Todd and I, we've had over 13 surgeries," FitzGerald said. "So far as a team, we've had 20 surgeries - basically because we refuse to act our age. This year was a tough year for me."

FitzGerald suffered an injury three weeks prior to Hoopfest, but wasn't going to miss this year for the world.

"Three weeks before this year's tournament I had a torn triceps," FitzGerald said. "I was also suffering from a bruised Achilles, but I figured I only had to tough it out for two days."

He also had a torn left ACL two years ago that thought was going to put his appearance in the tournament in doubt.

"I didn't think we'd make it, but I did a six-month recovery and pushed through the weekend," he said.

Down a player in 2009, Thompson had to play hurt to get the team through the tournament.

"Todd had to play with his knee wired together," FitzGerald said. "We've gotten to the point where we need to keep it going each year."

SOME TEAMS spend all summer playing in tournaments, but the Huppin's team makes Hoopfest its one and only stop.

"A lot of these teams we play travel all summer for tournaments," FitzGerald said. "We make it a once-a-year thing. Todd and I play recreational ball during the year, but as far as our team goes, we only play once a year."

FitzGerald admits that the wide variety of athletic talent has helped throughout the years.

"With none of us being hoopsters by any means," FitzGerald said. "But we can play 3-on-3 basketball."

Over the years, the team has only had a couple of problems in an ultra-competitive division.

"We've only had a few incidents in the years we've played," FitzGerald said. "We had one team that kept fouling and wanted Kenny to retaliate. Eventually Kenny snapped and the next time we played them, we had nine cops around the court watching because they knew it was going to get ugly."

Throughout the injuries and wins, one common goal remains as the reason the team still plays each year.

"They are the greatest group to be around," FitzGerald said. "We just want to have fun once a year."

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via e-mail at [email protected].