Jude Lamb
Years ago
Funny Ben Hodges Retires!
Ben Hodges has retired!
One of the stalwarts of the ABL has hung up the boots to become the Southern Tigers team manager.
Many of you may not know the legendary tale of Ben's Hodges.
To fully understand 'Hodgey' we must go back to the beginning.
" Ben's dad Rick Hodges represented Australia at the 1978 World Championships in the Phillippines. Ben was born in 1979.
" Rick played till he was 43, holding the record for State League games at around 720!
" Ben has never beaten his dad one on one. His most recent attempt was Saturday afternoon.
" Bens first Senior Mens game was in 1995 at the age of 16. Rick was still playing and it was only the second time a Father/Son had taken the court together at State League level, haven just been beaten by the Bruton family!
" Ben did craft in year 12, achieving an 18/20. Some say we was Adelaide's version of De Vinci, but with wood.
" Rick still dunks better than both Ben and Tim.
" In year 6 Ben weighed 100kgs, he assured me it was 'puppy fat'. My reply was 'wow you must eat a lot of puppies.' We didn't speak again until year 7. He is now trim, tanned and terrific thanks to frequent visits to the solarium.
" Ben first started shooting hoops in 1987 when he was 9 and Rick was playing for the Tassie Devils. He used to rebound for guys like Steve Carfino and Jerry Dennard.
" Ben's nick name is 'girth' or 'coke can' for obvious reasons&
" Ben moved back to Adelaide in 1988 and played his first game for the Tigers (U10 Div 2) and scored 22 points. 21 of those points were cherry picks. This first game set the tone for Bens high shooting % career.
" By second year u18's Ben started to get some official recognition, and made the state team. He promptly tore the tournament apart.
" 35 women had cheated on their boyfriends with Ben.
" In 1995 Ben represented Cabra in the Australian School Championships held in Tasmania, in five games he went 46/52 foul shoots.
" In 1997 Ben began a traineeship at Woolworths Cumberland Park, he was paid $3.50 per hour. A tad generous considering his skill set at the time.
" In 1997 Ben won the 'Keith Miller' award for the best u20 player in the local district competition. (Same age group as guys like Scott Arnold, Keith Krause, Scott Byrt, Simon Kent, Paul Robbinson, Scott Thur, Jared Wilson, Brad Davis, Danny Kosmider, Jason Farman, Pero Vasiljevic and Jude Lamb). He didn't make the state team that year for some reason, many say it was because he scored too often and this upset the SASI hierarchy. The SASI people were convinced that scoring more than your opponent wasn't particularly important, but foot work in defence was&
" Year 12 Cabra College Vs Blackfriers, Ben scored 48 out of 64 including 5 three pointers (I got 15 assists, all long passes to Ben waiting under the ring the other end)
" Ben has been beaten up by younger brother Tim Hodges 345 times. The first at age 9.
" Won ABA championship with the Tigers in 1998.
" Ben has hooked up with at least 5 sets of sisters (that's just the ones I know about).
" However, despite his enormous skill on the basketball court it is my firm opinion Ben should have been a cricketer. Not only due to his prodigious cricketing skill, but his love of pies, cream buns and Woodstock would have been properly nurtured in the cricketing environment. For those of you not aware of Ben's cricketing skill the highlights are listed below. It would be fair to say that as a keeper / batsman only Adam Gilchrest gets even remotely close. In fact I consider Ben to be the ultimate cricketer with Shane Warne's texting and 'lady skills' and Gilchrest's hand eye coordination. Having seen all his innings first hand they were truly the stuff of legend! I think a season of district cricket next summer is in order. Red Backs the season after! A utterly brutal batsman he was quite unbelievable.
o Year 7 Scotch College he made 3 half centuries in a row against St Peters, PAC and CBC.
o Year 10 Cabra College, made 103no 8 sixers, 11 fours (40 balls)
Year 11 Cabra College, made 113no 7 sixers, 14 fours (35 balls) & 73no 6 sixers, 7 fours (40 balls)
o Year 12 Cabra College, made 103 (50 balls)
" And finally even more basketball achievements:
o Held starting five position consistently with the Tigers since 1999.
o Ben was never named defensive player of the year at any level.
o Scored 40 points against Southern Suns in 2001 (but then again who didn't that year).
o Scored 39 points against Norwood in 2003.
o Has the all time record for inducing technical fouls from his direct opponent.
o I've lost count of his 30+ point games!
o More players have been ejected from games for pushing Ben Hodges than any other player in league history.
o Ben's best years were probably 2001, 2002, 2003 with a 20ppg avg at 50%+
o 2001, 2002 Tigers Club MVP.
o Ben pioneered the 'singlet hold O board' a technique where you hold your opponents singlet for a split second as they jump for a rebound. As they are off balance you lay the ball up, they foul you in frustration and you complete a three point play. Next time down the floor your opponent elbows you in ribs in frustration and is subsequently ejected as you fall to the ground holding your head.
o 2004 Voted into ABA All Star Game.
o 2006, 2007 Southern Tigers ABA Coaches Award.
o Ben has 15 career assists (one per season).
o 2007 Ben came about 17th/18th in the Woolacott count.
o Ben has shot at about 50% from the field and 90% from the foul line his whole career.
I think that is most of the major stuff. Well done Ben you have made a fantastic contribution to basketball in South Australia and should be very proud of your achievements in basketball and life. You will be missed by both team mates and opponents alike!
I call on everybody to congratulate Ben on his outstanding career and to share any stories you have. Don't post anonymously use your full name and gives this legend the send off he deserves.
Ben you are a great friend and top bloke, again well done mate. I wish you, Jess and young Benson a prosperous future together.
Cheers,
Jude Lamb
(Mod: Funny stuff.)
