"Circuit Training" Theme for CML Combine Rejected

The CML Combine is underway! However, the format for the combine could have been very different. While the league commissioners were determining the tests that they would use to measure the players' basketball skills and athletic ability, they considered a "circuit training" theme, based on the popular gym class activity that Coudersport high school students enthusiastically participate in for approximately six months each year. The combine would have incorporated the same events as circuit training, using five stations: the jumping jacks/push-ups/sit-ups/toe touchers station, the aerobics station, the exercise bike station, the jump rope station, and the jogging station. At first, the commissioners were excited about the proposal, because they thought that the events would give the captains an excellent opportunity to evaluate prospective talent in preparation for the draft. Commissioner Hutch noted that the toe toucher station would be particularly useful, commenting that he "would never draft a player who couldn't complete at least 60 toe touches in a 30 second period, with good technique--no lazy one hand touches count." Commissioner Alex was more interested in the jump rope station, which he claimed would "separate the men from the boys." He went on to complain that, "I see these flashy kids jumping really high and trying to rotate the jump rope twice in one jump, and I wonder why they can't just stick to the fundamentals: one rotation per jump." At the end of the combine, the athletes would have been given a score out of 100, with two points being docked for each instance of lackluster performance, but also for violations of the dress code, such as corporate logos appearing on t-shirts or shorts.

Unfortunately, budgetary concerns prevented the circuit training combine from becoming a reality. The commissioners did not have enough money to pay actual gym teachers to supervise the combine, and they were unable to find suitable replacements. Commissioner Twaan put it this way: "Frankly, I don't trust myself or the other commissioners to stand around, converse, and occasionally threaten to lower an athlete's score because he doesn't have both hands on his exercise bike. I mean, we might be able to do those things, but just not very well, and, unfortunately, we don't have the money to hire professionals. We tried to contact the old lunch ladies, and even Mrs. Barry from study hall, but none of them were willing to do it at our price. It's sad that financial concerns aren't going to allow us to go through with such a great idea."