The First Game
In the mid 70s, the President of the United States had an idea for a sport. It was called Hybrid Hoops. It had basketball positions, with a basketball hoop on each side, but you played with tennis rackets and tennis balls, and you were on a giant trampoline. There were two defenders on each team, too. There was a clock and a shot clock, just like basketball. 

The president assembled two teams of the best college basketball and tennis players to play an exhibition game at the White House.

*D=Defender
TEAM ONE:
Harrison Vickers, PG
Lydia Hayden, SG
Grant Prine, SF
Ricky Johnson, PF
Ethan Nash, C
Diana Lillard, D
Tina James, D

TEAM TWO:
Rebecca Johnston, PG
Peggy Payton, SG
Michael Barnes, SF
Tim Sargent, PF
Chris McAfee, C
Vanessa Jones, D
Steve McRoberts, D

Team Two ended up winning, 61-57. The president worked with many investors to form a league around it. Finally, in 1978, the MLHH was born.

Teams and Players
There were 8 teams when the league started in 1978. 

EASTERN:                                                                WESTERN:
New York Avengers                                                  Los Angeles Flames
Chicago Rampage                                                    San Francisco Bulldogs
DC Americans                                                          Denver Ducks
Philadelphia Predators                                             Phoenix Desert Kings


While most of the players from the first game decided not to play in the league, a few did. Harrison Vickers was drafted to the Americans, while Ricky Johnson went to the Flames. Peggy Payton would play for the Bulldogs, and Chris McAfee would end up in Philadelphia with the Predators.

"We'll bring the Americans a couple championships," said Harrison Vickers.

The First Season (1978)
In the first season, there were 24 games. The playoffs weren't really big. Only 4 teams made it in. They were the Chicago Rampage, the DC Americans, the San Francisco Bulldogs, and the Phoenix Desert Kings. 

The first matchup was a blowout, with the Americans demolishing the Bulldogs, 53-38. Harrison Vickers dropped 24, 5, and 6. 

The next matchup to go to the finals was the Chicago Rampage taking on the Phoenix Desert Kings. Despite the Rampage putting on a good fight, the Desert Kings defeated them, 55-51. 

The finals were set. It was the Americans, who went 19-5, versus the Desert Kings, who were 17-7, and had a killer name. 

In the first quarter, the Desert Kings were up, 16-14. Coming into halftime, the game was tied, 34-34. The radio announcers were hyping it up, before the signal cut out. The station went off air. This led to many people flooding into the stadium. In the third quarter, the Desert Kings were up yet again, 50-48. Coming into the final minute of the game, the Americans were down by 1. It was 64-63. A player for the Americans blocked and stole the ball from the Desert Kings player, and passed it to George Vickers, who passed it to his brother, Harrison. Harrison watched the clock wind down. 20...19...18...

Harrison tried to pass, but it was blocked by a Desert Kings player. He passed the ball to his teammate before it was stolen again! Harrison was passed the ball, and he thought it was too late. 7...6...5...

Mindlessly, he chucked the ball from full court with his eyes closed. He heard the shot clock buzz, and then the crowd erupted.

"BANG!" the announcer for the stadium yelled. He felt the huddle of people crowding around him, trying to pick him up. He couldn't help but grin. The Americans had won, 66-64. 

DC Americans
San Francisco Bulldogs  ----------
                                                |               DC Americans   ----------   
                                                | -------------                                   | ------------------ DC Americans
Chicago Rampage                   |             Phoenix Desert Kings 
Phoenix Desert Kings --------------


Harrison Vickers won the 1978 MLHH MVP Award. He averaged 23.0 ppg, 7.5 reb, and 6.2 ast. 

A janitor from the stadium was working overnight. He overheard the president talking with an investor in a office. The president said, "We need more teams. This season was too short, and we need to be competing with the NBA as soon as possible..."
 

Last edited by DonutsABC123 (5/30/2023 3:59 pm)