The Knewton Blog

This post was written by Josh Anish.

Some offices have a golf culture; others football or even—gasp—tennis. I am proud to say that we Knewtonites recreate primarily via Ultimate Frisbee, kickball, and hoops. Basketball seems to be a particular passion of many folks in the office, which is fine by me. I captained my college basketball team (DIII, but still), and I have many more chances to be alpha on the court than I would, say, on a par 72 course.

We recently decided to take our b-ball skillz to the next level and joined a weekend warrior league. Here’s a scouting report detailing our squad, found in the other team’s locker room after the first game.

Pete Miron. Day job: CTO. Strengths: Shoulders. Weaknesses: His two daughters. Free throws can be an adventure, predilection for Delay of Game warnings. Character guy.

Will Fleiss. Off the court: SEO expert. Strengths: Ball-handling, wing play. Weaknesses: Better able to find tweaks in the Google algorithm than the big man on the break. Under-sized Kevin Durant-type.

Robbie Mitchell. Earns keep as: Marketing Analyst. Strengths: Hair, spunk, defense. Weaknesses: Beard increases risk of heat stroke, dehydration. Spark-plug off the bench, general asset to any endeavor.

Brian Fitzgerald. AKA: Vice President, Product Development. Strengths: Competitiveness. Weaknesses: Short shorts. Baron Davis-like scoring point guard: Jump shooter, lefty, low center of gravity — though facial hair growth is less formidable.

Nathan “Back” Lasche. Business card reads: Product Manager. Strengths: The new guy, stamina, fresh eyes (and legs). Weaknesses: Will take 4-6 weeks just to learn our offense (har). Conclusion: At this stage, in-shape former track star wins over out-of-shape former basketball role player.

Sven Nguyen-Northcott. Until liberated by the start of game: Software Developer. Strengths: personal freedoms, cajones. Weaknesses: onion-based body odour that reminds of Prague. Conclusion: Every team needs a guy that is not afraid to shoot, and, fortunately, some of his shots go in.

Nate Burke. Parents brag that he is a: Software Developer. Strengths: “Length,” esprit de corps. Weaknesses: Meta-guards man too far away from the basket. Another character guy.

Brett Naul. By day: Software Developer. Strengths: Jumper, long arms, hoops experience. Weakness: Mark Cuban apologist. Forms a formidable back court with Fitzgerald.

Josh Anish (me): By the light of day: Senior Editor. Strengths: General skill-set (aka “being 6’7″), intimidation during lay-up lines. Weaknesses: 60 (ok, 50) hours a week at desk and nights up with toddler have taken toll on organism.

I think that pretty accurately sums it up. Don’t kid yourself, we won our first game this week. Maybe next year LeBron will announce that he’s taking his talents to Knewton.

Posted in Featured, Inside Knewton, Knewton | 8 comments