For The Love Of The Game: The MBA National Championship Tournament

For the Love of the Game:  Welcome To the Masters

Welcome to the Masters Basketball Association National Championship Tournament. Now in its 26th year, the locally run and community driven tournament has attracted former NBA players and NCAA stars of the last half century, providing it with a small dose of star power. But in my eyes and those watching around the community, the glue that keeps it together are the doctors, lawyers, teachers, and businessmen who are also fathers, grandfathers, and even great-grandfathers that share a love of basketball that you have to possess to understand. You need to have it in order to know it.

Since these part time ballers are not in their athletic primes any longer, the tournament is equipped with a top notch medical staff, led by board certified orthopedic surgeon and certified sports fanatic, Dr. Manish Gupta of the Specialty Orthopedic Center in Boca Raton.

Dr. Gupta has lifelong ties to the local community so, after 7 years of residency and fellowship at Seton Hall and Johns Hopkins University and working as the Baltimore Ravens team physician, he returned home to where his heart was.

He is a graduate of Coral Springs High School, the University of Florida, and the University of Miami Medical School and, along with his private practice near his home in Delray Beach, he has continuously dedicated his time to coaching and mentoring youth sports, such as the Coral Springs Tackle Football Club and Coral Springs Youth Soccer and to the education and training programs of local high school athletics.

Dr. Gupta participates in the Community Outreach program near his home in Delray Beach and has contributed to the Florida Atlantic University Scholarship Fund. This is his 4th year being involved with the Masters Basketball Association. This clearly isn’t just business for Dr. Gupta: his passion for the sport and desire to help others reach their full potential as athletes and people is the reason that he remains so involved.

He has proven through his dedication to the community that his love of all things sports and superior technical knowledge place him in a perfect position to help those who share that passion with him or require his expertise to get back on the court or field.

I got a chance to talk with Mr. Dave Hulett, Director and COO of the Masters Basketball Association and he said, “It has been absolutely wonderful to have a doctor of his stature involved with our tournament. His service and support is an invaluable asset to us and to the community.”

I also had some time to chat with some of the other players such as Vaughn Lewis of the Miami Old Timers, this year’s tournament champions.

“Knowing that Dr. Gupta is here allows us to leave it all on the floor. He has our back and you can tell that he loves the game of basketball. What he is doing to help us reach our full potential as athletes will stay with me until my last day on the court.”

Carl Colbert of the LC Lasers had a hip replacement in September of last year, so he knows first hand the importance of having an orthopedic surgeon you can count on.

“Seeing the doc on the sidelines eases my mind. I just wish it would ease my aching joints. I got my health insurance card taped to my ankle just in case I can’t call out to him for help.”

Last, but not least, I got the chance to speak with NBA veteran Tim Hardaway and ask what drives him to continue playing on such a high level.

An infectious smile spread across his round face.

“We are here because we all love basketball. Plain and simple, we love this game.”

So right under your nose in Coral Springs lies some of the best basketball that nobody has ever seen. Top tier talent who may be past their prime, but will never get past their passion. Toss in professional caliber officiating and a certified physician who shares their love for the game and you couldn’t ask for anything more.

Dr. Gupta’s local ties and desire to stay involved with the community in which he was raised, further demonstrate why he is the right man for any sports injury treatment, surgery, or information needs that South Florida residents may require. He thinks of it as “His way to change the world” and I could not have put it better myself. His mantra of sportsmanship, leadership and healthy living should be a cornerstone for any young athlete looking to enjoy sports forever.

For more on Dr. Gupta and his practice go to SportsOrthoCenter.com . For information on the MBA go to mastersbasketballassociation.org .