Mike Madness and all its basketball glory is back July 21

Lace up the kicks. It’s time to get ready for the 2^nd Annual Mike Madness 3-on-3 basketball tournament.

Register early, like now, because this event — set for July 21 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Recreation Center — is hot.

Here’s where to go: https://mikemadness.org/.

Last year we raised more than $13,000 for the Lewy Body Dementia Association to help support research and awareness of this often misdiagnosed disease. Behind Alzheimer’s, it is the second leading form of dementia, affecting 1.3 million people nationwide.

I have the disease. So, I have a personal interest in any research that will help. This year we hope to raise more money and we will again be giving to LBDA but also are going to support UAB research of Lewy body dementia.

(Not related: But the UAB team, also, happened to win last year’s tourney with a roster of Division 1 talent. This year we’ll have two divisions– see rules.)

The average lifespan after Lewy body diagnosis is roughly 4 to 7 years. I’m 58 and was diagnosed a little less than two years ago. I’m not going to lie, the disease has noticeably affected my game. My stamina has lessened. My right arm has weakened, affecting arguably the best part of my game -3-point shooting. I’m using my left hand more because it is less affected.

But I still have my ‘elbow’ pass, which sometimes actually finds its target.

Why me? And why basketball?

I’ve been playing pick-up basketball in my 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s. In fact, I was probably playing the best basketball of my life in my 40s when I lived and worked in the San Francisco Bay Area. I played full court 3 to 4 times a week. In Oakland I even played in some games with Warriors players (this was pre-Curry and NBA championships). But I played a few games with Chris Gatlin, a retired Warrior. And I had some fun playing with Adonal Foyle, 6′ 10″ center who in pick-up games fired away from the 3-point line – something Coach Chris Mullin would never allow him to do in a real game.

So, this disease, as I wrote last year, is pissing me off: It’s messing up my brain and it’s messing up my game.

But here’s what I’m doing to fight it:

For one, I started a blog at www.myvinylcountdown.com, counting down and telling stories about my 678 vinyl records I collected in the 1970s and 1980s. I’ve done more than 170 records with about 500 to go. Again, it’s about raising awareness of Lewy body dementia, and I have vowed to finish them all, so LBD get outta my way.

And second, the reason for this column: I’m asking you to play in Mike Madness, get someone else to play, contribute through the website, or all of the above. Not just for me, but for the 1.3 million Americans who are losing their games for the same reason I am

No trash talking (unless you are good at it.)

For more of my informal and totally nonbinding rules see this post.

For the real rules go to the website.

tact and passed a lot so I could live to play another day.

Reach Mike Oliver at moliver@al.com