Jim Sweeney by Daniel J.
By 
The common lesson you can learn from having a conversation with Jim Sweeney, a senior basketball player for the USA team, is to never give up.
I was given the opportunity to interview Sweeney about his career in basketball and as a blogger and podcaster. His USA team won the world championship in 2009 with only 6 out of 9 players because of two being sick and another caring for his wife. Sweeney’s high school team and Lawrenceville won three championships in a row! He says the reason he goes on the court every day is “For the competition, the desire to excel and to make new friends, even on the opponent’s team.”
The moment he knew he really wanted to play basketball was when his coach doubted him because he was “built like a football player” but that just motivated Sweeney to do better.
Continuing on his love for sports, Sweeney created Mike Raffone, a fictional sports commentator and yes, a microphone. He also does podcasts and writes, however, Mike is the most popular. Sweeney has a website where his character Mike comments on sports, called theemike.com.
Although basketball and writing are not the same, he has worked hard on them and has excelled at them both, because as he says, “If you’re passionate about something you can pursue it!”
Here is Sweeney’
s list of awards and accomplishments:
2015 FIMBA World League Champion (age 50+), 2014 FIMBA European Championships 3rd place (55+), 2013 World Senior Olympics (Basketball) 1st Place (age 50+), 2013 FIMBA World Masters Basketball 4th Place (age 50+), 2011 FIMBA World Masters Basketball 3rd Place (age 50+), 2009 FIMBA World Masters Basketball 1st Place (age 50+), 2015 USA Masters Basketball Runner-up (age 55+), 2015 Buffalo Masters Basketball Champion (age 55+), 2014 Jax Masters Basketball Champion (50+), 2014 Jax Masters Basketball Champion (age 55+), 2014 USA Masters Basketball Champion (age 50+), 2013 Jax Masters Basketball Champion (age 55+), 2011 USA Masters Basketball Champion (age 50+), 2008 USA Masters Basketball Champion (age 45+), 2007 USA Masters Basketball Champion (age 45+), 2005 USA Masters Basketball Champion (age 45+), 2004 USA Masters Basketball Champion (age 45+), 1980 Naismith Award (top NCAA Player under 6′), 1980 1st Team NCAA Basketball Academic All American. 1980 Rhodes Scholar Nominee.
Fantastic article. This is a wonderful article, and they are a wonderful family.
Interesting story, especially for those of us who enjoy basketball. And yes to all the above comments. Keep up the good writing, Daniel.
What a great article! I can see Daniel writing for Sports Illustrated some day
Beautifully written, Daniel. You’ve got talent.
Daniel J., I just read your lively article on my husband Jim Sweeney. What a wonderful job you did in capturing Jim’s life long love of basketball and his passion for developing his sports entertainment character into a business and voice for the culture. I wish you great success as a writer and look forward to reading your future articles.