The smartly attired beefy boi wandered his way through the ruins of the burnt-down BBB building in Las Vegas. This was where it all began. A meeting between two great minds had created The Better Basketball Bureau to provide a voice to the voiceless and to ensure that basketball had a place in the hearts and minds of all peoples of this great world. The BBB has become far more than that now. Some of the wrongs had been righted but there were still many injustices in the world. Sometimes drastic measures were needed to achieve the greatest of goals.

As he strolled through the remains of the once great building he was haunted by the memories of the past. Back to a time before mafia basketball and the freedom that it brought. He remembers a time when darkness filled the deepest recesses of his mind. Trouble lurking around every corner, waiting to pray on his vulnerable physical and mental stature. But he was no longer that man. As he kicked his way through the rubble, he closes his eyes. He was back on the stage presenting his report. To his side is HeadCoach, nodding along to his points. @HeadCoache’s eyes filled with passion and joy. The well-attired chap spins on the spot remembering the back slaps, the roaring crowd, and the overflowing donations bucket. He opens his eyes and smiles. He is filled with the same pride he felt that day. Sitting down on the remains of a chair he reminisces on that call from MikeTyson to come to commentate on boxing. He smirks and shakes his head remembering the madness of paid actors, dancing ring boys and the story of a hero living long enough to see himself become a villain.

He stands up and begins pacing again. As he walks reminiscing on the basketball ban, he can’t help but be reminded of the words of W.B. Yeats “All changed, changed utterly. A terrible beauty is born". The basketball ban was the spark that ignited it all. It was the reason BBB existed. It sparked a fire in Detroit that was only now beginning to fade.

So, what not. Kicking a piece of timber, he revealed a little small green seedling. He smiled. New growth and new beginnings. But where, where were these new beginnings to be found. He frustratedly kicked the ground. He didn’t know. He was lost. So that is why he was here. Returning to where it all began in hopes of reconnecting with that passion and love that had slowly faded. He took the Skidmark’s prepared document out of his jacket pocket. He read the title “The Hobbs /DT pact of soggy cardboard”. He skipped through a lot of legal mumbo jumbo. Ah, here we are he thought to himself.

The signatories of this document hereby agree to work together toward the united goal of restoring order to the world’s top 15 orators list.

He perused the signatures. They were all there. All except one. That was the signature that he was here to obtain. This man had been swindled out of lottery wins, beaten to a pulp in a boxing ring and most heinous of all had his oratory skills questioned. All at the hands of the city of Chicago.

He heard a noise behind him. Turning to face the setting sun he struggled to see. Shielding his eyes all he could make out was the outline of a noodle-armed weakling surrounded by an insanely large entourage. He smirked to himself.

“So, the devil has answered my summon, I guess there’s no turning back now”

It was time. It was time to make a deal with the devil himself.

Hobbs arrived fashionably late with his retinue of loyal bodyguards, friends and associates. He had debated attending alone. In fact, he'd debated attending at all. He thought of all the trouble he's had with Detroit since settling down in Las Vegas. All the basketball damage, all the abuse from Grin-22, the boxing fixes, the Bureau investigations and worst of all the repeated Mug City beatdowns. There were the ongoing feuds around Mafia Lottery Syndicate Thyndicates, arson attacks and was now involved in protracted trade negotiations as part of a roster trade. Hobbs was talking 'bout a whole lotta history here, history that could not be swept under the carpet in the same way a clear ring related screwjob could be.

Hobbs was no fool though. He'd seen the writing on the wall for sometime now. Deep down he knew Chicago and the very nice, very evil Illuminatiated were a real threat on the horizon. D0m3n1c was an unchained beast, Alina an evil temptress who had stolen his car dealership and his lottery winnings. Worst of all was 'Ian' himself. What even was an Ian. Why was it here. What did it do? 

Hobbs wasn't sure, but a meeting was still in order. He met BBB at the allotted time and place and noted with sadness his greatest Mafia Basketball supporter FrizzleFry was not here, and the other Jaws was dead.

"For this to happen I need certain conditions to be met."

Hobbs unfurled a great scroll of demands:

"Number one: Detroit will take on the burden of Eduardo Cojones Tyndicate debt, where I am currently owed my share of the most recent victory (Approx 425 credits after tax).

Number two: MikeTyson must stop spreading rumours that I am a twisted pyro loving maniac who burns down Bureau's and Horses. Neither of those things are true or can be proven

Number three: Grin-22 must accept my Organised Crime invitations.

If you can agree these terms and conditions, we can begin the serious business of business like business negotiations where all business is on the business table over a business love. Business style."

Alina was strolling down Main Street when she stopped to listen to BBB  as he strolled through the remains of an old dilapidated building, nothing like the Candy Store Galore, which he tried to destroy of course.  She listened hard but really couldn’t understand what he was going on about. As he took her down memory lane she almost cried.  She didn’t know why HeadCoach was standing by his side nodding along to his points, nor why his eyes were filled with passion and joy.    She loved basketball also but she was really concerned about BBB.

Alina called out to him.

BBB no disrespects my man, but you needs to get a grip with this basketball obsession before you blow a gasket. It’s got you to the point where you are frustrated and kicking the ground. It’s not that serious. I know it’s a little overwhelming; it’s hard for you to concentrate on other things, basketball is on every street corner. But please chill, there’s life after basketball.

Alina has to think back to the topic.

But I have to agree with you.  There are a lot of devils out there. I mean really, if we were back in medieval times a number of you would be sentenced to be walled up alive, it would be called Beelzebub-ball.

Deal with the Devil, Alina turns to Hobbs.

Your head is almost as hard as Johnny-McIver.  For the last time don’t get it twisted. I never purchased any lottery tickets from you or The Lottery Thyndicate.  They were gifts from the Mayor.  If you have a problem with what he owes you give him a call.  Here’s the number 800-get-laid.

Thought we had resolved this shit when you made me your lifetime partner.  You send me on a wild goose chase, with five million dollars, looking to make the drop at an address that didn’t exist.  You didn’t even have the decency to ask me in person, you sent a fucking note.  Then you tell people like MikeTyson it was my bad. You should be tarred and feathered for character assassination.  It was your vision of selling those horrible; beat up; on their last mile, Ford Model Ts. I just gave you the opportunity to use my dealership.  

Alina has always been drawn to the said “bad boy” so she decided to give him yet another break.

Dinner is not going to smooth this shit over.  You might want to consider adding some of those fine pastries from Bianca.

Alina walks off hoping Hobbs, BBB and the other signatories of that document come to some agreement.

Nearly two weeks ago Void been witness to the plans of BBB to make a deal with the devil. The plans sounded ambitious, but also... ominous. It had a dark tone to it in a way.

It was only recently that Void understood why BBB sought to make a deal with the devil. The events of the past few days all made sense now! BBB had started a demonic cult, and judging by the recent sightings of burnt effigees and sacrfices to demon gods initiated Grin-22, its influence in Detroit was growing quick. Who knows what evils would be unleashed upon the world soon, perhaps the lake of fire was to come sooner than expected.

"BBB I know that you have some ambitious plans for that list you mention but I implore you think about it once more. Is devil-worship really the way for Detroit? Don't you think this is dangerous? Is this demon-cult perhaps also why so many buildings have MAGICALLY gone up in flame as of recent?"

Void has also noticed that Hobbs had mistaken himself for the devil himself and immediately gone ahead to state demands. At least this time he wasn't petitioning for Void's head on a spike like Hobbs had done oh so often, so he let it slide. Void sighed and shook his head in contempt.

Since becoming the de facto HeadCoach of Detroit, I've achieved an impressive 100% success rate in both effigy burnings and putting Arthur back in his box. However, I too am concerned about devil-worship. By rights, the only worship which should be undertaken in Detroit are to the gods of Mugging and, at a push, to the memory of HeadCoach although none of actual characteristics or deeds. 

I think I know what has happened here though. BBB has been disband-pending for awhile now and this uncertainty, together with the brain-rattling beatings he has suffered during everyday life in Detroit have addled him. As I seek to undo the tyranny which marred HeadCoach's tenure, I will publicly recommit Detroit to the healthy pursuits of mugging everything in sight, slaying the bodyguards of their DT overlords (and occasionally their allies, Mike) and reveling in the debauchery of the 12th Street Public Toilets. I will also place on record that BBB is no longer disband-pending and is authorised by me a DHC of DT to remain in place. I hope this will bring him the peace and comfort he needs to succeed.