Here are some facts about porridge:
-Before the invention of Gatorade, porridge was served on sidelines to replenish players. Since porridge is electrolyte free, sugar was added for a quick energy boost. In the 80s, cocaine was used.
-Some players still prefer porridge (or its easier to drink form, gruel) to Gatorade or other “sports drinks.” These players include: Francisco Garcia, Eric Gordon, Jason Kapono, and Devean George amongst many others.
-In 1971, Phil Jackson opened a porridge shop in Manhattan called Phil’s Phorridge. Health code violations forced its closure in 1975.
-Strength and conditioning coaches across the league swear by porridge as a post-weight training supplement. Its high fiber content allows for maximum absorption of nutrients that are necessary to muscle building.
-While the most common form of porridge across the NBA is standard oat porridge, Phoenix Suns trainers use frumenty, a Canary Island rough grain flour. It is widely believed that frumenty has aided the late stage rejuvenations of Steve Nash, Grant Hill, and Shaquille O’Neal.
-Prior to the start of every season, the San Antonio Spurs hold a porridge making competition called the Spurs Spurtle Challenge. Though it is a team-building excersice, the highly coveted Silver Spurtle is awarded to each year’s winner. Fabricio Oberto has won the Spurtle all four years that he has been a Spur.
-The Detroit Pistons pregame “dance” is widely celebrated by fans around the NBA. What many do not know is that the Pistons are reciting the nursery rhyme “Pease Porridge Hot.” This ritual has been handed down throughout generations of Pistons, starting with Dick Vitale in the 1978-79 season as a tribute to the local grain workers.
-During his stint with the Memphis Grizzlies, former coach Hubie Brown was known to feed each of his players a spoonful of porridge from a communal bowl during a pregame locker room ceremony. Point guard Earl Watson was a vocal adversary of the communal porridge which lead to his dismissal from the team prior to the 2005-06 season. Because of the stress this situation caused, Brown chose to retire, rather than teach young players the benefits of pregame porridge.
