Ron “Silver Streak” Fryson, King Towers Single Game Scoring Record Holder
This past Sunday, The “Circle” in Foster Projects hosted the 2nd Annual “Wounded Knee” Legends Classic. The court was the location for the King Towers Tournament from the ’60s to the early ’80s, and now plays host to the world-famous Kingdome affair. No matter the organizer or opponent, one name stands above all for the single game scoring record. Ron “Silver Streak” Fryson dropped 61 over 25 years ago, and it doesn’t look like anyone will touch it anytime soon. Consider that some teams’ total scores out in the park the last couple of years don’t even dent 50, and then you start to understand why.
Fryson was a standout at Brandeis HS (NYC) and the U. of Hawaii in the mid-’70s. He showed up yesterday looking like he still plays everyday. During warm-ups, he lightly hit 3 jumpers in a row . . . all from 30 feet. i’m not exaggerating. He wasn’t there to play, but just catch up with his old teammates and opponents. I wish I had seen him play in his prime.
There were some very noteworthy playground legends that did suit up however, including Eddie Davis a.k.a. “Sundance Kid,” Gerald “Dancing Doogie” Thomas, and Ron “The Terminator” Matthias. “Sundance” used to average 40 up in King Towers. He still can dance, too! I had to guard him for a while, and he jabbed, studdered, hesitated galore. I could never anticipate when he was gonna shoot. “Doog” was once considered the best 1 on 1 player in West 4th St. history, and was offered a try-out with the Knicks straight off of his park rep. He handle is magical, his banker moneybags in the vault. “Term” once scored over 100 points in an Upward Fund game, and hands down was the greatest scorer Harlem had after Joe Hammond stopped competing.
All three of these dudes were on the same team, so i don’t have to tell you that my squad took an L! But i’m proud to admit that i hit my first four shots, all from three, which had announcer Gumby on the mic screaming my name. That felt real official. Gumbs is the Godfather of creative play by play in the park. Getting his blessing is like being a DJ and having Bambaataa ask you what song you just played! I finished with 15 which led my crew.
Come check the Rucker Pro Legends vs. the Puerto Rico Pro Legends (of which i’m down with) upcoming contest on these dates:
Sunday Aug. 12th, 1pm @ Riverbank St. Park (145th St. and Riverside Dr.)
Sunday Aug. 19th, TBA @ Orchard Beach (Bronx)
Me and “Dancing Doogie”
Me and the herky-jerky specialist “Sundance Kid”
August 7th, 2007 at 6:20 am
Santos Negron says:
Bobbito - You were burning the net at the King Dome during the 2nd Annual Wounded Knee Classic. You made me proud - keep up the excellent work and game
August 7th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Jeremy Ripley says:
Bob,
100 Points! Yooooooooooooo………..Terminator must’ve been niiiiiceee….
I see that the majority of all playground legends seem to implement the bank shot. It never fails though. If you hit the square you got two…no matter what weather/wind/defender is on you. So consistent!
August 7th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
all-time playground backboard shooters would be joe hammond and doogie from what i’ve seen and heard. Clark Elie, Mario’s older brother and a multiple MVP at West 4th St. with Harlem USA, owned a piggy bank from the wings, too. i just don’t see a lot of dudes nowadays shooting from 17 feet and out off the glass. it’s a beautiful artform, though.
August 7th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
Bakar says:
Good to see the seasoned ballers still hitting the blacktop. We need more tournaments like this, mos def. BTW, isn’t Silver Streak the guy who used to play in multicolored Hawaiian shorts?
August 8th, 2007 at 10:33 am
dymond fryson says:
Its nice to see my father Ron “Silver Streak” Fryson still holds the record for 61 points at king towers.
August 8th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
Bakar-
good eye. indeed, ’silver streak’ played at the U. of Hawaii and wore the buggedest shorts i’ve ever seen an NCAA team rock. the flick is in my book “Where’d You Get Those?” (Testify) for those interested in peeping it.
Dymond-
your pops was mad cool to finally meet. do you play ball too?
August 8th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Gina (the wife) says:
Kudos to my man, I remember all that talent. Imagine if those two’s were three’s! Bobito, thanks for the recognition and letting the legend live on.
Love G
August 9th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
dymond fryson says:
I for one did not inherit my father’s basketball skills but I did inherit the silver streak. lol
August 10th, 2007 at 12:41 am
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
shoo, i inherited male pattern baldness from my parents–from both sides!!! i would trade the streak for some of my hair back! haaa
August 12th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
cheryl fryson-sippio says:
That’s my big brother. I am really proud to be his lil sister. I went to every game he played. At least as many as I could get to. Me and my father were right there. Pops would really have loved this scene about the legends. Moms too. Especially my oldest brother, Fred. But they know. And to the 61 pts., no one will ever top that, ever. But u know, Ron was a ball hogger. He felt yo, give me the ball and we will make this shot. A one man show. Imagine if him and Kobe Bryant were on the same team. How would that work out? Think about it.
Lil sis, Cheryl…. Foster Projects
I would love to hear from yall. Holla back.
August 12th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
cheryl fryson-sippio says:
reading this about my brother, I feel like a celebrity.
well he’s always been famous then and still now. everybody knows him. “silver streak, spot and some others”. now the spot is gone and the whole head is grey. these are really beautiful memories.
u go ron.
August 14th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Feets Malone says:
Bob I can’t commend you enough for highlighting the games unsung heroes! Growing up Mr. Fryson always talked about the game and on occasion threatened to show us how to play but it wasn’t until I got older that I started realizing those words were based more on experience and love than visions of grandeur and I was actually lucky enough to benefit from a number of those tips. Props to Mr Fryson, a true legend and lover of the game!
Bob - you got to add Dooge and Anton Brown to that list of legendary backboard specialist. And all though he is still playing Speedy Williams, is definitely on that list because he shoots the hardest shot in basketball religiously as his go to move (when he’s not using the up and under). At full speed, Speedy hits the lane with a spin to the front of the rim, stops on a dime and hits a dead center bank shot with the softness of a baby wipe!!! Perfection!
Damn I love this game!
wwww.AsphaltPhenoms.com
August 15th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
“Softness of a baby wipe!!!” haaa! feets malone, you’re obviously a dad, huh?