St. Rays Alum Charles Henson (Iona College, Puerto Rican Pro League) with the reverse. Michelle Bruce photo.
The Ravens flexed their muscle and strong armed a victory at the 2nd Annual Rice vs. St. Raymond’s Alumni Game on Saturday night in the Bronx. Students and graduates of the b-ball powerhouse can add this win to their long list of bragging rites.I say that because I know a little bit about what beating Rice in a game means to Raven players and fans. The longstanding rivalry between “Rice and Rays” makes every meeting on the court between the two schools very competitive.
There were some very familiar faces featured on both teams. Rice suited up Kenny Satterfield, Andre Barrett, Corey “Homicide” Williams, and Jerry McCullough to name a few. St. Rays had Darnell Miller, Charles Henson, and Eric Harris. I was excited to see all these guys on the same court. Many of them have been killing in NYC’s various pro leagues all summer, but brought their games back to the Tremont Ave. gym for old times.
This matchup was filled with non-stop action. The Raiders (Rice H.S. mascot) brought their lineup of defense destroying guards who x-crossed, spun, and sliced to the basket any time they wanted. Still, their offensive prowess proved no match for the Ravens exceptional teamwork and above the rim antics. (Note: Henson pulled off a reverse dunk in the final seconds that made the crowd go bananas!)
The score is now even in this reunion series, 1-1. Can’t wait to see how round 3 will turn out.
St. Rays Alumni Squad 2007
August 13th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
bobbito garcia says:
here’s some more info on the game:
Top Scorers:
Darnell Miller (St. Rays) 27 pts
Anthony Glover (Rice) 26 pts
Andre Barrett (Rice) 24 pts
Final score: 87 to 84 favor St. Rays
Did the Ravens logo always have adidas on its feet?
August 14th, 2007 at 12:24 am
Jesse Washington says:
That picture is crazy!!!!
August 14th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Jeremy Ripley says:
That picture is wild….
As for the adidas sneakers on the mascot–well, that’s something I’m not really thrilled about in high school hoops today. It just seems that playing ball for just loving ball has been replaced with the typical sendentary materialist ideology that’s commonplace within other areas of our lives. Everything is an advertisement, everyone is sponsored, eleven year olds billed as the next star are peregrinating halfway across the U.S. to play in big time tournaments. Maybe I’m just irked because I’ve never been billed as the next NBA star, or have never been on an elite AAU squad, but when I hear that high school ballplayers are switching schools just for more exposure on television, or a different brand on sneaker, I don’t know what to think. It it just me, or is cultivating this “baller-icon” lifestyle at such a young age unhealthy?
August 14th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
Jeremy Ripley says:
On a lighter note, I remember Kenny Satterfield at Cincy and Andre Barrett at Seton Hall…I really wish Kenny would’ve stuck around with the Nuggets!
Peace!
August 14th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
BallGurl says:
Kool Bob,
While I was in St. Raymond Elementary, and all through high school, the mascot rocked 3 stripes because of the school’s affiliation with Adidas. However, once Sonny Vaccaro switched to Reebok, so did Rays, and the Raven image changed completely.
August 14th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
Feets Malone says:
“peregrinating” I had to look that one up! But fear not, I have added it to my lexicon along with pernickety, inundate, and proprioception! You learn something new everyday and never know where it will come from. Thanks!
BallGurl – I understand it’s been a minute since you were trudging the hallways at St. Ray’s Elem but St. Ray’s HS has been in Swoosh for a little while now. But I too remember when DeCeasar had his teams in home and away kicks! but the unis were always ridiculous. I was grateful in camp when 7″ D. Bonaparte wanted to trade me his whole practice uni for a pair of old Olaf shorts!!!
Those were the days! But let’s not forget, J Rip, the world thrives on big business and unless you’re entering the playing field early you aren’t competing. It doesn’t take much for a kid with no immediate signs of a difference to be enticed by what could possibly be, while being taken care of for his present day tomorrow. A kid with no or limited options will gladly go to a school or play with an AAU team just so that he can live a little more comfortably within his/her own skin for a moment. Let’s face it kids are cruel and if you’re struggling (quite the way most socioeconomic disadvantaged athletes are) a free new pair of kicks aren’t that bad…
August 15th, 2007 at 10:20 am
Jeremy Ripley says:
Woah! Feets, “proprioception”…definitely haven’t heard that one anywhere.
I think I expressed my preception on the High School/Grade School/AAU advertisement situation a bit too harshly. I love watching the great High School teams play and love watching AAU ball. And heck, Feets you’re right, getting a free pair of kicks every now and then isn’t bad. I love the Christ the King Lebron IV’s…
And you’re also right with your statement that everything is “big business.” Whether my seventeen year old credulous mind wants to admit it or not, our culture is completely money driven. I just think it’s unfortunate that our basketball teams and basketball realm predicates so heavily on advertising/money that playing, learning, and loving the game seem to be overlooked at times.
August 15th, 2007 at 10:45 am
BallGurl says:
Feets Malone,
You’re right, it has been a while. But good save man! We have to make sure our readers, and ourselves, are well informed about what’s going on. So, thanks for the correction. Just don’t make it a habit…Haha
Peace and Hair Grease,
BallGurl
August 15th, 2007 at 10:22 pm
Feets Malone says:
Jeremy
I too agree with you especially about how the rears of the dollar sign overshadow all that it takes to showcase skill, but let’s be honest; do you really think SAT scores come up in NBA locker rooms? Of course I’m being facetious with my example but think about the amount of people who make money off of these kids, from AAU coaches to HS & College Coaches to the Agent’s “handlers/runners” on through the Colleges and Universities themselves. It’s definitely an ugly game and morality plays little to no role, but how do you counter it!? Especially amongst a group of individuals that don’t believe in success through academic prowess or whose idea of success is a car that cost 500K and generates a monthly debt one hundred times their household rent/mortgage or income. I would love to blame the powers that be and smack their hands saying “shame on you” but the reality is, is that it’s screwed up from every angle. Top down and bottom up!
At some point these kids have to invest in themselves and ask the question, “What’s the price of my freedom?”
August 15th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
Feets Malone says:
BallGurl
Say no more. My humblest apologies. A thousand pardons. and all that other good stuff but…. I call it like I see it! So don’t start none won’t be none!!! HAHA …I ain’t scared of you! (usually the first thing a person says when they’re scared to death!)
LOL …it’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye!
August 15th, 2007 at 11:08 pm
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
you guys should read (since you all obviously do very often by witness of your vocab) ’sole influence: basketball, corporate greed, adn the corruption of america’s youth’ (warner books). came out a couple of years ago. you’d dig it.
and please chill with the SAT words! half of our site’s readers speak english as a second language! There are a veritable plethora of undiscernable words in the comments above. i can only surmise their description. you continually leave me utterly flummoxed and befuddled.
August 16th, 2007 at 1:16 am
Jeremy Ripley says:
^hahahaha
Bob,nice last paragraph, and I’ll have to check that book. I think I’ve seen it while browsing before, but haven’t given it a look. Thanks.
Feets-In my mind, there is no clearcut solution to remedy our aforementioned basketball quandary. Perhaps in a Thomas More Utopian world where coaches love to see kids make tangible improvements on the court is something possible. Unfortunately, there are so many monetary societal and cultural influences fixated upon dollars that I fear ball will never be ball. On a positive note, many AAU requirements require a certain GPA to play, which is a step in the right direction.
As far as investing in yourself, check out my Matt Geiger, NBA Journeyman:
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/02/27/Sports/Livin__large.shtml
August 16th, 2007 at 1:24 am
Bakar says:
Quite the truth there, old chap. However, it is refreshing to see that your virtuosity with words is as profound as your intimacy with all the subjects that you dabble into – be it sports performance footwear, basketball and music. And to all, an altogether insightful and intellectual discussion on the besmirched state of organized youth amateur basketball. My hats off to you, and toodle-oo for now!
P.S. Hahaha! This is the first time I used Word thesaurus.
August 16th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Feets Malone says:
Bob – I couldn’t stop laughing and couldn’t help pondering how much of a word monger you are. Although I do appreciate your verbosity and am more than appreciative of your recommendation of “sole influence: basketball, corporate greed, and the corruption of america’s youth” and will make a concerted effort locate it for my perusal.
Jeremy – I read the Matt Geiger article and it was very informative. Thank you! But two things struck me as rather interesting, one was the fact Matt says “he always knew there would be life beyond basketball” and two, he spoke of his “true profession.” It’s clear Matt Geiger played the game as a means to an end or a transverse to a greater joy, but I’m afraid, for the misconstrued fan or aspiring athlete the article does little to highlight such and as a result appears to convolute the true essence of the article’s message.
Matt’s Dad is 6′9″ and a developer. The family business is set in real estate and his eldest brother is heavily rooted in it. The likelihood of Matt playing professionally in his own household was 25% and his twin brother was stricken with cancer during Matt’s NBA tenure, ironically as he was “coming into his own.” Granted, the NBA made his current lifestyle affordable it was his supportive background that actually brought his “true” dreams to fruition.
Kids often miss the big picture as they become glossy eyed over the materialistic aspects of success and no matter how informative a well written journalistic piece embellishes the background information of what it takes to get there the pieces overall goal will be to entice readers by laminating the luxuries of what could be.
So, it is concurrent with all those who partake or stake claim in the game because shiny suits sell! If that article was written in its simplest form as a how to guide or corrective measure of success it would not have attracted any attention and the author would honestly probably have never seen it published. It’s a greezy game and it doesn’t appear as if it is going to get any better…
August 16th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
Jeremy Ripley says:
Bakar-Actually, a couple of years ago when I was a sophmore, I took an English class laden with essay writing. I noticed that in nearly all of my essays, I implemented the same words, verbs, and adjectives…it began to be a bit repetitive. So, I established a healthy liason with the thesarus and have never looked back.
Feets-I couldn’t agree more with your statement on kids and materialistic aspects of our world. There was a much better article that focused more on Matt’s preface and initial monetary maneuvers within the parameters of the real estate community, but I couldn’t find it. Sorry.
There were a few solid statements within the article, that should’ve been enhanced. Glitz, money, cars, and fame are all heavily effectuated within our crucible of popular or voguish culture.
There were a few poignant points brought up in the article, which are echoed, enunciated, and even proclaimed by several x-athletes: “You can only play for so long.” Basketball like all other forms of athletic dalliance act as a pertinacious force against the body. Most ballplayers retire at what? 35? 40? You still have (hopefully) three plus decades ahead of you. Secondly, Matt’s comment on Bill Walton limping into the interview coupled with the antecendently mentioned point forms an effective one-two punch on why you should know what you’re doing after ball. Unfortunately, too many people continued to be enamored with their lucrative pasts and present state, but why live in the past? There’s no future in it! (I had to add that in haha)
My thoughts deviate from yours on your last point speaking about a “how-to” article. I don’t necessarily believe that the main subject in this article substantiates with or resonates with the mainstream youth of today. I don’t know how many teens recall the brute force that was Matt Geiger. His effulgent, incandescent scalp aside, I think a more youthful, prominent star would help to purvey the hidden motifs of the article in a more effective manner.
Peace.
August 16th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
Jeremy Ripley says:
*Correction:
There were a few solid statements within the article, that should’ve been enhanced. Glitz, money, cars, and fame are all heavily effectuated within our crucible of popular or voguish culture.
(I meant to add that most readers relate to this, but there were other good points in the article. I accidentally deleted a bit of my post. Sorry!)