Photo: Bobbito Garcia
As a youngster growing up in Brownsville, playing basketball was a tradition. Your whole family played: uncles, aunts, cousins, brothers, sisters, parents, godparents . . . maybe even grandparents.
This sport kept my neighborhood on one accord at times. I vividly remember groups of kids playing during the summers, winters—better yet no matter the weather. They ran “Utah,” “One-on-One,” “King of the Court,” or “Runnin’ a Full.” “No blood, no foul,” was a phrase one legend cited to me as a youngster.
My neighborhood’s gyms and parks was where you got tough. I think of them fondly: The BRC (Brownsville Recreation Center, home of the Brownsville Jets), 41, Bristol (Shout out to Mr. Danny, and the guy who called my man Danny “Wack Juice”), the old 263, The Cage (S.T.A.Y: Peace in Da Hood; Children of Color; Playing with the Old Heads on Sundays), the weekend games at Howard (James “Fly” Williams Invitational ‘98 when I played 12 and under), the VBA, Sonny Lewis Classic, The “5” (JHS 275 Jackie Robinson Center, PAL “Game Over”), “The Middle” in Brownsville, the long court in Tilden, “the Hole” near Glenmore Houses and last but not least, the court behind Van Dyke Center.
I can reminisce and have conversation all day long about Brownsville basketball. In every tournament, there were no zones allowed. “Fly” used to scream at us, “Man-to man full court!” while “Jocko” only gave three plays, “5, 7, and 9.” The men and women (Mrs. Caldwell at my Junior High School) who taught us the game were more than our coaches. They were there for us at all times if we needed a shoulder to cry on, someone to talk too, or if you did something you did not want your parents to know. They would discipline us for our actions. (Brings a smile thinking about it years later.)
The characteristics of a Brownsville player were not given. You had to inherit them. One was heart. Young people reading out there—if you have this trait, you will go real far. Just ask around.
Past or current, we hate to lose. We like beating teams by 20+. We play defense. We play hard point blank, period.
I am a Brownsville ballplayer, and welcome to my neighborhood.
Randy Millard
April 1st, 2008 at 10:29 am
g says:
shout to Big Skip (Howard), Big George (Gersh), Gustus (275)…. Sunday morning crew @ 55 behind the (Atlantic)Towers,best half court run in Brooklyn if youre built for it. Marion street park,Kelly-Kelly,Christopher street park over by Garvey P’s…man youre making me feel old,lol!
RIP Sonny Lewis
if you ever get a chance,theres a dvd out called IS8 the king james version with Lebron James on the cover. if you go to the extras section theyve got vintage footage of the old Brownsville Jets games @ 263 featuring a teenage Junie Sanders,Terrance “Black” Smith, Antilla “Punchy” Caldwell and more notably Hector Rodriguez (RIP)…..
man,i just confirmed it,i AM old! lol!
April 2nd, 2008 at 3:54 am
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
i remember the first time i ever played in brooklyn. it was ´81, my man from brooklyn tech invited to a tryout on fulton st near washington, maybe a few blocks toward the next stop. the park was higher than street level. think it´s still there. the coach showed us drills i had never went through living Uptown. bk had it´s complete own flavor. still produced flash like pearl and world b, but the hardnose effect was hearty like chunky soup. too bad that experience didn´t instill a tough defensive mindset in me for the rest of my life! i could have used it! haha
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:29 am
g says:
Super Bob, you were in Classon Ave park, where the Biggie Tourney was held at up til a few years ago. That park was infamous back in our Clavers (CYO) days which is three blocks from there. Everyone was trying to dunk on each other on the rim closest to the sidewalk/street,why? cause everyone could see it,from oncoming traffic,buses,pedestrians,you name it,they saw it!!!
bus drivers would honk if they saw you doing something crazy in the game. used to be great run there,still is sometimes on Sunday afternoons…..
July 31st, 2008 at 7:09 pm
AD says:
I played ball for Jocko and the Brownsville Jets back in the mid to late 80’s. Jocko, Gustus, George & Darryl Glenn all taught me about the game and about life. I wasn’t good then at all, but used the lessons instilled in me by them to go on and play JC and Div II ball. Now I’m a high school/ AAU coach myself and try to instill the same things they taught me to my players. I live in NC now and don’t get to come up that much to visit the BRC much (every other year or so I get the opportunity). I ran with guys like the brothers Elmo & Darryl, Stretch(aka Jamal Faulkner) Black, and others. Those were the days. Jocko took us to play games everwhere, even out of state when none of us had ever been out of NYC other than to NJ…Much love to the BRC and the Jets!! Glad to see they’re still going strong and helping develop the youth and keep them on the straight and narrow. I hope I get to touch as many lives as they have..
August 8th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Antilla " Punchy" Caldwell says:
Brooklyn Hoops was crazy back in the day! love how you show case it kid, keep up the good work! Again GO HARD OR GO HOME! HOWARD HOUSES & CLASSON AVE PARK ALL DAY!