ML King Playground, Foster Projects, Harlem USA

Ahh, last Thursday was pure bliss! Had been in Europe for a week and change and was fiending to play, and woke up to mid-60s weather. All afternoon I couldn’t wait to head out to what would be my first outdoor run of 2008. I hit the park on 114th and Lenox, once the Kingdome home before it moved 4 dribbles to the “Circle” in the middle of the projects where it became famous. Soon as I rolled up on my bike, I heard, “You wanna get in this 21?” “No doubt,” I shot back. It wouldn’t be the last words exchanged. Every court has a cat who claims it and feels wreckless in what they’ll say. I actually love it though, and take no offense to smack talking so long as it falls in the realm of ball. The host could back it though. He was a lefty with range, fade-aways, handle, dips, buttercups, fresh out of work still dressed in long pants to make it even seem more ridiculous that he was winning every game and couldn’t be guarded. His one hole? He couldn’t defend me either! I wasn’t warm at all, but enjoyed the playfullness that only 21 can present since you don’t have to pass to anyone plus can be double, even triple, teamed. No other game allows that. So eventually I got into my little shoulder strut disco wiggles, and midway through the second contest, homeboy said to me, “Are you challenging my Yo-Yo?” Ha! Classic! That was embedded in my head the rest of the day!

More heads showed up by 5pm and we had enough to run a full. The host, whose name was Mike, picked first. “I got Bobbito!” Oh, word? I didn’t even know he knew who I was! That was fresh. I had watched Kenny Anderson youtube highlights earlier so I was amped to throw blinds on the racetrack.

Harlem outdoor basketball–wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world! “Are you challenging my Yo-Yo?!!!”