One of the profound books I read as a youth was Jim Carroll’s Basketball Diaries. Unfortunately, it was made into a very forgettable movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio who is a phenomenal actor but can’t poise himself as a believable ballplayer to save his socks. In any event, I love the idea of chronicling daily pick-up activity. We always here about this playground legend and that out of control tournament game, but what about the everyday player searching for a run like you and me?
Recently I was riding my bike through my ‘hood around 3pm, unsuccessfully finding anyone older than 11 years old to shoot around with until I arrived at Jefferson Projects on 114th bet. 1st and 2nd. There was a sloppy game of 21 on the shaded side court, you know, the kind with no D past the paint and every player content to triple pump whether they missed or not. I opted to shoot jumpers by myself facing the sun. If you want to improve, best way to do it is in the harshest conditions, like practicing threes in the dark at night or having to squint cuz it’s too bright to see the rim. When you get back indoors, the hoop will feel wider than a bicycle wheel. Within a half hour, I realized I’d hit my day’s jackpot. 10 players slowly showed up one by one, two of which were equipped with nets to hang. (Another hint at improving your shot–practice on net-less rims so you have to chase your swishes and get a better workout.)
Before the mock NCAA Final ceremony, I challenged one of the net bearers to a game of 1-on-1. His name was “Smoke.” A couple of onlookers gathered out of bounds to heckle. I was already warm and shocked him 11-2 in the first game. His friends had told him I’d played for the And 1 Mixtape Tour in Puerto Rico, so I think he must’ve been expecting me to bring out the Adobo seasoning, which I didn’t. I just hit’em with jab steps, step backs, and Vandeweghe’s (jumpers launched with your off foot forward instead of square). He wasted a couple of potential baskets trying to bop me. That was until he got warm. 2nd game was a battle. Whereas I got all the oohs at first for drilling him, now he had his peers’ cheers and he crossed the cheerios out of me a couple of times. He won that contest, and the ensuing third round tie-breaker. A pound and a hug, “good game” was exchanged, and then we waited 30 minutes for the full to get started.
The great thing about Harlem is that there is such a plethora of talent. And let me give those searching for a run some advice–leave the adults alone. They argue too much. Find some high schoolers to ball with. It may not be as physical, but it’ll be just as intense and at least you can avoid the 15 minute intermissions for arguing stupid calls. The full at Jefferson that day was tight. There were about 7 lead changes until my squad took an L. Even though “Smoke” had worn me out trying to defend his shuffling, I was still able to connect on 6 of 7 during the up and down. I left feeling real good about the day. But it wasn’t over . . .
Going crosstown, I saw a nice full at the Black Gates court in Foster Projects a.k.a. King Towers on 115th St. right off 5th. I got down on the next, and was pleased to have Dalu on my squad. He runs point at TCI and was top 20 in the country in steals last season. Him and I shared the ball lovely and pushed the tempo, but yet again I suffered another L. I also played myself. I ripped the other team’s best player at half court, and instead of laying him as all 6′5″ of his high-jumping legs stormed at me, I passed it to the trailer who wasn’t looking for the Spalding at all. I wound up looking pet to get my shot punched, which probably would’ve happened but it’s always better to go up strong than to look like a balding 40 year old with no health insurance. All good. I had played for 3 and half hours by then and the sun was dunking its head into the horizon.
I love Harlem basketball. Wouldn’t trade it for any other place in the world.
June 12th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Antonio Gil says:
great post Bob!!!! Are you going to write more in the same way?
June 12th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Carlito Roc TCK Krew says:
“but it’s always better to go up strong than to look like a balding 40 year old with no health insurance.”
HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Blogging at its best!
I agree Bob, nothing worse than arguing on the court.
Pause in advance, but I’d rather play in the rain by myself, than play with a bunch of dudes who like to argue. You can never get a good momentum flowing.
Good points bro, I alwaaaays try to shoot on the court with even an ounce of tree shade and not facing the sun. Gonna switch that up. Thanks
June 12th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
funkalot says:
Bob,
As usual, a good piece on the run in “The Black Renaissance” known as Harlem. However, I hope people do not “rip van winkle” on your basketball skills tips, like shooting with no nets. It reminded me of my days as a shorty dribbling with a rubber brightly colored Voit basketball and then transitioning to leather. I gave me the sense of invincible handles or shooting on a homemade rim and backboard on the neighborhood phone pole, trying to estimate 10′ and placing it closer to 11′. Afterward, when you shot on a regulation hoop it seemed like it was eight feet tall and you sank jumpers, like playing Battleship and knowing where your opponent placed his ships; everything was falling.
Oh, Bob could you extend your distribution arm to “Beantown”, we’re stranded on Gilligan’s Island up here and I know folks would be interested in reading your “Hood Tales”. I have put people on to the website, but I want them to have access to the mag, like at a newstand or book store.
Out on three wings, Extra Fly.
Funkalot
June 12th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
funkalot! the bounce publishing squad is working on increasing our distribution nationally. right now we have nyc and chicago orange boxes at popular courts and gyms, and that will extend to memphis, philly, la, etc. i’ll have to check to see if boston was on that new map, but if there is a certain gym up there that all the ballplayers hit up, just email me the address and contact there and i’ll have it added to our comp bulk mailing list until we get our orange boxes up there down the road. thanks for all the help, b. in the meantime in between time, heads can subscribe to our mag, $10 for 5 issues a year, just clik on the linnk from the top menu. word.
regarding the voit ball–you took me back! we didn’t have synthetic leather back in the day. you either played with the rubber joint that had mad bubbles in it until the weave underneath starting showing, or you played with a leather ball until it felt like a suede squirrel’s back!
June 12th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Teddy "Doowop" says:
Great read, love stories like this. Foster’s is nice, have played there in mad long. What kicks were you rockin?
June 12th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Eamonn says:
Great read, wish we had a street ball scene like yours in Australia.
For now your writeups and photos do me just fine tho!
June 12th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
miguel024 says:
perfect post for the start of summer, now I can’t wait to get court hopping for the summer
June 12th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
BallGurl says:
Bob, you’re not that old because you’re def on point with this one…
I happen to be an Independence Day open-run veteran at the Jefferson Projects courts. A family friend throws a cook-out there every July 4th, and I’ve balled there for the last 3-4 years. It’s a great place to get your pick-up on hands down!
The high school kid selection advice is on par. Throw in a few “hustle men” and you’re good.
June 12th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
BallGurl says:
P.S. I wore my Nike Shox Lethal in navy/white last year and won 2 out of 3…
Hope I get the same luck this year!
June 13th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
teddy doo woppy–
i had on my nike team elite shox II white/red, homeboy . ..
June 14th, 2008 at 3:03 am
Seldom Seen says:
Harlem World that’s what’s up…good read. Like you said next time just lay it up strong but not like Frito Lay lol!
June 14th, 2008 at 10:50 am
jonny taise says:
great read bob!
a nice little insight into balling in NY- you’re a lucky man to be able to do all that!
peace!
June 16th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Ray Eck says:
My Man! Glad to see you are still doing your thang, Soul Food! Surprised to see you are still able to hoop on the Black Top. Unfortunately, some of us can’t that are 40 (Knees are done). But put me in a gym & I’ll still shoot the lights out (of course, in the dark & no nets make the best Shooters) of most of the Katz in the league now.. Keep doing your Thing Thing & holla @ a brotha that had & still has the hellified Jay from FDP. Like Radar, Baby!
June 16th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Supe says:
True dat, Ray. You never really lose the jumper just the legs to jump with…lol…I was at the Goat Park yesterday for the Father’s Day Games…always good to see the Carters vs. the Manigault’s do battle on every level…and the rest of us on the sidelines reminiscing about our ‘past’ hoop glory…Supe
June 16th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
oh snap! ray echols aka dr. love and supe supe the first man at the goat with the rice high school b-ball squad gym bag! whaddup! missed the goat yesterday, but was there on saturday, saw ko ko but not anybody else. what ever happened to the days when that park was packed at 12 noon and we had to call 5th next? (well, maybe not you two, but i always had to wait to get on!) yo, man–mad love to our neighborhood and everyone that reps it to the fullest.
June 17th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Ray Eck says:
LOL, Much Luv Bob! Love to see you are still doing your thing. I haven’t been back in NYC to ball since 00-01 @ West 4th or E. Orange Pro-Am (Jersey). & I see you are going to be in my new Neck of the Woods (DC). Get @ me when you get into town. I now Rep this area & ballin with some of these Katz (Old, new & future pros & playground legends).
Oh, by the way! I saw a question on one of the other blogs asking about St. Ray’s (What sneakers did the Raven wear). If I can remember, He had none (but I’m old, so who knows).
Class of ‘86 (The ones who started it all, believe that! With My Man, Gary Massey)… LOL
June 17th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
shout out to your man ‘lunky lunk’ who only had one arm, yo! i remember you brought him down the Goat one day and he gave brothers bizness! he was lefty, right?
June 18th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Ray Eck says:
No doubt! & played with me @ St. Ray’s. Where we gave most Katz the Bizness.. Lunk Mac! Also, I have to give mad luv & respect to My Peeps from Power (Memorial). Chico Ice, Lunk Mac, Big Jay (Jayson Williams), Fat Daddy Kev Simmons, Black (Derrick Brown), Kyron, “Skeeter” Mark Lake, Big Sex (Darryl Walker), the other Darryl Walker (lol), Big Mel Kennedy, Mo Blunt “Maurice Duncan” (Cuz, RIP), Marcelo Gonzalez (RIP), Mario Elie, Ghandi (Gmoney), Big Chuck Jackson, Glenn, Big Ron Mccants, Kenyata Pryor, Lil Derrick Jefferson, Obie Bryant, Pat Burke, Gerald, Rick Saunders, Brian Young & many others of my Power Brothers of course special Shout out to (Kareem Adbul Jaber, Len Elmore, & Chris Mullian).
June 19th, 2008 at 3:06 am
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
dag, ray–you must be getting old and senile! how can you write that list and exclude craig ware and gus santos, bro?!!! that school might’ve been the most powerhouse catholic giant in history . . .
June 20th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Feets Malone says:
Kenyatta Prior!!! and Gerald aka THE DANCING DOOGIE!!!!! I love it! No homo I just got chills reading that list!! Len Elmore Harvard Law alum while he was in the league!!! I had no clue he went to Power and I just saw him at the 92nd St Y about a month ago….
I was just gonna comment about Bob with the “crossed the cheerios out of me!!” and this turned itno HOOP BASICS 101…..I’m not even reading any more post for the day & because I’m at work and can’t hoop right now I’m going into one of these product rooms to do some toe raises and fingertip pushups!!! WHAT!!!!!! (screaming as I smack the floor and get in my stance)
Ray - THANK YOU!!! and Lunk was the truth! His jumper was crazy, the around the back tap back ridiculous and the his handle was unquestionable!! I remember him giving out buckets like canned meat in LaGuardia house with Tamieka in brown shirts….I LOVE THIS GAME!!!!!
June 20th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
feets-
while you in the product room, can you grab a pair of them lovely hyperdunks for the editor in chief of the only year round playground basketball magazine in the world? please?!!! haha! that was a tease when you brought them to the bcny run that thursday! haha
June 25th, 2008 at 1:17 am
Jeremy Ripley says:
Was heavily involved with seeing/viewing the Hyperdunk this weekend. Didn’t try them on though, but held the shoe in some unreleased (as of now) flavors that were dope. More info to come.
Anyways, I’ve hesitated posting in this thread until now, because fact is, I’ve never played ball in Harlem. But I came to a conclusion about the game of hoops this weekend. I need to move to a big city. I was in Waterloo, Iowa for some S.C. stuff this weekend, and the court paralell to us had 4 on 4 or 5 on 5 games going for the three hours we were there! I have to work hard to find guys to play with on a nightly basis…