Goat 2007 championship.

Goat Walk Away From Drugs Tournament Championship
Sunday, September 7th, 2008, 3pm and 4pm
1, 2, 3, B, C train to 96th St.

In the early ’70s, NYC legend Earl “The Goat” Manigault started a tournament at what was called then “The New Park” on 99th St. and Amsterdam Ave. He brought down all his Rucker Pro League friends like ‘Lonzo “Superkid” Jackson, etc. to compete, and very quickly word got out city-wide that it was a hot spot. Future NBA players Reggie Carter and Mario Elie were regulars, along with West 4th MVP Clark Elie (Mario’s older brother), Ronnie Ryer (Wichita St. U.), Tommy Ryer (who once scored 100 points in a game while incarcerated), and Moe Hicks (former All-City Rice HS guard and now current coach).

The tournament would come and go due to Earl’s health, and since his unfortunate passing in the mid-’90s, the “Goat Park” has since been officially renamed after him. The league’s youth division has been maintained by his son Darren, and this summer Nike came on as a sponsor. Championship Sunday will feature two youth division games. Come and check it out!