photo: At the 14th Street Y. Left to right: Yuta, Old Man Johnnie, Me, Bobbito and Sean Kennedy.
Everyone knows that New York City is the mecca of basketball. The history and tradition speaks for itself: The Garden, the Knicks, Rucker Park, Kenny Anderson, Stephon Marbury, Pearl Washington, Joe Hammond, the Red Storm – the list is endless. If you golf, you dream of teeing up on Pebble Beach. If you ball, you dream of playing in NYC.
I got my chance last week as I ditched rainy Vancouver for a little vacation to the 212. In between visiting family and sightseeing, I was able to meet up with Bobbito, who kindly invited me for a Monday afternoon run inside the 14th Street Y in Manhattan. It might not have been Rucker, West 4th or the Garden (Coney Island version), but considering the cold fall weather and the fact I am terribly out of shape – this will do.
Inside, the second floor court was filled with guys from every demographic. Yuta, a quick point guard from Japan, had a great handle and steady jumper. Then there was Old Man Johnny, who had the stamina of a triathlete and abs harder than a brick wall. Did I mention the man was 76 years old? But despite the differences, the comradery between everyone is great. Bobbito told me it’s like Cheers in here. Everybody knows each other and everyone is talking trash.
While I had fun meeting everyone, I definitely struggled on the court. In four games, I put up very Mardy Collins-esque numbers: 2 points, 6 or 7 boards, 2 assists and a whole lot of turnovers. Luckily I had Bobbito on my squad to pick up the slack. All day long, DJ Cucumber Slice was looking like Tommy Shepard in Above The Rim the way he was knocking down J’s. After the game, Bobbito took me to a Peruvian restaurant around the corner where he treated me to baked chicken and some incredible spinach mashed potatoes.
In all, it was a great time and I can’t wait to go back. Until then I’m going to work on my game. So Bob, tell Yuta, Johnny and everyone else that next time I’m coming ready!
November 18th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Tyra Banks says:
That guy with the white “nike basketball” shirt is hot!
November 18th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
haha! mardy collins-esque? hahahaha!
gerald, anytime you’re in nyc you call me up, bro. you good peoples and i wish you nothing but success. stop trying to dribble through three defenders with your head down and zero in your oxygen tank, though! haha! you did nail your first jumper in the game, so we all know you can play!
November 18th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Joseph Vecsey says:
Is he talking about 6-10 Mardy Collins?
November 18th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Gerald Narciso says:
haha! I think my goal to get a layup overruled common sense. Thanks again for the run Bob. I’ll definitely take you up on that offer next time I make it to the city!
November 18th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Casey Lee says:
yall better stop clowning my man from Philly like that…
So why is #21 rockin that Jeff Van Gundy haircut?
November 18th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Andy Panties says:
Andy Panties <3’s geriatrics with six-pack abdominal muscles. Delicious.
November 19th, 2008 at 12:54 am
vancitykat says:
Nice man, where do you run in Vancouver?
November 19th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Gerald Narciso says:
@ vancitykat
In the summer I play at the Thompson Community Centre in Richmond. I used to play at the Kerrisdale Centre on 41st in the winter but that run doesn’t happen anymore. Know of any good places?
November 19th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Chris O'Leary says:
G, I love the Tommy Sheppard reference. Hope you had a good time in NYC.
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:05 am
vancitykat says:
“In the summer I play at the Thompson Community Centre in Richmond. I used to play at the Kerrisdale Centre on 41st in the winter but that run doesn’t happen anymore. Know of any good places?”
I’m in New West so in the summer I play at Moody Park, now I just play at the local high school that has drop-in on fridays. Lately I’ve been going to the new rec centre in Port Moody, they run two full courts and the whole centre is really nice. But that’s a long ways from you. I’ve heard really good things about Kits in the summer and a court somewhere in Yaletown, are they worth coming down for?
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