Is Bruce a menace to society? photo: antwonomous.com
I remember watching UNLV’s Richie “The Animal” Adams catch jumpshots out of the air at Kingdome and Dyckman Park. I saw Syracuse’s Conrad “McNasty” McCrae wax the backboard with a block on a lay-up at Pro-City. I played against Georgia Tech’s Kenny Anderson at Gaucho gym and stripped him on back-to-back plays. When I was 12-years-old, I attempted to bring the ball up against Wake Forest’s Muggsy Bouges who had our entire New York City backcourt bringing the ball up with our backs to the basket to keep him from stripping us. The art of defense isn’t as celebrated as offensive, but there were some players like Bogues, Anthony Mason, and Ron Artest , (who modeled his defensive game after Mason), that turned “D” into an art form and worked hard every summer on their craft. If there was someone I would like to hire and say “guard my peeps from the playground’s of NYC, Chicago, Boston, Philly, and B-more-DC,” it would be Bruce Bowen. See my thoughts about his defensive philosophy in my 45 Degrees of Blackness column.
Who would you like to see, besides Artest who did it in NYC last year, come and just “D-up” the playground legend in your local neighborhood?
December 21st, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Carlito Roc TCK Krew says:
Kenyon Martin. I’ve seen him snatch more than a couple shots right out of the air.
December 21st, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Rasmus says:
Shane Battier. Some of the blocks he’s made to stop players in the key… ouch! He’s really got perfect timing on his jump.
December 22nd, 2008 at 9:57 am
ali says:
i would have loved to have seen the glove d-ing up skip and booger.
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:54 am
nosmelone says:
I agree completely with Ali!!! That would be interesting.
December 22nd, 2008 at 11:49 am
Casey Lee says:
Either: Charles Barkley (Phoenix Suns) or Dennis Rodman (Chicago Bulls).
Can you say: let’s get grimy?
Rebound City.
December 22nd, 2008 at 11:55 am
Sean Couch says:
Glove d-ing up either bone collector or skip is no joke!
Muggsy full court on skip would have brought the park to its feet.
December 22nd, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
i remember playing against headache starting back around ‘96, and it seemed like every single time he guarded me, he pick my pocket at least once a game. it frustrated the cheerios out of me. he and i played against each other in teh final 16 of the ‘05 last man standing 1 on 1 tournament at msg, and he beat me 7-5, but more importantly, he didn’t rip me, and hasn’t since. the spell has been broken. some dudes just are able to get in your head, aside from their long arms, quick hands, shuffling feet, and good center of gravity. a lot of playground legends are not necessarily great defenders as well. one of my favorites who rocked D on both asphalt and the nba was mario ‘the jedi’ elie. it was amazing to me that when he won chips with the spurs and rockets, he was known as a role player for D and long range shooting, cuz in the park it was D and hong-hong bangin’ it on everyone!
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:24 pm
FM says:
i like chauncey billups. as the opposition are about to inbound the ball he gets into the paint, drops into his defensive stance, stares at the man he’s about to pick up and claps twice. clap clap! i love that. much classier – and more intimidating – than KG’s recent dumb dog impressions in the same vein.
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Sean Couch says:
headache is a tremendous playground defender, if your careless it’s cookies. Billups would be tough because he’s real strong and would be able to keep players in front of him with his arm strength.
Future is an underrated defender and Speedy is a heady opportunist always getting his hands on the ball.
December 22nd, 2008 at 4:51 pm
funkalot says:
Sean,
In terms of a throwback, what about “Clyde” versus Pee Wee or the “Destroyer” or Dennis Johnson (DJ)versus the “Fly”. Of note, DJ patterned his game after Clyde Frazier, who was his hero.
December 22nd, 2008 at 4:54 pm
funkalot says:
Ps. I would have wanted to see Mugsy against “I’ll be right back” Erv Opong, the battle of the diminutive ones.
December 22nd, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Sean Couch says:
Joe and Fly on the playground were close to invincible. I don’t think DJ or Clyde could have done anything with them. I didn’t see Pee Wee play so I can’t talk on his case.
December 23rd, 2008 at 11:37 am
Da Ankle Mangler says:
Yo Ali
Speaking of Booger can you help me reach boogs?
Email? Facebook? myspace? or direct me to someone who may know how to reach him?
I got alot of questions for Boogs… wanna know if he still got his game and skills intact plus a few other questions
hope u can help out,
happy holidays,
-
Da Ankle Mangler
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Sean Couch says:
Posted from my e-mail:
bedrocky:
Question I have in my mind would be this for your readers:
How would you (the readers) handle a bruce bowen-like defensive player cutting under shooters and slashers? A Fight?
December 23rd, 2008 at 7:01 pm
40 cal says:
Mike Glove hands down, the guy catches everything and cleans up very well for his height.
December 23rd, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Sean Couch says:
Mike “I-Robot 2″ Glover vs Bruce Bowen? interesting…
December 25th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
40 cal says:
probly not a good idea though, think about it 2 very physical players with very big elbows, you do the math.
December 26th, 2008 at 12:50 am
Sean Couch says:
Nothing a good ref couldn’t solve. Think DP vs Artest.
November 24th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
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