Me
On December 25 (post gift-giving), I flipped through channels on the tube in frustration, as I contemplated my first piece for Bounce Mag Online. (I did not want to disappoint amidst the creative writing wizards!) Like Corey “Homicide” Williams idea to challenge the whole NYC streetball circuit, I found inspiration!
“YO ADRIAN!”
Who better to compare Philadelphia park ballers than the “Italian Stallion?”
Note: AND 1 Mixtape Volume 2 — Did I hear Prince Paul mixed in Bill Conti’s “Gonna Fly Now” aka the Rocky Theme Song? Cue the music:
AND 1 Mixtape Volume 2 (Part 1 of 3)
Match Rocky’s training and work ethic with North Philthy’s GRIMIEST, South Philly’s Cheesesteak’s FINEST, and West Philadelphia MINUS (-) [Fresh Prince] on the blacktop.
North Philly = No Problem. We have cats who crack more (ankles) than the Liberty Bell!
For all you avid Bounce readers, this is only the beginning! Be on the lookout for the best blacktops in the 215. Also, I will cover Philly’s finest new generation. I’m not going to name drop just yet but expect some new faces…something like Obama in the White House! And you think Rocky had tough opponents? Please…
Go ahead! Grab a ball and shoot by yourself on 16th & Susquehanna or 52nd & Parkside and see who challenges you! After a one-on-one battle or an intense game of “ruffhouse” with the young boys, you’ll be thinking about anything but a cheesesteak–peppers, fried onions, and mayo!
Shout out to my dude Ali for his genius Bounce pieces on Philly’s past playground legends:
http://www.bouncemag.com/2008/12/15/the-playground-gave-us-dawn-staley-the-holiday-archives-edition/
Lastly, I just wanted to thank Bobbito for a chance to write with the Bounce family! I look forward to hearing everyone’s feedback and insight…
January 4th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
wow . . . you said ruffhouse, straight took me back to 1982 when i first arrived in ardmore to go to school at lower merion. walked across the street to the soul shack on ardmore ave, had never conceived of such a game with no out of bounds or fouls, cats i grew up where more finesse players with freak, but honestly playing philly style helped my repertoire ridiculously. back then, very very few heads would try anything fancy from what i would see for the two years i played out there. when i returned in the late ’90s for a run, the style had definitely changed and had become more fluid, less hard-nosed, but still take no prisoners overall . . . think the difference of a nate mcmillan at temple to an ao of and1 . . .
welcome casey lee! keep’em coming, bro. word up!
January 5th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Rahim Thompson aka The Commish says:
Casey you can not forget about 10th & olney home of The Chosen League where all the top high school players in philly since 2002 (dionte christmas,wayne ellingtion,kyle lowry,stefon jackson,morris twins) battle each other for bragging rights & the home of the sunday morning run 8am-1pm
January 5th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Daniele Vecchi says:
hey Casey, welcome aboard!
I love Philly, I wrote a book about the ball in the city, “Philadelphia Basketball Stories”, in italian language, it’s the history of basketball in Philly, coming from the SPHA’s, Eddie Gottlieb, the early Big Five’s years, the Warriors, arriving in the three big eras of the Sixers (Chamberlain, Erving and Iverson), the city’s street courts and a mix of curiousity…
on the book I have more than hundred pics i made in Philly, I used to live there for several months. Love it.
peace
D
January 5th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
ali says:
thanks for the love casey. philly is near and dear to me, as you well know. look out for more philly love down the road in “The Playground Gave Us…” adventures. good stuff man and keep bangin’.
January 5th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
ali says:
hey casey,
in case you missed the one on the ultimate playground philly flavas –
http://www.bouncemag.com/2008/09/29/earl-monroe-the-pearl-black-jesus-philadelphia-playground-basketball-alejandro-ali-danois/
January 5th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Casey Lee says:
Thanks for the love yall!!
Bobbito – Cheesesteak on me. Run at Ardmore on you. haha
Rahim – Those were my two main courts…plenty of em coming like 10th & Olney, 10th & Oxford, etc.
Daniele – We’ll talk later & exchange contact info..I’m trying to come to Italy this year, maybe we’ll work something out if you trying to come to the States..
Ali – I’m gonna get at you when I’m down Bmore again but, when you back in the 215, give me a heads up, fam
January 6th, 2009 at 10:09 am
ali says:
no doubt casey. and that mention of the cheesesteak, fried onions, peppers and mayo (can’t forget the toasted roll) got my tastebuds animated right now. keep bangin’ ‘em out, dropping that philly love. i eagerly anticipate your stuff.
January 6th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Rahim Thompson aka The Commish says:
Much respect casey! 16th & susq was the s*** when I was a young boy. It was nothing better then watching Toss It up bring there own DJ and toy with there opponent until the greatest playground player of me era brian”sadeye”watson would show up at halftime and close the game like mariano rivera in his prime.
August 21st, 2009 at 9:28 am
jeffrey hayes frink says:
I’m just checkin out how you yunguns are doin’ it. I have seen a couple of top 10 lists about north philly ballers and i disagree with most of them because they leave out a lot of true legends. If you want to know about the true north philly playground legends from the mouth of a legend . give me a holla !