There are no words to describe the atmosphere on this past Friday night at William H. Maxwell High School, located in the East New York section of Brooklyn, New York. The stats and final score didn’t matter either. This past Friday night was dedicated to an individual who lived up to the line the great and late Notorious B.I.G. recited on “Juicy”: “Bernard spread love because its the Brooklyn way.”

I knew Bernard Lewis through a couple of friends of mine who were also his friends. I remember one summer he decided to play in a basketball tournament. Bernard played the game of basketball to stay in shape, while the rest of the crew played the game of basketball with the aspirations of making it out of Brownsville playing the game we love. To us it meant, going to school for free or putting food on the table for our families. Bernard played with the Brownsville Jets in one of the best tournaments Brownsville ever had, S.T.A.Y. (Sincerely Teaching African Youth or Striving To Achieve Yours) Basketball Classic. It was the only tournament in Brownsville that players had numbers such as 66,77 and 88. I wore number 66. His coach was James “Fly” Williams.

Bernard just played the game to have fun. He didn’t really care what the on-lookers had to say either. The opposing teams were scared of him because of his muscular physique. If the table would’ve kept the stats, Bernard would have averaged: 2ppg 17rebs 0asts and 3 hard personal fouls. He played hard and played to win as well.

After the tournament ended, Bernard opted to go to the Navy. He left his family, his friends and associates and also the world. He passed away in a car accident in the summer of 2003. Even though he has left so many people behind, we still live through his name.

The Bernard Lewis Classic has been going on for about six years now. I remember the first game at the B.R.C. Everyone had a shirt but his cousin Johnny. I gave Johnny my shirt so he can play in the game.Johnny had a pretty good game too. I knew from the first game, it was going to be bigger and better every year.The gym was so packed, School Safety officers turned away at least 400 people away.

My man HORSE, one of the best announcers in New York City, showed love calling a couple of games before he had to go to Charlotte for the BK B-Ball Battle 3-on-3 Tour. After HORSE left, the next commentator named Booth, gave out some nicknames that made the players laugh. He nicknamed my man June, “Movado” because his game is “So Special” and he called this one dude “Sanitation Man” because he had on orange shorts and a green shirt. Also, he called my man Dorian “Skip To My Feet”.

Bernard was a great individual. I know he’s looking down at us with a smile and enjoying how people can come together through the game of basketball. Shout out to everyone who came on Friday night, William H. Maxwell High School faculty and staff, the players who participated in the basketball games, the creators of this beautiful event, and most importantly, his mother, Mrs.Paula, his father, Bones, his sister, Fiona and his brother Keenan. Also other family members as well.

Bernard you will be missed dearly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!