This past weekend, I was invited to be the guest performer/coach at the 15th annual Basketball En El Barrio (El Paso, Texas). The camp hosted six to ten year olds, mostly Mexican immigrants, in what is known as the second poorest neighborhood in our country. The EL PASO TIMES wrote an article about me showing up that truly had me bugging as it showed me so much love; check it here.
After my performance, I challenged Hector, a counselor, to a game of 1-on-1 in front of the campers. He was recruited by Cochise Junior College (AZ) out of high school and now plays pro in Mexico. I was told he was the toughest guard in the gym . . .
I caught him bad at the 1:35 mark! At the 3:15 mark, do you think I made a good call by calling offensive foul?!!! The whole experience was mad fun, check out my solo show and listen to the kids’ reactions:
Here’s a game of catch I played with some of the campers where they were disqualified if they dropped the ball from my trick passes:
Basketball En El Barrio is run by former UTEP player Steve Yellen and former UTEP and NMSU assistant Rus Bradburd, the man responsible for recruiting a young Tim Hardaway to UTEP off the playgrounds of Chicago and also author of Paddy On The Hardwood. Each kid paid $1 to join, and they received a free basketball, peace poster, billingual children’s book, t-shirt, and lunch. For more info, conact Rus Bradburd:
The EL PASO TIMES ran two excellent articles after my visit, peep them here and here. The EL PASO MAGAZINE also ran a fresh write-up on it, check it here!
June 23rd, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Craig Evans says:
Thanks for traveling down to El Paso, and being a great role model for our kids. You showed them what hard work and determination can do. Plus, you put grins from ear to ear on all of their faces. You are now one of us, an El Pasoan. Big apple trees begin as little seeds, and you gave water and nourishment to an orchard, down here. Hurry back, and watch the trees grow. Your work will be what nourishes others, in the future and for years to come.
Craig
June 23rd, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Jeremy Ripley a.k.a. Cheesecake says:
Bob’s three pt. stroke is as eloquent as Craig’s response above! Woo…
June 23rd, 2009 at 2:47 pm
illest says:
stop flopping bob!!!
June 23rd, 2009 at 3:55 pm
DDB says:
The move at 1:35 mark was NYC….the flop at 3:15 was Lower Merion! Those two extremes are where you get a well balanced game!
That was a great thing you did for those kids!
June 24th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
floppin? hahaha
DDB–you are absolutely correct and i don’t even know you could know this but i actually learned, and commited, to taking charges at lower merion high school ‘82-’84 under the guidance of coach michael manning. in the parks growing up, no one took offensives cuz they’d never respect the call, and besides what good would that do if you wound up cuddling with the fence behind the rim? haha
June 24th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Sho-Nuff says:
You took a charge for the kids, can’t argue with that.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Rus Bradburd says:
The kids went bananas for Bobbito. No surprise. He got the hero treatment, and the talk is ‘best ever Basektball in the Barrio.’ He was the perfect guy for this unique camp. Go the the Athletes United for Peace website to learn more about Basketball in the Barrio.
July 28th, 2009 at 2:48 am
Senor Kaos says:
Word up, Bob when you gone stop playing and walk onto the Knicks. They need you up there son! Lol.
Bobbito and Nate Rob could be the best thing the Knicks seen since Ewing and Oakley.