One of the profound books I read as a youth was Jim Carroll’s Basketball Diaries. Unfortunately, it was made into a very forgettable movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio who is a phenomenal actor but can’t poise himself as a believable ballplayer to save his socks. In any event, I love the idea of chronicling daily pick-up activity. We always hear about this playground legend and that out of control tournament game, but what about the everyday player searching for a run like you and me?

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Saturday night I spun with legendary DJ Clark Kent in Zurich, Switzerland for the Sneakerness event after-party until 5am. Three hours later we left for the airport, and 12 hours later I was back home in Harlem. I didn’t get much quality shut-eye, but it was nice outside and my blood was asking me if we could play ball. It was Mother’s Day, though, and the right thing to do was go with my girlfriend Keyme to my aunt’s crib in El Barrio to see Mom dukes. Besides, I’d skipped the plane meal, and I knew my stomach would appreciate Titi Nilda’s pastelón y arroz con gandules waiting for me!

We walked crosstown, and en route we passed a bunch of empty courts. That always saddens me to see a healthy rim and backboard be left lonely. On 109th St. and Park, we saw two jubilant shorties attempting to dunk while jumping off the top of an upside down trashcan! Neither of them succeeded, and the ball would fly off above the rim so they weren’t even making a field goal, either. I don’t think it mattered one bit to them.

On 108th and 3rd Ave., there were 10 cats running a full with no one on the side with next. Read More »