photo: thesunblog.com

Basketball, broken down to its simplest compound, is about scoring more buckets than the team you’re playing against. The Semi-Automatic refers to players who leave bodies in their wake with their innate ability to get buckets. And once upon a time, not too long ago, Jay Williams took the college game by the throat with some fierce offensive weaponry. Read More »

photo: flickr.com

The Dunk! The Ram! The Slam! The Bong! Whatever you want to call it, it’s an art form, birthed on the playground, that has revolutionized the way the game is played. And in game 4 of the Western Conference playoff battle between the Houston Rockets and Pheonix Suns on May 5th, 1994, Kevin Maurice Johnson threw down one of the illest yokes of all-time. Read More »

From this Friday to Sunday, I’ve been invited to be the guest performer/coach at the 15th annual Basketball En El Barrio out in El Paso, Texas. The camp hosts six to ten year olds, mostly Mexican immigrants, in what is known as the second poorest neighborhood in our country. The weekend event emphasizes pride in border culture, so local musicians, storytellers, dancers and artists all present their wonderful skills in between dribbling instruction.

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. Past BEEB guests have included NBA player Greg Foster and former NCAA champion U of Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson. Read More »

photo: si.com

At the conclusion of the greatest opening round playoff series the NBA has ever seen, folks couldn’t help but marvel at the exploits of Ben “Madison Square” Gordon, Ray “Jesus Shuttlesworth” Allen, Rajon “Better Call Us The Big 4″ Rondo, Paul “The Truth” Pierce and the dramatic unfolding of a spectacle that Hollywood script writers would have had trouble fathoming.

But the one element that surpassed all others was the placement of a once in a generation talent, a 20-year-old point guard who earned Rookie of the Year honors, in the epicenter of the hoops universe. And although the Bulls succumbed to the Celtics in the series finale, the play of Derrick Martell Rose – which was consistently succulent throughout the entire year – made even the most exacting aficianado nod in sincere appreciation. Read More »

all photos: jamd.com

From the early ’90s through the middle of the new millenium, his bark and bite were equally loud and vicious. For those whose memories reside in recent history, they might only remember Glenn Allen Robinson as a role player from San Antonio’s 2005 NBA championship team.

But for those of us who saw him as a youngster on the come up, he’ll always be fondly remembered as the “Big Dog”, one of the greatest and most dominant players the college game has ever seen. A tenacious rebounder and deadly shooter, he singlehandedly altered the hoops and financial landscape as one of the most complete and unstoppable forces in the illustrious history of the NCAA. Read More »

photo: si.com

Christopher Paul Mullin was a simple, neighborhood guy from Troy Avenue in the Flatlands section of Brooklyn. The love affair with hoops was a multi-generational thing that began in the driveway of the family’s small row house. Read More »

photo: viewimages.com

During this holiday season, I’ll be dipping into the archives to offer up some updated goodies in the form of some of the most delectable “The Playground Gave Us…” joints from ‘08.

Before he reached 5,000 points and 2,500 assists faster than anyone in NBA history except The Big O, the incomparable Mr. Oscar Robertson, and prior to the Nike commercials that raved about his “skeeels”, the playgrounds of the Windy City knew him as “Tim Bug.” Read More »

photo: si.com

During this holiday season, I’ll be dipping into the archives to offer up some updated goodies in the form of some of the most delectable “The Playground Gave Us…” joints from ‘08.

The time has come to pay homage to Tiny, the ultimate point guard.

As a skinny kid that always looked much younger than his actual age, Nathaniel “Tiny” Archibald insulated himself from the worst elements of the South Bronx with a ball and a hoop.

“We paid $109.00 a month rent and got the neighborhood for free,” he once said. “We were overcharged for both.” Read More »