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: 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 »