Pick-up basketball is part of a universal language that was well-chronicled by Alex Wielgus and Chuck Wolf in the early 80s. The game is always the game, whether you are in Syracuse, DC, Kansas or Seattle. But there are some places where the game borders on religion. One of those places is New York
Later tonight hoops afficianado and writer Bob Garcia (aka D.J. Bobbito + Cool Bob Love) and Kevin Couliau will screen their film Doin’ It In the Park: Pickup-Basketball, NYC. This self-funded project is an hour plus documentary on vim, vigor and vitality of NYC hoops. In many ways the city and the courts and bball culture are the main character of the film, but there are some great interviews with Pee Wee Kirkland, Kenny Smith, Kenny Anderson, Smush Parker and also some great vintage footage of the Doctor (Julius Erving) operating on a NYC blacktop as a youngster.
Dave Cain, the Director: He’s got game
Syracuse’s David Cain, who grew up in Harlem and played at St. John’s, is excited about seeing the film. He says that there is a unique energy to basketball in New York. He talked about the allure of playing at Rucker Park, near where he grew up during a recent phone interview (listen below).
A week before the Big Dance, we got to see two action-packed games during the BBBL (Baby Boomers Basketball League) Final Four.
The league is going strong after 15 years, and now includes about dozen teams.
We asked one of the players after the first semi-final game, which went down to the final possession (his team was favored), Why didn’t you guys pull that one out?
“Sometimes it just wasn’t meant to be,” he said. “That’s why they call it March Madness.”
This weekend’s Finals showcases team Tighten Up with Bernard Blunt (formerly of St. Joseph’s–PA) versus B&B Lounge with (former SU point guard) Lazarus Sims.
Cicero-North Syracuse center and one of this week's Sports Illustrated Faces in the Crowd Breanna Stewart goes for two of her 30 points on Friday in the Carrier Dome. CNS defeated West Genesee High 69-33 for the Section III Class AA title.
Writer, TV personality and NBA insider Stephen A. Smith came to Syracuse University last night and schooled the students on the importance of building your work ethic as well as your personal brand.
Smith fielded dozens of questions ranging in topics from changing a major to the good bad and ugly of NBA players: Tim Duncan, Jeremy Lin, Kwame Brown and Allen Ivrerson.
He said being in college is a great place and time to pay your dues on the way to seeking any particular career path. “I’ve never taken less than 17 credit hours when I was in school…” he said. “…I also liked to party.”
Stephen A. Smith tells SU students to pay their dues.
Smith’s talk, which was partly motivational, but delivered in his trademark sarcasm and ribs, also touched on the the NCAA Tournament, TV revenue for sports, politics and the evolution of the black athlete.
According to Smith, too many fans over-celebrate contenders before they become champions.
“The best way to judge the importance of Lloyd’s role may be to look at it through the prism of Syracuse, a then prosperous Upstate New York industrial city…that had a wild erratic history involving blacks and elite athletics.”
Sean Kirst, Moonfixer: The Basketball Journey of Earl Lloyd
NBA Hall of Famer Earl Lloyd visits with Aaron Allen at the War Memorial in 2000.
Jamesville-Dewitt center Dajuan Coleman cited proximity and the family atmopshere of the program in his decision to play basketball next year at Syracuse over Kentucky or Ohio State.
Pro basketball trainer Mark Williams, a native of Queens, NY, sent us an update on his hoops enterprise called Team Footprintz. Williams has trained or collaborated with a who’s who of Big East basketball talent, including former Syracuse standout Nicole Michael.
Michael recently signed to play in the Italian pro league for next season.
The Jamesville-Dewitt Red Rams High School basketball team continued their dominance and won another State Title, beating Newark High over the weekend. Sophomore center Dajuan Coleman was named MVP.
Motivational speaker and former high school basketball coach Ken Carter recently gave a presentation at Levy Middle School and encouraged students to be respectful and avoid negative peer pressure.
“Young people, you are one-third of our population, but one-hundred percent of our future,” he said.
Carter & Morgan, Rivals Reunited as Friends
Carter is best known for the character portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson in the film Coach Carter (2005). Carter, who was also a high school basketball star in Northern California as a youth, maintains that (even for players) education is more important than playing ball. During his visit he also found friend and former high school rival David Morgan, who now works at Syracuse University.
Brothers from the BBBL (Baby Boomers Basketball League), also known as the Over 40 League, showed they still have game during this year’s tournament championship held at the Southwest Community Center on Sunday. Ballard Construction featuring Julius “Pop” Anderson, Roosevelt “Pony” Bullock, Howard Triche and Gary Sparks defeated the Cuse O.Gees.
