Posts Tagged ‘David Cain’

Crowning Achievement

Monday, March 10th, 2014

Julius "Pop" Anderson floats to the basket for a layup in the final minute of the second half.

Julius “Pop” Anderson floats to the basket for a lay-up in the final minute of the second half.



This is the second time they’ve met in two years, so maybe you could call it revenge that Showtime (Orange) defeated Flav’s Unit (Red) to claim the BBBL (Baby Boomers Basketball League) title at the McChesney Recreation Center yesterday. Behind the steady play of Dave Cain and Julius “Pop” Anderson, Showtime won a hard-fought, low-scoring victory 47-39. Flav’s Unit beat Showtime last season (when the league was being held at the Southwest Community Center).

The crowd, which included businessmen, families and former college athletes, seemed to route for league elder statesman Julius “Pop” Anderson.

Well maybe not everyone, since retired BBBL Commissioner James Jackson was also in the house (and his son Derrick plays for Flav).

Speculation began immediately after the game whether Anderson would return next year for another repeat title.

Surely Flav will have something to say about that…Showtime may have won this year, but this rivalry is just getting started.

Dave Cain addresss the team during a second half time out.

Showtime point guard Dave Cain addresses the team during a time-out.

Don Crouch (center) and Flav's Unit turned up their man-to-man defense pressure to close the gap in the second half.

Don Crouch (center) and Flav’s Unit turned up their man-to-man defense pressure to close the gap in the second half.

Gil Spaights (Flav's Unit) questions a close call.

Gil Spaights (Flav’s Unit) questions a close call.

BBBL Showtime: Last Team Standing

Showtime: The Last Team Standing

Insider’s Guide to the City Game

Thursday, May 24th, 2012
Street Ball: The Love of the Game

Street Ball: The Love of the Game

Pass the rock.

Dribble, dribble, shoot.

Pick & Roll.

Give & Go.

Tighten-up on defense…

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

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).

Dave Cain by SIF

Doin’ It will also be screened later this summer at the ImageNation Outdoor Film Series, which was founded by Syracuse’s Moikgantsi Kama.

Hoop Dreams

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012


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.