I know there are alot of guys here that play. I will be back out there soon.

Where do you play?

I grew up in East NY so I doubt any would know where Plaza Park is or Cypress Park, Gershwin Park.......or this park in South Ozone Park we called "Tutor Field" why I dunno.

Some of the Brooklyn guys might know where Highland Park is. That is a good place to go and get a good game. St. Johns recreation center in Brooklyn has some good runs in the park out there.

There is another park right off of Atlantic Ave that has some good ballers. I can't remember the cross streets but you can't miss it if you are driving towards manhatten on Atlantic...it's a big park.

Right now the park I play in during the summer(before I hurt myself)is pictured in this months Dime Magazine. It's on 110th and Riverside Drive in Riverside Park. Guys travel to play there so you can get some serious run sometimes. There is always enough players to have at least 2 full courts going. Good run definately.

I went to Gersh back in the day lol. Right across the street from the Blvd. buildings

I know about that spot in South Ozone as well....or at least I think we're thinking the same one. If so, Lamar Odom had a torny there not long ago. He's from that area.

Anyway, I play at Brookville Park in Rosedale, Hollis park off of Jamaica Ave (Skip use to ball there sometimes), Baisley and also at my gym in Long Island (Sportstime).

i played dIII ball in jersey. not really a fulltime member of the team as my education was more important but i did practice and play a few games when my offensive skills were like glen rice back in the day.

since then, a few years back in queens (jackson heights/corona/elmhurst)

but have been unofficially retired since 2001.

Just with my Friends out here on Long Island. Didn't get to play any HS ball or anything. Maybe I'll try out for the Stonybrook Seawolves just for the heck of it though.

different places:

basketball city
H.S. gym (back in the day)
college gym
St. Vart's Park
Rivergate Court

A couple of different places in Harlem

145th st park
155th st Park
Readers Digest park
Riverbend Park

It use to be good comp at all of these, not so much these days. We would go with a five and try to hold it down all day. These days it's not the same not as many ball players and lot more arguing and show boating very little basics and skills.

I have a fun rim I jam on in my town...Nice and study...Doesn't move...Cemented into the ground...Very high quality rim that doesn't bend, and it's about 7 1/2 - 8 feet tall, and I love to jam on it. I get my friends to come play on it, and they all get dunked in the face. It's really fun. For anyone that's on Long Island, it's located at Friend's Academy in Glen Cove, LI. Shaq can dunk on it and it won't even move. It feels so good to dunk on it, especially when I'm stressed.

I played for the CTI basketball league back in 1996. I also played for Boys and Girls Club in 1996, 97, and 98, but never played for high school. Almost made the college team as a walk on, but busted up my ankle really back after trying to dunk the ball. Would have been a bench warmer, ha.

Posted by Marv:

I played for my HS in the early 70's. I was the baddest - THE BADDEST - 6'2" 145# power forward you ever saw! Don't laugh - it's true. My greatest moment: I was being guarded by an all-league First team baseketball and football - 6'8" 230#. I upfaked - chump went for it - I went up for my shot, he came down on me and I was flattened to the floor like a cartoon sequence. What comes next I take on faith from onlookers. I was helped to my feet and to the line where I hit 2 foul shots and then was taken out of the game. I REMEMBER NONE OF IT!

And I ain't been right since!

That's freaking hysterical. Great story Marv.

Posted by Knickem:



It use to be good comp at all of these, not so much these days. We would go with a five and try to hold it down all day. These days it's not the same not as many ball players and lot more arguing and show boating very little basics and skills.

I think you can say that about most places.

Alot of guys are going to the park just to hang and play "21" with like 15 people on one half court. Everyone is dressed up to play though.

One thing I notice is that European guys are coming to the city on their vacations and trying to find a game. I live near the GOAT PARK on Amsterdam and 100st and I've been approached plenty of times by guys that can barely speak english and they ask me "Where can I get a good sweat?" I look at them and can't really tell them a solid answer. They always show up at the GOAT PARK because it's named after "The Goat" because it's where he played back in the day....and Magic Johnson had a reality basketball show there. Alot of American guys aren't taking the game serious in the parks nowadays.

Don't believe me you can go to West 4th street on most days and catch some foreigners out there looking unimpressed with the games going on out there. The regulars that go to West 4th nowadays are too lax. Back when I was in High School you had to bring your game or they would retire you and you couldn't come back. Now it's a joke.

That park on Atlantic Ave. in BK is Kingston Park. I used to live less than 10 blocks away, back in the day. It may be hard to find parking there, so just take the C train (or an A local on weekends) to Kingston/Throop Ave. The park is 3 blocks away.

Yeah, right near the LIRR on Nostrand & Atlantic. It's only a few blocks away.

I used to hang out there, didn't ball much though, back in the mid-80's to early 90's. I was able to dunk with relative ease back then...

Although I can still touch the rim (and did so at MSG on draft night), I can't do much ballin' until my ankle fully heals. I sprained it and pulled a muscle in my leg last month, and is still anly about 75%. I could still do some damage in the low post, but the mobility and vertical won't be 100% for a while.