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Saturday, 19 May 2007 |
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First of all, great site! Figures it comes from the heart of streetball, NYC, to create a site and some gear that really captures the flavor. Anyway, I'm 45 and orignally come from the East, but because of the job settled out here on the West Coast. I've seen some great battles, in the streets and on the hardwood, but nothing matched what I saw at a Christmas Tourney a few years ago down in San Diego.
There was great hype on Shea Cotton, the next great high schooler. Talk was real heavy that he was the answer to UCLA and would bring them a championship or two. And there was no doubt, he was a great baller.
But I got a call from a friend back East and he said I had to check out the latest and greatest addition to the Marbury legacy, Stephon. His Lincoln team was the defending NYC champs, and he showed all of us why NYC ball is still what all other ballers will be measured against.
The gym was twice Standing Room Only. Somehow I was standing next to the UCLA coach, Jim Harrick, as he was checking out Shea. The end of the second period will stay in my mind the rest of my life.
Shea's squad was up at the time by a few points. Stephon came down with the ball and pulled up for a three. Net. Shea then answered with a three of his own. Stephon raised the stakes with another three. And Shea did so again. Now, this is why Stephon is the greatest legend I have ever seen. He came down again. Pulled up three steps into the frontcourt and drained his third three in a row. That brought Lincoln to within 1, as I remember. Shea couldn't answer, but Stephon, with the rebound raced accross half court, pulled up two steps in and at the buzzer hit his fourth three in a row and put Lincoln ahead at half. All the coaches I saw around me were drooling, including Harrick, just whooping it up and forgeting Shea, just enjoying the show. Lincoln eventually won the game on the strength of Stephon.
Everyone knows of Stephon. Unfortunately most of you haven't seen Shea. He was also unbelievable, just not as much that day as Stephon. - Los Angeles
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Saturday, 19 May 2007 |
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For modern day Urban Legend Stories the Gauchos Gym might have seen more then any other. Like the time Ernest Brown out played Tim Thomas. Ernest was a 6'8" freshman, Tim was a senior. How about when Stephon and Felepe played on the same Gauchos team. Felepe Lopez, at that time was the man. There where times when he would drop 35 in a game and after the gym cleared he would practice by himself for hours. "Steph", this kid used to pull up from the half and hit 4 or or five threes in a row. Let's not forget Shaheen Holloway, Shammgod Wells - one of the best handles ever! Richie Parker,who right now has more game then some cats in the pros. Trevor Diggs and Alan Griffin made a lot of guys look stupid during the Round Ball Classic. We can never, ever forget the show Kareem Reid used to put on game after game. The list goes on and on. In the 90s the Gauchos Gym was magic! The entire building should be given Urban Legend Status. - Bronx Ball Rules. |
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Saturday, 19 May 2007 |
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When it comes to modern day legends, let's not forget Conrad McRae, A.K.A. McNasty. Big, strong and had major hops. 1994, NYC vs Windy City All-Stars. McNasty had 30 points, 24 on dunks! It got to the point where no one would even attempt to stop him for fear of getting their arm torn off. McNasty, we miss you. RIP. P.S. - shout out to Pookie Wilson and Big Bobby Boggie. - NYC |
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Saturday, 19 May 2007 |
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Steve Burt Sr. Was as tough as they come. I watched him destroy cats all over town summer after summer. Not only would he bust your ass he'd take your heart. And now there is Steve Burt Jr. Watch out for heart "playa" cause Jr. might take it. - NYC |
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Saturday, 19 May 2007 |
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Hey, Shot Gun was good, but the real story was his high school team. Donnie Holder, Nigel Jones, Eric Howard, Steve Watts. This was Columbus High School in the Late 70's and they were good. |
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Saturday, 19 May 2007 |
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Machito! The Puerto Rican Wonder. In the mid 80's this kid was the truth. If you think Reggie Miller could score points in bunches you had to see this guy. 6 feet, 155 pounds of quickness. I can still remember him weaving through defenses while dribbling the ball only inches off the ground. Michito lead the Puerto Rican Pro League in almost every guard stat. The NYC streets has produced many great guards. Machito is one of them. - Puerto Rico! |
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Saturday, 19 May 2007 |
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A Bronx Tale Part 2. Long before there was Allen Iverson, Pearl Washington, or Kenny Anderson, there was a guy in Co-op City named "Shot Gun". "Gun", you deserve your props. I was there and I saw the park fill up everytime you played. The whole neighborhood knew your game schedule. Your handle was off the meter. Every time you touched the ball the crowed made noise, cause they knew what was about to happen, dribble fake left then right, a stutter step... then you were gone. A game way ahead of its time (early 80's). Your nickname was "Shot Gun" but it could have been "Standing Room Only" cause when you played that's all there was. - Da Bronx! |
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Saturday, 19 May 2007 |
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Did you know that there are a lot of players that came out of Brooklyn that made it to the professional ranks. However, there is only a few that may have played in more NBA All-Star games than Rolando Blackman. There is also very few that got their number retired by a NBA franchise. Could you imagine with Bernard King, Albert King, Pearl Washington, Mark Jackson, World B. Free, Greg Jackson, Connie Hawkins, Fly Williams, Bernard Harding, Joe Washington, Phil Sellers, Ronnie Black, Ray Haskins, and many others, none have played in more NBA All-Star games than Rolando. None of these players got their number retire by a NBA team. That is quite an accomplishment for a young Panamanian boy that started playing basketball late. Rolando is counted with the best who have had their numbers retired: Julius Erving, Nate Archibald, Lenny Wilkens, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, and many others. Just giving a truly talented ballplayer from Grady High school and the Ditmas All-Stars his props. - Coach Gustus |
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Saturday, 19 May 2007 |
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There was actually a street legend from Brooklyn that even Fly Williams couldn't match up with, game or mouth! His name is Black Jesus, his real name is Joe Washington. What a player! Joe was one of the most feared players in New York City. He was six foot six, had a handle, could pass, shoot, dunk and really knew the game. He talked trash with the best of them. Unfortunately, he allowed the streets to get to him, but he could really play. Those who know Joe Washington, tell the world about this urban legend. |
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Saturday, 19 May 2007 |
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If you think Curtis Sumpter had game, his father Curtis Sumpter Sr. was the truth. I watched him play at 198 in Far Rockaway on the same team as Curtis "Smooth" Hammond where they called Smooth Curtis Jr. - LI, NY |
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