After reading about all the great players I fell some were definitely left out from the South Bronx.

The following were all great playground legends and deserve recognition as well.  Jeff Cherry, Pete Albea, Jimmy and Andre Faison, Richie Adams, Andre McGlocklin, Bugsy (don’t know his real name, but was left handed and had an unbelievable jump shot), Spot, Mark Hall, Muggy Muggy, Dennis “Dog”, Black, Mike Leaf, Mugsy, and Babe.

All of the above mention left there mark on tournaments all throughout the Tri-State area.

- Jack, Bronx, NY

Greetings people,

You guys are bringing up some names that I haven't heard in many years, but remember very well. Names like Ed "Booger" Smith, Cheese Johnson, Jerry "Ice" Reynolds, Troy Truesdale, Wendell Ramsey, Chris Brooks Etc. I remeber guys like "Imp".  He was a member of a team called "The LA All Stars."  They were one of the best teams ever assembled and won many big tournaments.

There were two Spanish brothers from back in the days that used to do a whole lot of damage on the courts.  As a matter of fact these were the first Latinos that I knew of that played basketball so well because most Latinos were into baseball, handball and paddleball back in the day.  Their names were Sonny and Guzzie.  These two always played in the backcourt together and knew each others game so well that they were almost impossible to stop.  Oh, I forgot that even before Sonny and Guzzie there was a Latino brother named Rubin Alvarez from Lincoln Projects in Harlem.  He played with me at All Saints Elementary school in Harlem. Rubin was the star of the team and the highest scorer.  We used to call him "Rube."  I haven't seen him in many year and always wondered what happened to him and how he's doing.

Basketball back then was more exciting and competitive than it is today because guys really loved the game.  And every neighborhood in New York had an over abundance of good players.  My friends and I used to travel throughout New York and New Jersey looking for new competition.  And even though things were pretty rough and violent there always seemed to be a respect and love for the game that allowed ballers to travel anywhere to play and new allegiances were made.  Once I played in an area and came back around a second time I always got picked to play because I played team ball, had great defense, had many moves and wasn't afraid to take it to the rack.  It was fun being picked in parks where the players weren't familiar with your game because you were like a secret weapon.

Lastly I'd like to make mention of an intramural team that I played with at Cheyney State University.  Ballers from New York formed the "New York Crushers" because although some of the best ball players at Cheyney were from New York Coach John Cheyney (Temple) never picked us except for Raymond Diaz from St. Raymond High School.  We crushed teams by 20, 30, 40 and some  times more than 50 points.  Our only real competition was a team from Philly "The Popper Stoppers."  Some of our players were "Stretch" (Bronx), Captain Sky (Dewitt Clinton), "Valentine" (Brooklyn) , Arnel Lebby (me).  They used to call me "The baby Butch Lee", Cornell (King Towers), and Chilly B (Brooklyn).

Peace and let's keep the memories flowin!  - Arnell Lebby

This is Mookie . . .  Don't forget about Ed "Booger" Smith

I love the post rememberin all of the legendary streetballers.  My personal favorites were Artie Green (highest jumper I've seen); Johnny do it Pruitt; Freddy "Disco" Brown; Sam Worthen (best passer); Rod & Byron Strickland; Jerry "Ice" Reynolds; Walter "The Truth" Berry; Richie" The Animal" Adams; Bill "Fat Daddy Boogie" Sadler; Bobby "Baby Boogie" Jones; Pookie Wilson; Darryl & Leroy Mcdonald; Mike & Tip Dog; Terminator; Abjax; Cheese Johnson; Dancin Doogie; Franklin Edwards; Rory Grimes; Steve "All Day" Burt; Troy Truesdale; Tony "Red" Bruin; Alonso "Superkid" Jackson; Arnold Dugger; Arnold Bernard; Ted Campbell; Imp "The Answer"; Chris "Anti Gravity" Brooks; "Rambo Smiley"; Wendell Ramsay; Pearl "Pac-Man" Washington; Kenny Hutchinson; Kenny Smith; Mark Jackson; Ed "Bugeye" Davender; Gary Springer; Rob Cornegy; Nigel Wallace; Kevin "Willpower" Willams; Hands; Julius; Black Sam; Black Nissan; Boo Harvey; Master Rob; and Tony Hargraves.  These were some great ones and I know I'm forgettin a bunch of othas.  -  boo al

I really enjoyed the post by J.Scott in Atlanta. This brother had to be from Harlem because he brought up some real street ball players that I haven't heard about in awhile, but rememebr very well. I grew up in the Polo Ground Houses which is right across the street from Rutger Park. So, I have witnesses many historical games and players that were so good that the world should've been blessed to enjoy seeing them play. Some of the more memorable that  J. Scoot mentioned were: Al Eford, Leroy Mack and D-mack. That whole family could ball. The McDonald's are like the Marbury family from Brooklyn. He also mentioned Muggs, Mike Boogie and his brother Tip Dog, Master Rob, Tony Hargraves (Iona), Rory Hines (Iona),, Rory Grimes and Jumpin Johnny Pruitt.

I'd like to add to this list: Joe Hammond "The Destroyer" The Future, Black Ted (Sugar Hill), Muggy-Mugg, Leroy Shaw (Snap-Crackle-Pop), George "The Animal" Fletcher, Alonzo "Action Jackson or "Super Kid", Tony Campbell, V.J. Black Phil, White Phil, App-Jack, Bobby Willis, Artie Green, Charlton "Mo-Toe" Green, Tony Price, Captain Sky (Edenwald Projects), Rick "The Eel" Francis (Dewiit Clinton, Lock Haven College & 'Tiny Archibald All Stars), Arnold Dugger (R.I.P.), Daryl Powell "Dee-Dee" (Mckinley Projects), Mohammed (Sugar Hill), Lonnie and James Green (Polo Grounds), "E" (Polo Grounds, Hal (Polo Grounds), Bosco (Polo Grounds), Cool Fred Brown, Pearl Washington 'Pac Man", Little Ira, Nappy (DeWitt Clinton), "Bobwire" (Bronx), Bruce (Lincoln Projects), Kevin Morris, Nigel Wallace, Black Stan (Polo Grounds), Hansel (Sugar Hill), Ike and his brother Barry (Sugar Hill), Hansel (Sugar Hill), Keith "Ice Smith" (Morris High School & The Gouchos)...R.I.P. Eddy "Boss" Moss (Power Memorial High School & Syracuse University), Larry Petty (Power Memorial High School), Greg Poindexter, Donald Myers, Greg "Bo" Harvey, God Shamgod Wells, Shaheem Holloway (N.J.) Lawrence Molten (Syracuse)....More to follow!

  - Arnel Lebby former Harlem Street Baller

Mike Daniels and Mikey Edwards from Dewitt Clinton, Billy Hackworth from the King Towers, Leroy McDonald from Wake Forest and his younger brother D*Mack a.k.a. Mr. Excitement (Texas A&M), Master Rob, Charlie Rockwell Caldwell, Ted Campbell, Allen Lorick, Tommy Starks, Mugsy, Tommy and Ronnie Ryer, Yoda, Rambo, Big Al Eford, Bonez and Big Sam from East River Houses, Mike Boogie, "Tip Dawg" Gene Waldren, Sam Pellum, Mike Piet, Tony Hargraves, Rory Grimes, Jumpin' Johnny Pruitt and A- Butter!-J. Scott, Atlanta, GA   Mike Daniels and Mikey Edwards from Dewitt Clinton, Billy Hackworth from the King Towers, Leroy McDonald from Wake Forest and his younger brother D*Mack a.k.a. Mr. Excitement (Texas A&M), Master Rob, Charlie Rockwell Caldwell, Ted Campbell, Allen Lorick, Tommy Starks, Mugsy, Tommy and Ronnie Ryer, Yoda, Rambo, Big Al Eford, Bonez and Big Sam from East River Houses, Mike Boogie, "Tip Dawg" Gene Waldren, Sam Pellum, Mike Piet, Tony Hargraves, Rory Grimes, Jumpin' Johnny Pruitt and A- Butter!-J. Scott, Atlanta, GA

Last weekend at the Rego Park tournament I got the chance to talk to one time division 1 scoring leader Charles Jones. CJ was:

CJ was the man at LIU during that time and the whole time he was doing his thing the Game Over Logo was on his back.  When C Jones started to praise the teachings of Ray Haskins it reminded me of when legendary Coach Ray Haskins gave a small  minority company named Game Over a chance to be a part of the big time.  When blessed with a great opportunity in his life, Coach Haskins still thought of the struggle of others.  Fighting for our place in this harsh jungle called the Apparel industry, where the sharks make Jaws look like Nemo.

I'll never forget how nervous I was heading into the Coach's office that day.  Game Over had never done an order like this before so I had to sound like I knew what I was doing.  Little did I know this man had already made up his mind he was going to give me a shot.

Coach Haskins did what he could do to give us our first big break, he ordered and PAID for an entire set of uniforms for the LIU Blackbirds.  The order included warm-ups, bags, home and away uniforms and tee shirts.  I don't know how we did it but we got the order done.  Night after night my partner, friends and family watched, both on local and national TV as CJ and Coach Ray shocked the basketball world.  Imagine, little LIU was on it's way to the NCAA tournament.  I capitalized the word paid  in this story for a reason.  Coach Haskins took a lot of heat for going with this little unknown company, while the bigger companies where offering to give LIU their uniforms (No Charge).  Coach Haskins chose this  time to demonstrate what he stood for then and always . . . everyone needs a break.

Rumor has it that Coach Haskins lost his job in part due to his actions.  I've heard all kinds of lies about this situation.  Well ten years later here is the truth: Ray Haskins somehow knew how tough this business was going to be for us and decided to give us a break . . . that's it, sorry,  no car chases, no secret meetings, no suitcase full of money.  To all you crabs that couldn't  see the bigger picture, stay in your buckets and tug at each other, because people like Coach Haskins are on a level your claws can't reach.  Game Over

Coming soon: Watch the interview of Ray Haskins and Charles Jones the week of Oct 1, 2008 here at Urban Legends at gameovernyc.com

Whats Up Game Over

I just wanted to know, what's up with the Roosevelt LI (Centennial Park Urband Legends ) . . . U are talking about people like Dr. J, Satch Brawley, Ank ka dank, Warren woo, Fly Holt, Smooth Hammonds , . .. Give us some luv!!!             -    Peace Big Lew

The best guard to come up in Bridgeport, Ct and you can ask around is Davis (Wizard) Brown.  He played from('81-'85) at Warren Harding High School 5'8.  Long story short Harding was playing in Hartford, Ct Christmas Tournament with Georgetown playing the next game and NBA Legend Patrick Ewing telling coach John Thompson to get him for next year.

I once asked Wilt Chamberlain who was the best shooter he ever saw.  He said," Have you ever heard of Hal "King" Lear from Temple University?  He formed an all southpaw (left-handed) lineup with Guy Rodgers.

http://owlsports.cstv.com/sports/c-hallfame/mtt/lear_hal00.html

- Dan the Man, LA

Former Long Beach Poly High School (home to Snoop Doggy Dog) playa and Veronica Mars co-star Percy Daggs III has carried his basketball skillz to the NBAE pro level and made NBAE Rookie-of-the-year !  (Click here for photos)