August 2003
The meek shall inherit the earth. But on the playgrounds of America there's no weak-ass shit here. To say that basketball here is physical is like saying that Mike Tyson was a finesse fighter.
It's definitely not for the onion-skinned. Cheap shots are common place and you cannot call over-the-back fouls here. It doesn't cut it. A foul is when you get thrown against the fence, when you're sent sprawling into the next state from a charge, or you lose some teeth. This is where the tough gets going and where the sky is king. Beware for showstoppers and skywalkers long to take to the air and posterize you. It's as Joey Ramone once sang, "We want the airwaves, baby!"
I've been dying to ball at West 4th since my fascination for the Big Apple first coalesced. West 4th is also known as "the Cage" since it's boxed in a by a fence. I've come here on several occasions to watch some games. It's not those summer tournaments yet so it's more pick up ball. Maybe one of these days, I'll muster the strength to lace up my sneakers and walk right in.
I love the area because its in Greenwich Village. There's something about the place that seems magical and alive that I can't begin to put my finger on it. There are a lot of clubs abound -- comedy, jazz, rock, and the blues. And it's an audiophile's dream... I normally go here to check out all the CD stores along Bleecker Street and the surrounding streets. There's a Kim's Video and Music store in the Bowery and I'm able to get new CD releases for a dollar or two off. Why I bought my Dave Matthews' DVD here for five quid less!
I love the area because its in Greenwich Village. There's something about the place that seems magical and alive that I can't begin to put my finger on it. There are a lot of clubs abound -- comedy, jazz, rock, and the blues. And it's an audiophile's dream... I normally go here to check out all the CD stores along Bleecker Street and the surrounding streets. There's a Kim's Video and Music store in the Bowery and I'm able to get new CD releases for a dollar or two off. Why I bought my Dave Matthews' DVD here for five quid less!
Ah, the Bowery. I once watched My Favorite play at Sin-E (on Delancey Street). There's something foreboding about My Favorite's music that reminds me of the Cure except that it's like new wave music for bomb shelters. Is that an air raid siren I hear?
That the night is wet and the street lights that lend a halo to the sidewalk poets and junkies who reek of cheap whiskey add to the surreality of it all. The city that never sleeps. Oh, yes. I want it all.
Prior to coming over, I used to write Michael Grace Jr. My Favorite's resident soul searcher and creative genius. The first time I caught a gig of theirs, I chatted with him and the band's manager. I also spoke with co-vocalist and keyboardist Andrea Vaughn who also autographed a copy of their second album The Happiest Days of Our Lives which ironically isn't out yet. They're surprised that I have a copy. I told them that I got my copy at Kim's (the disc was given to a music critic to review which he sold for extra dough). I tried to befriend the band's Fil-Am bassist Gil Abad, but he was busy chatting with this gorgeous brunette at the bar. The busty brunette trumps a compatriot anytime so I understand.
I love the village and I'm oft here helping one of my dad's high school classmates who is a famous writer. He lives in a nice apartment that is almost impossible to navigate given that his hallways are lined with books, memorabilia, and cheap porn. When I get off from work, I catalogue his collection and he pays me $50-70 for a couple of hours of work. When he's off with one of his male lovers and it gives me a chance to clean the place up a little faster. Geez! Give me a girl any old time.
It is in the village where I once saw Courteney Cox buying pizza at The Famous Ray's Pizza at 11th and Sixth. Note to all -- there are probably a dozen or so Ray's Pizzas. There's The Original Ray's, The Famous Original Ray's and just plain Ray's. No they aren't owned by the same person. Everyone just wants to cash in on the name. So do I care? No, but it's not every day that you see a beautiful actress next to you buying pizza and like Chairman Mao once said, "seize the day." And so I did sidle up to her and buy 'za for $2.50. She stands like 5'5" or 5'6" and the first thing you notice is her smile and pearly whites. She's chatting with a friend and she wonders if this slice is pretty good. I found a reservoir of strength somewhere beneath the butterflies and squeaked, "yyyeahhh... they're goo--oood!"
She whirls and smiles, "Really? Why thank you."
Pinch me. I'm dead, mon.
She pays for my slice and I want to save that one slice for all eternity. Frame it. Store it in cryogenics. Look... Ray's isn't that great. The pizza they sell in the rapidly shrinking Little Italy is better, but for what it's worth, this was the best tasting one in a long time. If I had a portion of Donald Trump's money I'd buy the store and rename it Courteney's.
Sorry, mom and dad. Back to "the Cage."
I got to play today if only for one game. I asked one of the white guys if it's okay to play and he said sure if I brought any gear. I change in less time than it takes for Clark Kent to say, This is a job for Superman!"
Most of the ballers are black and look like cats with mean game. There are a couple of whites and one Korean dude who they say balls for a school in Coney (they say he's Bassy Telfair's teammate). Perhaps they think that I'm some Chinese dude -- owing to my chinky eyes - that got out of the restaurant early. Back home, I played the 3, 4, or 5 spot. Here my black teammate asks me what the fuck am I doing guarding the corners when I should be shadowing the opposing guard. No zone D, but man-to-man. Eager to impress, I stuck to the guy with one mission -- to find out what his deodorant is. And for my leech-like efforts I am rewarded with a fist to the kisser.
The moment of impact is painful but I'm more shocked at what happened. The game stopped to a cacophony of "Ooohh shit!" One of my teammates yelled to the guy who decked me, "What ya do that for? Play the game!"
"Dog, I was just pirouetting 180."
That the night is wet and the street lights that lend a halo to the sidewalk poets and junkies who reek of cheap whiskey add to the surreality of it all. The city that never sleeps. Oh, yes. I want it all.
Prior to coming over, I used to write Michael Grace Jr. My Favorite's resident soul searcher and creative genius. The first time I caught a gig of theirs, I chatted with him and the band's manager. I also spoke with co-vocalist and keyboardist Andrea Vaughn who also autographed a copy of their second album The Happiest Days of Our Lives which ironically isn't out yet. They're surprised that I have a copy. I told them that I got my copy at Kim's (the disc was given to a music critic to review which he sold for extra dough). I tried to befriend the band's Fil-Am bassist Gil Abad, but he was busy chatting with this gorgeous brunette at the bar. The busty brunette trumps a compatriot anytime so I understand.
I love the village and I'm oft here helping one of my dad's high school classmates who is a famous writer. He lives in a nice apartment that is almost impossible to navigate given that his hallways are lined with books, memorabilia, and cheap porn. When I get off from work, I catalogue his collection and he pays me $50-70 for a couple of hours of work. When he's off with one of his male lovers and it gives me a chance to clean the place up a little faster. Geez! Give me a girl any old time.
It is in the village where I once saw Courteney Cox buying pizza at The Famous Ray's Pizza at 11th and Sixth. Note to all -- there are probably a dozen or so Ray's Pizzas. There's The Original Ray's, The Famous Original Ray's and just plain Ray's. No they aren't owned by the same person. Everyone just wants to cash in on the name. So do I care? No, but it's not every day that you see a beautiful actress next to you buying pizza and like Chairman Mao once said, "seize the day." And so I did sidle up to her and buy 'za for $2.50. She stands like 5'5" or 5'6" and the first thing you notice is her smile and pearly whites. She's chatting with a friend and she wonders if this slice is pretty good. I found a reservoir of strength somewhere beneath the butterflies and squeaked, "yyyeahhh... they're goo--oood!"
She whirls and smiles, "Really? Why thank you."
Pinch me. I'm dead, mon.
She pays for my slice and I want to save that one slice for all eternity. Frame it. Store it in cryogenics. Look... Ray's isn't that great. The pizza they sell in the rapidly shrinking Little Italy is better, but for what it's worth, this was the best tasting one in a long time. If I had a portion of Donald Trump's money I'd buy the store and rename it Courteney's.
Sorry, mom and dad. Back to "the Cage."
I got to play today if only for one game. I asked one of the white guys if it's okay to play and he said sure if I brought any gear. I change in less time than it takes for Clark Kent to say, This is a job for Superman!"
Most of the ballers are black and look like cats with mean game. There are a couple of whites and one Korean dude who they say balls for a school in Coney (they say he's Bassy Telfair's teammate). Perhaps they think that I'm some Chinese dude -- owing to my chinky eyes - that got out of the restaurant early. Back home, I played the 3, 4, or 5 spot. Here my black teammate asks me what the fuck am I doing guarding the corners when I should be shadowing the opposing guard. No zone D, but man-to-man. Eager to impress, I stuck to the guy with one mission -- to find out what his deodorant is. And for my leech-like efforts I am rewarded with a fist to the kisser.
The moment of impact is painful but I'm more shocked at what happened. The game stopped to a cacophony of "Ooohh shit!" One of my teammates yelled to the guy who decked me, "What ya do that for? Play the game!"
"Dog, I was just pirouetting 180."
Somewhere in my head I heard Mickey -- Burgess Meredith's character in Rocky -- yell, "Get up ya summabitch coz Mickey loves ya."
I'm up and I wiped the blood from my mouth. No salty stuff for me for the next couple of days. I played on and made a couple of sweet dishes. I even nailed a pair of jumpers that would have made Larry Bird proud. We lost the game but it was close. They invited me back and I silently nodded my head not wanting to show that I was ecstatic. But in truth I figured I needed an aspirin. I survived the goddam Cage!
I took the V train back to Elmhurst.
I miss you, mom and dad! And Matt and Ants!
I played a couple of times more at the Cage. Not in a tournament but in pick up games. The highlight of my "career" there was throwing up a couple of balls for an alley-oop to some high-flying cat. That was the closest I'd ever get to feeling like I was the Glove tossing it up to the Rain Man. I played in the Fil-Am summer leagues in Jersey City's Lincoln Park. I once went to practice wearing a Wesley Gonzalez #15. A bunch of guys were trading their Iverson Phillies to me off their back for the blue Ateneo jersey. No, I didn't trade it in case you want to know.
I'm up and I wiped the blood from my mouth. No salty stuff for me for the next couple of days. I played on and made a couple of sweet dishes. I even nailed a pair of jumpers that would have made Larry Bird proud. We lost the game but it was close. They invited me back and I silently nodded my head not wanting to show that I was ecstatic. But in truth I figured I needed an aspirin. I survived the goddam Cage!
I took the V train back to Elmhurst.
I miss you, mom and dad! And Matt and Ants!
I played a couple of times more at the Cage. Not in a tournament but in pick up games. The highlight of my "career" there was throwing up a couple of balls for an alley-oop to some high-flying cat. That was the closest I'd ever get to feeling like I was the Glove tossing it up to the Rain Man. I played in the Fil-Am summer leagues in Jersey City's Lincoln Park. I once went to practice wearing a Wesley Gonzalez #15. A bunch of guys were trading their Iverson Phillies to me off their back for the blue Ateneo jersey. No, I didn't trade it in case you want to know.
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