TOGETHER FOREVER

As you all know, I started this blog a little over 2 years ago.  A huge reason (as stated before) was to re-connect people who haven’t spoken to each other in many years.

Well here’s a perfect example of the blog helping some old friends reaching out and connecting. Thanks to Kenny Whelan…

Just wanted to let you know that your blog has let me re-connect with a couple of old friends.

First, back in November of 2009 I was able to hook-up with Tommy Riches (A.K.A. Juggy) down on Marco Island, Florida.  My wife and I were planning a vacation and I remembered Bobby Burke telling me that Tommy was retired and living in Fort Myers. (by the way, I also connected with Bobby because of the blog)

I gave Tommy a call and we met up on the beach.  He gave me his usual big smile and “hey Kenny, how you doing?”  It was like I ran into him down in Reis Park on a Saturday afternoon.

Tommy is doing good.  He obviously needs to get some more sun!

Then a few weeks ago, Danny Mahoney asked you for my contact information since he was going to be in Austin, Texas on business.  Danny and I grew up less than a block from each other and we played a lot of roller hockey and touch football on Windsor Place between 8th and 9th.  (Our apologies to all the car owners back then for the dents, scratches, and broken side view mirrors).

Danny met me and my family at a local restaurant for a few margaritas and some good food.  I was happy to hear that Mrs. Mahoney is still living at 95 Windsor Place and going strong.

Danny said the margaritas were so good that he couldn’t even feel his bum knee

Again, just wanted to make sure you knew your blog is reaching far and wide.

I would love to hear from more neighborhood people if this blog has helped them meet up with old friends…

-Steve

Hoops135@hotmail.com

WELCOME BACK, WELCOME BACK…

“Up your nose with a rubber hose.”

I know, what an awful line; especially from an ‘at-risk’ high school student.

As a kid in the 70’s, I wasn’t sure what to make of the Sweat hogs at Buchanan High back in the day; but for some reason, ‘Welcome Back Kotter‘ was one of my favorite television programs.

The theme song rocked.

Before and after the actual show, they had clips from the streets of Brooklyn. In the beginning, you see the ‘B’ train and then they pan out to New Utrecht high school. I always thought that’s where they filmed the actual show.

My favorite scene from the edits was towards the end when they would show a girl walking with her back to the camera wearing the ‘Ty Cobbs Cheerleader’ jacket.

But forget Kotter, Mr. Woodman, Barbarino, Freddie ‘Boom Boom’ Washington or even Horshack- because on Saturday, April 10, 2010 the Holy Name Foundation presents, Welcome Back to “Our  Neighborhood Reunion II Celebration!”

I received the information for the reunion.

It is a time to kick back and enjoy all your friends from the past and present. If you are 21 or 106, or anywhere in between, you are invited.

The 1st reunion brought together over 1,600 friends, so let’s make this another night to remember. Pass the word, call a friend, reserve a table — the sooner, the better!

This is your neighborhood and your celebration!

WHERE: BISHOP FORD HIGH SCHOOL 500 Nineteenth Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215

WHEN: SATURDAY, APRIL 10TH 7:00 PM – 12:00 AM

DONATION: $75.00  Per Person $700.00  Table of Ten

PROCEEDS: To Benefit Various Scholarship Funds and The Holy Name Foundation

“If you grew up here, attended Holy Name, Immaculate Heart of Mary, P.S. 154, P.S. 10, Bishop Ford or Farrell’s Bar & Grill, we would love to see you.

Join us at Bishop Ford for another Reunion Celebration of the neighborhood we all come from and love!”

For more information, contact Forte Bellino:

UBFORTE@aol.com

JAM OF THE DAY:

-Steve

Hoops135@hotmail.com

HALF-DAY

Forget ‘Hump-Day’.

Remember back in the day at Holy Name when we had a half-day on Wednesday? That’s what I’m talkin’ about…

LOL.

Our half-day was due to Religious Instruction. But what sucked was we weren’t allowed to play basketball in the schoolyard until the public school kids were dismissed.

Students from P.S.154 would make their way up Windsor Place and Prospect Avenue to enter our school, sit in our class and were taught the  principles/theory of Catholicism. (I think)

We’d sit on top of cars outside school and stare at them while they stared at us.

LOL.

The one thing I recall while were packing up our belongings to head home (special thanks to a friend for reminding me) is when our teacher would tell us to clean out our desks; “do not leave anything in them”, was their message.

LOL

What were they going to steal? Take my number 2 pencil? My Bic pen? Damn, they could’ve taken my composition notebook if they wanted to, I didn’t care. LOL…

Wonder if the the students at H.N.S. are getting out early today?

JAM OF THE DAY:

-Steve

Hoops135@hotmail.com

GLORY DAYS

It’s Friday night.

Do you recall at 5:00-5:30ish around your house/apartment sitting down at the table and having dinner with your family?

On Friday’s, my mom would go to Henry’s Deli on Prospect and 9th to pick up Fishcakes and beans.

Do families still sit down at this time and enjoy dinner together?

And to top it off, this morning, while getting Taylor ready for school I made her pancakes. She wanted them in bed! LOL…

Imagine that, pancakes in bed on a school morning.

JAM OF THE DAY:

-Steve

Hoops135@hotmail.com

RELEASE YOURSELF

Thank heavens for i-tunes, 80’s music, technology, and of course old friends. They’ve made my life a lot more enjoyable!

Through the creation of this blog and attempting the head-first dive into Facebook, I’ve been able to re-connect with many good people from back in the day.

I’ve also been able to go back in time with my musical interest; my daughter says my music taste is ‘dinosaur‘-like. Yeah whatever, Taylor!

(She must mean I’m getting old…)

A few nights ago I re-connected with a very special person.

We knew each other from the old neighborhood. This individual was a year older; engaged in conversation with some of my friends, to top it off we had similar interests in; sports, academia and socially.

This particular someone came from a large family, walked the halls of Holy Name, then traveled a few short blocks to Bishop Ford (the high school we both agreed that I should’ve attended).

After high school graduation (them, not me) our paths crossed a few times on the Avenue with a quick ‘hi’ exchange.  It might’ve even came down to the two of us passing each other without any sort of pleasantries. You know what I’m talking about, passing someone that you know but the two of you put your head down like you don’t see the other person. LOL…

Facebook bridged the gap for the two of us and they have also been reading Container Diaries.

It’s been wonderful catching up with them and learning so many things about each other; things we probably should’ve talked about when we were living in the neighborhood. But who shared those types of things? They talk about opening up to a friend,  getting things off your chest… I was too embarrassed to tell anyone about what was going on in my life.

Chalk that one up to maturity-or, lack of ego development…

I hope more people would use the blog to get back in touch with people they once spent time with or if they recognize someone posting a comment on the blog, reach out to them. (Feel free to include your e-mail address with your comments)

It’s been a long time since I’ve spoken with my old ‘friend’; and I’m so happy we re-connected.

JAM OF THE DAY

At the conclusion of each blog entry I will post a jam from back in the day via You Tube. Enjoy…

-Steve

Hoops135@hotmail.com

TRAVEL TEAM

Do you recall looking at the Catholic Youth Organization boys basketball schedule?

Next to our school’s name was a letter ‘T’.

Do you recall what that stood for?

Travel Team. We were the away team for most games.

Sure we had P.S. 10 on 7th avenue and Prospect as a practice gym on Tuesday’s and Thursday nights.  But for the most part , we played on the road.

We drove in cars, (meeting in Holy Name Girls schoolyard) or we took the bus and/or train.

I was e-mailed this image of a look inside the armory on 15th street and 8th avenue. Look at this place! It’s awesome! I could probably run a basketball academy there…

Can you imagine if we had this back in the day? WOW!

It probably would’ve been our home gym!

(Special thanks to GT for the image)

-Steve

Hoops135@hotmail.com

NO TICKEE, NO SHIRTEE

I remember the laundry joint on 9th avenue between Windsor and 16th street. I also recall the spot between Prospect avenue and 17th street.  Seems like this laundry spot is still around on the corner of 13th and 8th. I didn’t get a chance to walk inside though, has anyone been there?

-Steve

Hoops135@hotmail.com

BACK IN TIME

Here’s the last image my main man T.K. sent me.  Do you recognize these guys? How about the fans standing on the sidelines watching the game? That was a pretty popular spot to stand while watching the game.  Every place in the yard was court-side! (Double-click on the image and it gets a little bigger)

Great, great memories of the Summer League in Holy Name’s schoolyard.

Here’s a story written by Risa Chubinsky of The New York Times on ‘bar-baby’s’. This is an interesting read.  Seems like parents bring their toddlers to bars in Park Slope. I used to spend time in Timboo’s with my father but he’d send me to the back to play pool or even pinball.  After that I’d sit in a booth with a coke and stare up at the TV watching football.

-Steve

Hoops135@hotmail.com

GAME TIME!

Here’s another outstanding image from the Holy Name Summer league sent to me by T.K. Enjoy…

-Steve

Hoops135@hotmail.com

THE GREYHOUND

With each passing day I think about growing up in the neighborhood as a kid and all the time spent in the schoolyard playing basketball. We had all sorts of players. Not only did we have good outside shooters, a few good point guards and some guys who were bangers inside.  We also had a few guys who could jump. I mean really jump. I’m talking really, really high. As Jackie Ryan would often say, ‘he was talkin’ to the Lord‘!

A few guys stand out when you think of ball players from the neighborhood who ‘got up’.

Last night Timmy Kemp, one of the highest jumping dudes from the neighborhood sent me a few pictures.  Here is the first one I wanted to put on the blog.

T.K. was a cool dude.  I used to play basketball with him all the time in the schoolyard. He had that ‘Walter Davis’- type game; hence the nickname, ‘The Greyhound’.

Notice the Pony T.K.’s rockin’ in the picture. Those sneakers were in style. I recall getting a pair from Modell’s. Matter of fact, I probably saw Timmy wearing them one day in the yard and decided to pick up a pair for myself.  He’s also sporting the down vest that everyone threw over a sweatshirt when they played in the cold weather.

TK is living in Alabama and doing fine.

I’ll be posting a couple of more pictures he sent me in the next few days; you’re really going to enjoy these images.  Hint, they are from the schoolyard and they have a lot of familiar faces in them. We’re always looking for old pictures to put on the blog if you are willing to share them.

-Steve

Hoops135@hotmail.com