Back in 1976 when I was 12 years old, there was a youth basketball clinic at the YMCA on 9th street between 5th and 6th avenues.
A few of my friends attended.
I, on the other hand did not.
How can I not attend a basketball function? I loved the game. The game was all I cared about.
The problem – My mother couldn’t afford the $10 fee.
It amazed me that the ‘Y’ could charge such a high price at the time.
I was sad but eventually got over it because we had the schoolyard!
As my friends went to the ‘Y’, I walked around the corner to Howard Place. The place was empty. It was the middle of December, right around supper time. Temps in the low 20′s. I had the place to myself.
Within minutes a few kids showed up and we chose up sides for a game of 3-on-3 half-court.
We eventually played Around the World, ’21′ and H-O-R-S-E.
Wednesday morning I conducted a basketball clinic for 4th, 5th and 6th graders at our high school.
It was FREE!
No charge!
Everyone invited…
Respectfully,
Steve
Hoops135@hotmail.com
$10.00 was alot of dough back then..The great thing about the schoolyard was no matter how bad you may have been, you Hcould play by calling winners… I remember shoveling the court to play …. sometimes someone would beat me to it…
Hope you and all the bloggers (and readers) and their families have a great
holiday……
Thats a great story and it couldn’t have come at a better time of the year. It’s unreal the things we remember and how we are affected by them. Back in 1976 $10.00 was alot of cash for a single mom to shell out for “FUN” even though I’m sure you didn’t think so at the time.
But I’m sure you thought about it prior to running your clinics. And maybe it is no sweat off your back but you gave back to all the kids that attended because you figured it shouldn’t cost ten bucks to have “FUN”
Tony,
I did think about it and matter of fact, I always think about that when I conduct clinics for kids.
Hey Coach, That’s the way my basketball hope looks in the summer ! The spiders seen me shoot some hoops and new the safest place to build the web was in the middle of the net. Happy Christmas to all !
Thanks Jackie…
And tell the truth doesn’t it feel good to do something even as trivial as give free basketball clinics.
I’ll bet there are a few kids that will remember the free clinics and the coach that ran them. And who knows maybe they will write about it too.
Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Yes Tony, it does feel great knowing I helped at least one kid.
Have a great holiday!
Thanks for reading and adding to the blog.
That was a very cool thing to do. $10 was a lot back then, but in the Midwest where unemployment is still around 10 -11% it still is a lot of money to someone who is not working and trying to scrape together a few things for Christmas. I am sure it was appreciated by the kids and some of the single moms out there. Hope you found a few players!
Mr. Guest,
To tell you the truth, it never crossed my mind (finding a player). They are 4th, 5th and 6th graders. Matter of fact, I don’t even follow the 7th and 8th grade teams at our middle school. Way to early to tell you truth. Not a big fan of the ‘phenom’ finding that many people fall in love with.
That’s great stuff Coach ! Giving your time to those kids is what it is all about and trust me those kids will not forget the day that they spent with you !
Merry Christmas to you and your family !
Danny,
Thanks so much.
Hope you are doing well.
G-Men have a big game vs the Jets. I recall you being a huge Giants fan.
I remember as a kid my parents taking us down to Levine’s Toy Center Sporting Goods Store on 5th Avenue and 4th Street. Mr. Levine knew my parents well for my brother bought tons of hockey equipment there ranging from sticks, skates, helmuts etc. I also went there for basketball stuff. Around 1976 Julius Erving was giving a free basketball clinic sponsored by Converse up at Bishop Ford HS. My mother dropped me off outside of Levine’s and waited in the car as I went in to make a purchase and get a free ticket to the clinic. The lady inside told me that the tickets were only for minority/underprivileged kids. I went back into the car and told my mom what the lady had said to me. My mom told me to wait in the car for she’s be right back. Needless to say my mom came out of that store with a ticket to that clinic in her hand. I was in 7th grade and had no idea what she said to Mr. Levine but I am guessing that he got the message as did that clueless lady that was behind the counter. The clinic was pretty decent as I remember especially at the end when “The Doctor” did a slam dunk show for the crowd!
Hey Glenn, I was at that clinic too. I used to do the workout in the pamphlet tjat they gave out.
Danny, great story on OB from Boston Globe.
http://bostonglobe.com/sports/2011/12/27/jim-brien-finds-calling-emerson/IF9j2VOtc88ELUC3JnzI9L/story.html