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It’s three am, there’s too much noise don’t you people ever wanna go to bed?
Here’s a story below from DNA Info on people complaining…about the noise.
-Red
Hoops135@hotmail.com
29 Monday Feb 2016
Posted Blog, Complaining
inTags
It’s three am, there’s too much noise don’t you people ever wanna go to bed?
Here’s a story below from DNA Info on people complaining…about the noise.
-Red
Hoops135@hotmail.com
28 Sunday Feb 2016
Posted Blog, Oscar Robertson
inDoes anyone remember Oscar Robertson, former NBA player filming a Jordache sneaker commercial in the boys schoolyard at Holy Name?
It was during the 1970’s.
Update: (Thanks to Martin C – he cleared the date up with me. He mentioned it might have been July of 1983)
-Red
Hoops135@hotmail.com
26 Friday Feb 2016
Posted by Steve | Filed under Blog, Holy Name of Jesus
24 Wednesday Feb 2016
22 Monday Feb 2016
Posted Blog
in“Everything was bottled up inside of me.” -Paul Auster
Monday morning and I’m standing on the corner of Windsor and ninth.
Cell phone in my right hand. Watching the cars drive by and the people walk by, they have their heads down. One person is talking on their phone.
A bus zooms by – 61?
What?
Wait up, where’s the 75?
What’s the speed limit on the avenue?
How come everyone honks their horn?
Cool out bro.
There’s an argument across the street outside Terrace Bagels between a homeless guy and guy in a business suit. I can’t make out what they are saying. Someone is pissed.
No more Rae and Otto’s. Where can I get my New York Post? Daily News? I need an egg cream bad. They kept the money in a cigar box. What?
No more Pynn’s Deli. Can’t get a good bowl of Rice Pudding. Billy Pynn is the man. So was his brother Mel and sister Virginia.
No one is hanging outside Farrell’s. Was there ever a bookie in Farrell’s that took action? Remember Farrell’s football team? That was real football. On Sunday mornings I would bum a ride outside the bar to go down to Farragut Road.
Associated is gone. (“Seven kids for one Pringles?”) I was so embarrassed using Food Stamps there. They made me feel like a bum. Hey, mom tried. She really did. I would grab the groceries and wait until no one was in the store then pay for them.
That hurt…
Brick oven pizza has replaced Sabella’s. (“Hey Joey, you got the world by the balls!” shouted the late Forte Bellino to the late Joey Corrar when Pop gave Joey a free slice)
I just like cheese and sauce on my slice.
228A Prospect Park West. That was my address. Phone number was 718-788-7307
Shaking my head. Crazy right?
Speaking of Joey and Forte, death sucks. You lose good people. But hey, we all gotta go sometime, right?
Clothes Tree? Great place to buy a pair of jeans.
There’s a Dunkin Donuts on the avenue but no Starbucks! Come on man.
I sit at a table drinking a cup of mud and enjoy a jelly donut. Looking out the window people still climb the church steps for the mid morning service.
“Bless me Father for I have sinned…”
They’re all walking by me and I can’t recognize a single mug.
Who are they?
Where are they from?
I gotta do a double take.
Change. I totally understand it. Don’t explain it to me.
High rent. $3200 a month? What?
Surreal man…Society man!
Some childhood friends have moved to Upstate, New Jersey, Staten Island, North Carolina, Vegas, Texas…One friend went out to California. But hold up, there’s still a few around.
Teesha’s still holding it down on 8th avenue and Prospect. Stay strong girl…
Another long-time Windsor Terrace resident Donnie Kent told me he feels like a stranger in his own neighborhood.
The boys schoolyard at Holy Name turned into a parking lot. Can’t get a decent game of three-on-three. I’d go for a game of taps if we had three guys. But I’m alone.
Spent a lot of time in that yard. Would sneak out of our apartment late at night. Walk there and sit against the church wall thinking. Thinking of what? I had no idea.
The summer league was the best. No such thing as Flagrant one or flagrant two. We learned how to compete. No parents in the yard. Kids. That was it. The way it ought to be.
Helicopter parents? What was that?
Juice box?
LOL
Yo, here’s a question for you. When it snows, do kids shovel the court? Oh wait, they can’t, there’s too many cars to play ball. Edgar and Gammie taught me a valuable one winter night.
“Yo Red, grab a shovel and help us!” I was 12.
Older teens teaching younger guys. That’s how you learned.
In the girls schoolyard there’s no strike zones in chalk on the brick wall.
School just let out. No one’s rushing home to get dressed and head back to the yard.
“I got next!”
Right now I can go for a game of Around the World.
Speaking of Holy Name: Do they still have half-days on Wednesday? I was given a questionnaire six years ago. Question number one: Why did you come to Holy Name of Jesus School?
Great fucking question. I was six years old how did I know?
The uniforms we were wore were awful. Clip on ties.
Wonder if kids hang out on the roof anymore?
At night I’d climb ours. Sit there and look up at the stars. Dreaming.
Is there a stick-ball game going on down on 10th avenue?
Whiffle Ball?
Carmine, Mr. Zoli, La-La and Tommy Hauk.
Wish I could go back and see those guys.
There’s no one hanging out on the parkside.
What happened to Circles?
Park House?
Park Hill?
Bandshell over on 11th street?
Can I still buy a six-pack of beer down in the Bodega on 15th and 8th? I’m 16 years old, they will not ask for I.D.
Corner of 15th and 8th was wild back in the day. Don’t worry, I won’t mention no names.
I’m headed down Windsor Place, going to check out P.S. 154’s schoolyard. Maybe there’s a softball game going on? Farrell’s football practices down there on Saturday afternoon’s were tougher than the games.
The lot is still standing. What are those adults doing on the field playing baseball with the little kids?
Howard Place is empty except for one person running down the subway stairs.
No one on the stoop at 175 Windsor. That was my spot for many years.
Fuller Place just like Howard. Not a soul around.
Did you know Isaac Asimov lived on Windsor Place? Who’s he you ask? Go Google him.
Smiling faces, sometimes pretend to be your friend.
This entry is dedicated to: Vinny Brunton, Joe Farrell, George Brossard, Joe Sullivan, Joe Sabbagh and Michael Rauthier.
-Red
Hoops135@hotmail.com
20 Saturday Feb 2016
Posted Basketball, Blog
inWinter of 1970. Christmas morning to be exact.
The New York Knicks were kicking ass. Red Holzman’s crew were the defending NBA champions led by Willis Reed and Walt Frazier. Their record on the season was 29-11. On that day the Knicks would beat the Buffalo Braves 115-102 behind Dick Barnett’s 24 points.
More importantly it was the day I fell in love with basketball.
A little past 7:00 a.m. and boy was it was cold outside. I was the first one up in my family. We lived in a railroad apartment on the corner of ninth avenue and Windsor Place. Not only was it cold outside, it was freezing in our apartment.
Out in our living room under our artificial Christmas tree was an orange, Voit basketball. I didn’t fill out any Christmas list. Don’t even think I asked for it. Mom knew…
It was love at first sight.
Watching the Knicks was a huge part of my interest. Not to mention watching the older guys from the neighborhood play ball in the boys schoolyard at Holy Name.
Little did I realize 46 years ago, that basketball would help shape my life.
Imagine that?
My older brother once said to me, “You’re going to marry a basketball,” he was almost right. I’ve been having an affair with it ever since.
-Red
Hoops135@hotmail.com
17 Wednesday Feb 2016
Tags
It saddens me to report that Michael Cain has passed away.
He was 55.
Michael was born on February 4, 1961.
The Cain’s lived on Seeley Street for many years.
I was classmates with Michael’s younger brother John; a really cool dude.
Thoughts and condolences to the entire family.
Here’s the Obit from Duffy’s website. http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Michael-Cain&lc=7316&pid=177753473&mid=6806675
Cain, Michael Joseph on February 14, 2016. Beloved son of Patrick and the late Irene (Davis). Loving father of Michael Joseph, Jr. Dear brother of Kathleen, Patrick, Timothy and John. Visiting Thursday February 18, 2-5 and 7-9 pm at M.J. Smith Sons/Joseph G. Duffy Funeral Home, 255 9th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215. Mass of Christian Burial Friday February 19th , 10:00 am at Holy Name of Jesus Church. Interment to follow at Greenwood Cemetery
-Red
Hoops135@hotmail.com
15 Monday Feb 2016
“Knicks gotta make a deal man,” Steve said.
“Yeah you right about that,” countered Jimmy as the two teens were shooting baskets all alone in the boys schoolyard at Holy Name.
Jimmy rebounded Steve’s miss and dribbles out to the left wing.
“I’m serious man, I ain’t going to another game if they don’t make a change,” Steve added.
Jimmy didn’t say anything. He launched a long jump shot. Nothing but net. Only the rims at Holy Name didn’t have nets.
The ball rolled to the fence; Steve chased it down.
“Gimme my change,” shouted Jimmy as Steve threw a two-handed chest pass.
Jimmy caught it, and stepped into his next shot. This one missed, Steve rebounded the ball and dribbled out to the top of the key.
“I like the Warriors, no one’s beating them anyway,” Jimmy explained.
Steve lined up his elbow, launched his jumper and shouted, “STEPH CURRY!” The ball sailed through the air and banked in.
“The bank is open on President’s Day!” Jimmy shouted.
-Red
Hoops135@hotmail.com
14 Sunday Feb 2016
Happy Valentine’s Day…
11 Thursday Feb 2016
Posted Blog, Brooklyn Nets
inCan’t believe it…
Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks both fired their head coach.
We’re at the all-star break. Half-way point of the season.
Red Holzman is rolling over in his grave.
Nets should bring back Kevin Loughery.
-Red
Hoops135@hotmail.com