It’s a far cry from the bright lights of the arena. The familiar sight of brightly polished parquet floors and fully loaded box seats are nowhere to be found. In its place is a slab of asphalt and cement blocks posing as bleachers. Everything is different; the bounce of the ball, the sound of a swishing net, and the roar of the crowd.
This is street basketball.
In the basketball world, it is most commonly referred to as the “other” game. A game where fundamental skills and half court style of play are left at home and a high flying, freestylin’ version takes center stage.
It’s a game where style points are as important as two points.
In a way, street ball is a basketball purist’s worst nightmare. Old school coaches cringe at the sight of their players going one-on-one against their defender. Coaches shun the playground style because of the emphasis on flashy moves and one-on-one duels and the lack of teamwork and organization.
In street ball, it’s the way of life. Ballers display a style of basketball that never lacks on showmanship and flair; enough that could get them benched in a normal game setting.
This in-your-face style makes the game so appealing, especially to the young inner city kids today. There’s a sense of freedom given to each baller to strut his stuff and work his magic, something he could never do on an organized game. Trash talking and attitude is highly encouraged. Between-the-leg, no-look passes and acrobatic dunks are considered religion. The play is physical, and tense, but all in fun, at least most of the time.
After all, streetball goes by only one credo—-if it looks good, it’s legal.
3 comments:
A fantastic post. Cannot wait to read more.
thank you david. it's always flattering to receive a compliment.
You ain't ever been to a real blacktop unless you've been to the Labo. Yes. The Labo: where if it's bloody, it looks good.
Post a Comment