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Evenings at Miller Street Park are filled with sights and sounds of basketball
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By Michelle Brooks mbrooks@newstribune.com
Athletic leaps, quick moves, a little rough-housing and some trash talk preceed the bang and snap as the ball rattles the hoop and drops through net.
That's an average evening moment at The Blacktop, Jefferson City's Miller Street Park basketball court, where 10 men are on the court and more on the sidelines waiting for their pick-up game.
“It's rough out here,” said Dave Eian, comparing The Blacktop competition to the Simonsen 9th-grade Center basketball team. “But it's fun. Whoever shows up wants to play the game.”
At 6-feet 4-inches, Eian hopes to grow taller and to take his skills to the college level. That's why he seeks the older, more experienced players at the Miller Street court.
“It helps me get better, to work on my shot out here,” Eian said. “I need somebody I can practice on.”
The street ball style helps develop those skills, said longtime player Mark Jenkins.
The Blacktop is similar to the double-rimmed, concrete courts in Sikeston that molded him into a Division 1 player.
“I come here to watch the generations,” Jenkins said. “And they see me out here, I played D-1 basketball at SIU (Southern Illinois University-Carbondale).”
Jenkins, who finished his degree at Lincoln University and now works for RR Donnelley, said he feels like a role model.
“I'm a young black man who did get an education and did get a scholarship,” Jenkins said. “You can make it.”
Basketball, his first love, contributed to that success.
“I'm a competitive person,” Jenkins said. But “I see the youth and see the future. With 20 guys on the court every day, someone is going to be somebody.”
Some in the community may assume the worst about what goes on at the neighborhood park.
“You can't say anything if you haven't been out here,” Jenkins said. “Just because you see a bunch of black people in the circle, doesn't mean there's a fight going on.
“We're civilized people; that (stereotype) hurts.”
“I want to be looked up to, as a gentleman. It's about the way you carry yourself - dress nice and act like you have some sense.”
That kind of honor can be seen in The Blacktop culture, based on respect and honesty.
Even without officials or schedules, games still follow a protocol.
If teenagers are on the court and young adults show up to play, the younger players will hand over the court.
And fouls are on an honor system. “Sometimes there's arguing,” Jenkins said. Then the joke is “the ball tells the truth,” as they choose a spot on the court to shoot off for the decision.
“It's pretty organized, everybody knows (what to do),” Jenkins said.
The Blacktop has its own language too. If a shot is missed or a play miscued, teammates don't hold back harassing the one who made the mistake. But it's not for cruelty; it's for fun.
“We get to speak our language here,” said Steven Burton, 17, who walks from Dunklin Street. “We cuss and laugh about it (and do) not worry about getting in trouble.
“We are the people.”
On The Blacktop “we act like we want to,” Jenkins said. “We talk and joke and call names; we're just having fun. “If a white guy misses a shot, he'll get picked on, too.”
New players as well as regulars are welcome on the court, they agreed.
The Miller Street Park is one of the more heavily used neighborhood parks, said J.J. Gates, park resources division director for Jefferson City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department.
“We try to keep up with the nets and backboards, knowing it's a popular place to play basketball,” Gates said.
And the patrons take ownership of it, too, like picking up trash and taking care of the place, said Toma Walton, 17.
“It's a perfect spot,” Jenkins said
A couple of outdoor lights would allow them to play longer, Eian noted.
“I love this place,” Burton said. “It's a great place, with friends to shoot (with) and be together.
“I love these guys, they're like my brothers.”
The rules
* 10 men on a court, usually playing a full-court game.
* Someone on the sideline calls “next” or “downs,” which means they get to choose their team to play the winner of the current game. They can choose from others on the sidelines or from the losing team.
* The first game of the evening goes to 15, as well as the last of the night. But the rest in between are to 12.
* Individuals call their own fouls.
* Showing respect and having fun can co-exist.
That's an average evening moment at The Blacktop, Jefferson City's Miller Street Park basketball court, where 10 men are on the court and more on the sidelines waiting for their pick-up game.
“It's rough out here,” said Dave Eian, comparing The Blacktop competition to the Simonsen 9th-grade Center basketball team. “But it's fun. Whoever shows up wants to play the game.”
At 6-feet 4-inches, Eian hopes to grow taller and to take his skills to the college level. That's why he seeks the older, more experienced players at the Miller Street court.
“It helps me get better, to work on my shot out here,” Eian said. “I need somebody I can practice on.”
The street ball style helps develop those skills, said longtime player Mark Jenkins.
The Blacktop is similar to the double-rimmed, concrete courts in Sikeston that molded him into a Division 1 player.
“I come here to watch the generations,” Jenkins said. “And they see me out here, I played D-1 basketball at SIU (Southern Illinois University-Carbondale).”
Jenkins, who finished his degree at Lincoln University and now works for RR Donnelley, said he feels like a role model.
“I'm a young black man who did get an education and did get a scholarship,” Jenkins said. “You can make it.”
Basketball, his first love, contributed to that success.
“I'm a competitive person,” Jenkins said. But “I see the youth and see the future. With 20 guys on the court every day, someone is going to be somebody.”
Some in the community may assume the worst about what goes on at the neighborhood park.
“You can't say anything if you haven't been out here,” Jenkins said. “Just because you see a bunch of black people in the circle, doesn't mean there's a fight going on.
“We're civilized people; that (stereotype) hurts.”
“I want to be looked up to, as a gentleman. It's about the way you carry yourself - dress nice and act like you have some sense.”
That kind of honor can be seen in The Blacktop culture, based on respect and honesty.
Even without officials or schedules, games still follow a protocol.
If teenagers are on the court and young adults show up to play, the younger players will hand over the court.
And fouls are on an honor system. “Sometimes there's arguing,” Jenkins said. Then the joke is “the ball tells the truth,” as they choose a spot on the court to shoot off for the decision.
“It's pretty organized, everybody knows (what to do),” Jenkins said.
The Blacktop has its own language too. If a shot is missed or a play miscued, teammates don't hold back harassing the one who made the mistake. But it's not for cruelty; it's for fun.
“We get to speak our language here,” said Steven Burton, 17, who walks from Dunklin Street. “We cuss and laugh about it (and do) not worry about getting in trouble.
“We are the people.”
On The Blacktop “we act like we want to,” Jenkins said. “We talk and joke and call names; we're just having fun. “If a white guy misses a shot, he'll get picked on, too.”
New players as well as regulars are welcome on the court, they agreed.
The Miller Street Park is one of the more heavily used neighborhood parks, said J.J. Gates, park resources division director for Jefferson City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department.
“We try to keep up with the nets and backboards, knowing it's a popular place to play basketball,” Gates said.
And the patrons take ownership of it, too, like picking up trash and taking care of the place, said Toma Walton, 17.
“It's a perfect spot,” Jenkins said
A couple of outdoor lights would allow them to play longer, Eian noted.
“I love this place,” Burton said. “It's a great place, with friends to shoot (with) and be together.
“I love these guys, they're like my brothers.”
The rules
* 10 men on a court, usually playing a full-court game.
* Someone on the sideline calls “next” or “downs,” which means they get to choose their team to play the winner of the current game. They can choose from others on the sidelines or from the losing team.
* The first game of the evening goes to 15, as well as the last of the night. But the rest in between are to 12.
* Individuals call their own fouls.
* Showing respect and having fun can co-exist.
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ODF wrote on Sep 25, 2008 9:05 AM:
I spent 2 hours in a kindergarten class and learned that teachers are not paid enough. ... I was glad she didn't leave me alone. (chaos would have ensued)
Amen, naturally. Every time I visit my son's school the one thing I'm thankful for is that I am not a teacher! It takes a special type of person to do that day in and day out!! LOL!! "