By Wilfredo Benitez

For hoop lovers, New York City, THE MECCA of basketball, is the place to be this summer. Forget the dismal NBA lockout and the NBA’s unfulfilling shortened season. There’s competitive high caliber basketball being played in the City. For true fans, summer basketball is a dream come true.

The great thing about NYC summer basketball is that there’s something for everyone. Lamarre Dyson, Executive Director of Young Athletes, Inc., the not-for-profit corporation sponsoring the Rod Strickland/Tiny Archibald tournament, proclaims that “basketball in the City is a tremendous treat.” Well known in NYC basketball circles, Dyson adds, “there’s a healthy mix of NBA stars, collegiate stars, playground legends and ‘wannabes’ all in one area trying to make names for themselves. For the true basketball fan, it doesn’t get better than this.” In addition to basketball instruction, Young Athletes, Inc. provides educational assistance to children ages 8-17 throughout the year. Unlike other tournaments, the Strickland/Archibald tournament features an equal number of Girls’ games.

Over the years, NYC summer basketball has provided countless people with wonderful memories. A game last summer featured NBA players Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury on the same team and in the same backcourt! The dunks were fantastic and the energy that those two NBA stars exhibited was simply unbelievable. The only other NBA player to draw and excite the crowd like that was Rod Strickland. In the excitement, one fan shouted, “this is the real NBA.” The young fella may have a valid point. M

July 1999