March 14, 2012

Text from South Lake Union

The Basketball Court at Denny and Ninth

Kelly O

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I'd guess that almost everybody in this city has driven on Denny Way and passed by that outdoor basketball court on Ninth Avenue. And many of you have probably seen people playing basketball on that court. Well, let me assure you that what you've seen only resembles the sport called basketball.

I have sat in my car and witnessed both teams miss 33 shots in a row.

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I have seen games where teams of eight play teams of seven, making me worry it's a white-boy version of that basketball-like Aztec game where the losing team is ritually slaughtered.

I have seen men play in boots. In sandals. In Crocs. In bare feet.

Once, I saw a real player steal the ball four times, drive down the court and dunk four times, after which he packed up his stuff and fled.

Any real hoopster would rather get his ass kicked by a better player than run with lesser gamers.

On Denny and Ninth, basketball is like fourth-grade soccer: It's fun, noncompetitive, and everybody gets a participation trophy.

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Comments (10) RSS

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yeah, so? and your books suck. so what's your point?

Posted by legacy builder on March 14, 2012 at 3:50 PM · Report

Sounds like #1 has a case of butthurt over being a crappy basketball player.

Posted by Rip City Hustle on March 15, 2012 at 1:52 PM · Report

Why does anyone ever pay any attention to Sherman. He's like a less interesting version of Andy Rooney.

Posted by Cyrtoidia on March 19, 2012 at 9:49 AM · Report

That picture is genius.

Posted by JF on March 19, 2012 at 11:02 AM · Report

The real hoops outside have always been at Green Lake. And the best games are inside at the community centers in the Rainier Valley. 9th and Denny has always sucked.

That picture is a classic "basketball is about jumping really high, so I just jump really high in random places for no reason." This is how software engineers play basketball.

Posted by nullbull on March 19, 2012 at 8:39 PM · Report

Haha I've hooped there before and couldn't agree more with this article!

Posted by B RaBBiT 26 on March 19, 2012 at 9:35 PM · Report

Nailed pick up bb in the NW.

Posted by handscrape on March 23, 2012 at 10:45 AM · Report

White guys, fat chicks and midgets are the only things left in this country to make fun of without being labeled an insensitive bigot. The shitty writers of The Stranger, with their white liberal guilt, have capitalized on the former, as Lindy West bit off the self-promoting head of Dan Savage for commenting on one of the latter.

Posted by LMNOP on March 26, 2012 at 5:03 PM · Report

"I have seen games where teams of eight play teams of seven, making me worry it's a white-boy version of that basketball-like Aztec game where the losing team is ritually slaughtered."

Classic!!

Posted by NativeSun on April 10, 2012 at 11:29 AM · Report