West 4th Street Courts

Hung out here for awhile on my way to Washington Square to meet a friend (and proceed to Babbo). Saw some amazingly talented middle school kids playing. There were a couple of girls that looked like they could go on to have careers in basketball.

Randomly came upon a game in the second quarter after eating dinner around the area and we stayed till the end. Very interesting and exciting– the players are so aggressive!
It was a nice way to sit down and relax and joining as spectators made me feel like part of the community!

A gem of NY. The summer basketball league that takes place here is a true phenomenon that draws hoards of devoted followers who lend their rowdy support.

Sadly the talent (well, lack thereof) more often than not seems to keep people moving rather than staying to watch hoops in The Cage, but when there is a good game going on, don’t keep it moving and find a spot along a fence. Sadly you can’t see much of the game in the greened walkthru on the corner, but snag a space wherever you can and soak it in.

A.k.a The «Cages» West 4^th St Courts are a classic, iconic New York destination in the heart of Greenwich Village. Some of the best NY street basketball talent in the city play some seriously competitive street ball there. Grab a coffee, falafel, frozen yogurt or whatever from the hundreds of great eats places nearby and chill out watching a game. The other cage hosts some of the best NY handball and paddle ball games in the city. Lots of attitude going on in a city that is not lacking in that department to begin with. The streets of NY on display at their best!

Played PG at St Aedan’s Grammar School
Played PG at St Peter’s Preparatory High School
Played PG for my Fraternity at Rutgers during Greek Intramurals
Every time I balled on these W4th courts, I got dunked-on…by 5’7″ dreadlock-sportin-Rastas…like 2-​handed throwdowns… on my grill
Whatever…I got next, muthfuckas

The 4^th street courts are famous for their history. A lot of things are famous because they are in NY because there are courts like this everywhere.
I just want to share one memory I have of the Cage as we call it in NY. I ran into an old friend back in 1982. We were waking around the Village. We saw someone get shot in the head at the 4^th street Courts, the cage.
My first instinct was to run. She said girl that’s cool let’s stay and watch, I tried to convince her to leave she wouldn’t listen then more shots were fired and she finally left with me. She has always been like that. Back in 1982 there was a lot of crime in NYC. It was mostly random crime. I do not remember any gangs back then maybe there were but not like now.
NYC has been the safest large city in America for several decades. However violent crime is on the rise but it is not getting reported. Crime has gotten worse under Bloomberg but statistics are covered up says NYPD.
The area used to be much more exciting, no chain stores or restaurants, lots of street performers and hardly any crime just random like the shooting. It is just a teenage memory I have. I am still in touch with that friend and her life has gone as predicted.
She still doesn’t know when to stay out of trouble.
Friends are God’s way of apologizing for your family.“
Wayne W. Dyer

This basketball courts is always hustling bustling active with basketball players during the daytime in the spring/​summer months. I have never seen these courts empty as it is always in usage either high school age all the way to 40s age occupied by men. The game is always in high competition with good players who have good defense and strategic game plans. It always generate a good spectator crowd as one waits for a friend at West 4^th Street’s A, C, E, F train station.
Occasionally TV filming is shot on these courts during my passage of travels. Crew from the film studios or production studios will eject passage-​by who stand at the sidewalk to watch. Former NBA players played in these courts. A signage inscribes: «Musical instruments may not be played in the park or adjacent sidewalks between 10PM and 8AM without a permit. Please respect others.»

History in the making!
There’s a lot of history at this park.
Amateur tournament is held from June till about early September.
— — –
A lof of NBA stars come to the court from time to time.
Baron Davis was here 2 years ago…
Anthony Mason (formerly of the Knicks) was on a dynasty team over a decade ago… won about 5 titles.
A lot of CBA stars like John Strickland n Kareem Reid can be seen causing havoc on the courts…
One of the greatest playground legends that I got a chance to see play here was ex NBA player, Lloyd «Sweet Pea» Daniels. The guy was 6’7 and handled the rock like Jason Kidd… Silky Smooth on the court.
— — — -
From time to time,
The cougars will pass by on the outside to try and get a young baller ogling.
or
The young ladies swinging by with the super mini skirt with the hopes of making one of these CBA ballers holler…
or
That cutie with jungle fever pretending to just be passing by.
or
The voluptuous woman who forgot to put on a top and has circled the courts for the 19^th time in 40 minutes.
— — — — — -
The only main negative with this court:
I would like to see it made into a dome, so rain-​outs don’t become a factor.
Also, the president of the league needs to be more innovative with the running of his league, so people can actually keep track (stats, schedule etc)…

Waiting for a friend on West 4^th? Catch a game!
It’s amazing the antics that you will catch out here during the summer. Former pro basketball players, musicians, locals… all coming out to flex and show their worth on the courts. Whether you like basketball or not, some of these guys really put on a show. If you have not spent at least 20 minutes people watching and sidewalk gawking near these courts, then you are seriously missing out.
Lots of tournaments are hosted here and they often have events with region DJ’s etc… You never know who you will run into while down here.
They’ve also got handball courts.
Everyone seems like an equal on these courts… That’s what I like. It’s a real slice of NYC.

There always seems to be an entertaining game going on here. Oh, except for yesterday. It was a 4-​on-​4 and it seemed like it was the 4 tall, over-​16 guys versus the under-​13 squad of a local school. It didn’t help that 3 of the u13 players couldn’t hit a shot. Did I mention there was practically no defense? None of this would’ve bothered me save for the fact that the older kids were talking smack. You’re playing little kids!!! It was like that old Sportscenter commercial with the anchors posting up 8 year olds.
If anyone is a half-​decent point point guard, you could make a name for yourself here by making everyone else look better than they actually are.

This is of course one of the most famous basketball courts in NY. I have passed by here many a time but only got to play here twice. Once was about 6 years ago with some old friends balling at 9AM on a saturday morning. The other was playing on the opposite team of former L.A. Laker Smush Parker. his team destroyed mine but it is still pretty cool to see an NBA player do his thing on the court. I probably only got off about 3 shots at the basket myself (hitting only one). We got destroyed. The games here are usually very physical, make sure your health insurance is up to date. If you are not playing just enjoy the games and the Tournaments that are being run around this time of the year.
–Definitely an alternative place to go besides Rucker Park, all the way in Uptown Harlem USA.
i ALSO heard that the crowd was so crazy a few years back when Tracy McGrady and Chris Webber came here to film a mountain dew Code Red commercial. I had kind of heard it was coming up but was just not in the area that day. So, check it out, pass by here when you are in the West 4^th area.

Back in my baller days, this was where I would come every weekend. Yeah, I actually had game. And I was never the last one picked either, just so you know. Seeing me now, you think «water boy». But back then, I was the Filipino version of Mugsy Bogues, though in my mind I was the Filipino John Starks.
Nowadays, I’m lucky to just get close to the fence to watch a game. Watching semi-​pro athletes running up and down the court playing the game I love so much, I can literally stay there for hours. This is THE place to catch a great pick-​up game without having to go up to Rucker Park.
And if you’re not interested in basketball, there’s even a section where people play handball. We’re not talking the handball we played as kids, either. We’re talking semi-​professionals who curve the ball, serve it at 1000 MPH from between their legs. These cats are off the hook.

I was at West 4^th street, near the a playground of sorts where young urban athletes thrust an orange ball in the air until it landed in a circle. It was 8:30pm, and I was drawn back. Back to the mid 80’s before I met my beloved. I used to frequent this area, and solicit naughty bitches for some frunching action. There was this one in particular, and I knew her as The Pigeon. She was vessel in which I could lay my love pipe for a few hours. Oh so satisfying! I called her The Pigeon because she bred the filthy creatures in her apartment on Christopher Street. The bastards were flying everywhere… laying eggs in bookcases, crapping on love seats. It was a breeding ground for disease and filth. And I loved it. Sometimes, The Pigeon would ask me to rub maple syrup on my arms and roll them around in a bucket of pigeon feathers. She would coo. I’d flap my arms. Thankfully, she was on the pill, because we’d definitely have made an egg. or two… or three that night. Anyway, I contemplated heading over to this Elite soirée, but I decided against it. I am misunderstood in ways that the Unilocalsters will likely never comprehend. I headed home, to fill my lonely bed with naked flesh, and melancholy thoughts of a bird I once knew all too well.

According to some, this place has lost its edge when it comes to streetball, but if you want one of the best examples in the city, definitely check this place out, its right outside the ACE BDFV stop at West 4^th. Just hang on the fence and watch the games. Its pretty small and almost always crowded (must be a lot of people with nightjobs).
This is the courts where official streetball tourneys are held, men and women, and its enormous. Countless number of teams, all with uniforms, come to compete (there’s refs, time limits, etc.) Its really great to watch, especially when I was bored working at the bar you just sit and enjoy.
Another great thing about this court, and actually more interesting than the bball, is the handball/​suicide/​wallball whatever you may call it. We called a similar version of it suicide upstate, but you use a tennis ball or raquet ball or whatever and smack the ball against the wall and you have to keep up the pace with the other player using bounce numbers as a reference. Its a tough hand-​eye game, and its fun to watch for a little bit before being on your way.