Skip to main content

My interest in basketball originated in Lawrence, Massachusetts - kind of

Image
By

Bill Russell's former home, Reading, MA

How the Hell did a 5'9" guy with limited athleticism get so involved with basketball? Well, I have to give credit to the city of Lawrence, Massachusetts. No, I didn't live there, but my high school friend did - until he moved next door to me in Reading, Massachusetts.

As I learned later, it appears that every young male in Lawrence played basketball. My friend, Dick, did, and he got me interested. A hoop in the back yard was the start, even though it was a late one by most standards - with me as a high school senior.

Then came college in Lowell, Mass. where most of my friends came from nearby Lawrence - and yes, played basketball. We played in the college gym constantly - between classes - during skipped classes - during any spare moments.

Later in life it was pickup games at the YMCA and a few leagues, but nothing more organized than that. Early on, when I wasn't seeing the ball much, I learned from Bill Russell's book that rebounds usually came off the opposite side of the hoop from which the shot was taken - and became an ace rebounder despite my size disadvantage, getting great position and going after every errant shot. Russ just happened to be a neighbor, living down the street in Reading. 

If I wasn't going to be passed the ball, I was going to get it myself. Taking down offensive and defensive rebounds got the job done. I played tough defense and could occasionally get on an offensive roll. I played almost every day. I just loved the game.

A severe knee injury cut my playing career short in my mid-30's, but I maintained interest in the game, watching the pros and college kids, and even Biddy leagues. Now I write about basketball and the Boston Celtics. 

My friend, Dick, passed away years ago. At what is now known as UMass/Lowell, as a freshman we were assigned alphabetically. My Lawrence friends were named LaScola, LaPierre, Lally and Langevin. They all left or flunked out. Must have been the classes missed in favor of hoops. I graduated. Still don't comprehend how! 

.


Labels:

Comments

  1. Laura BushAugust 27, 2021 at 2:04 AM

    The information which you have provided is very good and essential for everyone. Keep sharing this kind of information. Thank you. Basketball Match Previews

    ReplyDelete
  2. hoosiercoopNovember 22, 2025 at 12:42 PM

    Hoosier Elite Basketball truly stands out with its dedication to player growth and teamwork. Their training approach builds confidence, skills, and discipline for young athletes aiming to elevate their game. Read more info about Basketball Tournament in Indianapolis This Weekend

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Elm Street Nightmare

By
 A true-and-suspenseful horror tale of haunting, homicides and the hunt for triple-murderer, Daniel Laplante - as told by the cops that were there By Lt. Thomas Lane (Ret.)  Daniel Laplante - cold, calm, clever, calculating- Photo: YouTube   Elm Street  surfaces on six (6) occasions in the Laplante saga: 1.) He  resided on Elm Street  in Townsend, Massachusetts  2.) He  kidnapped a woman  at gunpoint on  Elm Street, Pepperell , Massachusetts 3.) That kidnapped woman fled to the Gillogly residence on Elm Street after escaping from the armed fugitive, Laplante. 4.) He was arrested and transported to Massachusetts State Police Barracks on Elm Street in Concord . 5.) He was  tried, convicted   and sentenced for the murders at  Superior Court , corner of  Elm Stree t and Gorham Street, Lowell, Massachusetts. 6.) The author, Thomas Lane, lived on Elm Steet, Pepperell, Massachusetts while a police Sgt./Lt. for the t...
23 comments
Read more

A sorrowful farewell to Kitty's Restaurant (North Reading, MA) as a family tradition

By
  Time to say "Goodbye" to Kitty's Restaurant - my   family's destination and tradition for six generations and more than 80 years. My memories of Kitty's go back to the early-1950's . I would accompany my dad and grandfather on fishing trips to the Ipswich River in North Reading, Massachusetts - followed by a visit to the restaurant on Main Street. In later years, my wife, Linda, and I would eat there with our two kids, Marc and Lisa - and years later - with our two grand daughters - and still later - with our great grandson, Carson. Author and family at Kitty's approx. 10 years ago Kitty's never disappointed. The drinks were big and well-made . The food was terrific - as were the portions. The service was exceptional and we became well-acquainted with the waiters and waitresses. It all worked so very well for many decades. My grand daughter, Courtney , was particularly fond of the restaurant. She was born with cystic fibrosis , and during her fr...
15 comments
Read more

Wemby versus Kareem as rookies

By
 We already know that the Spurs Victor Wembanyama is going to be an NBA phenomenon, but will he surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar by the end of his career. It is highly likely.  I did a "per-36-minutes" comparison between the two stars, mainly because Kareem logged 43.1 MPG in his rookie campaign - while Wemby has been held to only 29.4 MPG. Kareem: 24.1 PPG - 12.1 RPG - 3.4 APG - .518 FG - .653 FT Wemby:  25.9 PPG - 12.9 RPG - 4.5 APG - .463 FG - .796 FT No blocks, steals or 3-pointers were looked at since they were not tracked in Jabbar's first year in the NBA. It should also be noted that Kareem was 22 years old at the time, while Victor started at age 20. Two factors favoring Wembanyama ultimately surpassing Jabbar on any "Best-of-All-Time" charts are his point guard skills , shared by so many European players.  and the fact he is being mentored by Gregg Popovich. His potential seems astounding. But the question remains. Can he garner six Titles and six MVP ...
1 comment
Read more