“What do you mean, that was a foul? You crazy?”
“F… you. I palmed the ball? There is no palming in the NBA.”
“What? I charged? You blind fool. That was an obvious block.”
“Do that one more time fella, and we will see how effective that mouthpiece is.”
Laker practice?
You kidding? This is just a typical day of senior basketball at Peck Park
The oldest, for instance, is Dan Sullivan, who, at 76, is Mr. Senior Basketball, our mentor and the greatest offensive rebounder over 70 in the history of the game. Well, at least he is really good. So, what if it takes him 45 minutes to warm up before he goes on the court? A retired aerospace executive, Dan is a great, great guy. (He graduated from Notre Dame in 1956, so what do you expect?) We don’t get a lot of playing done during football or basketball season because we are usually lamenting the fate of the Irish. But Dan has a great one-handed shot, and when he makes a basket on me or drives in for a baby hook, I never hear the end of it – from the other guys, not Dan.
Little Dick Loftus, 70, a retired Hughes executive, is 4 feet tall in his stocking feet. Okay, maybe I exaggerate. He is a little taller than that. (He’s also happy that his nickname is fading because two other Richards - Big Dick and Medium Dick - are not playing any more.) But don’t try to take the ball away from him. The guy hits the open man, makes his one-handed push shots, plays hard-nosed defense and does not complain on every call. Every other one. Just kidding, Dick. He gets testy once in awhile if he is late, and we are playing to 15 or 21 instead of 11. “Hey guys,” he says “I didn’t come here to watch you wimps run around in your underwear. Play to 11.”
Howard Gellerman, 63, can be a real jerk sometimes. Okay, shoot me, Howard. But the guy is tough as nails. If he hits you trying to slap the ball away, you think you were clobbered by Rocky Marciano. (Who? Didn’t I tell you we are old?) Feisty, irascible and a great ballplayer, he will shoot the lights out. He’s tough on defense and won’t give an inch. Howard is a psychologist for Los Angeles Unified School District
Then there’s Sam Gnerre, 56. One of my favorite players and one of the world’s all-time nicest guys. I worked with him for over 25 years at the Daily Breeze. He’s the librarian but don’t expect some mousy little guy on the court. Turn your head and nothing but net. Sammy hustles relentlessly. And, does he work for an open shot? Bill Bradley (Who?) has nothing on him. I always want him on my team, because I don’t want him guarding me. (In fact, I like it when no one guards me.)
Cal Beatty, built like a smallish NFL linebacker, is always on the move. You would think the guy has a little motor. Up and down, up and down. He loves to steal the ball and dash for a layup. The only thing I don’t like are his smarmy comments about Notre Dame.
Jeff Johnson is another story. Tall, skinny, and a great, great ball player. Shoots, rebounds, plays defense. He misses his little jump shot from 10-15 feet about every year or so. And complain? I think maybe three, four years ago he might have opened his mouth about something. He’s a guy you always want on your team.
Steve Hanson is another. One of the best players on the court, his strength is handling the ball and shooting. He’ll get into arguments with other players, mainly because he’s good, so there’s often something to argue about. When you are merely window dressing - like me - you don’t do enough to get into a melee.
Greg Gallagher of San Pedro is another nice guy and a retired nurse, who will be 63 in December, and squawks about nothing. But don’t expect to be nursed on the court. He would as soon drive by you and shoot his little left hand hook as look at you. But then he smiles and trots to the other end, while the defender wipes the butter off.
Bill Manuel, a terrific guy, never met a three-point shot he didn’t like – whether from 23 feet or 35. The problem is that he usually makes ‘em. It is not my fault, however, that he is a UCLA honk.
Sweetheart Levi Wade, a gang-interventionist at Toberman Settlement House in San Pedro, loves to talk trash and match his feats on the court to his mouth. Easy-going Allen Franz, a P.V. Marymount professor, is quick, tireless, silent and effective. I wish I were that good. Ray Berrymon, the coolest film editor, among other things, I know, loves to drive, to make three-point shots and to create havoc for the opposition. Irresistible Greg James (who resembles a more famous Miami James – I kid you not) is too tough to even allow on the court. However, sweethearts that we are, we allow him to run us over and don’t regret it. Finally, there is yours truly, 71, the guy who used to hit from downtown but still has a sweet hook shot and longs (hopelessly) for the days he could rebound and play defense.
There are more guys, but I don’t have room to pay tribute to them all. You should get the idea that this activity is not just to exercise or to keep the guys off the street or out of their wives’ hair for a few hours. Hoops is life.
Don Lechman is basketball player(?) and former reporter, critic and editor for the Daily Breeze.
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