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photo by Marcus Frazier
Paris Issac Jr., 10, goes for a shot as he and friend Isiah Frances, 12, played basketball at Concord Avenue Park Sunday afternoon.
Summertime showdown is a classic
Published Tuesday, June 10, 2008
NATCHEZ — Ten-year-old Paris Issac Jr. issued the challenge.
Isiah Francis — older and not to be trumped by a mere child — accepted.
“I bet I can beat you in basketball,” Issac said.
“I bet you can’t,” Francis, 12, said.
The result was summer at its best.
As the sun glared down on the smaller basketball court at Concord Avenue Park around 6 p.m. Sunday afternoon the two four-foot-tall athletes set out to find out who was the best.
They tangled arms as they maneuvered round the court with Issac playing commentator.
“He shoots,” said Issac, as he attempted to add points to his side of the invisible scoreboard that recorded no numbers.
“And he blocks!” he then added as his opponent closed the distance with offense.
The temperature seemed to soar along with the imagination of the two boys as they called fouls, ball checks and their turn for free throws.
The sun slowly tilted the angle of the shadows on the half court as the boys played on, locked in a concentration that is only found in fun and unfortunately lost with age.
Comments
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on June 10, 2008 at 6:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This story certainly brings back memories of the past.
However, the court was dirt, the backboard was made of cypress boards and the goal did not have a net. Of course, the backboard was nailed to a oak tree. In addition to one on one, two on two, etc we played Horse and/or 21.
I suppose those were the good old days, but I hope the good old days are ahead and not behind me. :o)
Posted by drawpaintsing (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL! That it fun, isn't it gemccull. I do that with my son. It's making me smile now.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 7:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I used to love summertime...swimming during the early afternoon to beat the heat...and then being able to shoot hoops til nine in the evening before the outside lights had to be turned on to let me shoot somemore...thanks for the story Marcus, thanks for showing us old-timers that some of the good things never change.
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