Basketball

Robert Bobik · Post by **Robert Bobik** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:43 pm

Does anyone know what is now going to happen to these vacant courts? Sounds like the ones at Harding will be removed, but are there plans for Madison? Just keep it an unusable lot? Robert

Stephanie Toole · Post by **Stephanie Toole** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 6:57 am

What a shame! Here we have a wonderful pastor reaching out the the teens and still his actions are shot down.
I have spoken to over 100 teens this summer so far about basketball hoops in Lakewood. They are begging to get some back. Begging and pleading! They just want to play basketball!!! I assured them there were many adults who cared and we would do all we can to get some OUTSIDE hoops back up in Lakewood.

Mark Crnolatas · Post by **Mark Crnolatas** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 8:09 am

Can anyone from City Hall give us an "official" post as to exactly why the hoops were taken down?

It seems the thread is doing quite a bit of guess work.

Mark Allan Crnolatas

Jeff Endress · Post by **Jeff Endress** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 10:44 am

As reported in the PD today, we're not the only city to remove the hoops.

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindeal ... xml&coll=2

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindeal ... xml&coll=2

From the sound of it, the PD is spinning this as a racial issue. I guess that white kids can't jump.

Justine Cooper · Post by **Justine Cooper** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 1:40 pm

It looks like Coventry may be putting them back up since stepping up patrol! That makes more sense! How many crimes have been committed by kids on the basketball courts in Lakewood?

Annie Stahlheber · Post by **Annie Stahlheber** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 1:34 pm

(read knowing I am biased on this topic, AND being sarcastic) -
You are all missing the most important point - Lakewood's basketball program is lacking in talent; youth have lost interest in the best sport in the world

Our basketball program has numbers since these hoops have been removed!! When I was a freshman at LHS we had to have numbers pinned to our shirts so that the coaches could keep us straight (we had about 50 girls try out). We had two full freshman teams - and went to states my senior year! My dad and I currently coach the LHS frosh, and we're lucky to have 10 even try out for the team, let alone enough girls to keep only the kids who have at some point in their life ever dribbled a ball before. Safety and activities for youth is one thing, but being the best basketball program in the region is another.......