Marvin Baskett and his sister Esther Redington grew up in a hole in the ground. And they wouldn't have had it any other way.
The Playground players defined themselves as Chinese American women through their strength, stamina, and toughness. Ruth Whang, wife of longtime Playground director Paul Whang, explained that many of the girls at the Playground were "little hghter[s| and toughies."'1 Rather than scorning physical strength and agility, many of the Chinese Playground women's teams revered these characteristics. Franche Lee reflected: "I suppose we would have been considered Chinese American hippies of that time. There were not any actual hippies in the 1930s. But we were sort of different [from other Chinese American teenagers]. We were always outside, running around, hiking, playing basketball."23 The Playground women relished their time playing basketball and in doing so, they created a sense of community as athletic women. Jennie Chong Jue, a Playground team member from the 1940s, explained that "[The Blue Stars) were pretty well-rounded. Sure, there were some girls that were boy crazy. We liked boys too, but we also liked basketball. It was our outlet ..... There was camaraderie. We supported each other."2'' Jane Chew Wong, a member of a Playground basketball team in the 1940s, agreed:Usually, the white girls would play it straight. So they would use the dribble dainty like. They would barely movel We would throw the ball way in front of us and then run and catch it. . . . |W]e would be dribbling way ahead of us. Now the guys could dribble as much as they wanted. So, we had to be strategic.14"Dad planned on going up with the house," Marvin said. "He was in construction. He built houses. But he cut off a finger while he was building our house. We had medical bills.Esther fondly recalls the potbellied stove that heated the house and the wood-burning iron kitchen stove.Playing "one-on-one" instead of zone defense, the Chinese Playground teams smothered their opponents on defense. This required not only speed but toughness. Beverly Lee, a basketball player at the Playground in the late 1940s, explained: "I would be all over and then try to grab on to the ball. They would just fling me around. But I would hold on until the whistle blew. Then, I kind of walked into the jump ball with this smile."20 This style of defense was often physically aggressive. Lily "Tiger LiI" Leong, a player from the early 1930s, recalled her team's physicality with delight and amusement: "When we played, we didn't fool around. We had fun, but, let's just say our opponents didn't have an easy time with our elbows."21 Another Playground player, Josephine Chan, explained: "As I always say, Mary and Rachel, they play dirty. They know how to use their elbows and push."2' The Playground style of playing basketball contrasted with the slower pace that was characteristic of non-Playground teams in the recreational league.-11 While Playground teams rapidly pushed the ball down the court on offense, opponents walked as they dribbled the ball down the court and relied on rebounding for points or possession of the ball. This slower style of play tended to burn the clock and focused on preventing the opposing team from scoring, rather than on scoring more baskets for one's own team. Lor the Playground teams, using their bodies to trip, hold, and guard was central to their game."We were poor folk," Marvin, 65, said. "We didn't have a bathroom until I was about 7. We had an outhouse."With an up-tempo style of offense, the Playground teams had to be light on their feet and able to move, even if their opponents boxed them in. Rachel Lee, a former member of a Playground team, described the use of her teammales' bodies in strategic ways: "We always won. We knew how to win. Jo used her elbows. Esther used her feet."18 A player from the 1940s remembered the signature Playground style of play:It was built by their father, Raymond, in 1947, and it's where Marvin and Esther grew up with sister Leatha.Marvin and Esther laughed as they stood outside their childhood home Friday and recalled the outhouse, the chickens and rabbits they raised and ate, the floods and challenges of life in a hole in the ground.So why did their father build a basement house?Read my blog updates at? gazette.com/blogs/sidestreetsThey agreed on why it was so much fun: "Because we had the best parents anyone could have," Marvin said.The Grant Company is trying to recover its equipment, which was marked. Grant said the Washington County sheriff's deputies assigned to the case suggested looking on Craigslist.Though it's unusual today, the basement house wasn't unique at the time. Several others were scattered around Knob Hill. Eventually, most were finished as traditional houses, like one on the northwest corner of Alexander Road and Cache la Poudre Street."A craftsman takes great pride in his tools," Grant said. "There's something inherently disgusting about someone taking part of your livelihood."Drive by it at 930 Iowa Ave., east of downtown in Knob Hill and see it for yourself. (I've posted photos and a map on my blog.)PLAYING A SPEED GAMEOriginally, it had two bedrooms, a kitchen, living room and utility room. It had running water and electricity but no bathroom for a few years.Mateer said his company sometimes parks a forklift in front of its shipping container. That technique has so far been theft-proof, Mateer said.The theft happened Nov. 5 last year from the site of St. Juan Diego Catholic Church. The Grant Company is the general contractor for the project.
Read my blog updates at? gazette.com/blogs/sidestreets
Author: BILL VOGRIN
No comments:
Post a Comment