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The Rucker Blog
by Stacey Davis
Globally the most recognized name in basketball is Rucker Park. New York City, Community board 10 is currently working on a proposal for the park to become a landmark.
The park located at Frederick Douglass Blvd and 155th street although not a landmark has been a place where players from all over the country call home “Hallow Ground”.
Many stories and NYC legends grew from this asphalt like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Rafer "Skip to my Lou" Alston, Kenny Anderson, Nate "Tiny" Archibald, Wilt Chamberlain, Julius "Dr. J" Erving, Connie Hawkins, Jumpin Jackie Jackson, Jamal Mashburn, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, Chris Mullin, Ron Artest, Lance Stephenson, Jamaal Tinsley, Satch Sanders and Pee Wee Kirkland to name a few.
Street ball legends grew as well Corey "Homicide" Williams, Philip Champion aka Hot Sauce/Sizzle, Kareem "The Best Kept Secret" Reid, John "The Franchise" Strickland, Troy "Escalade" Jackson, Jamar "The Pharmacist" Davis, and Mike “The Icon” Campbell.
The real story of Rucker Park began with Holcombe Rucker (1925-1965) a playground director for New York City Parks & Recreation. Holcombe started NYC Pro-Am basketball tournament however he made education a part of his program. Totally unfunded Holcombe Rucker would go on to deliver his greatest gift to that game of basketball by helping thousands of players obtain college basketball scholarships.
NYC would reward the humble playground director by renaming P.S. 156 playground to Holcombe Rucker playground honoring all of his hard work. Later, Holcombe Rucker continued to teach but on the professional level after earning a degree in education from City College in 1962. He would teach English at Junior High school 139 until he succumb to cancer in 1965.
Chris Rucker, continues his grandfather dream with co-CEO Dexter Gordon with the Rucker Pro-Am summer tournaments and his clothing line. Sharif Rucker, the elder grandson continues the family legacy with Holcombe L. Rucker School of Community Research (http://goo.gl/rxRIC) in the Bronx, NY. The school is a community that collaborates to produce confident young adults with a commitment to creative learning and academic excellence.
This spring if the park is named a landmark by the city the park’s cultural and historical impact on generations of basketball players and fans of the game will forever be remembered.
“Respect Tradition, Respect the Game”
