Perennial Hoops

Our street has but a few school-age kids. You never see them throwing baseballs or having a game in the cul-de-sac. You never see them hitting tennis balls across an imaginary net. You rarely see them throwing a football. But you'll see them shooting hoops almost every day of the year --- especially during the season playoffs.

Choi, the early teen across the street is finally shooting about six freethrows in a row. I remember when his ball could barely reach the basket. Juma, from down a few doors went to an Alabama college on a basketball scholarship. His little sister plays a little out front now.

There are four free-standing backstops in the street or on driveways here. The association prohibits them, but no one takes them down or moves them. Some rules are better broken.