The fans are sitting courtside enjoying the game. Photographers capture the action. Music blares and an announcer entertains the crowd.
This is not the Staple Center, and the crowd isn't watching the Lakers.
This is an outdoor, concrete court at Gladys Park in the heart of the Skid Row district of Downtown Los Angeles.
This is the home of the SKIDROW 3ON3 STREETBALL LEAGUE.
Each week the league provides lessons for players and entertainment for a community beset by homelessness, drug addiction, and mental illness. Skid Row is also home to families, and individuals looking for ways to beat homelessness, drug addiction and mental illness.
The SKIDROW 3ON3 STREETBALL LEAGUE has been part of the fight for the soul of Skid Row since its founding two years by OG 'n Service Association, a self-help community organization.
Manuel (OG Man) Compito is the driving force behind the league. He and his organization have been active in Skid Row for years, seeking ways to build community through efforts to clean the streets, cover graffiti-scarred walls with artistic murals, and other basic measures that residents can accomplish on their own.
The basketball league started at a Father's Day tournament in 2007, drawing 10 teams to the court at Gladys Park. The player went at it, and many families jockeyed along the sidelines for the best vantage point to view the competition. Family values in action. Quality time in real time.
The tournament's success led the OG 'N Service Association create a full time league. The league embraced everyone, and drug addicts, drug dealers, and gang bangers filled the rosters of the various squads. Compito saw the league as a vehicle to advance its self empowerment programs: Mentoring men in preparation for re-entry into mainstream life; reuniting families, instilling habits of entrepreneurship and community service.
The league had no government funding, but Compito and his colleagues scratched donations from the community here and there.
"We did it ourselves," Compito says. "That is the cornerstone of our philosophy — don't wait for a handout. Let whatever we create grow from the enthusiasm and efforts of the community."
Compito set out to build the league into a classroom a sense of values could be taught, along with the skills necessary to survive, prosper and contribute to society.
"It is more than just a game!" Compito says, noting that ball has been a powerful force in the players' lives. Many of the men had served time in prison and were estranged from their families. Some came to the court at Gladys Park filled with frustration, anger, and troubles handling any kind of authority.
"We do not judge men in this league," Compito says. "We did not want to exclude drug dealer because that would defeat our purpose of having any influence of over them. We take away the negativity and insert positive thinking."
Compito knew the players presented a potentially volatile mix, with drug dealers and addicts — and members of rival gangs — sharing the court.
"The first thing we said was that no drugs could be sold in the park during games," Compito says. "People do not think the Skid Row Community is family oriented. That is not true. We are about family and kids. We do not want children around drugs, and we make sure that children do not see drug activity."
Compito also made it clear that the league would be an authority in the lives of anyone who wanted to play. Attendance to all league affairs became mandatory, and punctuality was required. Players would be held accountable — and expected to hold themselves accountable for their behavior.
Compito uses an old basketball tradition — taking exception to foul calls by referees — as an opportunity to teach. He tells the players learning how to respect authority can teach them to manage their anger and have respect women.
"You don't like the calls the refs make," says Compito, "but what happens if you don't like what your boss or judge says, or your parole officer — or your wife?"
Compito also encourages the drug dealers to get involved in alternative entrepreneurial endeavors.
"We tell them they have entrepreneurial skills but they are not practiced in a positive manner," he says. "Instead of doing something that destroys the community, do something that can build the community."
Community service is another way that the league lets players know that this brand of basketball is more than just a game. On some days the men show up to play but find buckets and rooms are waiting for them. Compito informs them that no games will be played. Instead, they will do community outreach, cleaning the streets of trash.
"It gives them a sense of responsibility and returns something to the community — and that is helping them develop self-esteem," he says. "After all, the league is for the community, and the fans of the league are just as important, if not more so, than the players."
This kind of education and socialization process can only occur if the students trust the teacher. So how does Compito inspire trust in men who do not give it easily? He starts from some common ground as a native of Los Angeles who found himself on the wrong side of the law as a teenager. He got kicked out of several local high schools and served five years in prison. While a member of the Black Panther Party in the 60's, he became involved with community self-empowerment organizations, and that involvement never ended.
Indeed, Compito believes that he is just like the men who he teaches.
"I can relate to them on their level, yet impart the wisdom that I have learned in the 'institutions of hard knocks' that they have experienced themselves."
The grass-roots efforts of the SKIDROW 3ON3 STREETBALL LEAGUE eventually drew more attention and support from city officials and the business community. The City Attorney's office paid for uniforms for the players. Nike Corp. recently donated funds to renovate the court at Gladys Park. The league has received a proclamation from the Los Angeles City Council.
Compito took all of the leagues players and staff to City Hall to share in the spotlight.
The league has also served as a model for other community-based efforts, paving the way for a Skid Row Photography Club and an organization called Skid Row Films.
The league has also expanded with a women's division that has developed rapidly.
Compito says the women grasped the concept that "it is more than just a game" faster than the men. They have been involved in all areas of planning and development.
"Responsibility is nothing new to them," says of the women of the league. "They take care of kids and men while also working and going to school."
A recent day found Compito sitting in Gladys Park, watching two of the women's teams vie for victory. The score was tied, and whichever team made the next basket would win. A player with lesser skills than the others suddenly found herself with the ball. She tried in desperation to pass the ball, but all of her teammates were covered. She finally took the shot herself. The ball bounced around the rim before falling through the net. Her team won the game.
The unlikely hero looked more relieved than excited as her teammates showered her congratulations. A huge smile came across her face when she finally realized what she had done. Her transformation came right in front of everyone's eyes as she went from doubter to believer.
Compito smiled.
"That is what this league is about," he said. "Tutoring equals empowerment — empowerment brings confidence. That leads to responsible citizenship, community involvement, entrepreneurial endeavors, and love of and for family."
Walter Melton is a writer for the L.A. Garment & Citizen.
Visit Walter Melton's blog at www.scribeskidrow.blogspot.com.
Photos by Walter Melton
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