And some more.....
So, even old b-ballers can dream, eh?
Friday, February 05, 2016
BARN BALL
In The Greatest Game in the World, Part 1, I mentioned that during our grade school and high school days, we often played basketball in Bobby Roth's barn, particularly in the winter time when the snow was piled high on the outdoor courts. It was often so cold that we played in full winter gear until we got heated up - then we could take off the gloves and jackets! We would sweep away the hay and dirt and play for hours. This picture is very reminiscent of our barn ball - although we certainly never had any girls playing our game!
Looks like an NBA 3 line in the next to last picture - impressive!!!
ReplyDeleteMight be the new men's NCAA line - don't know for sure.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing missing in the Inglenook Barn is a microbrewery over by the fireplace!!
ReplyDeleteI often played basketball in the neighbor's barn. I think that is where I learned how to play. It was a challenge as the floor boards were uneven and hard your knees!
ReplyDeleteBob
Hello guys, Good to hear from you Bob. I also played in a barn, but it was our own barn and it was limited in that it was only about 16 feet wide so I was limited on shooting only straight away and no corner shots for me. I had no neighbors that played so I would spend hours after farm work in that barn. I am sure Keith would understand when I say after farm work because we both had dairy farms, which meant milking by 6 in the morning and then work on the farm and then more milking until dark. Fortunately we had 1 light in the barn so I could shoot for several hours until bed time. I did this from about age 8 until we started organized BB in the 5th grade with Mr. Whiteman [remember the underhand free throws we were required to shoot] I really loved our BB times as not only did we get to compete with other guys but it meant I got a chance to get away from the farm for a change. I am not complaining about my farm upbringing, but it did limit my ability to socialize with other guys. Basketball for me was a way to see other aspects of life besides the farm. I made a decision early in my life that I would not be a farmer when I grew up. Now as I look back,after 70 years, I appreciate the time I spent on the farm and one of the best memories is the many hours I spent in the barn developing my skills as a future NPHS basketball player. That was my childhood dream, to be on a varsity BB team in the state of Indiana. [I think that was fairly common in the 50’s and 60’s.] Enough about me and my childhood, how are the rest of you handling being 70, or some of you getting close to it. I have heard from Fred several times since our 50th get together but not much from anyone else. Let us know how you are doing. Thanks Doug for starting this by bringing up the barn basketball experience. I know some of you did not have much experience with barn BB, but respond about how you are doing. Phil
ReplyDeletePhil – wonderful memories of barn ball!! And thanks for the request that we get updates from other NPHS fellows - if any of you have other email addresses, let me know – Caprarotta???]
ReplyDeleteYes, this is the year that the leading edge of the baby boomers turn 70; some of us already, some of us soon. I still play basketball once a week, and still hold my own generally speaking. Age came up recently and when I said that I would soon be 70, there was much scoffing. A good thing I guess. I had to show them my driver’s license, and one fellow said “Sure – next week you will probably show up with a license that says you are 90!” Would be a good one if I could figure out how to do it legally
Thanks again for your contribution
Hi Guys,
ReplyDeleteNice to hear from you guys. One of my favorite childhood memories was time spent at Phil's playing barn ball. Every so often I would take extra clothes to church and go home with Phil for the afternoon. Depending on the season we would play baseball in the front yard or barn ball in his barn. As Phil noted the barn floor was a bit narrow and I do not remember ever playing more than one on one but we still had a great time. I learned a lot of BB playing in his barn but still never could stop him from driving baseline and scoring so I ended up losing most of our games. It was still a great time and will be a memory that I will not forget. Our farm also had a barn with an ideal spot for a goal but I never could convince my dad that we needed a bb goal. He had this strange idea that the barn floor was needed to store crops and/or house livestock! This met when Phil would come to my house we would play at my basket attached to the garage with a grass/mud floor which never really worked very well in the winter months.
On a side note one of the first things I did when my grandson reached the age (4 years old) was to make certain I had a bb goal for him. It is not a barn goal but we have a great time. He is now nine years old and one of the most enjoyable things we do is to watch him play bb. He has turned into a "scoring machine" for his team. He also plays baseball and football and although they live in GA we frequently go down and watch him play. Before you think that we can afford to frequently to GA let me remind you that my son works for Delta Airlines and we have flying privileges (fly stand-by at no cost).
Sue and I are very fortunate and blessed that we both enjoy good health. In addition to spending time with grandkids I spend time volunteering at the Carroll County Farm Museum and also volunteer at our church.
Life is treating us very good and except for the recent 30" snow (which matches some of the bigger snow totals that I remember from IN) things are going well in MD.
Thanks Doug for allowing us to share. It would be nice to hear how the rest of you all are doing.
Keith
Keith – thanks for the great stories! We too have some grandkids that are getting close to b-ball age; bought an outdoor hoop for the 5th and 2nd graders; don’t think that they are yet convinced that it is the Greatest Game in the World!!
ReplyDeleteOne of the nice thing about Bobby Roth’s barn is that it was plenty wide and plenty high, but like most barns, the lighting wasn’t so great. I think that the most we ever played was 3 on 3, but often is was just Bobby vs Doug.
Great to hear from you and some of the return comments from the guys. My barn ball experience was at other houses - we didn't have a barn. I often refer to the term "barn ball" when watching a game where both sides are going after the ball, rolling,pushing,etc. without a travel or foul being called. I also recall our grade school "gym". I think it was a converted chicken house with a potbelly stove and rafters so low you had to watch your arch. Those were good times and I am glad we lived in that era.
ReplyDeleteSteve
Thanks for checking in Steve. One big memory of the grade school gym was that in the winter time, it was really hot by the big stove, and then got colder and colder the farther you got from the stove. Remember the big iron pipes that separated the playing area from the stove? We used to warm up our hands on the pipes until they got too hot.
ReplyDeleteDon't remember much about barn basketball, but do have warm memories of the haymow.
ReplyDeleteBB - I bet it wasn't basket-balling that you were doing in the hay mow!
ReplyDeleteHi Guys,
ReplyDeleteMy barn ball experiences are pretty minimal. We did have a basket in the barn but I never seemed to have much time to make use of it. Besides my basketball abilities were not the greatest and all of you on the floor needed somebody on the sidelines yelling for you. Thanks for giving all of us so much to yell about.
It is good to hear from everyone. Thanks Doug for starting it off. It is hard to believe that we are all turning 70 soon, if not already. As with Keith, Susan and I have been blessed with good health and a very good life. I may be the exception in our group in that I have not fully retired yet but have certainly slowed down. I still enjoy my work and look forward to the time I spend with my few remaining clients.
Ron
Thanks for pitching in Ron. I remember spending time out at your place, but never played any barn ball there that I remember. I do remember the bed time prayers.
ReplyDeleteHi guys. I have been moving around Florida for the last week and a half and have not taken the time to respond. I did play barn ball in grade school. Most of it was at Keith Blosser's in Nappanee. I was the tallest on the team at Union Center! Now Keith is 6 6" and could probably could wrap his hand half way around a basketball. The main thing I remember is the uneven and loose boards resulting in jammed fingers and bloody noses! Tom
ReplyDeleteThanks Tom. I certainly remember your being the tallest player at Union Center – don’t think you were the tallest at NPHS Maybe 5th tallest on our team???
ReplyDeleteNot quite like Roth's barn.
ReplyDelete