'Doin It In The Park' Chicago Screening [Recap]

An instagram from our experience last night watching Bobbito Garcia's new documentary 'Doin' It In The Park'

Last nite, we were in for a treat. Rather than watching Game 4 of The Finals, Julian, Maks, and I all attended a screening for a documentary on NYC streetball called 'Doin It In The Park'. It's a film by Bobbito Garcia and Kevin Couliau, with Bobbito likely a familiar name to you for his involvement in the NYC basketball scene, legendary voiceover work for NBA Street Vol. 2 & 3 (I played this game ad nauseum back in the day), and his sneaker with Nike.

Nike put on this screening — one of many to take place across the globe — to further promote the great culture Bobbitto & Couliau were able to capture. We all came away impressed and with more knowledge about the whole NYC basketball scene, which is long regarded as the mecca of basketball. I myself knew of much of the names and background, but there were a lot of new revelations as well (like the culture of prison ball, which is not like the 'myths' we hear about, and the history of all the famous parks). Interviews with former NBAers Kenny "The Jet" Smith, Kenny Anderson, Smush Parker, and fellow NYC streetball legends like Pee Wee Kirkland, Homicide, Fly, and none other than Dr. J Julius Erving all lend a first-hand perspective to the ins and outs of pickup basketball in New York City. Job well-done by Bobbito & Couliau, who were fielding some questions and comments in the Q&A afterward. It seemed like everyone in the theatre enjoyed the documentary and for those not in attendance, you can watch it online at doinitinthepark.com. Shouts to Nike Chicago and Ron and his crew at Mid C Media.

In brief: 'Doin It In The Park' captured the essence, history, and culture of NYC pick-up basketball. By the end, we fully understood just how magnetic the game of basketball really is. And that's an amazing thing for one orange ball and two round hoops.

Get a glimpse of what I summarized above with the documentary's dope trailer below. And if you happen to catch this at posting time in Chicago, head on over to Villa where Bobbito Garcia is with Sir Michael Rocks & Save Money til 10pm, also previewing new Nike & Jordan gear.