In the old neighborhoods of the Bronx and Brooklyn, no kid had his own hoop in the backyard. It was impossible! No one had a backyard because they were apartment dwellers and it was the rare child that even had his own basketball.

The question arises, how did so many great basketball players come from the sidewalks and playgrounds of New York City? Players like Billy Cunningham, Bob Cousy, Kareem Jabbar, Satch Sanders, Dick and Al McGuire, Sid Tannenbaum, Max Zaslafsky, Ralph Shayes, to name just a few.

The answer: When a suburban kid has his own hoop behind the house, he can shoot baskets any time. In the morning or at night just grab a ball and shoot around. He doesn't need competition as he pours in bucket after bucket. Shoots until he tires and then opens the fridge for some Gator-Ade, soda or orange juice.

It was quite different for the city kid. He put on his sneakers and sauntered over to the baskets in the local playground, schoolyard or park. There was never a surfeit of baskets and the players would choose sides and the games would begin. Three on three and half-court was the game. The first three-man team that got to 10 was the winner. (You had to win by two baskets.) If you won, you kept playing! If you lost, your team went to the back of the line. The play was rough and tough.

The incentive was imminent and obvious. The motivation was win, or leave the playing field.

No referees were needed. We made our own calls.

The competition gave you the hustle and the drive to persevere and bust your rear end, trying.

In some ways it is a microcosm of the society in general. Competition hones the better ballplayers and businessmen in the arena and in fields of commerce.

Capitalism is our system of finance in the United States of America. Take your talents and knowledge into the marketplace and compete with all those other guys and girls.

If you win, you keep playing.

If you lose, get to the back of the line and try again. Maybe you will win next time!