Welcome to ‘The Cage’

By By Sarah McVeigh

The other day, I found myself in one of my favorite New York spots, in one of my favorite neighborhoods—the Comedy Cellar in Greenwich Village. Greenwich Village is a neighborhood that reminds you that New York is, in fact, a magical place—the city that never sleeps, where you don’t feel like you’ll get murdered around every corner.

As my husband and I walked towards the Comedy Cellar, right past the West 4th-Washington Square subway station, we saw the sidewalks packed with spectators of all kinds. White, black, old, young, cops, the “opposite of a cop”—every type of person imaginable had stopped to watch the basketball games at the West 4th Street Courts.

I remembered visiting the Comedy Cellar last summer; the basketball court was just as lively, with crowds, announcers on a megaphone, and people selling t-shirts, but for the court itself, not a specific team or tournament. Then it hit me: I’m a sportswriter, gosh darn it! Maybe I should dig a little deeper into why this court seems to have such a following.

First, let me try to explain this court to you, dear reader, because for me to be taken aback by a basketball court, that should tell you it’s pretty remarkable. The court is not regulation size; in fact, it’s pretty much half size. It’s tiny, yet the players are anything but. The court is orange and blue with a big NY Knicks sign on the back brick wall. It has historically been called “The Cage” because of its 20-foot-high chain-link fence that keeps the action contained. There’s a small area inside The Cage with benches for spectators to watch, but good luck getting a spot. Most people, including New York’s finest, stand on the sidewalk holding onto the fence.

The Cage hosts the West 4th Summer League, the oldest summer-basketball program in New York City. I guess we can thank this historic court for inspiring Rockaway’s Summer Classic?

There is a game every day of the week in June, July, and August, with five on Saturdays and Sundays. More than 600 players participate every year in the 24-team men’s division, a women’s division of six teams, and an eight-team division for boys 15 and under. While we might be used to youth basketball leagues, many of these games feature grown men playing truly impressive basketball. Wight Martindale Jr., managing director of the league, says the Summer League “showcases those who cannot escape, who must remain behind and make their community work.”

When we first walked by, the game appeared to be for high school kids. Now, living in Rockaway, we’ve grown accustomed to seeing good basketball. When I walk my dog every night in the summer, there are kids at Summer Classic impressing the hell out of me. But the players in The Cage really don’t compare; it’s a different kind of basketball than we see on our peninsula.

The court is known for physical play—fouls are rarely, if ever, called. It is known for aggressive basketball. Also, if your team has a losing record, you’re unlikely to be invited back. If a player can’t handle the physicality of the court, they will be asked to sit out. It’s a no muss, no fuss kind of basketball. One of their slogans is “If you don’t like a physical brand of basketball, stay away from West 4th.”

*Gulp*

So, of course, after seeing all this, I was intrigued and rather thirsty. My husband and I grabbed a drink at a local watering hole and continued to watch the games. It was an incredible sight. Not only was the basketball unlike anything I have ever seen—teenagers elbowing and shoving with no referee in sight—but the crowds were just as extraordinary. West 4th Street officials estimate their league attracts more than 100,000 spectators each summer. People stop to watch on their way home from work, others get out of their cars to see what all the excitement was about, and then there are the locals always showing support for their beloved court.

I know I’ve given you a few tasks to do over the summer—go bowling, attend a Cyclones game, etc.—well, now I am suggesting going to Greenwich Village and watching some street ball. Whether you’re trying to show your kids how to or how not to play the game, you will all leave impressed by The Cage. The games aren’t just basketball; they’re a testament to New York’s heart, and that truly makes New York feel, once again, like a magical place.