No Foul, Fun At Fung

For years 53 David Street, Kitty was known for two things, lessons in English by Miss Fung and lessons in basketball by the Fung Brothers, nothing has changed. For almost a decade the Fung boys have been hosting a sweat (what we Guyanese call a pick-up game of basketball) and if not for the final sibling being a girl, the starting five would be complete but I digress. This story is not of the Fung Family but rather the half basketball court in their otherwise backyard. Adequate space for 3-on-3 with room for 1-on-1 isolations (never a good idea though, in here teamwork is always better). Official size backboard and hoop and in through backyard ball fashion, no markings just a crack in the well laid surface for the free-throw line. Classic!!! Balls are never a problem, if they buy in bulk I don’t know, but we’re never without. In here games go to 6(winner’s out). The level of play is stiff (to say the least), competition is endless (some nights as much as 20 players) and time's never a factor, it starts around 8pm most nights and finishes when it finishes (11pm the earliest). They are no stars here, you check your ego at the gate or for the hosts upstairs. You either bring you’re A-game or relegate yourself to the perfectly situated viewing area (aka THE TANK) all night.

From outside you would never imagine a brightly lit wonderful game of basketball and noise is in progress, yes noise! The neighbourhood is library quiet at night, but as you make your way through evidence of a learning facility and Cinderella’s garage (there’s a carriage here for whatever reason) you wonder how Miss Fung can put up with the marketlike sounds in the air. I once inquired and the answer I got was pretty simple and altruistic, she prefers to have us here playing basketball and making noise than for us to do the devil’s work with idle time and hands. And she’s so right, for in here there’s no idle time or hands, or legs, body or brains, it’s a full workout, and sometimes I feel the need to use your brains is more frequent than your muscles. Point here, your brain tells you when to take a jumper and not assume that the open lane for a lay-up would be the easier path to a point. Fouls are seldom called, and even least given.

My only rule about playing ball here is to never play consecutive nights, a man’s body isn’t built for it but trust me the action and intensity of this backyard cannot be matched any other place in this country. There’s a thin line between wildness and toughplay and in the yard we stay on that line never crossing it. Friends become enemies (frenemies) for 6 baskets and then we laugh it off at the end of the night.

To dominate here your jumpshot has to be on. Few times I’ve seen dominance here, but I’m too much of a competitor to give names.

Basketball is a beautiful game and here is a beautiful place to play (if you don’t mind hopping a fence every once and a while when bad shots or blocks enter the next yard – the only con about this place). Even that minute flaw in architecture isn’t enough to sway ballers away. So whenever you need a sweat, come on down, just remember fouls will not be called but it’s still fun at Fung.