news-record.com

GREENSBORO – Local radio personality Busta Brown has started his midnight basketball program for the eighth straight summer to keep kids and teenagers off the streets and away from trouble.

He and police Sgt. Alexander Ricketts, Brown’s good friend, started their basketball program last Friday night at Barber Park’s gymnasium. At least 200 kids came.

The program, which is free, runs from 9 p.m. to midnight every Friday through Aug. 14.

“Shoot, if kids can walk, they can play,’’ Brown said.

Brown and Ricketts bring in motivational speakers and live entertainment every Friday night. Meanwhile, a local sponsor will feed the players between their games among the four courts inside the gym.

The Hope Project, Greensboro’s initiative intended to steer youngsters and teenagers away from gangs, helped Brown and Ricketts get the gym for free and recruit eight volunteers to help the program run smoothly.

Two volunteer referees will be provided. Teenagers and kids can bring their own teams. It’s first-come, first-served, with the unspoken rule that has guided street ball for generations: winner plays, loser sits.

“We don’t want just African American kids. We want all kids to come and have a good time,’’ said Brown, a radio personality on WQMG (97.1 FM) . “We want them all there, man, and create what we had back in the day. You know, 'You stepped on my sneaker? So what. Let’s keep playing.’

“We want to create an atmosphere, a village, where everyone takes care of one another.’’