Weekly pick-up game serious fun since 1996

By Chandler Davidson
Special to The Friday Flyer

The courts have been upgraded at Eastport Park over the past 27 years where a group of Canyon Lake men gather for its weekly basketball pick-up game. But, the game has remained the same. Way serious, but it’s still all about just having some fun with friends.

Since 1996, a group of guys have played basketball at the Canyon Lake courts at Eastport Park for hours every weekend. The courts weren’t always as pristine as they are now. Back when they started, they played on a rugged asphalt court where the restroom now stands.

Robin started organizing these games nearly three decades ago and insists this group isn’t like other pick-up ball groups.

“The group comes from all over,” Robin said. “A lot of them are ex-Marines and ex-Navy, so we have a good group of guys. We’re all serious, yet we’re all here just to have fun.”

Players break to the basket after a shot goes up during one of the pickup games this group has played weekly for 27 years at the Eastport Park basketball courts. Photo by Chandler Davidson.

The hours they spend at the courts every weekend creates a competitive atmosphere on the court, but outside of the lines, they’re all friends who spend time around the barbecues and enjoying each other‘s company.

Tim is one of the veterans who plays at the park with the group. He was in the Marines and worked in aviation. Many of the people he plays with in Canyon Lake he met through the military. While serving, his dedication to the sport continued as he played pick-up games when he was deployed in other countries such as Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, Germany, Iraq and Afghanistan.

After Tim retired from the military, he found this group and has been playing with them since 2003.

“I came once and met all the people here and played a few games,” Tim said. “Afterward, they were like ‘Come back next week.’ Next thing you know, one week turns into two weeks, and before I know it, I’m waking up to go there.”

Sometimes Sheriff deputies and firefighters show up to the courts to play with the group.

Comradery is what drives those in the group to continue to keep coming back. They find excuses to get together off the court as well. When it comes to birthdays they’ll celebrate with a barbeque at somebody’s place. They’ll get together when a big game is on.

Jimmy is also one of the guys who has been playing regularly since the beginning. He loves coming to Canyon Lake to be with the group. He describes Canyon Lake, like so many others, as being like paradise. He met a few people in the basketball group in the late 1980s while building houses in Canyon Lake.

The energy created amongst themselves drives them to dedicate their weekends and even holidays to basketball and the group. Jimmy’s favorite part of it all is “just a bunch of old guys competing, having flashbacks of the younger years.”