Winston's Streetball brings hoops to south side (with photo gallery)
Johnny Winston Jr. was wearing a powder blue T-shirt, just like the rest of his numerous volunteers at Penn Park early Saturday afternoon.
The founder and organizer of the eighth annual Streetball and Block Party that bears his name, Winston said most of his work is done in the months leading up to the event, which was held at Penn Park on Madison's south side.
"The thing pretty much runs itself," Winston said, "but there is tons of prep work that has to be done to pull it off. That's what takes the most time."
However, Winston, who is a city of Madison firefighter, a member of the Madison Metropolitan School District School Board and resident jack-of-all-trades in his community, was ready to make a quick change if necessary.
"I brought my referee shirt just in case I have to fill in," chuckled Winston, who is also a certified high school and college basketball official in Wisconsin.
As if on cue, Winston promptly fielded a cell phone call from one of his assigned officials who explained that he was injured and unable to referee one of the games for the adult men's Streetball basketball tournament that began at 10 a.m. Saturday and would end with the championship game at 6 p.m.
"I'm ready to go," Winston said with a grin when he got off the phone. "If he doesn't find a sub, I'm up."
Like Winston, Stacy Williams, a Madison West graduate who is now the varsity girls' basketball coach at Stoughton High School, wasn't playing in the Streetball tournament either.
But Williams said she enjoyed being a spectator at the south side event every year.
"I get a chuckle every time I hear the radio ads for the event," said Williams, who explained that she grew up with Winston in Madison and was a life-long friend.
"But I wouldn't miss this for anything. Basketball is definitely a big draw. It's fun to watch. I find myself coaching from the sidelines. It gives me a lot of ideas for the season."
The Johnny Winston Jr. Streetball tournament included 12 teams from the Madison area, Milwaukee, Beloit, Eau Claire, the Menominee tribe and Rockford, Ill.
The roster of Team Blue Print had a city of Madison flavor, featuring players from all four of the city's public schools including David Dubois (La Follette); Chris Davis and Justin Jackson (East); Jerard Ajami, Wesley Matthews, who was coaching, and Kori Vernon (Memorial); and Donte Brown (West).
But there was more to enjoy during the day besides high energy basketball competition. The event also included youth dance team competition; music by D.J. Double D in the shelter and DJ Fab on the basketball courts; free bingo; entertainment and especially food.
Winston said the Streetball and Block Party was a way for him to give something back to his community.
"The Boys and Girls Club used to be the Southside Community Center, which hosted a block party when I was growing up in Madison," Winston said. "They stopped doing the block party around 1999. There wasn't a party for two years until I decided to take it over and bring it back."
There were plenty of other activities for kids of all ages. They included: Madison Children's Museum; face painting; a bouncy house for kids 7 and under; pony rides; balloons with "Bobo the Clown"; a YMCA-sponsored youth basketball skills clinic; balloon art a hip hop concert hosted by 106.7 FM; and a concert by the Rick Flowers band,
Lt. Stephanie Bradley Wilson of the Madison police department said the event was a welcome one for the community.
"The more positive activities like this that we can have at Penn Park the better," said Bradley Wilson, who is the district commander and one of a dozen police officers who were donating duty time to the event.
"The Police Department supports this activity. Normally we charge the organizers of an event a fee for providing crowd control. But we're trying to make sure there are activities in the park and that people feel safe and secure."
Winston said proceeds from the event would go to help support the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County and the Southside Raiders youth football program.
"This is a multicultural event with something for all ages. It's a good time," Winston said. "It's good for the community. People tell me we need to do something like this at Warner Park and at Elver Park, too."
Christy Hrenak said she was eager to show her support again this year after helping out at the face painting station a year ago.
"I grew up in Monona and my brother was a big basketball player. I remember him getting a team out here," said Hrenak, who was the site coordinator for the youth events. "I think it's an awesome event. I love basketball. This is a great event for the neighborhood and community."
Frank Alfano, president of the Workingman's Club, volunteers his time for various community events. But on Saturday, he was happy just being a spectator.
"I work for Centro Hispano for Fiesta Hispana and the Association for Africa Fest. I don't care what culture or ethic group it is, people learn. They take a little bit away from the experience," he said.
"An event like this makes a big impact on the kids. It gets them learning about everybody else. It's a great community event."
Alfano said he was ready to enjoy the beautiful weather and also the camaraderie of the south side community.
"I'm just here enjoying seeing somebody else work and experience the atmosphere," he said while breaking into a huge grin. "I know Johnny (Winston Jr.) and a lot of other people who are volunteering their time. We all go to each other's events to support each other. But this is an impressive event."
You wouldn't get a disagreement from Rodney Clendening on that either.
Clendening, who is studying at MATC to be a police officer and also serves as a wrestling and track and field coach at Madison La Follette High School, was enjoying a break from the basketball tournament to catch up with a few friends.
"This is a real good time," he said, while exchanging hugs and handshakes with several friends. "We like to play ball, even me and I'm a wrestler. I like to play ball and get out here and have some fun.
"But the main reason I'm here is for the barbecue."
www.madisonstreetball.com
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Good basketball is always the centerpiece of Johnny Winston Jr.'s Streetball and Block Party.
