Inside the Cage: A Season at West 4th Street's Legendary Tournament

By Wight Martindale Jr.

Book Overview

The most popular outdoor basketball court in New York City is half the regulation size, offers no seating, and has sidelines bounded by a chain-link fence--but the summer league on West 4th Street in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416919155
• ISBN13: 9781416919155
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Gallery Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.94 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.7" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Indside the Cage rates a triple E

I rate Inside the Cage a triple E: it's entertaining, educational, edifying. I'm not much of a basketball fan, but I enjoyed Martindale's blow by blow accounts of the tournament games. I particlarly admired his sparse but vivid writing style, which contrasts with today's media's overcharged, over-hyped sports reporting. Martindale obviously knows what made Hemmingway great. But Martindale's perspective extends beyond the games and into the personalities of the people in the background. As a white man talking about mostly black guys, Martindale is honest and avoids the patronizing tone that characterizes so much of the literature written by white people about African-Americans. His portrait of Kenny Graham, the main man behind the tournament, is true and will linger in my mind long after I have put this book down. And what makes Inside the Cage great is that it extends the perspective even further, looking past the games, the memorable characters in and around it, and places the West 4th Street Tournament within a cultural and social context. Martindale's inquiry as to whether basketball is good for the inner-city was one of the most incisive, thoughtful, provocative pieces of sports journalism that I have ever read.

A New York Book

Having spent many summers watching games at W. 4th st., I recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding New York City basketball. In the course of describing one season at the Cage, the book skillfully portrays the colorful characters that make the Cage what it is. The book documents a community of basketball enthusiasts and players who have made this small court in Greenwhich Village their home for over 25 summers. Martindale's portrayal of the lives of these people off the court is just as fascinating as the game time action. The essays on play and city basketball towards the end of the book show just how important the culture of the Cage is. W. 4th st is a NYC summer institution and Inside the Cage is a must read for anyone who really wants to know about it.

A Superb Story

Anyone who has watched games at the cage on west fourth street can attest to Martindale's vivid descriptions of the basketball talent and intense competition on display on any summer day. Behind the scenes is an even more compelling story, unknown to casual fans but brought to life through an insider's view of the legendary tournament. The story of the cage is strengthened by the author's meticulous research, historical perspective and lucid style. Martindale writes with a keen insight into not just the power and athleticism of the game of street ball, but with an equal focus on the men who make inner city leagues succeed despite improbable odds. Inside The Cage brings city basketball to life and honors those dedicated to making it work. It is a great, fast, informative read.