Hoops

Hoops by Walter Dean Myers- INCOMPLETE! Lonnie is growing up in Harlem, New York. Lonnie’s dad no longer lives with him and his mother. He split. Lonnie and his mother no longer get along. They are always arguing about things. Lonnie is in high school. He is now 17 years old. He will be graduating soon. His favorite thing to do is to play basketball. He is very talented, but since he is not planning on going to college, he will be stuck like other talented basketball players. Lonnie has a job at a hotel. They let him stay there when he is mad at his mother. One day he is looking out his window and sees a hold-up at a liquor store. Instead of helping the man that was being robbed, he went to the truck and stole alcohol. When he got back to his room, he saw that a large group of people were stealing from the truck, because someone put a lock on the door and locked in the owner and robber! Lonnie has bad luck. He was going to sell the alcohol to other kids for money. However, since almost everyone else stole stuff from the truck, there is no one else to sell the alcohol to. Lonnie likes Mary-Ann. She is Paul’s sister. They all grew up together. She likes Lonnie too. They just aren’t dating yet. Paul and Lonnie used to hang out all the time together, but now Paul is hanging out with other guys. Lonnie is ok with this. Mary-Ann works at a bar. She takes care of the paperwork there. She makes good money, but this does not make her mother happy. Lonnie goes to the basketball court. There is a man lying on the ground. He is alive but drunk. Lonnie tells him to move, but he just sings “I really hates you cause your feets are too big.” Lonnie said that he smelled really bad. He tries to move the man from the court. He tries to kick the man in the leg. Then the man rests on his hands and knees. Lonnie grabs him by the collar. When he does, the man jumps up and holds a knife up to Lonnie. Lonnie backs down. The man walks off still singing that same song. Lonnie later meets that man in the gym. The man who owns the gym tells the kids about a tournament. He told them that scouts or recruiters for colleges were going to go to some of the games, to find the best players. The man who was drunk the other day, is going to be the coach. Lonnie tells everyone that the man drinks too much and is good for nothing. The man tells Lonnie that if Lonnie wins a game of 1:1 that he will go back home. If the man wins, then he would coach. Everyone wanted to see the game, so Lonnie went along with the bet. Lonnie lost. Mr. Jones or later known as Cal became their coach. Lonnie did not want to play for Cal, but Paul did. He thought he had a good chance to get a scholarship to play basketball in college. Chapter 2 Cal told the kids that a pro was going to come to the gym. Lonnie thought it was a trick. He went to the gym, but didn’t bring his sneakers. Cal told the kids that they needed $14.00 for a uniform. The kids were pretty excited. Sweet Man Johnson walked into the gym. Lonnie and the guys could not believe it. Sweet Man shook the kids hands. Cal told Sweet Man that he wanted to get a bite to eat, and invited Lonnie. At lunch, Lonnie found out that Cal had been married. It sounded like she was someone famous. Cal and Sweet Man Johnson were friends. Lonnie could not believe that they were friends. He could not believe that Cal was the same man that had been passed out on the basketball court. With a little help of one of Lonnie’s friends, he was able to come up with the money needed for the uniform. Lonnie missed a practice because his mother was sick. There first game was scheduled. Everyone showed up except for Cal. The kids did not have their uniforms. They waited, but Cal still did not show up. Cal’s lady friend did not know where Cal was. Lonnie said that he hoped that Cal was hit by a truck. He was mad at Cal! The next day, the kids went to the center. It wasn’t as great as the gym. Mary-Ann called Lonnie and told her that she was worried about Paul. She found an envelope at her work with his name on the envelope. Paul got mad at her and told her to mind her own business. Paul was playing tonk or cards with Walter. Lonnie watched them for a while. Just then Cal walked in carrying a box full of uniforms. Cal was still singing that song. When Lonnie saw Cal he grabbed the broken gun and pointed it at Cal. He started yelling at Cal to go away. Lonnie was screaming and crying. Paul was pushing the gun down. The gun went off. Lonnie shot himself in the hand. The bullet grazed his hand. It did not go through bone. Cal wrapped up his hand. Cal tells Lonnie and the other kids to meet him at Lincoln Center. Lonnie was glad that Cal was back, he just didn’t know why he had gotten so mad at him. Chapter 3 The team went to Lincoln Center. Cal is wearing the coach jacket that the kids had chipped in for. The team went to Haaren School. It was a school that was better than the one that they went to. The principal was white. His name was Matt Lee. They used to play basketball together. The principal let the kids lock up their valuables in a strong box. The kids practiced and practiced. The next day, practice was called off, but Lonnie was told to report for practice. Lonnie liked the attention. Cal thought that Lonnie had talent, but needed to work on some stuff. Cal and Lonnie played 1:1. Cal won the first game. Cal kept telling Lonnie what not to do. Lonnie did it his way. Some of the teachers at the school came to watch Cal and Lonnie play. Cal tells Lonnie that life on the streets get rough when you turn 18. Cal tells Lonnie that he needs to know how to cover himself. Cal tells Lonnie that he is Cal’s cover. After practice, Lonnie went to see Paul. Paul was never alone these days. Paul and his friend are trying to hold a book drive to help Native Americans. (page 50) Lonnie and the kids are to have a basketball game. Cal tells the kids that he is going to leave if they don’t try harder. Lonnie’s team lost, but they did much better in the second half. While the kids were in the locker room, a scout came into the room and congratulated the kids for doing an excellent job. This made Cal angry. He told the kids that the scout’s job is to get good players for his team. The scout will promise you everything, and you might get nothing. They make kids think that they are the next MOST IMPORTANT PERSON or player Coach Cal saw Lonnie and Paul at the restaurant. Cal seemed happier. He had a good team. The kids had played well, but they could have done better. When they were done eating, Lonnie walked Cal to his abode or house. Lonnie and Cal had a good time walking home. Cal liked to say corny things. He said, Harlem ain’t Paris, and Harlem ain’t Rome. It might not suit you, but I call it home.” Lonnie asked Cal what he had first said to Lonnie when they met on the basketball court. And Cal started to sing, “Your feets too big…. I really hates you ‘cause your feets too big.” It was Aggie, his first love that sang that song, when he asked her out. They fell in love that day. (55-56) Cal invited Lonnie into his house. When Lonnie told Cal that a scout had talked to him, Cal got real mad. Cal went to his closet and took out a scrapbook. Cal used to play basketball. His nickname was Spider Jones. He told Lonnie is would be there secret. Cal had been voted most valuable player. He had played Pro ball! The problem is that Cal got kicked out of the pros. He had been gambling. Cal told Lonnie, “Nobody gives you something for nothing.” Cal learned that the hard way. Cal had given up his game for money. A man had offered him a pocket full of money. Cal took and spent the money. When the man wanted the money back, Cal didn’t have it. He told Cal that he needed to shave or take off a few points from the game. This was cheating. Cal had no choice. Once he started, the man would not let him quit, even when he told the man that it was not right. Chapter 4 (page 62) Lonnie was on his way to the hotel when he ran into Paul. Paul was with two of his friends. Lenny told Lonnie that Paul was showing them around the neighborhood. Lenny was from the richer part of New York City. The boys told Lonnie that they were going to the coliseum to watch a game. Paul had purchased the tickets for the other two boys. Paul didn’t even have a job, so Lonnie was puzzled as to where he was getting the money. Comprehension check- Where do you think Paul got the money, and why would he be paying for his friends to go was a game? Lonnie did not like keeping Cal’s secret. He wanted to tell someone that Cal had played professional basketball. Lonnie decided that he would tell Paul’s sister- Maryann. Maryann was like a girlfriend, he really liked her. When Lonnie got to Maryann’s house, her younger brother opened the door. Maryann was sleeping so Lonnie woke her up. He asked Maryann if she would go meet Cal, and she agreed. They decided to go visit him. On the way to the center, Lonnie told Maryann about seeing Paul and his friends. Maryann told Lonnie that Paul had a lot of money lately, and didn’t know where he was getting it either. At the gym Lonnie saw Cal. He introduced Maryann to Cal. When Cal realized that Maryann was Lonnie’s lady, he stood up and shook her hand. Cal took out some soda and shared them with Lonnie and Maryann. They had a nice visit. Maryann is surprised that Lonnie is willing to let Cal help him with his game. She knew that Lonnie wanted to play pro someday; she didn’t know what she wanted to do in her future. The next day Cal invited Lonnie to meet his lady. Aggie was the lady he fell in love with, the lady who sang silly songs about feet. Cal wanted Lonnie to do well, but he also wanted to make sure Lonnie knew to be the best; people had to be THE BEST. He told Lonnie that being good was not enough. Your feet have to not touch the ground. He told Lonnie that he needed to have something special. Cal told him about a player that his team hired because he could sew. This guy sewed buttons back onto the uniforms, and fixed rips and tears. He was important to the team not only in how he played, but in what he could do. That night they went to Aggie’s house. Aggie talked to Lonnie. Aggie tells Cal about an old friend. She told him that he was so busy trying to impress her, that he missed his train. Lonnie noticed that Cal was different when he was with Aggie. He was smoother. He was connected to Aggie. Aggie told Cal and Lonnie that she writes poetry during her free time. Lonnie shares with her that he writes poetry too. Everyone is surprised. Before leaving, Aggie sings her poem. It is beautiful. Aggie was a good singer. When it was time for Cal and Lonnie to leave, Aggie got her coat. She said that she needed to walk to the store to buy some milk. Cal and Aggie teased each other about getting old. Aggie told Cal that he couldn’t catch her, and started to run down the street. Cal didn’t run. He just watched Aggie. Cal laughed and laughed. Aggie began to cry after hugging Cal goodbye. After visiting with Aggie and Cal, Lonnie saw Maryann in front of the State Office Building. At first Lonnie did not recognize her. She was crying. When Lonnie tried to talk to Maryann she started to walk away. Maryann’s face was swollen and bruised. Maryann told Lonnie that Paul had hit her in the face. She explained that when she was at work, her boss Tyrone, was on the phone and was yelling at a girl. Tyrone hung up, and told Maryann to get her brother. When she got home, she told Paul that Tyrone wanted him. As he was running out the door, Maryann grabbed his arm to ask what Tyrone wanted from him. That is when Tyrone slapped her in the face. A little while later, Maryann found out that Paul beat up a girl named Nina, the same girl that Tyrone was yelling at. Tyrone was going to Chicago the next morning. So Maryann and Lonnie decide to break into Tyrone’s office to find the envelope with Paul’s name on it. Lonnie took his gun with him, but did not tell Maryann. They broke into Tyrone’s office, just like they planned. They found out that Tyrone loaned people money. They found the envelope with Paul’s name on it. Inside the envelope were checks from other people that were cashed by Paul. Paul was stealing checks for Tyrone. Lonnie and Maryann are worried about Paul, and are worried about Tyrone and what he will do to them and Paul if he finds out that they were the ones to break into his office. Chapter 5- 84 When Lonnie woke up the next morning, he went to visit his mother. She was not happy that he didn’t spend much time at home. She told him that she was angry at him. Lonnie did not want to hear her complain, so he told his mother that he needed to go. Lonnie went to Highbridge, the store that had cashed the checks. It was an arcade. A lot of people came into the store. They were not paying customers. They were taking drugs. Lonnie talked to a man nicknamed Ugly. Ugly sold drugs to kids. Lonnie did not like this man. Lonnie and Maryann figured that Ugly was cashing the checks that Paul was stealing. On his way home Lonnie saw some kids playing basketball. Lonnie joined the kids. Lonnie played great. He felt great about the shots that he made. He was about to leave when he saw Paul. They went into the gym, and Lonnie locked the door. He asked Paul to explain where he was getting the money. Paul refused to say, and told Lonnie to mind his own business. Just then Paul hit Lonnie with a light and knocked him to the ground. Paul tried to hit Lonnie a couple of times, but Lonnie was bigger and stronger. Suddenly Paul started crying. He stopped swinging. Paul does not want to be poor. It is difficult growing up with so little money. Paul told Lonnie that his father took him to his job. It was his father’s day off, but he forgot something at work. When he got there, his boss, a white man, told him to get him and some other white people coffee. Paul’s father tried to explain it was his day off, but his boss was rude to him, and told him he better get them coffee. Paul said that he started hanging out with Jodi, a rich black girl and Lonnie a rich black boy to get away from the ghetto. Then one day, Paul hears Jodi telling her friend that he is a big joke. That she was only hanging out with him to learn something about the ghetto. Instead of getting mad, Paul wanted to prove to Lonnie that he was someone. He started buying her things. But she wanted more. So he started to steal checks. He told him that Tyrone found out that Paul had stolen the checks. Tyrone told Paul that they got the checks back from Ugly and burned them. But that is not what happened. Paul told him that Tyrone had to buy the checks from Ugly, and that is why he beat up the girl. Paul was trying to pay back Tyrone. Lonnie did not tell Paul that Tyrone had kept the checks. He made Maryann promise not to tell either.

Chapter6-96 Cal told the team that they needed to practice. Cal told the players that they need to be able to jump two inches higher than the person that they are guarding. The kids ran and jumped up and put a piece of tape on the backboard. The kids were to then jump from a standing position. The kids kept trying, but no one was able to put their tape higher than their first mark. As the kids were leaving, a reporter came into the gym to take their picture. Coach told him that they could interview the kids, but that he couldn’t take their picture. Then he walked the man out of the gym. When Cal and Lonnie were leaving the gym, a kid asked Lonnie for his autograph. Lonnie told him that he wasn’t famous. But the kid wanted Lonnie’s autograph anyway, because he told him that he was going to be famous someday.