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ST. PETE BEACH - Who could complain about a group of men who regularly get up early for Sunday meeting? Except these men aren't going to church. They're going to the beach. For basketball.
"Most of these cats are good, some of the finest around," said Craig Batchelor, who has been coming to the Hurley Park basketball courts in Pass-a-Grille for most of the 20-odd years it has been a ritual site for Tampa Bay area pickup games. "People come from all over Pinellas County, Tampa, Zephyrhills ... There are some serious regulars out here."
Batchelor said he is almost reluctant to talk about basketball on the beach because he's afraid it will get overrun. Lately, about 15 to 20 hard-core players show up each week, meaning there can be fairly frequent rotation of five-man teams. Even so, if you're not there by 8 a.m., you might be sitting for a while.
"It used to be, if you weren't good, you'd be watching," said Fred Allen, another veteran of this court after 15 years of play. "Now there's fewer people, but still good ball."
It's a close-knit group of 30- and 40-somethings, who are on a first-name basis. There are plenty of good-natured jabs and repartee, which sometimes gets a little raw for those not used to playground banter. One of the players jokes to Allen that he's been coming so long, he paved the court.
"Yeah," Allen retorts, "with skin and blood." Everyone chuckles.
The camaraderie keeps him coming. "There are some regulars, there's not that much arguing, we have the beach, the weather, it's great."
The group almost lost its gathering place this year, they said. After some neighbors complained about the impromptu hoop dreams, the city took down the backboards and started exploring paddleball there. So the players moved their game to a court on Vina del Mar, in the midst of a residential area. Batchelor also got some of his friends to start making calls to the city and complaining. Soon, the backboards were back up.
Mike Whelan, the city's leisure services director, said the backboards were down for repair and replacement of parts. He said it took several weeks because they wanted to replace the hardware with something easier to maintain. He said no one was trying to chase the players away.
The players aren't believing it, but they don't mind, as long as they've got their courts back. They know they get a little loud at times, but they also know there's nothing dangerous about their crowd.
"People live out here," Allen said. "They want to enjoy the beach, have their kids around. They're not wrong for trying to keep it that way."
Allen acts as a moderator, keeping things in line, but is also something of a player-coach. Now 37 and a business owner, he's seasoned in life and willing to share his lessons, including basketball.
"I grew up playing ball, tried to go pro," said the Pennsylvania native with the body of a small forward. "But I didn't have the right attitude. I was too stubborn."
Now Allen urges on the other players, sharing his experience.
"These guys get tired of hearing my mouth sometimes," he said. "I'm just trying to teach them that basketball is about a lot more than athletic ability. It's a mental game."
These are definitely some good athletes, though. There's Mario Smith, a feared tennis player from Pinellas Park, and Takhir Atakuyev, who used to play organized soccer in the Russian republic of Kabardino-Balkar. There's even one youngster, Kevin Rious, who, at 15, is a veteran after two years of hitching rides from Point Brittany. Despite his tender age, Rious fits right in.
"I come here to learn," said the Pinellas Park High School player. Then, smiling, he adds: "And teach."
These games go on year-round, even in the heat of summer. They start early so it's not too hot. The onshore breezes help. And everyone seems to like the location for other reasons, too.
"Even if you don't play," Allen said, "you still get to enjoy the beach."