Golden boys still going strong to the hoop
By: Rudy Brandl
Nobody ever expected it to be so popular. In fact, Hillsborough Over-30 Basketball League co-founder Mark Goldstein had nightmares that only one person would show up for the first registration back in 1987.
When the line at the Hillsborough Municipal Building was out the door for the registration, it was a sign of great things to come for an organization that is celebrating its 50th league this summer.
Hillsborough Recreation Over-30 basketball began play in 1988, regularly holding a Winter, Spring and Summer League each year. The league usually contains eight or 10 teams but has ballooned to as many as a dozen when registration numbers have been particularly high. Captains select different teams in each league according to a draft selection process that tries to maintain parity.
The league has used four venues Woodfern School, Hillsborough Middle School, Hillsborough High School and the YMCA, the current site for all games. Although there were many memorable high-scoring games at the tiny Woodfern gym back in the early days, the league enjoys having a guaranteed home at the YMCA. Games were often bumped by school activities at the other locations.
Over-30 basketball is about much more than playing a game. Many of these guys have become close friends. Some have sons and daughters who play together on youth sports teams.
"It’s great exercise but the main thing is the friendships," said Goldstein, who founded the league with brother-in-law Butch Pallay. "We play golf, we go to dinner with our wives. All my best friends are from the league."
Goldstein started a lifelong friendship with co-commissioner Tom Yep on the night of that first registration. The turnout on opening night was so good that Goldstein had trouble counting all the money. Enter Yep, who volunteered to help and has run the league with Goldstein ever since.
"I sat down with him to count all the money at the end of the night," Yep recalled. "From that day on, he’s been useless without me."
It’s that type of good-natured ribbing that makes the league so much fun. Yep also recalled the first time he saw Goldstein at an open gym workout. Yep and future Over-30 legends Billy Brazill and Dave Rainey were involved in a pickup game at the middle school when a new guy from Dallas arrived to play some ball.
"Mark showed up and we’re saying ‘who’s this new guy with goggles all geeky-looking,’" Yep said. "Then I’m guarding him and he starts taking 22, 23-footers and they’re going in! Everybody was yelling at me."
Goldstein, who had played in a similar league in the Dallas area, became one of the league’s most dangerous 3-point shooters. He may hold the all-time record for most threes.
While the league is fun, it’s also somewhat serious and very competitive. Several high school stars and college players have competed on the Over-30 hardwood. Kevin Ryan, the all-time leading scorer in Hillsborough High history, enjoyed his spurt of Over-30 dominance before sustaining an injury. Rod Womack, a standout point guard at HHS, is the league’s new superstar.
Many other great players have come and gone during the last 17 years. Some have stuck it out for the entire duration like 58-year-old Mike Brader. The oldest player in the league, Brader still enjoys everything about Over-30 ball.
"The best part is the friends I’ve made," said Brader, one of three men to play in all 50 leagues. "You play against these guys but you also play with them the way the league rotates. It’s an honor to play with these guys because they’re good ball players."
Yep, Brader and Keith Brownlie are the only players to participate in all 50 leagues. Brownlie and Brader went head-to-head in last week’s game between the Waves and Explorers, while Yep sat out with an injury. Yep is still recovering from a cervical fusion procedure, the same surgery that made Goldstein decide to retire from playing two years ago.
Brader has become more involved as a co-commissioner the past three seasons, especially with Goldstein focusing his attention on officiating games. Despite being the most prolific player of the three league supervisors, Goldstein owns the fewest titles with two. Yep still has a 6-5 championship trophy lead over Brader, which might keep the league’s oldest player active at least until he catches his buddy.
"Right now it’s season to season, some times game to game," Brader said with a smile. "I really enjoy it and my wife won’t let me retire. It’s a nice night out with the guys."
Brazill, one of the all-time greats who has played in 43 leagues, may have won the most titles with an unofficial count of 10 or 11. A fiery competitor, Brazill also likes the way the league brings together the community.
"It’s great because you get to know everyone in town," Brazill said. "There’s no arguing or fighting because you’re going to be playing with everyone sooner or later."
The league hasn’t been immune to inflation. The original entry fee of $60 has increased to $110. However, those costs cover uniforms, officials and insurance for at least eight games.
Ask anyone in the league and they’ll tell you it’s well worth the price.
NOTES The Over-30 All-Star team was announced last week. Team members must have appeared in at least nine leagues. Consistent impact was the primary criterion for selection. The team consisted of Billy Brazill, Rich Dougherty, Mark Goldstein, Bobby Hope, Jeff Katzelnick, Jim McKinley, Rich Rash, Jim Reilly, Kevin Ryan and Bob Schwankert.
Here are some fun facts and trivia items about the history of the Over-30 League: 491 players have signed up, with 484 actually playing (the other seven were left on a waiting list); 163 players have participated in one league before calling it quits; only one team has gone undefeated; McKinley owns the single-game scoring record with 63 points; Schwankert holds the record for most threes in one game with 14 bombs; one player has fouled out in the first quarter; there have been six fights and five suspensions; three teams have gone winless, while 11 is the most losses for a team during a single season; the longest individual losing streak (19 games) belongs to Yep; two women have participated in the league; the height range goes from tallest (6-9) to shortest (5-3); the scoring range runs from most points (125) to fewest points (32) in one game; two teams combined for a record of 223 points in the same game.