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Hoopin' city style

OK, before you all overload the Globe’s email system with hate mail for me, I’m going to bless you with my background info. You all are probably wondering who this guy is telling me why the Boston City League is so much fun to watch, well I will tell you.

I presently live in Stoughton (out of the city for those of you living under a rock) but was born and raised in Mattapan. There, I saw basketball courts, which while not in the best shape, were filled to capacity daily. And then I moved out of the city and noticed a drop in attendance at each playground. I have seen my fair share of the Boston City League and games up and down 95 and as far as the mind can imagine. OK, I digress, and bring to you my Top 10 reasons, Letterman style, why city ball is something you should check out this season.

10. The chants -- C-Town, MP, Eastie, OB, they are all there and screamed at Garden level decibels (Maybe a slight exaggeration). Be sure to check out Madison Park’s pregame chants, it’s must see energy.

9. The tunes -- I’m a big hip-hop fan so if you play it, I will come. Be sure to check out the Charlestown games for their very own DJ Rome.

8. Less traffic -- Nothing angers me or most other fans more than traffic on the highway, especially on 95. I enjoy an easy drive in the city, free of exit watching and horrible directions from Mapquest to get to where I am going. Also it makes it easier to file on deadline when I can avoid the highway, although I have to keep my head on a constant swivel for people crossing the street and not using the crosswalk.

7. Earlier start times -- In the city, games get going around 4:30 and end in enough time for you to catch the Celtics, 106 & Park, or whatever early evening show tickles your fancy (My apologies go out to those parents that miss the first half of games).

6. The moves -- The crossover is not a secret weapon here. It’s the weapon constantly being brandished at opponents as the prelude to the ensuing jaw-dropping dunks or Ginobli-like lay-ups that follow.

5. The game atmosphere -- The big games have playoff-like intensity. Take the East Boston-Charlestown game a few weeks back. The defending state champs found themselves in a fight with the Jets before the game had even tipped-off. “The intensity level for that game was the same as every other game [we play],” said Charlestown coach Jack O’Brien of the big game feel. Specifically, contending teams gunning to take down the Townies pack a little extra aggression for game day.

4. The coaches -- The usual suspects, Dennis Wilson (Madison Park), O’ Brien, last year’s Division 2 Coach of the Year, and Juan Figueroa (O’Bryant), fuel their players with intensity like Mobil does for my ‘95 Maxima. Whether it is late game pep talks to their stars or nearly inciting fights in the stands by starting chants on the bench, these guys get the most out of their squads.

3. PTP'ers (Prime time playas) – From Farnold Degand and Westly Perryman to Jason White and Ridley Johnson to this year’s crop of Bryan Blocker (MP), Paul Becklens (Charlestown) and Aaron Williams (Eastie), the city ballers know how to bring it night in and night out. I’m not taking anything away from Anthony Gurley, Corey Lowe, or Jeff Macchi, but the city boys bring a little more flavor when they take to the court and bring an undeniable passion that comes with a little something I will unveil a few paragraphs down.

2. The fans -- Where else can you go to a game and see the stands packed with kids who bring as much intensity in their chants in the stands as the players display on the hardwood. I must say I was impressed at the Charlestown game at Madison Park last week where a whole section of fans simultaneously broke into the “Harlem Shake” the likes of which I haven’t seen since Diddy was still going by Puff Daddy.

1. Ball is a way of life -- Basketball in the city is life, whether you’re a boy or girl, young or old. For some kids, the dream of being the next Kobe (still can’t believe he dropped 81) fuels their game and leads to the great contests played in the league. For teams like Charlestown, this way of life has led to five state titles and D1 offers, but the last man off the bench is as capable of exhibiting as much heart as the league’s Most Valuable Player. “Players play hard and coaches show players how to play hard [without getting into fights],” said O’Brien. “It’s glorified when you win and extra hard when you lose because you can be on the train with your opponent that night and might live on the same street.”

I hope you all get the opportunity to check out the Boston City League at some point. Feel free to reply to me and let me know if you liked the experience or not. And if you still hate me after this feel free to send your hate mail to my colleague Zach Hosseini, but if you liked it then you can reach me at DAuguste@Globe.com.