Question: POISON! Back to Zero, My Friend

NolanRyanHatesMatches — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:34:13 -0800

BasketballFilter: History of the games "21" and "Utah"?

I grew up in Indiana, where we played 21 as THE playground basketball game-- basically every person for himself, free throws after making a shot (and, if three consecutive free throws are made, the scorer gets the ball at the top of the key), play until someone scores 21 points. I've played 21, with a variety of different rules (i.e. if you don't hit 21 exactly you go back to 14 on your next made basket; two-handed tips send the shooter back to 0, and a one-handed tip knocks him out of the game; etc.), all over the country.

But when I moved to NYC, everyone seemed to play Utah: every person for himself, three-pointers after making a shot (or free throws, but the ball can't touch the backboard, or else it's a live ball), play to 100, each basket worth 5 points.

I wondered if anyone knew some good books/links about the histories of 21, Utah, or any other every-player-for-himself playground basketball games (excluding HORSE, although I'd welcome any links about that, although I imagine they're easy to find). I'd imagine that there are tons of regional variations on 21, Utah being one of them, but it just now struck me that I totally don't know the game's lineage.

Any help?

By: drjimmy11

drjimmy11 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:42:50 -0800

Not sure about the history, but in Baltimore suburbs we had 21, but also 100 (or 50), which was also called "Westside" for some reason.

Comments on: POISON! Back to Zero, My Friend

Question: POISON! Back to Zero, My Friend

By: drjimmy11