Blaze and Basketball

From 3/5/14 2:58 PM

Several years ago I saw this photo on a neighbor's wall during a party.

My sports love is basketball, both watching the games and playing street ball, but I was enthralled by the four young boys ignoring the burning building in favor of a game of two-on-two.

Billy was busy with his guests, so I couldn't ask him about the black-and-white photo.

I searched the internet for the photo without success.

I figured it was from the Bronx in 1975.

I had no idea of knowing whether I was right.

Yesterday I caught Billy leaving his apartment and asked him about the photo.

"C'mon inside." He had someplace to go, but wasn't in a hurry.

The photo hung in the entrance as a statement of Billy's belief in chaos. He showed the back of the print. Paul Hosefrus had taken the shot in the Bronx. The year had been 1975. He called it BLAZE AND BASKETBALL.

"I was twenty-two back then. New York was really this New York."

"I know."

I thanked Billy.

My guess had been on the money, but without his help I would have never found BLAZE AND BASKETBALL.

Two-on-two on fire.