Bad behavior threatens season of Erie youth basketball league, a 'safe space' for decades

An iconic summer basketball league in Erie is on hiatus and in jeopardy of having its season canceled for the first time in its 34-year history.

City officials and organizers of Spoon’s Summer Basketball League announced Friday that the league’s games are canceled until further notice “based upon the actions of some players and visitors who are disrespectful and/or come to the court to fight,” according to a post on the league’s Facebook page.

The league was launched in 1990 by City Councilman Mel Witherspoon, a former star player at Gannon University. It provides free summer basketball programs for youth ages 6 to 16 and has become a recreational safe haven for inner city youth in Erie.

More than 160 boys and girls participate.

Opinion: Spoon's Court II offers youth needed sanctuary

'Canceled until further notice'

Witherspoon, 79, told the Erie Times-News on Monday that the problems began “about a week ago” at the league’s courts near East 19th and Holland streets when “we had fights and kids getting into it at the courts, and it had nothing to do with basketball.

“Our coaches and volunteers with the league discussed it with the city, and we decided we need a break from it all,” Witherspoon said. “I don’t want anybody coming there feeling unsafe.”

Spoon’s Summer Basketball League games are typically played on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The only time the league either canceled or suspended a season was in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic; Witherspoon said league games have never been halted because of behavior and/or safety concerns.

Witherspoon added that young people, not adults, were involved in the altercations.

Asked if/when games will resume, Witherspoon said: “The league is canceled until further notice. I won’t say when or if it will re-start.

“But this isn’t about security,” Witherspoon continued. “We have police and other security at the games.  This is about respect. People have to behave. We need more parents coming down and checking on their kids to see how they’re behaving. We need more adults coming down that the kids respect.”

Erie Mayor Joe Schember said he hopes the league will resume soon.

“The city and the league’s organizers are committed to putting an end to the problems there,” Schember said. “It’s certainly a very important recreational opportunity and it’s been a great program in this city.”

Spoon’s Summer Basketball League Director Roosevelt Benjamin, who played in the league as a teenager, said he’s heard from many parents whose children participate, and those players/parents are upset about the games being on hold.

“I’m basically telling them the truth,” Benjamin said. “We have a group of kids in our community who are the reason we can’t continue right now. The city and the police department are 100% behind keeping Spoon’s going. But we’re concerned about the safety of the other kids because of a group of kids who are menacing (others).”

'A safe haven'

Daryl Craig, community liaison for the city of Erie, agrees.

“We need the community to come together here behind something that is legendary,” said Craig, a pastor and the founder of the Erie Blue Coats peacekeepers commonly known as "Brother D" in the Erie community. “If nothing else is going on in the summer, kids know that Spoon’s is going to be there. And for generations people have known that if you have beef, you don’t bring it to Spoon’s. It’s a safe space.”

Craig said the Spoon's shutdown could create an opportunity to bring additional youth-oriented outreach, services or activities to the area near the courts for those who are not participating in games.

"Every kid doesn't come to play basketball," Craig said. "Spoon's is a social event."

Witherspoon said he's dismayed by the recent disruptions at league games, but he hasn't lost all optimism.

"This isn't about all kids. But I am asking the kids who do come to keep this a safe haven," Witherspoon said. "Don't use social media to urge people to come to Spoon's to act up or fight. Don't bring your problems to the courts. Play the game, or come watch your friends play the game. And go home peacefully."

Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@timesnews.com . Follow him on X at @ETNflowers .

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Bad behavior threatens season of Erie youth basketball league, a 'safe space' for decades