DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — "It's LAPD playing Skid Row on Saturday morning!! Gaaaame is on!"

Ron Crockett was courtside at Gladys Park, where he can often be found coaching for the Skid Row 3 on 3 Basketball League. This Saturday, Crockett had a different calling, as he was tasked with the role of play-by-play preacher man for a game between the Skid Row All-Stars and LAPD's Central Division.

On Saturday, Skid Row 3 on 3 All Star's long-armed defense and accurate jumpers kept the visiting LAPD team from finding a rhythm. While there was a definite home court advantage, both teams’ early air balls and behind the back passes that went to no one were hooted by the crowd.

Finally, the the All-Stars found their game and didn’t look back, using crisp passing to set up an inside game and kicking the ball out to an open shooter when LAPD bodied out drives to the basket.

Around the court at 6th and Gladys, kids played in the park, hot dogs were on the grill, and music was playing as the game went on that Saturday morning. Importantly, the players from both teams are working toward the same goal: making Skid Row a neighborhood like any other. The group of vocal Skid Row residents (residents being the operative word) who created the 3 on 3 league have sought ways to make this part of Downtown sustainable.

As for the 2 out of 3 set, the All Stars took out LAPD 13-1 and 13-2 before deciding to play out the third game. Skid Row took that one 13-6.

Maybe that’s the new Skid Row game strategy: Give others a chance to keep some dignity when they are briefly down and counted out.

Previously: Checking Out Skid Row 3 on 3 and OG is the Man at City Hall.

More photos on flickr