Page 8 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, June 9, 2023 ~ Malden Musings ~ “Barry Alman Reflects” By Peter Levine B arry Alman was a child of Amerige Park endowed by the deity of your choice with a killer southpaw jump shot. He’s called San Diego “home” now for 35 or so years working as a professional basketball ref and amateur photographer all the while still considering Malden (his real) home. (It’s in his blood, of course he does!) Barry reached out to me last week, for another nostalgic trip down Malden memory lane. Barry fondly recalls the 1960s glory days of Amerige Park hoop Mackey & Brown Attorneys at Law * PERSONAL INJURY * REAL ESTATE * FAMILY LAW * GENERAL PRACTICE * PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY * CIVIL LITIGATION 14 Norwood St., Everett, MA 02149 Phone: (617) 387-4900 Fax: (617) 381-1755 WWW.MACKEYBROWNLAW.COM John Mackey, Esq. * Katherine M. Brown, Esq. Patricia Ridge, Esq. competing with and against neighborhood greats like Irwin Zalko, Billy Carty, Johnny Salmon, “Puggy” Forbes, Bobby Hyde, Ed Markey and his brothers Richie and John, Barry Fitzpatrick, Franny Repucci, Paul Finn, Angel Torres, Ira Mahakian, Paul Alessio, “Jumbo” McKinnon, Billy Hanifan, Mike Cerchione, Jimmy “Slim Jim” Cahill, David and Tony Stokes, Joe Colameta, Richie Burns, Phil Macy, Dave McNary, George Miller, Danny Myers, Henry Katz, Gary Campsmith and Cliff Cioffi . He remembers one particular summer working for the Malden Recreation Council with Jimmy Mirley, Irwin (Zalko) and Ronny Drinkwater (during Bevy’s fi ghting days) when there was something new and exciting happening every single day of that long, hot summer. Barry mentioned that there was hardly ever a dull moment during his childhood, Barry Alman original photo captures the essence of his Malden upbringing in his adopted home of San Diego. even during the winter months when he’d get friends like Eddie “Porky” Garrant, Eddie Manley, Joe Repucci and Peter Plachowicz together to shovel the snow off the court at Amerige – cracked, bleeding hands and all – and play hoops long into the night. And then there is this, a love letter to Malden from our San Diego expatriate, Barry Alman – who obviously left his heart not in San Francisco – but in the city by the polluted river, Malden. His Malden! “I was fortunate enough to grow up in a small burg north of Boston. In local parlance, it was ‘wicked awesome!’ Here are some of my thoughts from that not-too-distant past which continue to haunt me – in the best of ways.” Barry speaks: • We were spoiled to watch our sports teams and heroes, win win win. • We loved our Celtics, Red Sox, Bruins, and our Patriots. • We also loved and followed Harvard, Boston College, Boston University, and Northeastern. • Back in my day, there was no ESPN, or even cable TV. Only the “big games” were broadcast, so if you were a real fan, you attended in person, with your friends, or your father. • I loved riding the MBTA into Boston Garden and to Fenway and did so, often. • So many fond memories, Everett Aluminum 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 “Same name, phone number & address for over half a century. We must be doing something right!” •Vinyl Siding •Carpentry Work •Decks •Vinyl Siding •Carpentry Work •Free Estimates •Fully Licensed •Roofing • Fully Insured • Replacement Windows www.everettaluminum.com •Free Estimates •Fully Licensed Now’s the time to schedule those home improvement projects you’ve been dreaming about all winter! Celebrating 65 Years in Business! S of the smoke-filled Gaahden, and of the bleechahhs and the Green Monstah!! • But what I remember more fondly were my days as a yungsta, as a student/athlete at Beebe Jr. High School. • I loved basketball season with my coach, Jack Schlegel, and my teammates/friends such as... • Billy Hanifan, Henry Katz, Alan Winrow, George Colangeli, Phil Macy, Richie Byrnes, Paul Abare, and Dicky Barris. We were pretty good! • I anticipated our games against cross town rivals Browne: with Hugh K. Small, Danny O’Brien, and Billy Croken. But playing against Lincoln with Larry Pazyra, David & Tony Stokes, Greg Chansky, and Ronnie Spaulding was a really big deal. • I think that Joe Colameta and Mike Cerchione were unavailable, as they were students at Cheverus. • Baseball season was another story. Coach Frank Adorn was the best, even though he dubbed me as a “thrower,” not a pitcher. I don’t remember much, except the smell of the green grass and the dust of Amerige Park, and of course, the bike rides home, on my trusty Schwinn. • I’d be remiss if I neglected to mention that the next few years Summer is Here!
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