The 2002 Citywide
Big Blue Handball Championship was held the weekend of June 14,
attracting 1,200 entrants.
The contest takes its name from the soft, blue racquetball that
city players smack against a 16-foot by 20-foot wall.
On Saturday, contestants competed at Lincoln Terrace Park, on
Buffalo Avenue at East New York Avenue, and at Asser Levy Park,
on West Fifth Street at Surf Avenue in Coney Island.
In Coney Island, William Polanco (far left) lost to Cesar Sala
in the men’s open singles semifinal match.
Sala, the 2001 small-ball world champion, was favored to win
by the noisy crowd, but was later defeated by Ray Lopez in the
finals. (Bottom left) Lopez poses with his medal.
The series was sponsored by the city Department of Parks and
Recreation in cooperation with the New York Handball Alliance
and the U.S. Handball Association. The competition offered $3,000
in total prize money.
There are 673 handball courts in Brooklyn where you can practice
your technique for next year’s tourney, including McCarren Park,
Bayard at Leonard streets (16 courts); Commodore Barry Park,
Flushing Avenue and North Elliot Place (8 courts); McLaughlin
Park, Tillary and Jay streets (2 courts); Red Hook Park, Lorraine
and Clinton streets (8 courts); Sunset Park, Sixth Avenue at
41st Street (3 courts); Dyker Beach Park, Bay Eighth Street at
Cropsey Avenue (12 courts); and Shore Road Park, 95th Street
at Shore Road (6 courts).
For a complete listing of Brooklyn handball courts, visit www.nyc.gov/parks
on the Web.
Both photos The Brooklyn
