Talking about Rice High School reminds me of the days my kid brother went to Holy Cross and FELIPE LOPEZ was NYC’s next All World prodigy. My brother was five years younger than FELIPE, but he was very inspired by dude’s ascent to the top of the mountain after his arrival in the city. FELIPE barely spoke english well enough to conduct an interview yet everyone wanted a piece of his time. Sonn was the American dream on crack. His life was 100mph with no brakes. Is it any wonder there are no more Dominicanos trying to get into the Association?
FELIPE’s travails are spoken in the whispered lilts of his native language. Stick to beisbol young platanos. Don’t get all twisted up like FELIPE did. The real story is that FELIPE is still playing the game he loves and now he can do it without the pressure of expectations that follow a teenager on the front cover of Sports Illustrated. This is why I have the utmost respect for the LeBRON’s, KOBE’s and KEVIN GARNETT’s who were forecasted to be great and they have even exceeded the scouting reports.
FELIPE still has the lightning first step. Only now he is doing his thing in the Continental Basketball Association instead of the, well, the Association.
FELIPE’s coach is MICHAEL RAY RICHARDSON who knows a thing or two about falling from the spotlight and having the courage to still stand upright.
FELIPE still has the hops and playing for the Albany Patroons keeps him close to his base of support here in NYC.
FELIPE’s story is like so many of the kids that the sports industrial complex overwhelms with hype and expectations. I’m glad that he is still living the life he loves with no regrets and no remorse. He is still a legend in the D.R. for sure.
Felipe Lopez was a hero of mine back in the early 90’s and when he played with Reggie “High Five” Freeman at Rice and AAU with the Gauchos and at Five Star Basketball Camp and EBC at Rucker Park during the summer all of the Latinos in the South End use to get updates from their fam in NY on what Felipe did . We’d also check out the New York papers at the newstand to see Felipe did during the season.
Whem Felipe played in the McDonald’s All American Game on TV the color commentators were on his nuts like he was the Dominican Michael Jordan. I followed his entire career at St. John’s thanks to ESPN and ESPN2. I still remember the old days with Charles Minlend and Zendon Hamilton being the only other cats that could carry the offense. He had a really good career but not a great one because they could get another great guard to come to St. John’s until he graduated and they never had a great postseason run. He got drafted at #24 and had an average pro career before injuries ran him out of the L.
I’ll never forget his performance in the 1998 College Slam Dunk Contest versus Ruben Patterson, though. The most overlooked G.O.A.T. Slam Dunk Competition battle EVAR.
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I’m tryna get paid like Felipe Lopez! © Junkyard Juju of The Beatnuts
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Felipe was an NYC hero who always remained humble and true to the game. He is 180 degrees what Starbury is. I would take him on the Knicks as a bench player.
I tend to not give a shit about sports too much, but damn if every one of your sports posts is still entertaining to me, even if I have no idea what you’re talking about.
c/s the ambassador
i dont know too much about sports, but ur sports posts are always on point.
i remember dude vividly up until when he actually got drafted by Vancouver….even then i remember telling myself, ” a platano in Canada?….this is NOT good “
Don’t forget Al Horford (2nd-gen NBA), Francisco Garcia and Charlie Villanueva, and even if you leave out Tito there’s Mark Jackson from the earlier era. And Edgar Sosa (from Rice HS) is following Garcia at Louisville now.
I barely remember the Felipe Lopez hype! Injuries killed his career?? It happens I guess.
i remember the summer before he entered st. john’s he played the centrobasket tournament in dominican republic..i was there on summer vacation and a riot almost broke out in the ticket line …that arena was gutter you had to upper deck it there cuz niggas threw trash at the court seats and the bathroom had no lights so you learned how to hold you piss after drinking 2 country club red sodas..but i remember felipe rocking a line on his head like a young nas throwing down a monster jam in that game and his gold chain swangin heavy. he brung that playground game over there that summer. he was our hope since tito horford and even though his nba career didnt pan out he made us proud for just repping us with class. big ups felipe and big up tito’s seed al horford!
platanos stand up!
wash heights/inwood
Remember Rodrick Rhodes??
I remember hearing stories back in the day about “some H.S. kid from NY” that could already dunk from the free throw line and might be put on the Dream Team. Back before the internet sites blew up and ESPN started showing H.S. games, Rodrick and Felipe were like urban legends until they showed up at D1 college. Nowadays the kids hit the spotlight early, but at least people can see them play on youtube and ESPN so their hype doesn’t get too out of pocket.
Apparently Rhodes is currently an assistant coach at Idaho State or some shit.
Dallas – Felipe hasn’t been at the Patroons for a while. He’s playing bball in Venezuela now.
I actually hung out with Felipe a few times. Hands down one of the coolest people. Funny I didn’t know he was from DR until he open his mouth. Very talented brother. Was the NYC savior for many years. Big up to his manager Wajid from Minnesota!
Dallas too much Dewars + Hipsters= Bad Dancing. Lol
Sublicon is that dude that tells children there is no Santa Claus.
Plenty of Dominicans up in here and they always playing in my neck of the woods, Dyckman. The Dominican kids born here are basketball heads. They don’t even pick up a bat and a ball. Felipe Lopez was a legend at Rice and had the city in a buzz.
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