A Game That Outlasts Presidents
At 81, Richie Zweigenhaft still laces up his sneakers every week for a pickup game that has become a quiet institution in Greensboro, North Carolina. What began in 1975 as a modest gathering of faculty and students has stretched across nine U.S. presidents, outlasting trends and retirements alike.
The weekly session, affectionately called “Geezer ball,” draws a surprisingly lively crowd with an average age near 64. Its longevity rests on a simple credo — “Friendship First, Competition Second” — and a shared belief that the court remains a place for laughter, light‑hearted rivalry, and the occasional sore knee.
Flow, Friendship, and the Joy of the Game
Sociologist Jason Jimerson, who conducted one of the first qualitative studies of pickup basketball, describes the game as a crucible for creativity and flow. He notes that the sport’s physical, aggressive, and competitive nature paradoxically produces a collective state of immersion that sharpens problem‑solving and deepens social bonds among participants.
Jack Appleby, a former small‑college player, has turned his own experience into an Instagram page titled “How to Hoop Forever,” using the platform to discuss the male loneliness epidemic and to champion pickup basketball as a remedy. His posts echo the sentiment that the court can fill voids that statistics alone cannot measure.
James Edwards, a veteran reporter covering the New York Knicks, brings an old‑school perspective to the conversation, recalling the gritty style of play that once defined the city’s parks. His observations underscore how the game’s aesthetic has evolved while retaining its core of spontaneous expression.
Zweigenhaft lives by the mantra “Enjoy every sandwich,” a reminder to savor each moment on and off the court. He says he will keep playing until his body finally tells him to stop, a promise that mirrors the enduring spirit of the community he helped build.