Basketball lovers and friends of the West 4th Street Courts in Greenwich Village bid farewell to a legend.
“He would say, ‘You come down here, you can be anyone you wanna be. You walk through those doors, this is the court, this is The Cage,’” said Myron McNill, a longtime player at The Cage.
What You Need To Know
- James Worthy was known as the unofficial mayor of the West 4th Street Courts, announcing games, selling water and making sure everyone got a chance to play
- These outdoor courts are among the most iconic in America, known for its high-quality pickup games and annual tournament
- Legends of The Cage all get nicknames, including Worthy, who got his name from a legendary Los Angeles Lakers player
Family, friends and basketballers came out to The Cage Friday night to honor James Worthy’s legacy.
“He meant a lot to everyone here. He was always a voice. He was always a presence. A personality. Polarizing. But he was definitely family,” said Andre Anderson, a staff member of the West 4th Street Courts.
To many, Worthy was known as the unofficial mayor of the West 4th Street Courts, announcing games, selling water and making sure everyone got a chance to play.
“He’s been a staple here for years and over the last decade, he was the voice of the games in the summer. He was the announcer. Everybody knew him and me knew everybody,” said Jack “BlackJack” Ryan, a legendary basketball entertainer.
These outdoor courts are among the most iconic in America, known for its high-quality pickup games and annual tournament. Worthy often served as the official announcer with his signature megaphone.
“He showed a lot of love to everybody. Everybody loved him. He was like a mentor to everybody,” said Sheila Nash, Worthy’s sister.
She said whenever the weather was nice, she knew exactly where to find her brother: on West 4th Street.
“Every time he would say, ‘Sis, I’m getting on the train.’ I said, ‘I know where you’re going. Bye,’” said Nash.
Although he may be gone, his legacy will live on through The Cage and the players who make it feel like home.
“He’s reached everybody out here. We all know who he is. There’s some people who do great things in little ways and others do little things that are really great. He was one of those guys,” said McNill.
Worthy’s family says he died last weekend after a battle with cancer. He was 63 years old.
