Who's Got Next?

The gym sure has changed.

Maybe I'm too old. When I first walked into The Courts (4136 E. Kearney St., 417-831-3333) the first things to jump out at me were the neon "PIZZA" sign and the throng of kids, quarters in hand, running into the arcade on my right. At first I wasn't sure how much of this place was for sport and how much was Chuck E. Cheese, but the uniformed youngsters flooding out of the back entrance clued me in: there's still some good old b-ball being played here.

What I'd come to check out were the indoor courts themselves, where pros and amateurs often find time to "put on a clinic" alongside little leaguers and the occasional straggler just looking to practice free throws.

"This is where people come to take their game to the next level," explained Chris Coskey, director of The Courts. Kids play in intramural leagues organized by the Courts and, when they have time, local talent shows up to give pointers. And though volleyball gets some time here, too, The Courts' focus is 90 percent competitive basketball, by Coskey's estimation. During the winter season-which, in essence, lasts until outdoor sports kick in in March-from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., all three of The Courts', um, courts are packed.

Thankfully, kids aren't the only ones dribbling at The Courts (apologies for the unfortunate wording). During the summer, local collegiate players compete in loose pro-am leagues. Hoopsters from MSU, Drury, CBC and Evangel have been known to make frequent visits during the off-season (spring and summer) and then keep on playing after they graduate. The resulting freewheeling games attract fans in search of something other than a college game with wide-eyed cheerleaders and a timeout every 30 seconds. "Yeah, we get some groupies in here because of that," Coskey says.
   
But what about the average GO reader who just wants to mess around and take wacky half-court shots? Entrance to The Courts costs three dollars and is contingent on there not being any pre-scheduled games taking place, so you'd better check first. Your best bet is to go during the day-January's winter break period (read: now) would be a good idea-when the college players are off competing for their universities and the little ones are in school. After all, if you're like me, the last thing you want is to be dunked on by a fifth grader.