Basketball in the Barrio Benefit Documentary Film Premiere
Over the past twelve years, hundreds of El Paso youths from different ethnic and social-economic
backgrounds have migrated to the Segundo Barrio’s Armijo Recreation Center for a special three-day sports
camp that equally blends basketball and border culture.
“El Paso’s Basketball in the Barrio is one of the most unique youth basketball camps in the country,” says New York Times sportswriter Robert Lipsyte.
Two days before the start of this year’s camp (June 13-15), El Pasoans will be treated to the world premiere of the documentary film Basketball in the Barrio: El Paso’s History & Culture on Wednesday night June 11th
at downtown El Paso’s luxurious Philanthropy Theatre.
The one-hour documentary was produced over the
course of five years by award winning filmmaker Doug Harris, a former college basketball All American and
European professional player.
The documentary takes viewers on a historical journey that starts by revealing El Paso’s significant role in the
Mexican Revolution during the early 20th century. Moving into the 1940s, the film describes the sports climate in the Segundo Barrio at Bowie High School where El Paso Sports Hall of Famer Rocky Garlarza gained notoriety in football, basketball and baseball. The film then moves forward to the 1960s, examing the history and tradition of the Texas Western College’s basketball program where Basketball Hall of Fame coach Don Haskins guided the team to Texas’ first and only NCAA national championship. Moving into the 1980s, the documentary reveals how former University of Texas El Paso player Steve Yellen and assistant coach Rus Bradburd were inspired to start the Basketball in the Barrio camp in memory of Rocky Garlarza, a longtime youth advocate in the barrio community who trained troubled youth in the sport of boxing at his makeshift gymnasium.
Forwarding to the Basketball in the Barrio camp segment, viewers are taken on an in-depth journey that examines and highlights the dynamics of what makes the program so unique and special. Rus Bradburd, currently a professor at New Mexico State University has drawn in prominent writers, artists, musicians, professional athletes, coaches and youth advocates from different parts of the country to El Paso each June for the annual camp pilgrimage.
Bradburd, known in basketball circles as one of the world’s greatest dribblers, created the special camp to teach
and train youth about the art and skills of ballhandling. Situated at the El Paso’s Armijo Recreation Center, the film
colorfully interweaves the camp’s activities involving Southwest border culture with the skills training in ballhandling for kids between the ages of 5-12 years. The inspiring documentary demonstrates the beauty of how these community minded individuals from El Paso have used basketball as a vehicle to engage inner-city youths in a positive sports activity that simultaneously exposes them to their rich history and culture.
Some of documentary’s familiar cast members include: UTEP coach Don Haskins, NCAA championship
coach Nolan Richardson (Arkansas), El Paso championship boxing prizefighter Juan Lazcano, along with Jon Teicher, the radio/ television voice of Miners basketball. The film’s producer/director Doug Harris
received the 2008 Beacon Award from the Association of Cable Communicators (ACC) for his popular film
BOUNCE: The Don Barksdale Story that was televised on FOX Sport Net. “Doug is earning a reputation for
his work as a documentary filmmaker. His style gives viewers a great appreciation for the untold sports stories
that he brings to life,” says progressive sports journalist Dave Zirin, a regular on ESPN’s Outside The Lines.
Tickets for the benefit premiere can be purchased at the Philanthropy Theatre box office or through ticketmaster.com,
with all proceeds going to the 2008 Basketball in the Barrio camp June 13-15 at Armijo Recreation Center.
