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Title: Along the River; Behind the Grocery Store

Artist: Spacefunmars

Description: If this drawing looks familiar, that is because it is the same court I used in the original My Stomping Grounds post. I love this basketball court. It is in the neighborhood just beside my own in Buffalo — a neighborhood called Black Rock. From one angle, you can see many trees lining a beautiful river that bike paths follow in parallel. From another, there are wonderfully graffiti-ed buildings and the dual steeples of a Catholic church.

Just behind the court (and not shown in the drawing) is a hill that leads to Buffalo’s largest grocery store (Wegmans). The hill barely keeps the store at bay from becoming a complete eyesore, and it lends the court an air of secrecy and privacy. Buffalo has many other basketball courts displayed more prominently in its larger parks that people use far more. This one remains my favorite if only because it is a hidden gem that seems to only be used by the residents of the Black Rock neighborhood.

On a note only somewhat related to this actual court, if you look closely at the backboard, the word “bcuz” is spray painted there. Someone (or a group of someones) go around Buffalo and graffiti stuff with this word and sometimes with a few words like “bcuz I don’t care about your guardrail.” The idea being they are spray painting stuff just for the sake of spray painting stuff. I happen to love it, and one can find that graffiti almost everywhere.

Check out this post to learn how to contribute to the My Stomping Grounds image collection.

 Buy a canvas print of this drawing.

Charty: Laker Bros

Boosh: I’m thankful for Dwight’s headband.

Angelo: I’m thankful Sheed is back.

Mike: That picture of Brandon Jennings with the topless stripper.

Jeff: NBA Twitter. Watching the games is fun, but following along with Twitter is the best.

Triz: Andrew Bynum’s decision making skills

Erin: I’m most thankful for the veteran leadership of Rasheed Wallace helping the Knicks to an 8-1 start to this season.

SpaceFunMars: Neither my wife nor my work wants to hear this, but I’m thankful I have to work nights for the entire NBA season. I get to see waayyyyy more games than I ever could before. It is only at the expense of spending time with my wife and doing my job well.

Triz: I’m thankful for those Lakers bros

Charty: The new Denver nuggets uniforms

Erin: Bynum’s hair

Mike: DELONTE WEST*

*ed. note: Nobody tell Mike that Delonte isn’t in the league this year

Erin: Byron Scott calling the practice facility chef’s food “off the chain”

Jeff: Kobe Bryant giving less and less fucks as he gets older. He’s been a quote machine this year.

Erin: Pau Gasol’s twitter feed

Boosh: As always, I’m thankful for Varejao being incredible

Mike: All the KFC-sponsored “bucket” features during NBA games.

Charty: More Waiters ball handling given Kyrie’s injury (trying to look on the bright side here…)

Triz: The thought of Gilbert Arenas in China.

Mike: All the puns you can do with Dion Waiters’ last name.

Erin: The Nets kids dance team’s performance to “Hot Cheetos & Takis“

Mike: Sheed!!!!!!!

Boosh: Luke Harangody is making more money than anyone reading this

Erin: Ricky Rubio listening to “Sweet Home Alabama on his way to practice

Mike: Boosh (for spilling coffee on himself at my wedding and giving us that amazing picture… See attached)*

*ed. note: I didn’t attach that picture

Jeff: Andrew Bynum’s hair.

Erin: Kyle Singler

Mike: Dion Waiters.

Boosh: That we’re watching basketball in November instead of Woj’s twitter feed

Erin: Bynum’s hair

Charty:  Bynum’s hair obviously, but also Nick Young’s hair

Erin: The Lopez twins writing comics together

Mike: Weird/random players wearing headbands that shouldn’t be wearing them

Triz: I’m thankful for those Lakers bros

Boosh: That I used up LPBB slots on the Wizards and the 76ers.

Charty: Yeah Aflac

Mike: The Zach Randolph piece on Grantland where we learned he had “I’m in Love with a Stripper” as his intro music right after he got accused of sexually assaulting a stripper

Most of all, I think we’re all grateful for you guys. Our readers are the smartest, best looking, and generally awesome people on the internet. Now go get a little too drunk and argue with your family.

(Editor’s Note: The “facts” represented in this illustration may or may not be factual.)