Why The Staten Island Basketball League Matters Now More Then Ever by Craig Raucher-Founder and Commissioner -April 2025
As the Staten Island Basketball League (SIBL) moves through its 45th year speeding to the half century mark I find myself amazed at its longevity and growth. I want to share with you how such a league can stand for almost 5 decades hostin over 500 plus players while promoting friendship and high level basketball.
The SIBL was formed by a group of highly competitive ex high school/college players combined with a handful of hard nosed park players who wanted an indoor venue to play in. This core group composed of 15 players grew to over 500 players over the years transcending over 4 decades and attracting some of the best basketball players on Staten Island. Our gym which is an adjunct building of P S 8 in Great Kills, Staten Island gives us another distinction as being the oldest outside group utilizing a New York City Board of Education facility in its 100 plus year history.
This gym is 70 years old and is one of the only gyms in a Public School that was built as a separate building. The backboards and benches are wooden and worn and the gym defines old school.
The SIBL has been the subject of numerous articles in major newspapers and community publications, on -line interviews, interviews on several radio and television stations in New York, many You Tube videos as well as Pod Cast discussions.
We have had men aged 25-75 play over the years from 27 different countries, 4 continents, multiple faiths and religions, agnostics, atheists, speaking many different native languages. Black White, Asian, African, Middle Eastern. Far Eastern,Central American. All men who grew up playing the game in their countries of birth. We have had alcoholics and drug users in recovery using basketball as a conduit to a better life.
Over the years as a number of our players reach their yearly anniversaries of sobriety or no drug use I have spoken at their Alcoholics and Narcotic Anonymous meetings about them and about the healing power of basketball. It is not uncommon for me to speak at one of these meetings where the player is 25 or 30 years sober.
The average number of years that men play is 25 years. We only allow smart and seasoned players allowing us to always maintain a highly competitive run.
We have had Teachers, Principals, College Professors, Police Captains, Detectives, Firemen, Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic priests, business owners, executives, CEO’s, maintenance men, Park Avenue Doorman, Doctors, Lawyers, Politicians, Morticians, Electricians, Truck drivers, Uber drivers mechanics, Physical Therapists, custodians and many other professions to numerous to name. All brought together by the love of basketball three times a week.
The bedrock simple rules that have kept us strong and solid for so many years and not adhering to them gets you removed from the group immediately are:
1) No racism or religious intolerance.
2) No discussion of politics .
3) No intentionally hurting another player.
These rules are radioactive and will get you gone. Everyone who joins is advised that this is how we regulate the league so no one is ever surprised if they exhibit bad behavior.
Today more then ever our ability to create a competitive environment with so many diverse players absent hostility should be a model for society. Sportsmanship and friendship are the two pillars we lean on.
We cannot wait to hit the half century mark.