From KCRW and KCRW.com, I'm Bob Carlson, and this is Unfictional.

Unfictional is KCRW's program of stories and original documentaries.

It's a part of KCRW's Independent Producer Project,

a laboratory for independent radio producers, writers, and performers.

Today on the program, Bring Your Game,

a story about life, family, and basketball.

See I'm a little winded.

I haven't played in a while, you know I still got it. I got to confess though these guys come out here all the time.

It's kind of hard to keep up with him.

When Miguel Coleman was growing up, he spent his free time traveling around with his father playing

pick up basketball.

And along the way, family, God, life lessons, and the keys to becoming a better man were

all taught on the court.

That story is coming up in a few minutes on unfictional,

but if you're a basketball fan,

it looks like the only NBA action for a while

is going to be in lawyer's offices and negotiating tables because of this ongoing labor dispute.

But while there's no prospect of basketball in NBA arenas anytime soon,

all you need to do is stick your head in a school gym or a park playground and find everyday

athletes battling on the court. Pick up basketball is enormously popular and this week we talked

to some players we found to find out why.

I think it's probably the eclectic mix of people down here, you know what I'm saying?

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