From Travel Educator Bijan C. Bayne
Martha’s Vineyard island is a little place off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, which has been a summer haven for educators, Bostonians and celebrities since before anyone reading this post was born. The latter are the most recent vacation demographic, James Cagney, Charles Lindbergh, and Gloria Swanson were among their early number. Through the years, news stories such as Senator Ted Kennedy’s accident at Chappaquidick, the filming of the movie “Jaws”, and visits by President Clinton and his family have thrust the Vineyard into the international spotlight. Naturally, tourism peaked in response to each wave of media exposure.
In the economic downturn, inn and hotel stays, and seasonal shopping are down this year on The Island. A vacation by The First Family may do as much to revive things as President Obama did for his political party. One wonders whether (and where) the Commander-in-Chief will play his favorite sport while there:
Link is from Baller-in-Chief blogger and sportswear CEO Claude Johnson:
Summer basketball on Martha’s Vineyard has a rich tradition, and many lifelong friendships were made on its courts. One place much of that history took place was at the public courts in Niantic Park, where a summer league for boys, teens, and adults was founded in 1970 by Vineyard Regional High School basketball Coach Jay Schofield and his aide Chris McCarthy. From the 1970’s util the 1990’s, young men, and later girls, from Boston and its suburbs, New York City, Connecticut, and island natives battled for individual and league honors there. Vacationers and year-round residents still tell fond stories of their days or observations in those leagues (a few pros even found their way to the park). There is a photo of the hallowed court in the “Baller-in-Chief” blog article.
If President Obama or his girls go to Niantic Park to shoot around, they’ll make the court famous, but for thousands of Americans it’s already a special place.
