Was I mean to take down our basketball hoop?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Alternative OP title: Hey kids, get off my lawn!

Mrs. Skammer and I bought this house six years ago, before we had children. We have two now, ages 3 and 1.

The previous owners had installed a basketball net on a pole on the edge of the side yard, facing the street (it’s not a busy street and much better for playing b-ball than our heavily sloped driveway). When we bought the house, we didn’t bother taking it down; I even bought a new net for it. I would toss free-throws occasionally but we also didn’t mind when neighborhood kids like the ones across the street would use it.

Lately, though, there have been some problems. It started a few months ago when someone left a t-shirt lying in our yard next to the pole. I thought it was just left behind accidentally and it was gone in a day or so.

Then, we started waking up to trash in that part of our yard. Styrofoam cups, candy wrappers, then beer cans. Occasionally we would see a small group of teens just hanging around, not even playing ball.

Last week, my wife went in the backyard and there were two of these teens sitting in my kids’ playset! They were about 20’ from the street, hanging out on a wood platform under the main structure of the slide tower. She chased them away. Also, one of our neighbors complained that the teenagers were loudly using obsenities while her young children were nearby.

Then, Saturday night, they were out at the net again, playing ball – until well after midnight. Dribbling and shooting… thwap, thwap, thwap, thump; thwap, thwap, thwap, thunk. It woke up my 3-year old and he totally freaked out because he thought the sound was coming from a monster in the closet. It was 1 AM!

So yesterday, I took the net down. The pole is still there, because it is anchored in concrete and I didn’t have time to dig it up. But the trash, the trespassing, and the disturbance of the peace became too much.

Now my wife feels bad for the teenagers and wonders if we did the right thing. Also, most of the kids were black, so she is worried that they will think that’s the reason we did it (which it wasn’t).

Did we over-react? Should I have warned the kids before taking it down? Or did we handle it appropriately?

2

I’d probably have talked to the kids first, but if they’re already disrespecting your property and your boundaries like that, it might not even help. You weren’t wrong to take down the hoop. The kids will think you’re mean, but hell, it was your hoop to start with.

3

Your yard, your net, your rules. They didn’t behave, so they ruined it for everybody.

4

You totally did the right thing. I would have done it sooner, I’m sure. I can’t even imagine how someone might think it was okay to do what they were doing and they probably realize it now that the hoop is gone.

5

Our neighbor at our last place had a hoop on a weighted, wheeled base she’d bought for her son (she was non-custodial parent and he showed up once a month or so) and it was sitting right up against our property line. Our yard sloped away from the street, and kids were constantly chasing the balls into our shrubs, destroying my gardens. I asked them to be careful - I asked them if they had permission to use the hoop - I tried not to be the mean neighbor, but I know doggone well if one of them had gotten hurt chasing a ball into my yard, my insurance would have had to pay.

My husband moved the hoop closer to the neighbor’s drive and away from our yard, and eventually the hoop just went away. However, had I been in your situation, I probably would have done the same thing you did. My experience was that the kids had no respect for anything but what *they * wanted to do. And much as I hate it, I have to consider the litigious nature of some folks.

Here’s hoping the kids don’t decide to exact revenge…

6

Another vote for don’t sweat it. I wouldn’t want anything that attracted teens to my yard, especially if they are going to be rude and leave trash. You did the right thing for your family.

7

You did the right thing. The situation would only have gotten worse. My city used to have plenty of outdoor BB courts in neighborhood parks. Eventually, they all were gotten rid of. The behavior at the games (loud cursing, drinking, litter, public urination,) became unbearable.

8

Hell, I’d have called the cops about the disturbance late at night.

9

I think if you would nicely, patiently, and politely explain the situation to the kids, you might have gotten them to stop doing those annoying things and just use the hoop as intended with minimal disturbance. You could always take it down later if they kept bugging you. It is tough to be nice and polite in a situation like that, but remember, they probably aren’t aware of how annoying their actions are to you.

10

(Okay, you know how you take chemistry in high school, and suddenly EVERYTHING is chemistry, and you read all the shampoo ingredients, and you won’t shut up about cooking reactions? Yeah, when you’re in law school, suddenly EVERYTHING is law. Even when it clearly isn’t. I’m very sorry about this.)

You were smart to take it down. Do you have any idea how much tort liability you were risking by having a big rusty pole, designed to attract children to play in the street?? Good lord! Read this! You probably narrowly escaped a catastrophe that would have ruined your life, and the lives of everyone you love FOREVER!
Scene: Skammer’s side yard. Everything is black and white and grainy. A single mournful violin plays in the background.

[A lone child approaches the pole.]

Child: This… this pole. It speaks to me. It compels me to climb it. I am a child, and do not know the common-law tort of trespass. I must climb the pole.

[Child climbs the pole. Dangles from rim. Falls. Lies horribly twisted on the street. Violin becomes even more mournful.]

Child: Oh woe is me! I have fallen and have endured pain and suffering! Also lost potential wages for the next 75 years!

[A driver sees the child in the street too late. She swerves to avoid him, and her car flips 13 times, finally bursting into flames.]

Driver: (climbing out of the car, bleeding) Oh no! I was on my way to consort with my husband, but now he has lost consortium with me!

Personal injury attorney: (appearing suddenly out of an unholy flame) I will represent you both!

[fin]

11

You didn’t do anything wrong. You already showed more tolerance than I would have shown.

12

Applause! Well played, sir, well played.

13

The mournful violin was well-played as well, and a nice touch. Suddenly I wish I had a had a basketball hoop to take down and the world would be a better place.

14

I would of taken it down there is no way i would let people use my basketball ring and not even offer me a beer!

15

Randy, the pole is only a little rusty! Seriously, though, the thought that we might be held liable for any injuries resulting from kids playing in the street did cross my mind from time to time. I always considered taking it down for that reason, but I was too lazy to bother. It’s probably for the best. Now, I only have to work up the determination to dig up the lonely, hoop-less pole.