Pass the cranberry sauce, we’re having mashed potatoes!

That's Northeast Philly, where WIP callers hang out.

 

Look at that map ... Strawberry Mansion is a great name.

Formerly known as Summerville, the neighborhood takes its name from a house known as Strawberry Mansion, at one time housing a restaurant known for strawberries and cream. Strawberry Mansion was home to a number of Philadelphia's wealthiest families in the 19th Century. In 1880, The average home price was higher than 85% of the houses in Philadelphia.[1] It became a mixed-income, predominantly Jewish neighborhood, but since the middle of the 20th century the neighborhood has been struck by economic decline and urban decay. In 2000, the neighborhood had the lowest average home price in the city.

Modern Strawberry Mansion has acquired a reputation as one of the most dangerous areas of Philadelphia.

 

That's clear on the other side of the city than where I'm talking about.

On your map, start at University of Pennsylvania and go about 35 blocks west.

 

How many Leandro's can there be? lol

 

Strawberry Mansion is home to Maureece Rice, the guy who broke Wilt Chamberlain's city scoring record.

That's all I got.

 

Continuing my player profiles (because I know you love them), I'm going to take you through the short, sordid career of Maureece Rice. Rice, a 6'1" 225 pound guard, has the body-type of Khalid El-Amin and scoring prowess of Wilt Chamberlain. Interesting, huh?

How he got here

Maureece Rice grew up a playground legend in North Philly, emulating the game of another Philadelphia star, Allen Iverson. I can't find any sources to confirm this, but I believe he once said "North Philadelphia, born and raised, on the playground is where I spent most of my days."

When he was 10 or 11 years old, he dropped 40 in a city league game and people were impressed. Once he grew up, he kept scoring in large amounts. At Strawberry Mansion High School (doesn't that sound lovely?), he broke Wilt Chamberlain's Philadelphia High School all-time scoring record. Of course he did it in four years while Chamberlain did it in three, but there aren't many people that can say they broke a Wilt Chamberlain scoring record, so I'm going to give him props. He also crossed up LeBron James in high school, even though it was a 30ish-point loss.

Maureece Rice: D-League Player Profiles

 

Fun fact: I was at the Palestra when Rice “crossed up” LeBron. He then proceeded to airball a 3.

 

LOL on the airball.

 

Kobe would have the city scoring record if he had gone to high school a few miles farther east.

 

Just curious ... do you like any chains? I mean, I understand; some people don't.

 

FYI, I was inspired by this thread and had a Reuben for lunch yesterday.