First things first, White Chocolate a.k.a. DC Sniper put on a show yesterday at Kingdome. 3 after 3 after 3, regardless if it was Pete Mulligan a.k.a. “Just Do It,†Jason “Soul Controller†Wingate, or Kareem “Big Game†Reid. “Count Buckets†(my nickname for him) was draining, mixing, totally unstoppable, absolutely putting the bookbag on for his squad. He had 40 easy, if not more, and the three defenders i just named all played major D1 minutes.
Unfortunately, that’s not what will be remembered about yesterday...
While the rumors of handgun violence are slightly exaggerated, Harlem’s Kingdome Classic is definitely experiencing homicidal tendencies. The Kingdome Classic is Harlem’s oldest tournament and arguably the most popular pro-am on the New York City circuit this summer. Damon Dash has taken over the event and cross-promoted it in ads and apparel from his line of PRO-Keds this year, giving the games a boost in exposure. Amid mild controversy and hellish heat, the tournament continues on to entertain the Harlem residents and help the city’s elite ballers keep their games tight.
“There are some politics going on right now, they’re trying to stop the games,†says Corie Underwood, a journeyman big man from Queens running with Team K1X. “But this is the best tournament running right now. The NBA guys know it. Everyone knows about it, the word gets around the city somehow.â€
Since AO, Biz, Main Event, Shane the Dribbling Machine and Co. launched their own Ball 4 Real streetball tour at the start of this summer, they have been rampaging across the country, killing in all 15 arena stops so far. They’ve conquered the West, doing their thing up and down the Left Coast, making their way closer and closer to the finale in NYC at the end of August.
With a bunch of stops already in the rearview, I decided to check in with crew on tour to see how things are going on the court, on the bus and out at night…
How is the tour going so far fellas?
Special FX: Going good. Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Dallas, Seattle, Oakland, OK City - everywhere they showing us love.
AO: It’s going good. Playing with the guys and everything its cool.
Circus: Everything smooth. We winnin’.
I’ll Be Right Back: The tour has been good. People are showing a lot of support...
First of all, there's no denying that streetball has become commercial and it isn't what it used to be. Tyrone Evans aka "Alimoe" aka "The Black Widow" speaks his mind about what the game has become. Mo is no longer with AND1, and by the video you can tell he's not happy that the game he loved has been ruined.
On the other hand, Randy Gill aka "White Chocolate" might be starting some beef. Apparently his confidence is telling him that he'll destroy your boy King Handles. Hopefully we'll hear about what the King has to say about that at a later date. Anyway, check out the videos and tell us what you think about Alimoe's and Chocolate's viewpoints... enjoy the videos.
The man Escalade himself reports for InsideHoops...
It's monday the 25th and I got back to NY late last night. Had to be in Harlem early this morning for a TV shoot for ESPN with some of the biggest names in streetball. There's John Strickland aka Franchise, Kareem Reid aka Best Kept Secret, Reggie Freeman aka Hi-5, Duane "40" Woodward, Jamel Thomas aka 530, former St. Johns and NBA star Zendon hamilton, and Andrian Walton aka Whole Lotta Game. That goes well. It was good to see the guys.
Tuesday the 26th I'm on a flight to Atlanta. I get off the flight and I'm rushed right to radio for a call-in...
Oklahoma City was REALLY HOT bro! I mean if it weren't for the rain that put the block party to an end, we would have had to carry the local baller's off on stretchers. The block party was full up with the most talented from the area. We had the kids 10 and under on stage with us and they partied like little rock stars! We had Thomas Scott aka "TdotScott" aka "Tha Dermatologist" the son of superstar coach Byron Scott ball up for the $100,000. Contract. We pulled him in the building as his dad sat courtside and watched proudly. The game on the inside was truly one of the best games so far. We had to really lay the pimp hand down on this one! Loll. But you know how we do. Still undefeated! Check out the action in the media section. Also don't forget to check out the car show we have going on every block party. Street ball and Street Rides is the perfect combo.
In Denver we were surprised with some of the craziest cars in the industry! Usually I start with reporting the look on the courts but Denver had lock on rides. I spoke with a couple of the guys who build these cars and it was explained that the Hot Rod is back. And the way to go is completely custom from the tires to the sunroof. Paint jobs, Wheels, Interiors, under the hood and in some cases the trunks too. Taking old school bodies and adding new lines to them was what the look was about in Denver. The hoopin was on point also. We had a lot of talent out there and we look forward to coming back.
Troy (Escalade) Jackson grinned as he used his 6-10, nearly 400-pound frame to back down a hapless defender in the parking lot of KeySpan Park three weeks ago.
On the same day in Los Angeles, several of Jackson's former And1 Mixtape Tour teammates were dazzling fans who came out to watch Ball4Real, a competing brand of street basketball that's making its first cross-country trek this summer.
Anthony (1/2 Man, 1/2 Amazing) Heyward, Waliyy (Main Event) Dixon and Aaron (AO) Owens earned big money and nationwide recognition during their years with And1, but as the Mixtape tour celebrates its 10th anniversary, they and others say they saw no alternative but to move forward and make a split...
Last Saturday afternoon, a crispy day made for playing pick-up ball, the squad from Queens, NY’s Benjamin Cardozo High School rolled deep to the playground, bringing their entire roster. Ever! Well, almost ever. Ron “The Teacher†Naclerio became Cardozo’s head coach in 1981 and is a one of the most well known high school coaches in the country. For years before A.A.U. basketball monopolized their weekends, Naclerio gathered his players, past and present, to attend an “open-run†of sorts in the school yard of Public School 46 in Queens, not far from Cardozo’s campus. Last year, Naclerio and some of his former players brought back the ritual and now hope to continue the Cardozo High School Basketball Reunion as annual event for years to come.
“This has to be the biggest high school basketball reunion ever! I counted close to 200 former Cardozo players that are here today,†Naclerio says, pausing from running around like a madman in the chaotic schoolyard. “They love being here. To see the guys come back on a consistent basis shows me that they felt something special while they were at Cardozo. It’s one more day for them to get the chance to be part of Cardozo.â€..
The Notic: Uncut & Unreleased
And1 vs. ATL All-Stars
First things first, White Chocolate a.k.a. DC Sniper put on a show yesterday at Kingdome. 3 after 3 after 3, regardless if it was Pete Mulligan a.k.a. “Just Do It,†Jason “Soul Controller†Wingate, or Kareem “Big Game†Reid. “Count Buckets†(my nickname for him) was draining, mixing, totally unstoppable, absolutely putting the bookbag on for his squad. He had 40 easy, if not more, and the three defenders i just named all played major D1 minutes.
While the rumors of handgun violence are slightly exaggerated, Harlem’s Kingdome Classic is definitely experiencing homicidal tendencies. The Kingdome Classic is Harlem’s oldest tournament and arguably the most popular pro-am on the New York City circuit this summer. Damon Dash has taken over the event and cross-promoted it in ads and apparel from his line of PRO-Keds this year, giving the games a boost in exposure. Amid mild controversy and hellish heat, the tournament continues on to entertain the Harlem residents and help the city’s elite ballers keep their games tight.
Since AO, Biz, Main Event, Shane the Dribbling Machine and Co. launched their own Ball 4 Real streetball tour at the start of this summer, they have been rampaging across the country, killing in all 15 arena stops so far. They’ve conquered the West, doing their thing up and down the Left Coast, making their way closer and closer to the finale in NYC at the end of August.
The man Escalade himself reports for InsideHoops...
Oklahoma City was REALLY HOT bro! I mean if it weren't for the rain that put the block party to an end, we would have had to carry the local baller's off on stretchers. The block party was full up with the most talented from the area. We had the kids 10 and under on stage with us and they partied like little rock stars! We had Thomas Scott aka "TdotScott" aka "Tha Dermatologist" the son of superstar coach Byron Scott ball up for the $100,000. Contract. We pulled him in the building as his dad sat courtside and watched proudly. The game on the inside was truly one of the best games so far. We had to really lay the pimp hand down on this one! Loll. But you know how we do. Still undefeated! Check out the action in the media section. Also don't forget to check out the car show we have going on every block party. Street ball and Street Rides is the perfect combo.
Troy (Escalade) Jackson grinned as he used his 6-10, nearly 400-pound frame to back down a hapless defender in the parking lot of KeySpan Park three weeks ago.
Last Saturday afternoon, a crispy day made for playing pick-up ball, the squad from Queens, NY’s Benjamin Cardozo High School rolled deep to the playground, bringing their entire roster. Ever! Well, almost ever. Ron “The Teacher†Naclerio became Cardozo’s head coach in 1981 and is a one of the most well known high school coaches in the country. For years before A.A.U. basketball monopolized their weekends, Naclerio gathered his players, past and present, to attend an “open-run†of sorts in the school yard of Public School 46 in Queens, not far from Cardozo’s campus. Last year, Naclerio and some of his former players brought back the ritual and now hope to continue the Cardozo High School Basketball Reunion as annual event for years to come.
