AND1 racked up yet another win, defeating Orlando 96 to 88. The deisel himself, Shaquille O'Neal showed up, momentarily distracting the spectators from the game at hand. Although the big man was in the buildin', it was Baby Shack who did damage down low with 27 points on board, 20 of them from dunks. Springs, on team Orlando, made his second debut and had an incredible game matchings Baby Shack's 27 points. Looks like this new kid Springs could be sending some people off the bus. This was only his second game and he ended up with more than 25 points in both of them.
Watch out for AND1 as they head to Helicopter's home state of Raleigh, NC.
Marquee and I meet up at Bonnie’s Grill Sunday afternoon for hot wings and beer. The Yanks are getting beat up pretty bad so we take one of the TV-less tables in back. Marquee informs me — while smothering a stick of celery in blue cheese, hot sauce smeared all across the dude’s chin and right cheek — that today’s interview isn’t really going to be an interview. He’s been doing a lot of thinking about the game of basketball, and he needs to get some things off his chest. I’m on board with the idea as soon as he says it. Truth is, for the past couple weeks I feel like I’ve been taking myself WAY too seriously. Not only in these vacuous blogs but in life in general. I tell him I’m all ears. The floor’s all his. He devours another wing, gets all the way into the marrow, and washes down with a swig of beer. Then he clears his throat and commences his most amazing arm-chair declamation to date...
Marquee: First of all, D, I know y’all trying to make a movie with street ball in it. And I respect that. I know that Professor dude’s supposed to play Sticky and that AND1 might even pony up a little paper, but I gotta be real with you, homey...
And1 brought the heat as they raveled down to the sunshine state, beating Miami 106 to 104. Although Miami lost by a narrow two points, it was definitely a fight to the finish with new recruit Jamal "Springs" Nelson making an unforgettable debut. Dubbed by Duke Tango, he finished up the game with a team-high 33 points. But it's not his scoring capabilities that are amazing - it's his cat and kangaroo-like ability to pounce and "spring" from the floor and dunk on anything in his path. Definitely something a fan must see to truly believe and appreciate, let alone comprehend.
"I just play my game, I ain't out here to win a contract," and regardless of his intentions, if he keeps playing games like this he might just send Circus back to the tent with the rest of the clowns.
Grayson Boucher aka "The Professor" made his mark in basketball when he became the first baller ever to be signed to AND1 on contract from the world-famous AND1 Mixtape Tour in 2003. He's been in commercials, magazines, and soon will be in his own movie. Now he's playing in the IBL - the International Basketball League - for a team that hones in his own area of Salem, Oregon. Here's a quick highight reel that was uploaded to YouTube that showcases his organized ability.
Pro basketball is played indoors, with strict rules and on hardwood courts. Streetball has reinvented this traditional form, allowing players to bend the rules and perform trick shots, ankle-breaking cross-overs and innovative dunks. It might not have the feel of the NBA, but its free-form structure creates highlights fans love.
Last weekend, the And 1 Mix Tape Tour stopped at the United Center. The event pitted street legends Team And 1 against Team Chicago, a squad of young hopefuls. On the day of the game, And 1 held a tryout to see who would play on Team Chicago. The tryout included two rounds of pickup games, a dunk contest and the Goarmy.com challenge. The top four ballers who survived this gauntlet were chosen to move on to the United Center.
For four Chicago natives, playing against Team And 1 was not just a game; it was an opportunity for financial support, exposure and experience. If one of the four impressed the And 1 players enough, he would be selected to travel with the team and continue to play on the opposing side. If he continues to prove himself as the tour crosses America, he will receive an And 1 contract, making him a part of the streetball crew. Here is a chronicle of their saga July 15...
In most of the basketball-playing world, a goal tilted at almost a 45-degree angle would quickly stop the action. On the AND 1 Mix Tape Tour, the show goes on as it did yesterday just outside of Freedom Hall. With the way the street-ballers attack the goal with regularity and ferocity, sometimes the rim has to absorb punishment.
In many ways the difference between regular basketball and the style executed during the AND 1 Mix Tape Tour is like the difference between traditional sports and the X-Games. Style and fun are always the biggest calling cards to flocking young fans.
At the Open Run yesterday, an opportunity for area basketball players to showcase their skills, several hundred youngsters eagerly watched the games...
Last night Dime was in the building – Madison Square Garden – for the Entertainers Basketball Classic all-star game and celebrity game. Throughout the evening we kept notes for a Smack-style recap.
The celebs were the undercard to the all-stars. Zab Judah, Ne-Yo, Jim Jones (Dipset), Michael Bivins, Bobbito Garcia, Joe Budden, Jae Millz and Mysonne all suited up … Not a lot of memorable highlights. Mysonne has some handles and a quick first step, and Ne-Yo shocked us when he got a steal and breakaway layup. Seriously, we saw Ne-Yo tossing up jumpers at a charity event a while back, and let’s just say he doesn’t seem like much of a ballplayer. Not that any of the thousands of shrieking females in attendance care about that, though … Time for the all-star game; Red team versus White team. From the looks of things, the White squad is the pre-game favorite. They’ve got the talent edge with Kareem Reid, Alimoe, Lance Stephenson, The Pharmacist and A-Butta (you might know him as “Wholelottagameâ€). The Red team has Joe Forte, Randy “White Chocolate†Gill, Future and ex-St. John’s wing Ryan “Special FX†Williams…
There are some things human beings just aren’t supposed to have the power to do, but Taurian Fontenette has proven that he’s capable of at least one of them.
At first glance, one might view the oft-circulated internet video of Fontenette (a.k.a. “Air Up Thereâ€) and his 720 Dunk as a forgery. A Powerade commercial of Michael Vick throwing 100-yard passes and knocking receivers out of their shoes with fireball passes makes this dunk, in which Air Up There spins around two full times before dunking, seem computer generated too.
Officially: No special effects, no camera tricks. The dunk is the real deal.
Air Up There is AND1’s newest full-time tour member, and even though he recently broke his thumb, he has been one of the Mix Tape Tour’s biggest hits this summer. This past weekend in Chicago, the man behind the dunk took some time to discuss the 720 and his experience with the AND1 tour...
The Notic: Uncut & Unreleased
Vancouver HIU - Chad vs. Rory
AND1 96
Marquee and I meet up at Bonnie’s Grill Sunday afternoon for hot wings and beer. The Yanks are getting beat up pretty bad so we take one of the TV-less tables in back. Marquee informs me — while smothering a stick of celery in blue cheese, hot sauce smeared all across the dude’s chin and right cheek — that today’s interview isn’t really going to be an interview. He’s been doing a lot of thinking about the game of basketball, and he needs to get some things off his chest. I’m on board with the idea as soon as he says it. Truth is, for the past couple weeks I feel like I’ve been taking myself WAY too seriously. Not only in these vacuous blogs but in life in general. I tell him I’m all ears. The floor’s all his. He devours another wing, gets all the way into the marrow, and washes down with a swig of beer. Then he clears his throat and commences his most amazing arm-chair declamation to date...
Grayson Boucher aka "The Professor" made his mark in basketball when he became the first baller ever to be signed to AND1 on contract from the world-famous AND1 Mixtape Tour in 2003. He's been in commercials, magazines, and soon will be in his own movie. Now he's playing in the IBL - the International Basketball League - for a team that hones in his own area of Salem, Oregon. Here's a quick highight reel that was uploaded to YouTube that showcases his organized ability.
Last night Dime was in the building – Madison Square Garden – for the Entertainers Basketball Classic all-star game and celebrity game. Throughout the evening we kept notes for a Smack-style recap.
