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King of Poland Reigns at Rucker |
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 10 July 2006 |
 Has an Entertainers’ Basketball Classic player ever been nicknamed “The King of Poland� Not terribly likely – but, if he keeps this up, Chudney Gray might soon be wearing the royal moniker.
“I’ve been playing for AZS Koszavin in the Polish Elite Division,†the 6-4 St. John’s swing man of not-so-long-ago related at halftime of the Certified-Long Island’s Finest game at Rucker Park. “Last year I led the league in scoring with 24.6 points per game, was second in assists, first in steals, and MVP of the All-Star Game. It’s fun to be there -- the money is good -- experiencing a different culture and everything that goes along with that. The money is good, too. But I haven’t given up my NBA dream – I’ve played for four teams, including the Grizzlies and the Bulls, in Summer Leagues. And I plan to play for some team again this year.â€
Gray is an amazing story in that he was no more than the quintessential journeyman- reserve at St. John’s for the longest time. Though he always was a world-class athlete – he owns high-jumper hops – the bench always beckoned because couldn’t shoot a lick. Until his senior year that is, when his stroke finally clicked to the point where the NBA was a real possibility...
“I’m going to give my last drop of blood to play in the league,†he said. “I took 500 jumpers a day, every day, to get to this point. I’ll take a 1000 for The Show.â€
In the meanwhile, Gray -- whose current EBC nickname is “Lights Out†-- is, well, lights out at Rucker. “I love this place,†he smiles. “Great competition, funky people to keep your ego in line, a great place to hone your skills and stay in shape.†The Certified star was, unfortunately, too great for L. I. Finest on this night, highflying, alley-ooping, and, yes, jump shooting from parking lot range to the point where the game became an entirely one-sided 57-26 blowout.
“It was a good run’’ a gracious Gray said afterwards, barely out of breath. “He’s a great player,†Terror Squad coach Mousey said. “Always goes hard. We could use him on my team.†Mousey’s three time champs – until they lost in the semifinals last season – are 3-0 once again “but we’re not consistent,†he mutters. “We’re not going to win it all this year, not like this. Other teams really get up for us -- and we’re just not playing that hard.â€
Queensbridge homey Ron Artest is the big exception, of course. “I’ve had him since high school – and I’ve never lost an EBC game with Ronnie,†smiles Mousey. “Not once, not ever. Ask around. Look it up.†Upon learning that they are playing tough D-Block on Tuesday, Mousey immediately cells team owner Fat Joe from the sidelines. “Get Ronnie,†he stresses. “Joe says he will show for the game Tuesday.†Unfortunately, Ronnie won’t be able to – Artest, amazingly for a star-caliber NBA player, decided to play with the Sacramento Kings Summer League team in Las Vegas – where he’ll match up against the Knicks first-round rookie, and something of a Ron Artest play-alike, Renaldo Balkman next Monday in a fascinating face-to-face.
Meanwhile, with the game so non-competitive, the park is all abuzz about a J. R. Smith dunk from the night before. The brand new Chicago Bull “crossed over to the right, crossed over to the left, then took off from the top of the key†according to announcer Boobie Smooth. “It was ridiculous. That dunk was so strong, for a split second I thought Lou Gossett Jr. was wearing an Afro.†Naturally, Rucker’s own “Lou Gossett Jr.â€, an amazing lookalike, is completely, and gloriously, devoid of hair.
Tom Kertes
NBA.com/knicks
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