AND1 Mixtape Tour: The Anti-League

Written by Administrator

Saturday, 26 August 2006

In this world of Streetball, NBA Commissioner David Stern is the epitome of a “suit,” - stuffy, full of rules, the enforcer of law and order and a typical representative of corporate America. Moreover, Mr. Stern has the perception of being unconnected with his players and even more so with the fans. He represents everything that Streetball opposes. In other words, he is the “Establishment.” Streetball wants no part of this lifestyle (well, we will make an exception for the endorsement part but that’s okay). Streetball is a league of character, charisma, and showmanship. That much was evident when the And1 Mixtape Tour made a stop in that Nation’s Capital on Saturday, August 12. Behind the back passes, lobs off of the backboard, windmill dunks were all part of the scene – and that was during warm-ups. If you’ve never been to an And1 stop or seen these passionate players on television, then you’ve definitely missed out on some fun. This Tour and this league are about entertainment, fun, flashy one-on-one moves, and the energy generated by the fans. After seven years of the Streetball phenomenon, its popularity shows no sign of waning. This being my second experience with the Mixtape Tour, I can certainly understand why. As soon as the clock starts running, the differences in Streetball and the NBA (a.k.a. the League) become apparent. The first thing that strikes my attention (and I have no idea why) is the fact that out of the ten players on the court, not one of them have their shirts tucked into their shorts. Moreover, the length of their shorts would draw much ire from the League. In the NBA, we’re talking thousands of dollars worth of fines for these infractions no questions asked. But here, it’s not only acceptable, it’s encouraged. You may be wondering why we’d pick such an odd example to start with. Surely, you must be asking yourself, there must be more to it than shorts. And the answer is “yes,” there is. The length of the players’ shorts and the fact that the shirts aren’t tucked in all are a part of the Streetball culture – laid back, stylish, and all around “cool.” The powers-that-be in Streetball encourage individual development and personal growth. Not that these characteristics aren’t nurtured in the NBA because they are. But here in Streetball, the players try to relate with their fan base. A great majority of these fans are young kids who dress the same way, listen to the same music, and generally have the same interests. The entire philosophy of the Streetball league is to play ball, have fun, and chill. Besides the different approaches to the game of basketball and the culture which surrounds those differences, another thing that wows me about this event is the party-type atmosphere that has taken over the Verizon Center. With music blasting during the game from such artists as Young Joc, the now-braidless Ludacris, 50-Cent and E40 (who performed live at halftime), one could easily forget that they were in a sports arena instead of a local nightclub. And the crowd, most urban and urban-suburban, was eating it up. It was hard enough trying to watch the action and take in the brilliant and unique moves without trying to dance – but somehow I managed to do both. Hey, when in Rome… Yet another difference (one of the most noticeable) between Streetball and the League is the game itself. While the league attempts to make an effort to promote fundamentals, teamwork, and the like, Streetball makes no such pretense. It is all about showmanship in this league. These kids must spend hours upon hours practicing various individual drills. The only word to describe these types of cross-overs, through the legs, stop and go moves is simply “magic.” In Streetball, everyone has a gimmick – whether it be someone who can do things dribbling the basketball that haven’t been seen since the likes of Pistol Pete or whether it’s someone whose ferocious dunks can make even Darryl Dawkins say, “Damn!” You would think that the individualistic nature of Streetball would make for some tension and frustration between the players. However, that simply isn’t the case. Everybody gets to do what they do best. Also, while the league is moving in the direction of placing emphasis on more offense, And1 is already there. Unlike the League, most of the points come from drives to the bucket and dunks instead of jumpers, three pointers and post-up moves. There were hardly any long-range jump-shots taken and the ones that were taken, should not have been. There are no set plays; everything is fast-break and run and gun. And the defense was non-existent. Just being in the Verizon Center wasn’t the only thing that reminded me of the Washington Wizards. These dudes make Gilbert Arenas look like Scottie Pippen. In fact, none of the players showed any interest in playing both ends of the court. That too, is acceptable in Streetball. It’s all about offense. The offense and the identification factors are not the only things which keep the fans coming back year after year. In recent times, the NBA has made moves which have allowed them to be the most “fan friendly” of all professional sports. Although this is very good, And1 has taken it to another level. From the announcers, to the public relations personnel to the players themselves, the goal is to make sure that the fans get their monies’ worth. At all time-outs, there is interaction with the fans in some capacity. Whether it be some type of give-aways (i.e. tee shirts, headbands, etc.), contests, or what have you, the aim is to make it a more energetic atmosphere. The players themselves recognize this league as more fan friendly. “This league is about fun and showing the fans some love,” said the newly signed Andre Poole (a.k.a. Silk) after the game. “We understand that without them, Streetball would still be an underground movement.” Even though, Silk’s comments were light-hearted and jovial, when I spoke with big Troy Jackson (a.k.a. Escalade) after the game and mentioned the fans to him, he became very serious. “Yeah man, the fans are absolutely amazing,” said Jackson. “Who would have ever thought that someone big like me would become a role model. I have the best job in the world and I thank the fans for accepting me just as I am.” The players not only appreciate the fans’ dedication on a professional level but also on a personal level as well. There were many instances which make this point but one particular episode stands out in my mind. Immediately before the start of the second half, this young lady who was clearly infatuated with Philip Champion (a.k.a. Hot Sauce), started screaming repeatedly, “I love you Hot Sauce, I love you Hot Sauce.” Upon hearing his name, Sauce looked into the stands, identified the fan and proceeded up the stairs and gave her a hug that seemed to last about a minute. The fan in me appreciated the gesture and so did the rest of the crowd who gave Hot Sauce a standing ovation after he finished with the young fan. After the game, we had the opportunity to ask Sauce about the interaction with the fan. “I had never done anything like that before,” Sauce said with a huge grin. “I just heard her calling my name and I was flattered that somebody was that into me. It was wild and I wanted to thank her.” Even though those incidents are abundant in the Mixtape Tours, what impresses me the most is the fact that all of the players interact with the fans at the end of the game. Not only are the players talking with the kids but they are shaking hands, taking pictures and enjoying themselves. Moreover, after each game, the players sign autographs for the fans for at least an hour but usually they will stay until the last fan has left. All in all, the And1 Mixtape Tour is something that the entire family can enjoy. It doesn’t matter your age, sex, or race, Streetball appeals to everyone, even the hard-core NBA advocates like myself. So next time the And1 Tour comes to your city, go ahead and check it out. You will not be disappointed, guaranteed! Kealin M. Culbreath HOOPSWORLD.com No one has commented on this article. Please login or register to post comments. J! Reactions • General Site License Copyright © 2006 S. A. DeCaro

 

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