|
|
|
Sponsored Links & Updates |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Written by Yash
|
|
Friday, 25 November 2005 |
Pre-Game
I found out about this game in March but no specifics were given, just an estimate of when the actual event would be. Saturday, May 14th, I found out that there was a tryout a Roundhouse Community Centre in downtown Vancouver – news about the tryout wasn’t exactly spread out via message boards but more through word of mouth. Escalade, Go Get It, Area Code, Pharmacist, Professor and others were supposed to show up for the game the following week. The Vancouver team consisted of local legends King Handles, Goosebumps, Disaster aka Soul Man and some former college players like Josh Masters and Gene Wolfe.
Prior to the game, there was close to no advertising done for this game, apparently there were flyers going around but I didn’t see a single one. When I found out about the game I posted on the HoopLife and YPA message boards. Lots of people showed interest in coming since it was their shot at seeing some Notic players against some of And 1’s guys...
The price of the ticket was $30 bucks and it was a general admission event being held at UBC’s (University of British Columbia) War Memorial Gym. They were also offering “VIP†tickets for $45 bucks, a rate that definitely wasn’t worth it as I’ll explain later on. This event was NOT an And 1 sponsored event, it was being run by an extremely amateur organization known as “Vegas NorthWest Entertainment†which was run by the same guy that is apart of the “Ice Kol Clothing†brand in Vancouver – note that neither of these organizations are very well known. $30 bucks for a streetball game is a pretty high priced event, especially when you’re not seeing the franchises like Hot Sauce. My personal opinion is that most people didn’t even come out to watch the “WFS (World Famous Streetballers)†but more to see the likes of Rory go at Pharmacist or King Handles trying to shake off The Professor or Goosebumps pulling off his epic moves.
Saturday, May 21st arrives, the doors were set to open at 3 and the game starts at 5. I contacted a friend who was at the venue by 3 and said there weren’t that many people waiting at the door. When I got there at 4, I paid my $30 bucks and saw only 1/3 of one side of the stadium with any people – obviously it was at centre court – and maybe 5 people sitting on the other side at a higher level. Around the court there were chairs which were reserved for “VIP.†I later found out that their “VIP†section was ridiculous as anyone could have walked to the floor and sat courtside. After my first glances I saw Goosebump, King Handles, Rory as well as other players shooting around. At courtside I saw the prophet himself Jeremy Schaulin-Rioux as well as Notic co-founder Kirk Thomas – it was wicked seeing these dudes in the stands with their cameras ready to film their guys.
The MC was some guy I have no clue who he was and the DJ was one of Vancouver’s finest and on the rise DJ J-Fresh aka Jermaine Foster who was actually supposed to play in the game but decided to work the tables instead. Prior to the game these young kids run full court and it was somewhat entertaining, one kid actually got a shot to sit on the bench with the Vancouver team and maybe a chance to play in the game.
As five o’clock came around more and more people started to fill the stands up, but I have to say I think there had to be no more than 200 in attendance. It’s 5, people are anxious, waiting to see team WFS in action. MC hits the mic, “It’ll be about 10 to 15 more minutes before they get here,†all is straight people are thinking, still waiting. 30 minutes later “Oh the bus has just arrived! Shouldn’t be to longâ€. Straight. An hour later, “We’re having some money problems, so it should start in 15 to 20 minutes.†Cool, cool, it’s all good, we’ll wait. A full hour and thirty minutes later you see Professor lead the pack of players. FINALLY! The WFS team consisted of:
The Professor
Go Get It
Escalade
Father Time
Area Code
Got Game
Jenkins
Corn Rows
Some Dude
You read right, there was NO Pharmacist which was real hurt, since we know he’s been to Vancouver before and I must say I was looking forward to seeing him live. Come on who wouldn’t agree that Rory vs. Pharm would be nice to watch! Or rematch from The Notic 2: Goosebumps vs. Pharmacist. Nonetheless the event had to go on. Team WFS got to warm up for a bit but they entered the court all cocky, looking like they were ready to play. It was told that The Professor could not play due to his contract with And 1 (personal opinion: no comment J) so that was another failing with the event. Go Get It and Escalade are pretty self-explanatory but, Area Code was this 6 something dude who was built and cut like a rock, he could shoot threes for sure and I think he’s the guy on Volume 4 that does the handstand although I’m not entirely sure. Corn Rows was this huge lanky 7 footer who looked like he was only good for his height and Got Game is – I think it’s his nickname – the #1 high schooler in the US: Gerald Green, yes I’m talking about that guy. Jenkins is a local kid who ran with “Jr. Notic†who was apparently picked up to replace Pharmacist and Some Dude is..well SOME DUDE who I’ve seen around at courts, not a flashy player but he was with them.
Team Vancouver was:
King Handles
-YPA & Notic Player
Goosebumps
-Notic Player
Disaster
-And 1 Mixtape Tour Game & Notic player
Gene Wolfe
-Former UNBC standout player
Josh Masters
-3 time Dolphin Park Classic Dunk Champ
-Former CIS standout
Diego Kapelan
-All Canadian Game candidate
Jermaine Foster aka Fresh (Didn’t play)
-DJ and Notic player
Local Players
Faizal Shirwa
Peter Kim
White Dude #1
White Dude #2
Black Dude #1
Black Dude #2
The cameras were up, everyone was ready, game time whoo!
The Game
Team WFS won the tip and it was on. The entire game was a back and forth session. The first move of the game went to King Handles who kicked the ball up as you might see Exile do sometimes and put it around a guy – totally unexpected. For WFS, Area Code was drilling threes from beyond the arc and they were alley-ooping like crazy. Lots of the Vancity players were forcing things on offense but on D these guys wanted to win, they didn’t care that they were playing some streetballers. Gene Wolfe was knocking 3 balls all day and took it strong to the hoop. Rory played exceptionally well, only putting it thru Some Dude’s legs one. I think he finished the game with 10 points, something like that. Goosebumps hit a J and made a few attempts to pull off his classic “hopscotch†move but wasn’t successful. Team Vancouver definitely kept it close throughout the entire game.
For WFS, Go Get It was EVERYWHERE! Dude was catching alley-oops 3 feet above the rim, knocking pull back Js, doing it all. WFS got most of their points in the paint since their players were a lot taller.
Now I have to devote a paragraph to King Handles, because I have to mention the importance of this dude’s talent. Most of you have probably seen him on internet clips, the Notic 1/2 as well as YPA’s latest DVD: The War. But to watch this guy in person, against some globally known balers is amazing. Not only did Joey bring out his everyday street game, knocking Js, crossing dudes like there’s no tomorrow BUT HE BROUGHT OUT SOME ENTERTAINMENT VALUE I’VE NEVER SEEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE! It was ALLL KING HANDLES THAT GAME WHEN IT CAME TO ENTERTAINMENT. He was fearless and he led this team to a W. He had to have at least 20-30, most of which were right in Father Time’s eye. These guys went at each other, with Father Time only finishing once. Joey came down at least 3 straight plays, and everyone one of them he made funny faces to the crowd or would start dancing, he’d do his dribble thing, pull back, go right back at Father Time, pull back, space was given, knocks down the J. STRAIGHT FILTHY! For those of you who were there, he did an air flintstone shuffle, Some Dude fell for it, pulled back and hit a 3-ball. Keep in mind Go Get It and Father Time (especially) were serious trash talking Joey but he held ground. It was amazing and the crowd truly loved it!
In the last few minutes WFS went up but Rory hit some clutch 3s and floaters to tie the game up and we were going into OT! OT was really well balanced and it was Gene Wolfe’s 3 ball that gave Team Vancity the 116-115 lead AND the win! The place erupted when we won it was a great day in Vancouver streetball.
Post Game
Everyone rushed the courts to get pictures and autographs with the various players and they happily obliged to doing so. And that was the end of the event. Everyone packed up and went home.
Ending Note
I hope that that game sent a message out that you can bring your best and Vancity will still compete. Keep in mind this team didn’t consist of Vancouver’s best as there were plenty of others out there who could have provided a lot more for the team. Vancouver 1 Streetball World 0 ;) Until next time…
|
|
|
 |
|
|
The Notic: Uncut & Unreleased
Vancouver HIU - Chad vs. Rory
