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AND 1: United Streets Of America |
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Written by Nikola Olic
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Tuesday, 14 August 2007 |
  My hat's off to these AND1 ballers. Texas news tout that their weather forecasts can save your life, and if you were in Dallas downtown this weekend, you would have understood why. It must have been well into triple digits when the sun was at it's saturday peak, only shade available being under the stands. But if you were under the stands you would have missed an unique streetball performance. It entered popular culture with an ESPN program a few years ago and is currently on a ten city tour through the States. The AND1 Mix Tape Tour 2007, the original street basketball entertainment tour is returning to its roots and showcasing streetball the only way it makes sense -- on blacktops across America.
From what was on display this weekend on the Dallas blacktop, it is clear that on top of regular NBA, WNBA, NCAA and NBDL basketball, their very off-season provides breeding ground for streetball to gain more exposure. Loudest and youngest audience members bring with them excitement that makes this event more than just about exposure -- it shows streetball as an official and sanctioned sport. It is interesting and exciting enough that it can almost fill a 100F degree parking lot with basketball fans. Old Spice must have thought of that when they became the tour's main sponsor...
After seeing 48 minutes worth of dunks, leaps and creative ball handling which renders the two present officials almost unnecessary, it makes sense how AND1 attracts the audience it does. Events like these do for the its demographic group what the Harlem Globetrotters did for their parents. Where you see a difference is in the final score: unlike their East coast predecessors, the AND1 team is not guaranteed to win. And if the opposing team has an outstanding entertainer or talent, he has a chance to switch sides and continue touring with AND1.
That is how most of the famous faces currently on the team got their chance. Their nicknames tell the story: Jerry 'Assassin' Dupree is killing his opponents, Troy 'Escalade' Jackson trucks down the lane, Tony'Go Get It' Jones gets all the rebounds, and Grayson 'Professor' Boucher is always schooling people on the court.
"Before joining AND1, I was just another regular ball player", said 'The Professor', who shot to prominence after winning the Mix Tape Tour contest in 2003. "But because of the popularity of the AND1 Mix Tape Tour and the phenomenon it has become, things have really changed for me. I get to do something I love for a living and I hope it inspires others to achieve their hoop dreams".
Last stop on the AND1 tour is on their home court in Los Angeles, on August 25th. If you are there, look for John 'Helicopter' Humphrey and wait for him to dunk. His nickname sure makes it worth it.
HoopsWorld.com
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