Nike TOC Champs Take No Prisoners (TNP)

On Sunday, August 26th, Nike invited their four NYC sponsored leagues (H.I.T.S., Dyckman, Pro City, and West 4th) to bring their respective champion teams for a 1 day tournament @ Goat Park to see who really runs the city.

1st round matchups saw an TNP (undefeated at Dyckman) bring it to a much taller Nike One (Pro City Champs 3 consecutive years). In the other semifinal, Money Train (repping West 4th) beat QB neighbor Sean Bell All-Stars a.k.a. DDN (H.I.T.S. winners).

In the Final, TNP put on a passing clinic. In one play, there were 9 touches with barely a dribble as the ball zipped around for another easy lay-up. Many people think of Streetball and envision over dribbling and 1 on 1 clearouts, but that was hardly their strategy. Quinton “T2″ Hosely led all scorers, and at least five TNP players were in double figures. The winners were awarded with a free visit to the Nike ID studio to design a pair of AF1, a Bounce Magazine cover this fall, and a “City Is Watching” campaign poster next summer.

The atmosphere of the whole day was ridiculous. AG and I held it down on the mic which was pure joy for me to be able to share announcer duties with one of my all-time favorites. Kingdome’s Taz and Pro City’s Brawley jumped in and commentated the Conrad McCrae vs. Goat youth showcase and had me rolling with their antics. Rock Steady Crew put on a breaking exhibition while DJ Clark Kent threw down breakbeats to remind heads that the Goat Park was once a haven for Hip Hop culture, too. Nike sold my AF1 Kool Bob Love limited editions. I designated Douglass Projects Community Center as the recipient of all the proceeds. That was the first summer team I ever ran with, and it was only right to give back to where it all started for me.

I’m praying Nike makes this an annual event. I grew up right across the street from Goat Park, so having a huge event there and seeing hundreds of people I grew up with eating free food, watching top flight playground basketball, and straight enjoying a beautiful day outdoors was a perfect way to end the summer. Highlights of the festivities will be broadcast on MSG “Summerball” this Thursday, August 30, at 5pm, 7pm, and 10:30pm.

AG orchestrating a Chicken Noodle Soup extravaganza.

Me, Kingdome’s announcer Taz, and superstar AG