Word is that the Ball 4 Real Tour is GONE. With AND 1 going outdoors and still standing, what’s next? I watched the B4R promotional start-up video and saw an image of one of the players with a ball under his shirt and tape over his mouth. I thought, “That’s an interesting promo shot; what’s the inspiration for that move?”
(Ball For Real Promo) It reminded me of the Buster Rhyme VIBE cover a few years back. And then it hit me…when all this stuff started up back in the early ’90s many of these same players were thought of as scrubs that had nothing to look forward to but playground ball with no voice. They were pregnant with pain because they felt they had something to offer. It’s ironic that they are at that point again.
I remember Wally Dixon walking into our NBA work-out telling my man Arn Jacobs he had handle and game. Wally couldn’t get a shot off in the gym but he had hops!!! Arn told him and Tim “Headache” to go try-out for the Globetrotters not knowing that the AND 1 owners (who played for Dyckman during their young-un days) were waiting in the cut. As the Streetball phenomena goes to its next stage, the feel is that something different is on the horizon. We’ll be there to cover it.
November 30th, 2007 at 1:20 am
Jeremy Ripley says:
The whole And1 split-up seems pretty dubious to me. I wonder what caused the animosity and split? I know a few designers had some problems with the company or the company’s members and have since left.
I had a feeling this would happen with Ball4Real. Professor and Hot Sauce are arguably the two most famous streetballers. A.O. certainly was doing his thing, but I wasn’t sure if their roster would attract anything more than the most die-hard of streetball fans. Plus, they had no previous ’street cred.’ to build off of.
I think your story about Dixon brings up a point I’ve been wondering for a LONG time. Do all of these cats really think they can play in the NBA? I mean a 40 inch vertical can only carry you so far.
I remember reading an interview with Professor. One of the questions was, “If it were you and Tony Parker against Steve Nash and Chris Paul in a series of two on two who would come out on top?” Of course, ‘Fess made some reference to his handle (and yes, I realize he couldn’t necessarily admit that he would get outplayed) and said his squad would come out on top. Every time I watch the show, I see every member of the team–excluding Escalade–talk about how they think the should be in the league, or they could’ve been in the league. I think there’s several compelling players on the team–Bad Santa (ex- Fresno St. Guard), John Humphrey, High Octane, and that dude from Detroit but the NBA seems a bit lofty.
Sean as an ex-pro, do these guys really believe they can do it? Is it just talk? Are the show’s producers trying to create drama?
November 30th, 2007 at 2:03 am
Jesse says:
Jeremy, you ain’t read the AND DONE article in the Reem Reid issue? It was money and control that broke up the squad. Plus the woman at AND 1 who ran the tour, Lisa Fusco, wanted to do her own thing. She broke out, took half the squad with her, gave them an ownership stake, and it was done. They went big arena steez so maybe the overhead was too high. Sean, where are you getting your info from?
November 30th, 2007 at 8:24 am
Jacek says:
I doub’t if guys like John Humprey could make. No offense but there are much better guards that play in Euroleague, that even were in NBA for some time, and as I see could be called ’streetballers’ or guys who also play on playgrounds. I would put this kind of guys in front of the line that goes to NBA. Do you imagine guys from And1 or B4R standing next to f.e. JR Holden who in last seconds won Eurobasket for Russia?
November 30th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
mike says:
the next big thing is K!X!!!!!!! And 1 is a wrap and people don’t respect their team as real ballers. professor is good but bring him to Hunter College and lets see what he can do, or any of them for that matter. Take away their names and they are normal ass players. on top of that the gear is Wack!!
ball 4 real had too many washed up players and no shoe and apparel deal. that shit was doomed from the start. ******s wasnt fillin up no 17,000 seat arenas.
K1X came on the scene this summer and mad a little noise around the city, but you gotta look @ their roster for this summer. an insider told me they will have
HOMICIDE
DP - PRIMAL FEAR
REEM REID - BEST KEPT SECRET
BEAST
K - SAT
STEVE BURT JR.
Q2
STIX
UNDERTAKER
AND THE GONNA BRING IN HIGH RIZER FROM ATL
that team would have scored more than the Knicks did last nite!!
I don’t know how much of that is true, but with their products being launched by Foot Locker and Champs, if they take that team on the road watch out. i think that squad could go out to vegas and compete in summer league.
does anyone know if they will have all these players??
if so i need their summer schedule
November 30th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
ny baller says:
speaking on behalf of K1X, i can say there will be a major upgrade similar to what boston did. but its too early to confirm. stay tuned at www.k1x.com
November 30th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
handles says:
who is q2?? did u mean T2??
he is the street T-Mac. he might get on in the league next year in the right situation
November 30th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
da general says:
K1X gear is hot, is it available yet? where can i cop?
Ball 4 Real had decent players but it just seemed forced. Maybe K1X will pick up some of the players that are now unemployed.
November 30th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Wild Bill says:
i heard K1X has a tour starting in January. Any body know what cities they are hitting?
Is on Ron-Ron still wearing their kicks?
Ball 4 Real - “Rest in Peace”
November 30th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
Saku 39 says:
Sad but not surprising if true about B4R. I saw them against the Tri-State All Stars and that was the best streetball game I’ve ever seen. They really put on a show.
And 1 was good for a bit but now has become the Globetrotters but with the pretense. It’s just the lack of defense and complete disregard for rules bugs me.
That K1x team looks good. I’d check them out.
Anyone else think Headache or AO are/were as good as Skip?
November 30th, 2007 at 4:20 pm
Sean Couch says:
Jesse:
As far as Ball 4 Real being done?
November 30th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
JosephVecsey says:
I see I’m going to have to write the story on Ball4Real so the facts come out right and that way everyone can know what exactly happened instead of all the weak speculation and rumors. That’s not a story or an update on anything…
November 30th, 2007 at 11:05 pm
leo says:
no way K1X is gettin all those dudes on one team. i dont think their budget is there yet.
even if they did it could go either way. the celtics or knicks.
whos coaching? mousey? t.rosa? fat joe??
November 30th, 2007 at 11:11 pm
rell says:
k1x had a decent team @ orchard beach and kingdome, nothing special. if they get all those players they will be the team to beat in 08, or at least the most fun to watch.
they cant afford joey crack!!
maybe mousey, hahaha
November 30th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
Sean Couch says:
Joe:
The Ball 4 Real folk folded. The story we got from you in Bounce (Reem Reid cover) was the break up of AND 1 and the formation of Ball 4 Real which was a GREAT story. Yo, do the story Joe on the status of Ball 4 Real. We would welcome your entry.
December 2nd, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Bakar says:
Yeah, do get more info on B4R. Man, I’d hate to see Main, Half and AO go out just after 1 season..
December 2nd, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Taz says:
Let me start by saying Rest in Peace3 to Ball 4 Real….
See thats what happens when you try to make something out of nothing, those guys on ball 4 real never been real ballplayers. It wasnt different from watching a washup full court…
Shout of to my man Boobie Smooth, he was the most exciting person on the tour…
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:39 pm
JosephVecsey says:
Sean: Wasnt addressing you. Addressing other people’s comments because people don’t know what’s actually going on or why it happened. Hopefully, I’ll get on that story and be able to write it.
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Sean Couch says:
Joe:
what’s up! you need to contact bob or myself. You know the numbers. Say what’s up to your dad, i actually need to talk to him.
December 3rd, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Yash says:
Rumor has it people wasn’t getting paid and maybe even Pat didn’t see a dime after winning the contract. Je ne sais pas, but I do agree with the statement that playing in arenas and not packing them will drive the costs up [from an outsider looking in].
I think the last 2 years of And 1 tours should have been an indication of the type of #s they’d get.
Too bad all these organizations slept on signing King “Fundys” Handles
December 3rd, 2007 at 11:34 pm
Sean Couch says:
Yash:
Is Handles ready for the Rucker?
December 4th, 2007 at 1:47 am
Yash says:
Call it bias or whatever but…no comment
Kid is working on his game hard!
December 4th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
JosephVecsey says:
Sean: I seen Bob at the Y. What’s going on?
December 4th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Sean Couch says:
Joe:
Call me at the office when u get a chance.