photo: Branko Popazivanov

For a basketball fan living in the Vancouver, B.C. area, the Dolphin Park Classic cannot come soon enough. This annual 4-on-4 tournament is Canada’s biggest and most storied outdoor basketball event. Since it was started 23 years ago by a group of local high school players from the Vancouver suburb of Richmond, the event has grown drastically. Now, players from all over Canada and the U.S. make the trip out to the Lower Mainland to compete at the Dolphin. For three straight years (’04 - ’06) Jamal Crawford played in the Classic and even copped MVP honors in ’04.

For me, this is my second straight year attending Dolphin. A lot of people think that Canada is all about (or should I say aboot) hockey, curling and maple syrup, but I think people would be surprised with the hoop culture up north. The ’07 tourney was a great show, and I’m hoping this year can live up to last year. This time around, I kept a diary.

Friday, July 18

Although games have been going since 4 pm, I don’t get there ‘til the final game at 8. I get in just in time to catch the Seattle-based Home Team (the team Jamal runs with) play. The Home Team has also won it all three out of the last four years, so they are one of the main draws.

Though they are mainly Sea-Town ballers, they have adopted Akeem Pierre, the local high school star. Last year, a short handed Home Team picked up Pierre and he came through. The sub six-foot Pierre was out there running around like the Tasmanian Devil getting put-back dunks, blocks and hassling players on D. On the first possession in this game against Lomas, Pierre picked a pass then took it all the way for a two hand dunk. Akeem looked sharp, as he took it to the cup strong for a couple of “and-ones”. Also, Home Team’s Terry Thompson is tough! This silky smooth guard’s got all the shake and bake in his repertoire. Thompson is a product of Central Washington and plays pro in Germany.

For the second straight year, there is no Jamal Crawford anywhere in sight. Because of his three years here at Dolphin, Crawford has become quite popular among the locals and people definitely come to see if he shows up. I talked to Jamal at the Rip the Cut Tournament in Seattle a few months ago and he told me he probably wouldn’t play but might attend. One of the guys on the Home Team tried to compensate for Jamal…sort of. After making a long buzzer beater shot just before the half, the player shouted out to the crowd, “Did you see that, I’m Jamal Crawford!” I don’t think they bought it. Anyway, Home Team won easily.

On another note. After 22 years of hosting the tournament at Dolphin Park, the organizers moved the tournament to the Thompson Community Centre. If you have ever been to past Dolphin tournaments, you know how special Dolphin Park was. It was this little court surrounded by big trees and a bunch of expensive houses. The court had a lot of history and mystic about it, so moving the tournament was not a popular choice. But I must admit, the Thompson Community Centre has more space and looks great. Attendance hasn’t taken a hit at all.

That’s all for now, make sure you check out my second installment tomorrow!

photo: Branko Popazivanov