In September, I flew out to Berlin to check out DJ San Gabriel’s Candy party and do some promo as a sort of b-ball ambassador for the October Wizards/Hornets game in their town. I was having mad fun buggin’ out with Alba Berlin fans, most of who couldn’t, or didn’t want to, speak English . . .
The Alba Berlin game was wonderful to witness. The crowd energy was similar to a college atmosphere with unified chants, cheerleaders, bands, and all that, and the play was very structured with lots of passing and backdoor cuts. I appreciate ball on all levels, playground to organized, so I definitely felt the fluid offense even though no one got cracked . . .
The game did leave me fiending to play myself, and luckily my K1X contacts put me in touch with Thomas Gabrea, a former German pro player who now works for the brand and organizes a little indoor run. On short notice he could only gather enough for a 3 on 3, but I was more than happy to engage . . .
(I’ll show a better shot of the AJF5 Wine ‘N Grinds on my feet next week, check back!)
We ran for a while. I definitely got caught in my eyeball a couple of times with some German bred ratchets, but I walked out there feeling real elated. On one play, I double stuttered step before I put the ball on the floor, then went through my legs with a dribble then crossed back in front. The defender didn’t bite, so then I went hard left again,and that time he went, but I crossed right back and whoopsie dandy baby! Bong, dude was on the floor looking up at me as I nailed the 17 footer. Honestly, I may have pushed off a little, but truthfully I only weigh a buck 60 and I’ve never been known for arm strength, so I’ll notch the body on my all-time list (now over 25 victims)! For all you conservative types, no–I didn’t win the game, got outscored, but who cares! I bopped somebody! Remember the saying, “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game!”
Here’s the promo I did for the Wizards/Hornets October 14th game that was played in Berlin, at their new O2 World Arena:
Peep my April ‘08 trip to Berlin’s Nike ID Studio with all the exclusives they had here! I’ll be back out there in January hopefully, can’t wait. Shout out to Gabriel, Thomas, Bianca, Ernesto, Emily, Keaton, Nuwella, and the whole rest of the crew. Word up!
November 13th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Casey Lee says:
Nice video Bob! No English necessary cuz ball talk is universal!!
Where was that court with the dude as backboard located at?
November 14th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
the court is right next to the 02 world arena, like across the street. noone was playing when i was there really, but i heard that a lot of the pros run there during off season. it’s a whole little community with a full court, skateboard ramps, graffiti, all that. pretty fresh.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:07 am
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