TWC Logo
Together We Chill 2009
Where can you see the likes of Kareem “’Reem wit it, Rock wit it” Reid, Antawn “Anti-Freeze” Dobie, Kenny “Serious Satellite” Satterfield, John “Franchise” Strickland, “The Cab Driver,” “Baby Shaq” and other big names in the summer in NYC? Well, actually, Dyckman, Kingdome, Tri-State, and EBC are some of the tournaments where you will find these guys gettin’ busy. But there’s another, less talked-about, tournament where one can find these elite ballers: Together We Chill. Located in the heart of El Barrio on 119th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue, TWC might be one of the most slept-on tournaments in the city.
Photo by Jon LopezTWC Crowd
The crowd is hyped every night. Co-commissioner of the tournament, DJ Tedsmooth is always on the 1s and 2s keeping the crowd’s energy high during timeouts. He even plays theme music for worthy players during the game. The Music at TWC is part of the entertainment, not just to fill time when play is stopped.
Photo by Jon LopezCraig aka Ready Rock at TWC
Master Z, Craig aka “Ready Rock” and SAP announce the games with a unique style. SAP rocks his cape and soars around the park as he calls the game. Ready Rock’s laid-back swag and announcing style is unparalleled. Master Z’s energy and style are right between that of Ready Rock and SAP and is a perfect compliment that brings a balance of quality announcing at the games.
Photo by Jon LopezJean Shorts Are Not Allowed at TWC
Trends are set at TWC not only in basketball, but also in fashion. All summer long it was known that jean shorts were not fashionable, at least not on 119th Street. Just to show how far that trend has reached, I was listening to the radio recently and Funkmaster Flex announced, “Jean shorts are FINISHED!”
Photo by Jon LopezThe Jumbotron at TWC
You can always see good streetball at TWC and the typical hallmarks of streetball such as food, maybe somebody on a motorcycle poppin’ wheelies outside the park, perhaps a Ron Artest sighting, folding chairs outside the gate; all that good stuff. But there’s at least one thing TWC has that no other tournament on the streets has: the jumbotron. You have to see it to believe it. Sitting on the opposite baseline of the action? No problem, check it out on the jumbotron. It’s crazy, innovative for a street tournament and separates TWC from other tournaments.
Image by Jon Lopez
Founded in 1993 by George “G Bush” Gonzalez, his brother Raymond “Big Ta” Reynoso and some of their good friends, including DJ Tedsmooth, TWC is a grassroots tournament at its heart. DJ Tedsmooth explained to me that TWC “started from sittin’ on the stoop. We’re all friends. We keep it grassroots and the people can relate.” With limited sponsors only recently chipping in, the commissioner himself gets on the grill for the tournament.
“And let me tell you, [George] makes a hell of a burger!” mentions DJ Tedsmooth. He adds, “We keep it real family.” Together they run an elite streetball tournament without a bureaucracy – the founder prepares burgers to keep the tournament running. That’s not something you see at a lot of tournaments.
Photo by Jon LopezAnd 1 against Krispy Kutz's Center, Mutombo
The first dynasty ever at TWC was Hit Squad, from Jefferson Park. Led by Lil’ Rock, Helicopter Tone, Rafer “Skip-to-my-Lou” Alston and their coach David Williams. Hit Squad three-peated. Coach Dave went on to coach Terror Squad at EBC alongside Mousey, where they were successful for years. Williams won coach of the year at EBC in his second year. The next dynasty at TWC was by Piff Unit, led by Kareem Reid. Piff Unit won a record-setting 52 consecutive games at TWC en route to about five championships. How’s that for a dynasty? This year Piff Unit ran with Kareem Reid, Total Package, Body Wide and Kendell “World Premiere” Provet among others.
Photo by Jon Lopez. Brian “The Pirate” Laingi, Jamel “The Mixtape” Ferguson (former BCNY Academic All-Star), and Swiss aka “Hood D”
After a controversial championship game set between Piff Unit and Krispy Kutz in 2007 where no winner was crowned, Krispy Kutz has been on a mission to end Piff Unit’s reign and establish their own dynasty. Last year the two teams met in the championship again and Krispy Kutz emerged as the winner, ending the 52-game winning streak and effectively dethroning Piff Unit. Cano, owner/GM of Krispy Kutz, counts that as back-to-back championships since “Piff Unit quit” the previous year and both teams happened to meet again in the finals.
Photo by Jon LopezChampionship Celebration at TWC
The TWC playoffs were off the hook this year. Crowd favorite, T.O.S. moved up from the junior division to compete in the unlimited side of things for the first time with the support of Dominican Power and made some noise. In fact, led by Brian “The Pirate” Laingi, Jamel “The Mixtape,” and Swiss aka “Hood D,” T.O.S. pulled off a ill upset in the final seconds of a playoff game against top-seeded Piff Unit when Hood D drained a trey from the corner as time expired.
Together We Thrill from Asphalt Chronicles on Vimeo.
That shot officially made T.O.S. the Cinderella team in August at TWC. As a local team they already had the support of the crowd, but this victory made everybody believe T.O.S. could actually win it all.
Photo by Jon LopezTOS Dunk
Coach Dave has been back at TWC on the sidelines with Krispy Kutz for the past few years, shaping up a new dynasty in a new era. Led by Jesse Sapp, “The Cabbie,” and Skip aka “Crossing Guard,” Krispy Kutz ran a three-guard offense that terrorized defenses all summer long at TWC.
Photo by Jon LopezCoach Dave of Krispy Kutz at TWC Championship
Photo by Jon LopezTWC Trophy
By the way, Coach Dave’s experience extends beyond the concrete jungle. He also coached Martin Luther King, Jr. High School in a PSAL championship victory against Lincoln High School’s Railsplitters led by Stephon Marbury in the early ‘90s. His résumé speaks for itself. After a memorable season for T.O.S. and a strong effort in the championship game in 2009, Krispy Kutz proved to be too much as they repeated, solidifying their place among elite dynasties at TWC. That makes it officially two back-to-back championships for Krispy Kutz, but if you count 2007, that’s a three-peat. Jesse Sapp finished with 20, hit clutch free throws and was the MVP. Cabbie dropped 30 for Krispy Kutz. Meanwhile, ‘Mel The Mixtape and Chris each had 17, The Pirate finished with 16 for T.O.S. and was a strong floor leader, and Baby Shaq added 11. The final score was 86-83 complete with some late game heroics for both teams.
Photo by Jon LopezRepeat Champions: Krispy Kutz
Together We Chill – Crispy cuts vs. T.O.S from Asphalt Chronicles on Vimeo.
Is Piff Unit’s run at TWC over or will they come back next year and regain control? Something like 60-3 (Piff Unit was undefeated this year until they were ousted by T.O.S. in the playoffs) is still a formidable record, but in recent history it looks like Krispy Kutz is adding up the wins when they count most.
Photo by Jon Lopez Pull-up by Ant “Young Barbosa” Nieves (another former BCNY Academic All-Star) in the TWC vs HITS all-star game
Photo by Jon LopezCabbie Finishes a Reverse in the TWC vs HITS game at TWC
Another notable highlight of the summer at TWC was the TWC vs HITS (Hoops in the Sun) game. That was a goody that went down the wire. TWC featured Kareem Reid, Cabbie, Jesse Sapp, Body Wide, Fabulous, Ant “Young Barbosa” Nieves (who burst on the scene this summer, look out for him next year) and Total Package. HITS brought out Mike Epperson (high flyer who played well in Watson, Tri-State & HITS this summer), Kenny Satterfield, Steve Burtt, Jr., and Stix among others. Steve Burtt got into the paint at will and it was business as usual for K-Satt, who gave the defense problems. The game was action-packed, but in the end HITS outlasted TWC 116-108.
Photo by Jon LopezAlley-Oop at TWC
Any way you look at it, the crowd is sure to be entertained at TWC. If you haven’t been there recently or at all, you should definitely put TWC on your list of tournaments to check out in 2010.
Photo by Jon LopezSo Krispy Barber Shop, Home of The 2009 TWC Crown and the Bragging Rights that Come With It
September 15th, 2009 at 6:43 am
harlem says:
applauds the article
September 15th, 2009 at 10:06 am
40 cal says:
This was the fourth best tournament in the city this year hands down, Ted Smooth makes it fun when he’s on the 1’s and 2’s, big shot out to him but they gotta get some control out there or there going to lose a real good tournament, I been getting down on NIKE for there issues so to not be Bias I have to elaborate cause lord knows I been getting at them for the same issue but together we chill’s is a little bad. The food and drink thing is cool but the fans of this tournament is going to get it shut down if they dont stop certain things I wont put em on blast for. Then the security didint step up until after an incedent happend which could have gotten out of hand. Together We Chill got the same kind of sponsership that LMC got from K1X,nothing but uniforms but they cant say they didint have funds to control all of this from the get when you have Money for a Jumbotron, Fresh Scoreboard and money off of the grill where they cook the most fabolous chicken sandwhiches so the blame in this situation has to be thrown both ways.
September 15th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Casey Lee says:
Jon, this is a great article! Piff Unit has to go down as a streetball dynasty and one of the better squads as of late.
As for the no jean shorts rule, I feel like every tournament has started to implement the fashion into its tournament a la EBC 03 with Boobie Smooth and Icy White Wednesday.
September 15th, 2009 at 11:05 am
40 cal says:
Ohh yea Big shot out to Reid and the Piff unit we had fun when 0-5 K1X was out there. He pulled one of his famous step on your foot and make the fall tricks but you know I came right back. That’s a ill team right there and maybe they should stick together in all tournaments in the city cause like Casey Lee said ther-e a streetball dynasty!
September 15th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Jon says:
Jesse Sapp was the MVP and showed he has ice in his veins in the championship. He hit the clutch free throws that sealed the deal for Krispy Kutz.
September 15th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Russ M says:
Great write-up. The article labels TWC as one of the “less talked about” tourneys in the city. I can’t help but feel that somehow that’s a good thing. All you need is good ball, good fans, and a good atmosphere. Hype is irrelevant.
September 15th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
TP says:
TWC I ALWAYS FELT WAS A TOP TORNEY AND THIS JUST SHOWS WHY.DEFINITELY TOP 3
September 15th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Sean Couch says:
krispy, cli-clak end, jon, no doubt.
September 15th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
S Dee O Tee says:
This write up is crazy, a lot more extensive than I expected. Hope you have time to get to all the tourney’s cuz I’ve been out of the loop and now i’m right back in it. I did manage to catch some of the last game of this tourney, and didn’t even know it was happening. FYI I live blocks away…smh
September 15th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
G bush says:
That dude 40 cal is a straight clown and he ain’t speaking the truth, he don’t know anything about TWC period.
September 15th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
a little history for that park on 119th named after mr. gene kitt . . .
the upward fund used to be a basketball day camp housed in the public school whose main entrance is on 120th. there, gene kitt and mike rich directed kids from el barrio, harlem, the upper west side, and even brooklyn on how to play ball plus get ahead in life. i joined in ‘82 and for two years in my teens, i was introduced to my first mock interview, how to write a resume, and why i should make a 10 year career projection.
the upward fund league is where playground legend ron “terminator” matthias dropped 108 points in one game against bobby jones (rip) and crew back in the ’80s. right in that tiny gym. it’s also where my childhood running mate ted lake got nicknamed “ted nitro” for dropping 80 in a game (he later had 50 against the sun devils in rucker memorial at dyckman).
dj ted smooth remembers ted nitro, upward fund, all that. when gene kitt passed, i had no idea, but ted saw me staring at the sign on 119th at one of his jams and we started kicking it about the old school.
just thought i’d share that. i’m sure there’s way more from the 50s, ’60s, and ’70s that i have no clue about. great article, jon. shout out to whole crew out there.
oh, and the jean shorts rule doesn’t apply to 40+ year olds, or so i remember hearing. i still felt funny wearing mine afterwards and donated them! (hit up safe horizons, 209 west 125th, 2nd floor, 212 695 2220 with shorts you’re no longer allowed to wear on 119th. they are a non-profit org that helps teenage domestic violence victims and homeless . . .)
September 15th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
40 cal says:
Thank you. Applaud G Bush!!!!! Good luck next year.
September 15th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
40 Cal says:
Perfect example of everyone wants to be on Bouncemag.com but no one wants to take criticism and Mr Bush didint I get you that basketball for your All Star game with NYCSN, and how about the write up telling everyone not to worry that security has steped up in the park http://www.bouncemag.com/2009/07/16/k1x-battle-of-the-beasts-together-we-chill-vs-the-lower-manhattan-classic/#more-6681, how about when I was out there eating you chicken sandwiches, how about when I called Tee from money train and told him to reconsider going back in your tournament after that certain incedent but like you said 40 dont know about TWC , I was just out there and it was a figment of my imagination with my clown make up on lmfao… If the whole world wants to know and you can contact them yourselves I’m the one who told NY1 news Daily News and the NY post about TWC, why they werent cover’d by any of these media sources you ask? Let me think about while i’m in clown town getting fitted for my clown pants.
September 15th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
40 Cal says:
Hell of a tournament though, I would never want to see it vanish and that’s why I posted what I posted, same thing goes for every single tournament that I threw critc at, I love all the tournaments of NYC, even the worse one’s and would never want to see one go. Don’t think your alone in this world, in fact you should be glad I even said your tournament is top 5 in the city. Now back to clowntown where there’s love everywhere.
September 15th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Casey Lee says:
@40,
Ayo, you know I have to get you for using my word: clowntown! That’s my word son!
Do we have to take this mono-e-mono on 119th?
September 15th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
40 Cal says:
LMFAO case, the word just popped up in my head but you know in a 1 on 1 battle 40 will reighn KING of bouncemag.com, yea I said it Bob, we’ll play for that toupee you had on during the Dr Funk commercial in 2002! LMFAO(please dont fire me!)
September 15th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Casey Lee says:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPSHctOEKfY
At :12 seconds…Bob, I don’t know if you got that thing permed or what but you got the FUNK! hahahahaha
All love…!
September 15th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
40 Cal says:
Oh and I forgot to add, Jon this is a hell of an article, keep bringing it maine, I been keeping up with your posts and looking foward to more in the future, doin ya thing man keep it up.
September 15th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
G bush says:
Once again this is the same dude that owes leauge fee and always crying about everything. You mad because we didn’t do any allstargame with your bullshit ass tournament. Don’t be bitter be real!!!
September 16th, 2009 at 1:17 am
El Guapo says:
LMC or whatever its called had dismal crowds for most of the summer. The tourney isn’t bad, but LMC is def not top 5. TWC has been a perennial top 5 tournament in this city, and those that know, know that it hosts the best competition in ALL of Harlem (Kingdome and EBC included).
The crowd is as passionate if not more so than those at Watson and Dyckman. If you’re scared of the crowd, don’t take your punkass over there and build yourself a team worthy of competing in other folks tournaments. And for the Record, I’m not affiliated with the tournament, but am a fellow Harlemite that loves what this tourney does for East Harlem aka El Barrio every summer.
With or without punkass K1X or punkass sponsorships or punkass teams from LMC or whatever that tournament is called, TWC has always been known for high energy crowds and excellent talent and competition.
“They can’t say they didn’t have funds… etc etc” is a herb comment. What kinda grown man comments on anybody else’s funds?
Make sure Niels and Fu and the rest of K1X are cutting your bumass some checks, moron.
And yeah, by the way: Any real ball player has already lost respect for that brand since the tall puerto rican kid left it and has lost more since they’ve found out you’re punkass has been auditioning for a gig via that lame-ass excuse for a tournament.
Shouts to the rest of Bounce, but whomever moderates these comments has to see the bias in one of your so-called “reporters”.
Like G.Bush said, homie is a straight clown.
No sarcasm here either 10 Cal, thats another sign of weakness. herb.
September 16th, 2009 at 8:29 am
Kevin Couliau says:
This past summer I’ve spent a couple of nights at Together We Chill and so far it was the best atmosphere, vibe, crowd I’ve seen in New York.
The level was on top and this hood is full of talented kid I didn’t see on other tournaments…
September 16th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
40 cal says:
Owe’s Leauge fee LMFAO, and mad about an all star game? Ha! I’m way beyond that dun! First of all, you let us play for free because of what agreement? Matter fact didint I bring Burtt Jr, Courtney Casrto, Miles High, The Elevator, 2 fast 2 furious, Tommie Eddie, Lloyd Clinton etc… El Guapo your irrelevent for the simple fact you know nothing! so shhh cause you obviously cant read? I said TWC is the number 4 tournament, do you need a dunst cap? Tell the truth George, tell the world about your tournament for real and everything that goes down in there, tell them why Money Train stop playing, I know I’m a clown but funny thing is this is coming from a guy who cried about playing at HITS and not getting any hospitality, oh I took my crowd out there, they aint show me no hospitality yadda yadda ya! Joe was stealing my players when I got to the gate!!!! Yada yada ya! and then I still showed yall love but I’m a clown. See the funny thing is ask everyone why they read what 40 writes, cause he put’s everything out on the table and keeps it real for the sites fans, so now I have to apologize to the whole bouncemag.com community cause I didint put it all out there about your tournament. I dont have a beard now get off my sack. SCREAM AT ME!
September 16th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
40 cal says:
Matter fact, I still have the email’s, you want me to show everyone on bouncemag.com who’s the real clown? It’s all good though Imma just go get fitted for my clown pants. Oh and by the way KINGDOMES CHAMPIONSHIP WAS 10 TIMES BETTER AND THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDING!
September 16th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Kenny Patt says:
LOL. If yall dudes on here actually know each other , then it would probably be best served to discuss business decrepencies in person rather than play this out like a reality show. Love this forum, but people that have a vested interest should probably not comment on those particular post.
September 16th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
40 Cal says:
Kenny, I voiced an opinion about his tournament, think about how I been going at all the tournaments all summer, George thinks he supposed to get a free pass, No it dosent work that way! If you cant take critisisim stay off the bounce, go read the DIME BLOG, Just for the record george it’s not even personal, your the one taking it personal, act your age not your shoe size your better than that.
September 16th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
40 Cal says:
Funny thing about it is I expected George to take this light, I didint know he was going to get mad and call me a clown, the man has a Guilty Conscence cause he knows I tried my best to help him with media and press and I never asked for a cent. I’m not mad at you for the non all star game, I even said it’s all good cause you should go back and try to redeem yourself and beat HITS, only thing I’m mad about is I went and spoke to a bunch of media outlets and got them to cover our all star game and at the end I had to tell them it’s cancelled a week later after they been calling me for days because you was to soft to pick up your phone and keep it real with me and say Cal, we cant do it, not enough time or we just dont want to do it! Dont go yea yea were going to do the all star game and have me waste my time pulling things together when you cant even be real about yours.
September 16th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Casey Lee says:
Your all getting off track and missing the points to J-Lo’s nice piece! East Harlem has had this thing put together since the early 1990s. They get consistent crowds and put together a great atmosphere for the community.
Honestly, I think TWC has some of the BEST YOUNG TALENT in the city that have played with the vets.
Anybody want to competitively and calmly (**cough** Cal) dispute that?
September 16th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
40 Cal says:
I think watson has the best young talent, dont get it twisted though TWC had anybody who’s somebody but when we talk about Watson, there College division is off the hook, I actually saw Jiggy Josh play and Corey Fisher chillin in the park at 12 in the afternoon! You know a tournament is serious if players are getting there 3 hours before they play!
September 16th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
sOur uNit says:
the woRk is in the doiNg. with that being said shOw mE a teAm whO is GoNNa impRove 2 a 51-0 reCord to reAlly make histOry & haVe brAgging riGHTs.. yeah ok i’ll wait… piFF unIt LT. thA gAmE iS sOur.!!
September 17th, 2009 at 12:02 am
sOur uNit says:
u dUdEs iS cloWncAkes.. steP uR teAm UP & puLL oFF what piFF UNit has dONe. thEn stEp uR PAPER uP & shOw mE thE money..