Durant surrounded in Harlem World

I saw the future of the NBA, incredibly, last night. And as the thunderstorm that threatened Mondays EBC game swirled north of the building that is Rucker Park, up into the Bronx, dropping hail on the borough that keeps on “creating it” according to KRS-1, I watched young 10 and 11 year-old shorty rocks sitting on the bench with KD, now known as “I am the One” at EBC. I saw two streetball legends, men who are dedicated to the run, Future and White Chocolate, introduce KD to NYC. I saw the future.

On a perfect midsummer night, as kids listened in KD’s huddle and lined the court up close, we all made money. And check it, I hear my present and former partners, the streetball community, and some real grimy niggums laughing at me because of the things I believe in, the things that I know make the playground game important. I don’t knock the new hustle, I just know that in order for NYC to create players like KD again, who looked like “Dr. J” reborn on the pavement last night, we need more of what I saw, last night. Read More »

It’s real to the mind, soul and spirit when a moment in time becomes a highlight. Ask Jay, Fat Joe, Jada, LeBron, Durant and Kobe about an entrance into an arena filled with 20,000 strong chanting your name. Don’t front on the similarity that a streetballer experiences when the crowd demands for a demonstration of skill. Citizens of the street know the call; it sounds like the moment a man or woman goes, “ahhhh, my favorite song,” and then rushes out on the dance floor to dance to the rhythm.

The connective energy morphs through the lines of memories that 14-year-olds riding on buses, cars or trains repeat to a friend, better at that moment than an ESPN/youtube highlight, at least to the ear, because a passion is being expressed from a young mind. There’s so much to the moment when it is passed on by the next kid, and when two or more street-verify and confirm, it’s an expression that catches fire.

It’s the interaction, the non-static realm of mind energy, that forces conversation, giving boys and girls the right to create a moment from memory. Yo, I need to write this down, I need to express myself. And so, if you can read between my lines, young and old, the read is real important. I read a report in yesterday’s New York Daily News that reading amongst teenagers is on the decline at record levels. So as the New Year approaches, here’s my top 5 worldwide streetball moments of 2010: Read More »

Bounce Italian Correspondent: Matteo Bruni AKA Coach Brown from Streetball 360…

…a couple of years ago three students from the 3D Movie Academy – Supinfocom – in Arles, France, became inspired when they saw the movie “Rebound – The Legend of Earl ‘The Goat’ Manigault.” This short movie “From the Hoops” takes place on the streets of Harlem and at the world famous Rucker Park Playground. For more information on the short go to www.fromthehoop.com.

photo of jahii carson: maxpreps.com

After a four-year successful run at Harlem’s Rucker Park, the Boost Mobile Elite 24 is hitting the beach this year, Venice Beach to be exact. It’s a tough assignment, coming out here to L.A. to report on the event, but somebody’s gotta take one for the team. Hence, your man will be reporting back from Cali to drop some crumbs on the goings on, before the flavor and excitement are all consolidated in Bounce Mag issue #26. Read More »

New to the Bounce blog is Mingus Murray, musician and baller. Think Lenny Kravitz with game. Mingus played high school ball at Hun in Princeton against the powerful Blair Academy team with Luol Deng. Dropped 36 on em’ and now he’s down with us….

Whats up everyone this is Mingus Murray, new blogger for Bounce Magazine. I headed up to the EBC at Rucker Park to catch the game of the week between undefeated Team 914 vs TNP. Last night marked a big day in basketball news. Lebron’s decision was on everyone’s mind in NYC. Will Lebron come and join Amare Stoudemire, will he return to the Cavs, will he join H to the O V in Jersey, or will he take a slight pay cut and dream team it up with D-Wade and Chris Bosh? The World would find out shortly but for all of us in Harlem, watching Team 914 and TNP go at it, Lebron’s decision slipped from our minds… for a little while. Read More »