Ball4Real

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Ball4Real is the name of a traveling basketball exhibition and competition which made its debut in June 2007. A group of well known streetball players travel from city to city and challenge teams composed of local talent. Games tend to be characterized by complicated dribbling, ballhandling, and passing, acrobatic slam dunks, and a looser interpretation of rules. After each game, the local amateur who gave the best performance is offered to join the tour to compete in the next city, culminating in the final game, where the amateur deemed most deserving wins USD$100,000 and a contract to play with the Ball4Real team next summer.

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[edit] Origin and Players

Ball4Real was created by former members of the AND1 streetball team and Lisa Fusco, former general manager of the AND1 Mixtape Tour and present Ball4Real CEO. The players and Fusco are all part owners of the tour. The 2007 team consists of the aforementioned players who defected from AND1 and some new players. They are:

  • Coach: Steve Burtt aka "All Day"
  • Dennis Chism aka "Spyda"
  • Jamar Davis aka "Pharmacist"
  • Waliyy Dixon aka "Main Event"
  • Taurian Fontenette aka "Air Up There" aka "Mr. 720"
  • John Harvey aka "High Octane"
  • Anthony Hayward aka "Half Man Half Amazing"
  • Jerome Holman aka "Circus"
  • DaShon Kirby aka "Killa Kirb"
  • Robert Martin aka "50"
  • Earv Opong aka "I'll Be Right Back"
  • Aaron Owens aka "AO"
  • Ryan Williams aka "Special FX"
  • Shane Woney aka "The Dribbling Machine"
  • Pat "Da Roc" Robinson aka "Pat Da Roc"

[edit] Format

Ball4Real takes place each summer, starting in June. Before game days, the team engages in various community outreach, such as visiting local YMCA's, Boys & Girls Clubs, and community centers. The games in each city are preceded with a pre-game "block party" outside the arena, highlighted by the "open run", where amateurs from each city compete in streetball matches. At the end of the open run, the Ball4Real players choose four players deemed worthy enough to play later on in the main game inside the arena. Other events at the block party include a custom car show, music by a live DJ, booths run by sponsors which feature games, giveaways, and other diversions, a slam dunk contest, a rap battle, and "X-Games style" stunt exhibitions. Some of the Ball4Real players make appearances at the block party to participate in fan interaction such as autographs and photo opportunities. At the end of the main game later in the evening, two amateur players from that city deemed worthy will be chosen to join the tour and compete for the $100,000 contract. One or two amateurs chosen in previous cities may be eliminated if they did not perform well enough, in addition to making room for the new players.

[edit] Resources

[edit] See also