AND1 Live Tour

The AND1 Live Tour, formerly known as the AND1 Mixtape Tour, is a traveling basketball competition and exhibition presented by B-Ball and Company and the basketball apparel manufacturer AND1.^[1] A group of streetball players, along with Emcee Rell and B-Ball and Company CEO Linda Hill, travel from town to town and challenge teams composed of local talent. Games tend to be characterized by isolation one-on-one ball handling moves and acrobatic slam dunks and alley-oops.

The tour was televised in half hour "Streetball" segments on ESPN2, and were compiled into highlight reels, offered under the mark AND1 Mixtape, which were sold on DVD. AND1 has released 10 volumes. The first mixtape was AND1 Mixtape Volume 1 (1998) and the most recent is AND1 Mixtape X (2008). The AND1 team has toured the world, meeting success against most international teams and scoring wins over adversaries as diverse as Chile and Angola, remaining undefeated outside the United States until they lost to the debuting Puerto Rico Streetballers in 2012.^[2]

Controversy

AND1's calling card and large reason for success are the flashy moves that rely on a more lenient set of rules than in regulation basketball. This has led to comparisons with the Harlem Globetrotters and has caused some journalists to criticize the tour.^[3] Supporters of the tour have responded by backing up AND1's credibility and the players' legitimate skill. The AND1 players maintain that they are serious basketball players who play against the seven best local players from each city.^[1] Many of the current and former AND1 Mixtape Tour players have played in college and in professional organizations such as the CBL, ABA, NBDL, NBA or overseas.^[1]^[4]

AND1 Live Streetballers 2011

B-Ball and Company CEO Linda Hill

Official MC of the Tour: Emcee Rell

Philip Champion AKA Hotsauce from Atlanta, Georgia
Dennis Chism AKA Spyda from Atlanta, Georgia
Jerome Holman AKA Circus from Brooklyn, New York
Robert Martin AKA 50 from Atlanta, Georgia
Brandon LaCue AKA Werm from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Hugh Jones AKA Baby Shack from Washington D.C.
Marvin Collins AKA Highrizer from Atlanta, Georgia
Alonzo Miles AKA Amazing from Indianapolis, Indiana
Paul Otim AKA Polo from Atlanta, Georgia
Guy Dupuy AKA Easy J from Nice, France
Grayson Boucher AKA The Professor from Keizer, Oregon

AND1 Mixtape Volumes

AND1 Mixtape Vol. 1 – Also referred to as the "Skip Mixtape" volume because the tape was mainly focused on Rafer Alston AKA Skip 2 My Lou. This tape and Skip 2 My Lou laid the foundation for what AND1 is today.

AND1 Mixtape Vol. 2 – This tape was before AND1 started the actual AND1 Mixtape Tour. This volume introduced former AND1 Tour players Waliyy Dixon AKA Main Event, 1/2 Man 1/2 Amazing, Speedy, Shane "The Dribbling Machine" Woney, and Tim Gittens AKA Headache. Famous streetballers I'll Be Right Back and Future also played on this tape. All games on this tape were filmed in New York City and Linden, New Jersey.

AND1 Mixtape Vol. 3 – Volume 3 was the introduction to the AND1 player Philip Champion AKA Hot Sauce and former AND1 player Aaron Owens AKA AO. This tape also had to be obtained by buying a pair of AND1 shoes.

AND1 Mixtape Vol. 4 – Volume 4 was the first tape documenting the actual AND1 Mixtape Tour. AND1 tour visited four cities: Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D. C. and New York City. Former AND1 player Robin Kennedy AKA Sik Wit It came out of L.A. and the late Antoine Howard AKA Flash came out of Chicago.

AND1 Mixtape Vol. 5 – Volume 5 was the re-introduction of Rafer Alston AKA Skip 2 My Lou. Alston had been playing Division I basketball at Fresno State University and had been trying out for pro teams throughout the past three years; Volume 5 marked his return.

AND1 Mixtape Vol. 6 – Volume 6 toured Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York City. The tape introduced former AND1 player and New York streetball legend Tyrone "Alimoe" Evans AKA The Black Widow. The 6'8" Alimoe impressed people with his fancy ball handling moves as well as his slam dunks. This tape also introduced Troy "Escalade" Jackson and was the year he got signed to the AND1 Team.

AND1 Mixtape Vol. 7 – Volume 7 documented the year that the AND1 Mixtape Tour really took off. Every game was played in NBA arenas and the best local talent was found in the Open Runs. Volume 7 was the year that Grayson Boucher AKA The Professor was found in the Portland, Oregon Open Run. The Professor went through all the stops on the tour before being named the winner and newest member of the AND1 team. Former AND1 players Dennis Chism AKA Spyda, Robert Andre Svingen AKA Swing and current player John Humphrey AKA Helicopter were the other two finalists along with The Professor. Tony Jones AKA Go Get It also had some highlights on this tape as he played on the opposing team and was eventually offered a spot on the team. Also a brief appearance from retired basketball player Shaquille O'Neal.

AND1 Mixtape Vol. 8: Back on the Block – Back on the Block featured a lot of "Crash the Court" footage in which the AND1 team goes to streetball hot spots and plays against the local talent. This tape continued to show footage of the newer members of the tour.

AND1 Mixtape Vol. 9: Area Codes – This volume shows the hometown and home court of every member of the AND1 team. It began in Philadelphia on the East Coast with Aaron "AO" Owens and finished with Kenny Brunner AKA Bad Santa and Jerry Dupree AKA The Assassin in Los Angeles on the West Coast. This tape officially introduced current AND1 players Andre Poole AKA Sylk and Hugh Jones AKA Baby Shack.

AND1 Mixtape X: The United Streets of America – Most recently released, AND1 Mixtape X celebrates a decade of streetball dominance by AND1. This tape shows footage from the United Streets Of America tour. It introduces Jamal Nelson AKA Springs and Antwan Scott AKA 8th Wonder as well as the return of Hot Sauce, who took a brief hiatus from the tour. This tour also featured former Boston Celtics Player Carlos Arroyo.

References

1 2 3 "AND1 Mixtape Tour History". streetballin.net. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
↑ Raul Sosa (2012-07-27). "AND1 & PR Streetball Put On a Show!". BoricuaBallers.com. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
↑ Bryant, Jerel (November 19, 2004). "AND 1's mixed up". The Yale Herald. Yale University. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
↑ "AND1 Players". best-basketball-tips.com. Archived from the original on 5 June 2009. Retrieved June 12, 2009.

External links

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