What happened with AND1 and streetball? Dixon played on the tour from 2002 through 2006. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. In the years that followed, while the NBA would own the basketball season, AND1 dominated the summers. It wasn't just an entertaining thing from my perspective. Over dribbling would get you benched by any respectable coach. SQFL1. AND1 products began appearing at Foot Locker and FootAction. When AND1 became a product partner with FootAction, this strategy evolved into a national program. Streetball may also refer to other urban sports played on asphalt. Version. We thought it would be innovative and now it has lasted for more than three years.. The tournaments brought in tens of thousands of spectators and were covered by local ESPN channels and SLAM. Here's a look at what the founders are doing now. This was basketball. It was edited and reprinted into 50,000 copies, and over the next eight weeks, distributed across basketball camps, clinics, record labels. They decided to step away from the brand they had worked so hard to help build after experiencing the highs, lows and ultimate let down. Two minutes later they find themselves lost as Spiderman puts together a mix of dribbling moves that leave them on the floor. Two major additions changed the game: Grayson The Professor Boucher and Phillip Hot Sauce Champion. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We did it as a prank and then next you thing you know it was 20 million views in a week. There is a huge and extremely important difference between the two. Continuing in AND1s long tradition of corporate social responsibility, AND1 embarked on an incredible mission to refurbish basketball courts all around the country. They later became the second-largest basketball brand in the United States only eight years after their inception. 37 comments. ST666. To put it as simple as possible, Street Ball is not dead! Save Yourself The Embarrassment". And 1 Streetball First Released Jun 6, 2006 PlayStation 2 Xbox Ubisoft and And 1 bring you a street basketball game that features players from the And 1 mix tapes. Champion played on the Mixtape Tour from its inception in 2002, and remains one of AND1s most recognized Mixtape players. Streetball Extreme features the UK's & Europes best streetball players, freestyles, dunk champions and world record holders. He remembers sitting on a sidewalk in Queens, listening to Eric B. NBA players are reacting to AND1 players bragging that they could have made it to the league "if not for certain circumstances." 12 initial Franchises- Each owned by original AND1 Player(s) will select from 10-15 Players from each . Under Sequential, AND1 has reconnected with its roots, signing marquee NBA players and sponsoring tournaments worldwide. Play in 3x3 matches against your friends and players from around the world! We will give communities an opportunity to own a piece of franchises in the league. While the Pacers eventually lost the series in six, no one has forgotten the show Stephenson put on in the 2014 Playoffs, solidifying himself as a true AND1 streetballer. [Play with Friends] Invite your friends and show your awesome teamwork to the world by forming a team and play in 3v3 matches together! The mid-top sneakers clean and aggressive look matched Mr. Start your day off right, with a Dayspring Coffee We are an exciting and fast-paced multiplayer basketball esports game. AND1 began in the summer of93 in Philadelphia as a graduate school project of JayCoen Gilbert, Seth Berger, and Tom Austin who were selling t-shirts out of the backseat of their cars. Earlier this week, rolling out had the opportunity to catch up with superstar basketball player Spyda, formerly of AND1. The ankle-breaking crossovers and jaw-dropping dunks became the magnet that drew a chorus of thousands ofoohs and aahs that drowned out stadiums. AND1 has released 10 volumes. Fifty dollars didn't really go nowhere," Stevens says now, laughing. and 1 streetball players where are they now. P-10, P-14, P-15.) And1 has always been special. AND1 also sponsored numerous tournaments countrywide as part of the AND1 Dominate the Game series. Jake Paul Blames The Drake Curse For His Loss To Tommy Fury: Why Do You Do This To Me?, Trevor Ariza Fires Back at Estranged Wife in Restaining Order Request, Citing Abuse and Reckless Behavior, SOURCE SPORTS: Jeff Bezos Will Not Be Allowed to Pursue Purchase of Washington Commanders. 1. Beanie Sigel, Damon Dash, Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek, Omillio Sparks, Sundy Carter - Director: Abdul Malik Abbott Frustrated with being broke, Beans decides that the only way to grasp the American Dream is to take it. Following a short hiatus, the AND1 Mixtape Tour would return in 2010, now known as the AND1 Live Streetball Tour. Since then, the North Carolina native has amazed spectators with his leaping ability at 6'1" while staying true to the fundamentals of the game. For The Professor, making the And1 team was totally by chance. The game also included AND1s vintage Mixtape music, integral to the DNA of the brand and a big part of AND1s continued success. The streetballers who prevailed through the very end of the summer tours would receive endorsement deals from AND1. Stephenson had won the NYC basketball championships in all four years of high school, becoming New Yorks all-time leading scorer in high school basketball. His videos have stretched from Spiderman to Star Wars. Nobody has ever done a 720, except Mr. 720., As And1 continued to impress on the court, off-the-court sponsors came running to get involved with the new global sensation. AND 1 Streetball is a streetball video game for PlayStation 2 and Xbox, developed by Black Ops Entertainment and published by Ubisoft. Learn Wing Chun and master your body and mind. The vicious street ball events, I jumped in on one put on by Seattle thunder last year, was cool. Grayson "The Professor" Scott Boucher (born June 10, 1984) is an American streetball player and actor. It was sort of a survivor-themed contest on ESPN and I ended up winning the contract in August of 2003.. The brand was founded with an aggressive, street ball, in-your-face attitude using basketball trash talk slogans on t-shirts, like "Pass. By the 2001 season, AND1 was second only to Nike in market share among NBA endorsees. 1/2 Man 1/2 Amazing from, Robin Kennedy Jr. a.k.a Sik Wit It from Pasadena, California, Shane Woney a.k.a. Kareem also won three regular season MVPs with the Lakers, and later coached for the franchise as well. The AND 1 Tour streetball tournament showcased amazing basketball players and competitive games in an affordable, fan-friendly setting says, Sam, 15. [I] actually went there just to watch the game because I was such a fan, The Professor said. You earn respect by going strong to the rack & banging on fools, no matter how many try to stop you. Answer (1 of 6): If he is a decent player in an average street game, there is no way he would be close to an NBA player of any height. The original six saw the beginning of the end. Before AND1 and YouTube, streetball players were like unicorns. But in 2000, they were instantly vaulted into the stratosphere. The dunk where he goes between the legs, hes got one leg up and the ball is under, and you see one half red and one half white. Commonly streetball is referring to an event where teams are determined the day of. Download 39+ streetball free images from StockFreeImages. As of 2016, Paul has yet to play in a conference finals. Only the score mattered. He brought attitude back to the courts and swagger to the streets. teriyaki chicken donburi wagamama . The stakes were raised even higher by crazy dunks such as Mr. 720s literal 720 throwdown. COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. Abdul-Jabbar is a legend. Even if we have to start one event at a time, just to get a buzz and get back out there. Just enter name below. Primary Menu. With heavy outside influence, it became easy for players to feel taken advantage of by those trying to make a quick buck. All I could do is laugh to myself and say, there goes our money.. And1 streetball was intended to be as authentic as possible. Garnett remains one of the most recognizable NBA players from the last 25 years, frequently seen on TNT during live NBA broadcasts. Streetball Evolution. The Lakers acquired Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and his skyhook from Milwaukee in 1975, and he dominated the league while in Hollywood. Your goal was to earn an AND1 contract with your created baller, and become a streetball legend. Arguably the biggest factor in the growth and popularity of the culture were the original members of the AND 1 Team. The Professor became the king of the And1 circuit, the player crowds would beg to see. Create a custom player and try to make the legendary And 1 team Compete on 14 authentic courts, from St. Mark s to Venice Beach Play as or against such street ball stars as Baby Shaq, Escalade, and Main Event Buil. Most of these guys share many parallels such as drug abuse, academic trouble and attitude problems. And1 began as an apparel company which featured a silhouette of a basketball player accompanied by one of their numerous trademark trash talking slogans. Which is a shame, because for more than half a century hoops soothed the Hub during racism, violence, and injustice. Gorillas in the game like Pee Wee Kirkland, Earl "The Goat" Manigault, and Joe "The Destroyer" Hammond immediately come to mind. Malaysia Basketball Association deputy secretary-general and national women's team coach Tan See Wah said the AND1 Streetball Challenge was a great platform for basketball players to . That is all we were every trying to do, was mix the two. If you weren't an All-Star in the NBA, we were more popular than you., Who should the Warriors unretire? By 2008, AND1 had fully taken over America. [2], AND1 apparel and footwear had first appeared in the digital arena in Street Hoops in 2002, but in 2006 the brand officially made its entrance into the category, partnering with Ubisoft to release its first video game, AND 1 Streetball. Both games were developed by Black Ops Entertainment. Three seconds after I said it, the crowd reacted the same way. In late 1998, a videotape containing streetball stunts was delivered to AND1 by Marquise Kelly, coach of the Benjamin Cardozo High school team in Queens, New York.The tape contained low quality camera moves, poor resolution and nearly indecipherable audio featuring a streetballer by the name of Rafer Alston.At the time, Alston was a student at Fresno State who had entered the 1998 NBA Draft. [1] It sponsors NBA athletes, as well as numerous high school and AAU teams in the United States. This recruiting has since been edited for airing as Street Ball on ESPN and ESPN2. Tracy McGrady joined the Magic to play with Grant Hill, but was thrust into a larger role as Hill dealt with numerous injuries. Epic has yet to confirm this, but such a schedule matches up with the . The highly immersive Story mode puts you on the AND 1 Mix Tape Tour the worlds pre mier streetball event where originality and the ability to electrify the crowds will get your name mentioned alongside the . NBA Official Replica Ball. Streetball Allstar Mod Apk 1.4.21 Mod Menu + Unlimited Money latest version Sports game free Download for Android. I only made my junior college team because my dad sold my coach his wedding ring, says The Professor. And1 really needs to be back out there because it changed lives, The Dribbling Machine said. The event will focus on 4 Major Highlights:1 on 1 Countdown(5 seconds to score),Blacktop Rough(No Foul, No Help, Everyone For themselves),Blacktop Slam Dunk Contest(New Rules-Dunkers from around the World), and aFull Court Runwith Blacktop and Newarks Neighborhood Basketball Players hosted by Champ NDO, Al Cash and others. AND1 players have made annual tours around America to recruit the next streetball legend. In the words of Seth Berger, co-founder of AND1: By shining a light on a game that lived in the shadows, streetball started shaping the basketball lifestyle. He is widely known as The Professor. R.I.P to a good friend of mines Alimoe Evans aka "The Black Widow".

While players begin the game with only a few skills at their disposal, they can add to their custom athlete's repertoire by defeating each . [5] Stephenson had won the NYC basketball championships in all four years of high school, and became New York State's all-time leading scorer in high school basketball, named Mr. New York Basketball after his senior year. Users can now experience the rush and thrill of playing a Live Streetball Game on their mobile devices anytime. Just talked to him b4 Allstar weekend #sad about this!! And they will forever be immortalized in their cities basketball . A bunch of guys got hurt, so it ended up I played that year, but it was only five minutes a game. ET . For the original six, importance was placed on ensuring flash while keeping some form of traditional basketball alive. In 2016, AND1 solidified itself among the new high school basketball generation by introducing AND1 uniforms, converting hundreds of AAU and high school teams to AND1 within the first year. Legendary streetballers such as Hot Sauce and The Professor would go from city to city, court to court to challenge the greatest streetballers in one-on-ones, entertaining fans and providing much of the footage for the ensuing Mixtapes. AND1 also launched the DTG Challenge, where fans were dared to videotape their best moves and send them in, in hopes of being in the next AND1 Mixtape. June 1, 2022. by decred block time. And1 gained popularity as players made entertainment a bigger part of the basketball equation. Carter then put on one of the greatest performances in NBA Dunk Contest historyall while wearing the red and white Tai Chis. [1][2][3] 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. AND1 has released 10 volumes. His name rings bells on every NYC court. At the time, Alston was a student at Fresno State who had entered the 1998 NBA Draft. New York City is the mecca of streetball and home to six basketball players who just wanted a shot. The videotape would soon be known as the "Skip tape", referring to Alston's streetball nickname "Skip to my Lou". Check out our online courses. The low-quality video was a mixtape of hip-hop music and dazzling basketball moves by a streetballer named Rafer Alston, who had just entered the 1998 NBA Draft. The games were available on both PlayStation 2 and Xbox and received positive reviews.[4]. As such, its format is more conducive to allowing players to publicly showcase their own individual skills. Games tend to be characterized by isolation one-on-one ball handling moves and acrobatic slam dunks and alley-oops. We were rock stars,Dribbling Machine said. accidental arterial puncture during venipuncture; karin vondrakova recenzie; creekview high school news; mrts full form in transport Im doing transitional housing and Im working a project right now to bring back streetball, Spyda said. Former And1mixtape tour players reflect on their part in bringing streetball to a larger audience. More than 130 motion-captured moves are available to perform on both offense and defense, and players can customize a range of dunks, celebrations, passes, and more with the create-a-move editor. The ultimate truth is that there hasnt been many major platforms to display the historic culture. He signed a multi-year deal with the Indiana Pacers in 2012, the year AND1 picked him up. [Worldwide Community] Born Ready Stephenson fit the AND1 streetball personality perfectly, with his aggressive never-back-down attitude, and put on national display during the 2014 NBA Conference Finals. You can choose between a streetball name just for you or one that resembles a real streetballer like Hot Sauce. In 2002, the brands annual summer tour officially expanded into the AND1 Mixtape Tour. As for why you don't see many moves like that in the NBA, there are some players that have occasionally mixed them in, think Irving, J-wil, Rafer. Streetball (or street basketball) is a variation of basketball, typically played on outdoor courts and featuring significantly less formal structure and enforcement of the game's rules.As such, its format is more conducive to allowing players to publicly showcase their own individual skills. The Dominate the Game series led into the AND1 Circuit, a high school cross-state tournament, in 2017. By Sam Rubinroit, Senior writer, 15, Malibu HS Jerry "The Assassin" Dupree throws it down at the AND 1 Tour streetball tournament. Before AND1 and YouTube, streetball players were like unicorns. The Chicago Bulls agreed to sign Dwyane Wade, a 12-time All-Star who won three titles during his 13-year tenure in Miami, to a two-year contract worth $47.5 million with a player option on the second season. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. Mount Vernon native Jamar Davis received his streetball name playing in Rucker Park because his dribbling skills seemed "morphine based.". [3] 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. They remained undefeated outside the continental United States until they lost to the debuting Puerto Rico Streetballers in 2012. The impact of And1 and streetball has been so far reaching thatSpyda is attempting to bring the original six back together for a reunion. The tape contained low quality camera moves, poor resolution and nearly indecipherable audio featuring a streetballer by the name of Rafer Alston. This initiative continues through today, a massive undertaking of the brand to truly support and give back to communities across America. Unlike Shaq, Howard flamed out with the Lakers. The challenge brought great buzz to AND1, with fans constantly looking to outdo each other - on the courts and on social media. [citation needed] The company name is derived from a phrase used by basketball broadcasters to denote a free throw awarded to a player against whom a foul has been committed while scoring a goal. All we wanted to do was be heard, we could've taken what they had, taken a little piece of what we had and just put it together, Half Man, Half Amazing said. The Warriors addition of Durant immediately made them the overwhelming favorite to win the Finals in 2017. Random people step up to take Spiderman one-on-one at the courts. Noted streetballers such as Hot Sauce and The Professor would go from court to court to challenge other streetballers in one-on-ones. He took his legendary streetball exploits all the way to the NBA, and remains with AND1 through today. I remember the old AND1 mixtapes and all the dudes who thought they should be in the NBA. During his time in the NBA, he played for six different teams. The addition of The Professor was more than just another roster move. More than 130 motion-captured moves are available to perform on both offense and defense, and players can customize a range of dunks, celebrations, passes, and more with the create-a-move editor. Nash was 30 at the time, but took his game to another level in Phoenix. Directed by Chris Robinson ("Shooting Stars," "ATL") and Set Free Richardson, the documentary examines how 1990s streetball and the And1 Mixtape transformed basketball culture at large. We were also real ball players. Troy (Escalade) Jackson grinned as he used his 6-10, nearly 400-pound frame to back down a hapless defender in the parking lot of . When streetball began exploding onto the New York City scene, local courts were to be a place where players would come out and leave it all on the blacktop, ultimately hoping to pursue a college or professional career. In the words of Ryan Drew, former VP of footwear at AND1: Not only was that maybe the best series of dunks I have ever seen, because it was just dunks that youd never even seen before, but it was almost like the dunks that he had done were tailor made for the color-blocking of the shoe. Basketball was valued. His dunks felt fabricated, even for those playing with him. I also remember the TV show on ESPN on some . [5] Supporters of the tour have responded by backing up AND1's credibility and the players' legitimate skill. In the late 1960s and early '70s, his . After struggling with And1, The Dribbling Machine and Spyda are trying to find a way to make a lasting impact back on the streetball scene. At a young age - sixth grade to be exact - John Humphrey threw down his first dunk. It is a picture-by-picture instruction guide on how to do most of the trick moves you see on TV and DVD of the And1 Mixtape Tour, performed by the And1 players themselves. His name rings bells on every NYC court. Even though he didn't start for Crenshaw at times, he was city player of the year and averaged 23.8 ppg for a team that spent a majority of the 1987-88 season ranked No. we offer online persoanl training and nutrition to help you to achive fitness goals. New product drops were also showcased during the event with proceeds from all sales benefiting Brooklyn-based community organizations. 3. Answer (1 of 4): 1. The first mixtape was AND1 Mixtape Volume 1 (1998) and the most recent is AND1 Mixtape X (2008). He knows, though, that his 31-year-old self made the right decision. Entertainment basketball was just a facet of what we were bringing to the table, says Half Amazing. Garnett, along with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, immediately turned the Celtics back into one of the NBAs premier franchises. Also joined by Steve Nash, the Lakers never gelled on or off the court, and Howard lasted only one season in Los Angeles before joining the Houston Rockets. [Worldwide Community] Streetball players built reputations largely on word of mouth. Jul 03, 2007 at 12:48 pm. Big ShotBillups game perfectly. Streetball tends to carry the ball, and travel. [Play with Friends] Invite your friends and show your awesome teamwork to the world by forming a team and play in 3v3 matches together! [citation needed], In February 2015, AND1 signed a lease to operate a retail store at 172 Flatbush Ave in Brooklyn, directly across the street from the Barclays Center. July 19, 2020. Play in 33 matches against your friends and players from around the world! The story of how Dyckman became the Dyckman now . The Mixtapes success resulted in AND1 touring the country every summer in search of the next streetball legends to appear on subsequent Mixtapes. Alston later signed on with AND1. Other sports or leagues What happened to And 1 streetball @sports. New York City is the mecca of. Save yourself the embarrassment." The AND1 Mixtape Tour[2] has featured streetball players of fame, including Skip to My Lou, Main Event, The Professor, Hot Sauce, Spyda, 50, and AO. The crossovers didnt matter. The videotape was later known as the "Skip Tape," referring to Alston's streetball nickname "Skip 2 My Lou." But in 1972, Chamberlain relinquished some of his offensive game to focus more on defense and rebounding, helping lead the Lakers to a championshipand his only Finals MVP awardin the process. Mitchell is the first man to make jumping over cars a realistic idea. And 1 Streetball brings the flashy street-basketball style from the And 1 Mixtape tour to your home video game consoles. In honor of the summertime, we bring you the 10 greatest playground legends of all time. Where did they land? 2. The point guard won MVP in his first two years in the desert, but despite his individual success, Nash could never lift the team past the conference finals. Im preparing my body and my mind like I have been doing the last five years. 1 K 177. . Since winning the FA Youth Cup in 2017, Castillo has returned to his native Netherlands for loan spells with Jong Ajax, AZ Alkmaar and ADO Den Haag. Paying homage to Brooklyn Streetball culture, AND1 partnered with SLAM Magazine to host numerous events surrounding the 2015 NBA All Star Game, right across from the Barclays Center in Downtown Brooklyn, which was hosting the All Star games. LWB: Juan Castillo. A few players have been able to incorporate "flashy" handles into their game; kyrie irving, jamal crawford,. McGradys run was short lived, however, as he was traded to Houston in 2004. McCall was tremendous and relied on his athleticism to stand out on the court but injuries cut his career short. This is the sole place online to get working cheats for Streetball Allstar and became the most effective player in this great game. Atlanta, GA. Streetball Evolution developed this phenomenal event to cater to all that love the game of basketball along with having the . The brand debuted its footwear at the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, officially releasing the Stephon Marburys, which wound up becoming one of AND1s greatest shoes. For true basketball fans and inner city youth, the key difference between Streetball and Organized Ball was and still is the connection to the community. SOURCE SPORTS: Is Derrick Rose a Buyout Candidate and Heading to the Phoenix Suns? A mobile version was also released by Gameloft. 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. Everybody has dunked from the foul line in different forms or fashion. The AND1 brand got off to a quick start as the trash talk t-shirts sold to Foot Locker and reached 1,500 stores nationwide by the second year. At the same time, entertainment was entrenched deep into thestreetball identity. Source Sports | News, Highlights and Interviews, Powered by Source Digital, Inc & The Northstar Group, Visit streaming.thesource.com for more information, Fat Joe, Shaq, Jordin Sparks Announced as Performers During Big 12 Conference Championship, SOURCE SPORTS: Patrick Beverley Suggests He Asked for a Trade From Lakers, SOURCE SPORTS: Kevin Durant Drops 23 in Phoenix Suns Debut, Ja Morant Accused Of Beating Up And Flashing A Gun At 17 Year Old, Draymond Green Wants To Get Rid Of Black History Month, Wants It Taught All Year Long, SOURCE SPORTS: ClutchPoints Digs Into Diversity Commitment and Announces New HBCU Initiative, Vanessa Bryant Settles for Nearly $29 Million in Kobe and Gianna Crash Photos Lawsuit, Travis Kelce Continues His Super Bowl Celebration by Partying with Rick Ross at Drais. Skip wore the AND1Cubicsthroughout the 09 season, all the way to the finals. Once the Skip Tape created major buzz for AND1, the brand began to produce multiple AND1 Mixtapes." wrestling convention uk 2021; June 7, 2022 . [8], In 2018, Kevin Garnett returned to AND1 as Creative Director and Global Ambassador. I was out to show these cats that you could also be entertaining playing authentic basketball.. Streetball may also refer to other urban sports played on asphalt. After struggling with And1 for too long, Half Man, Half Amazing took to being an extra in movies. Few streetball players have the style and substance of Kirkland. Starting in the summer of 1999, a free AND1 Mix Tape was given with any purchase. Read each player bio so you know this year's roster. The tour continued to expand globally as the AND1 team toured the world, meeting success against most international teams and scoring wins over adversaries as diverse as Chile and Angola. If the game was close, I wouldn't even get in. [4], 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. Speed of the game would be the main area of strugg. Initially, AND1 was just a sponsor. [1] It is particularly popular and important in New York . Each court refurbishment included a community launch for which thousands of people came out to celebrate their new park. Steve "Stro" Strother had more moves than Ex-Lax. Who are the early favorites for NBA Rookie of the Year. Download. One of the greatest to ever play, and for 39 years was the NBA's all-time leading scorer. Following a short hiatus, the AND1 Mixtape Tour returned in 2010, then known as the AND1 Live Streetball Tour. In 2012, AND1 signed Lance Born Ready Stephenson to an NBA endorsement deal. Many NBA Hall of Famers got their start in their respective concrete jungles. But theAnd1 squad was not naive enough to believe that they didnt have to put on a show to keep fans coming back. None of that fancy NBA stuff goes down on the streets - no dunks from half-court, no 360s with flips in the air. news 274 on now. Answer (1 of 6): I've played against The Professor in local tournaments in Souther California and he's a cooker for sure. The Houston Rackets traded Moses Malone, who was coming off an MVP season, to the 76ers. In 2009, AND1s longest-tenured endorsee Rafer Skip 2 My Lou Alston led the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals versus Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. As they say, the intent is to reinvent the wheel . and 1 streetball players where are they now ellendale mn city council Rafer Alston was the inspiration for the first Mixtape and is a longtime AND1 endorsee.