Last week, yours truly represented the BlackEnterprise.com brand alongside NIKE, Inc. and USA Basketball as they prepped for the World Basketball Festival.
Aiming to make an impact in Chicago amidst practice, summertime weather, and insane violence in the surrounding neighborhoods—Nike and Team USA united the community through the shared love of the game. Kicking off Aug. 14, the 2014 Nike World Basketball Festival allowed hoop fans to get an up-close and personal view of the featured members of the 2014 USA Basketball Men’s National Team as they prep to go for Gold.
A myriad of colorful journalists and I were treated to a event-filled week that found us traveling around the Chi, meeting local legends and street ballers, and witnessing Team USA gear up to face global competition. The moments I spent there were impactful—being a kid from the Midwest and an avid basketball fan—and with my first time in Chicago, I made sure to learn a lot.
From the Chicago Park District’s 63rd Street Beach House to the hallowed halls of Simeon High School, the trip was informative as I sat at the foot of giants such as NBA legend Scottie Pippen, Chi-Town street ball legend Sonny Parker, and veteran scribe Scoop Jackson. This theme was ingrained in me as I traveled down East Ontario Street: Basketball needs Chicago.
Basketball is the woven fabric that ties together all seams of the city. Each respective side of Chicago has a distinctive playing style that is represented from the local levels all the way to the NBA, with athletes like Derrick Rose and Anthony Davis playing for Team USA. Those sides all came together nearing the end of the experience at the Nike launched CHI-TALK, which served as a forum for Chicago youth to get some personal time with inspirational Chicago thought leaders.
Hosted by Kevin Carroll, the discussion included enriching conversations from guest speakers such as Coodie Simmons, Chike Ozah, Sheryl Swoopes, and Common. While I wasn’t personally present for this TED-Talk-esque presentation, I do know that Coodie and Chike definitely represented for the Chi and shared some boulder-like gems of knowledge for all those whom attended.
With basketball the talk of the town, community youth clinics sprung up like wildfire as more than 5,000 kids learned skills from the likes of James Harden, DeMar DeRozan and Kyrie Irving. Chicago’s rich basketball heritage was front and center during my time there with all who attended adding onto the legacy of what hoops mean to the Windy City.
As I and countless others witnessed our on-court superheroes suit up in preparation for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain, it was an enjoyable learning experience that showcased Chicago’s beautiful architecture, incredibly delicious food and hospitality, and the legacy left behind by the likes of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Sonny Parker.
Before the event kicks off Aug. 30, watch Cleveland Cavalier Kyrie Irving salute the BlackEnterprise.com readers, and check out the highlights from my time in Chicago in the gallery on the next pages.
Upon getting settled in, I arrived to Gino’s East Pizzeria with the Nike gang, and was introduced to my first taste of Chicago. The ambiance was much like the Windy City, rough, artsy, and full of flavor. Joining us for our midday meal was veteran journalist Scoop Jackson.
A personal favorite of mine from my time at Harris Publications (where I used to write for XXL and KING), Jackson is a native Chicagoan who undoubtedly knows the terrain and history of hoops very well.
After regaling us with tales of Michael Jordan, his ‘For the Love of the Game’ contract clause, and calling the Chi, “The best place in the world for basketball,” I got a few minutes with him and asked how Jordan’s business acumen influenced this now-generation of NBA superstars.
Watch his detailed answer below:
Yours truly paying homage to one of, if not the best to ever lace up a pair of sneaks and play the game: Michael Jordan.
From there we managed to check out a NIKE pop-up shop which was showing off its new wares. The day before, the group had ventured
to Air Jordan’s former residence to check out the unveiling of the Jumpman 29. While it was upsetting to learn that I had missed out on a chance to impersonate one of Jordan’s kids, we did make our way out to the hallowed halls of the United Center.Seeing the statue of His Airness has always been on my bucket list, so being able to cross that off was a blessing. Who knew that we’d be able to go inside the place as well. Once we walked through those doors, we ultimately came to a commemorative statue of Scottie Pippen. It was there the roasting began. “Man, Scottie has his bust indoors, that must suck,” one person said.
Other comments were lauded around the room until the man himself showed up. His surprise arrival elicited responses and shy guffaws from those who spoke ill of the six-time NBA champion’s name. In the end, he gave us a detailed tour of the United Center, showing us where he and MJ sat, let us get within inches of the six Larry O’Brien trophy, and see all those legendary banners.
Watch Scottie come out and flex on us all below:
When the tour was over, we stumbled upon Chicago’s own Benny the Bull participating in the ALS challenge. Before I could get around the hulking mascot, he snatched me up and we posed for this humorous photo.
Man, the food was incredible! Every place that I had on my list to eat from was there and at my stomach’s beckoned call. This shot comes from Gino’s East, where we dined and talked basketball with NIKE and fellow scribes from across the country. To me, I’d rather have a slice from Not Ray’s Pizza in Brooklyn, but this certainly did the trick of filling me up.
During my first night in Chicago, I broke off from the NIKE group who all went out together for dinner. I am not as much a loner as I am a hearty eater. Sometimes me and food just need to have some private time. So, I headed over to Heaven on Seven, which was around the corner from the hotel I was staying in.
Boy, was that decision worth it!
The ambiance was straight out of the French Quarter, and I plopped myself down to get some food that felt like it was home cooked. After ordering some jambalaya, which came with a side of gumbo, I grabbed an enormously sized spoon, and dug in with my stomach celebrating every bite.I recommend this place to anyone who is a true foodie and a lover of fine Southern cuisine.
This is another shot of Heaven on Seven — a preferred place for me and mine the next time we’re in Chicago.
On the eve of my last day in Chicago, I had to make sure I didn’t leave without Harold’s Chicken on my fork. While at the epicenter for NIKE’s weeklong event, I and my food co-conspirators stood in line at the Chicago Park District’s 63rd Street Beach House awaiting our order numbers to be called.
For any fan of rap music or Chicago, you can already guess what I had: a six-piece chicken basket (fried hard) with mild sauce and all the french fries I could carry. The line was long, but worth it. Whomever skipped this while enjoying all the festivities, definitely didn’t know what they were missing.
Earlier in the day on my last moments in Chicago, we were treated to a truly special occasion: a chance to see Team USA in action! At Quest Multisports Complex on West Harrison Street, we got a chance to see the top NBA stars vie for a chance to play for coaches Mike Krzyzewski and Tom Thibodeau.
Whether it was watching Kyrie Irving and James Harden battle it out, back and forth, or seeing Brooklyn Nets’ own Mason Plumlee contest shots – Team USA looked primed and ready for global competition. When the scrimmage and subsequent practice was over, the media flocked over to get soundbites from the game’s great.
And I took the opportunity to snap this up close and personal shot of former MVP and Simeon High School legend, Derrick Rose.
Watch a snippet of the Team USA scrimmage below:
This was a still from one of the community youth clinics put on
by NIKE, as they helped out roughly 5,000 kids to refine their basketball skills. Led by James Harden, DeMar DeRozan, Rudy Gay, and Anthony Davis, these young hoop hogs learned valuable lessons as they participated in drills featuring some of the world’s greatest players.One of the crowning achievements of the week was NIKE’s special exhibit of historic footwear and apparel. Taking place at the Chicago Park District’s 63rd Street Beach House, NIKE, myself, and others all marveled at the new Jumpman 29, as well as throwbacks like the Air Force One and memorabilia from NIKE’s heyday.
The museum, which was nicknamed the ‘Hall Of Game,’ by myself and Armando Vargas, housed some classic moments in pop culture and basketball history. The puppet from Kobe vs. LeBron was there, as well as a still shot from Mose Malone’s debut ad with NIKE.
For the city of Chicago, it was a chance to see just how special their basketball community is with selected memorials to specific basketball landmarks that forever will be cherished by Win City.
The FIBA 3×3 Tournament, Chi-League Finals, and the Tournament of Champions were three events that NIKE held in hopes of maintaining that excitement started by Team USA’s opening ceremony. As hoop fans rushed to see Chicago street players take on New York, the competition level was fierce and as it is expected to be when you step into the Chi.
There was even a global element as players from Pan Africa, China, Brazil, and Canada came to Whitney Young High School to test their skills against Chicago’s up-and-coming talent. All in all, the lesson was made loud and clear that basketball, in Chicago, is one of the best, most electrifying, highly anticipated events ever – and you’ll know it as soon as you set foot on the court.
This last shot is a profile of Team USA. Who do you think will be the MVP of the team?
Share your thoughts about Team USA and Chicago basketball in the comments section below.