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Madison Square Garden’s Last Man Standing One on One Basketball Tournament presented by McDonald's with apparel by Game Over to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of New York
Last Man Standing One on One Tournament Kicks Off in Harlem
NEW YORK, July 17, 2005 -- Madison Square Garden’s Last Man Standing One on One Basketball Tournament presented by McDonald's with apparel by Game Over to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of New York kicked off on Saturday, July 16 with tournament action taking place at McDonald’s on 125th Street in Harlem. The Last Man Standing Tournament features summer-long elimination rounds throughout the Tri-state area, with the top players advancing to a tournament championship event to be held at Madison Square Garden, the world's most famous arena, some time in the Fall of 2005.
The McDonald’s parking lot was transformed into a streetballers paradise including a sport court playing surface, sturdy TrueBounce® portable baskets and courtside appearances by Knicks Legends John Starks & Cal Ramsey, Knicks power forward and perennial Rucker Park participant Jerome “Junk Yard Dog” Williams, as well as Brooklyn streetballer and former Syracuse superstar Dwayne “Pearl” Washington. DJ Prince Pierre supplied beats and a hiphop atmoshpere while on court tournament host B. Boy London called the games and got the crowd of 500 plus spectators involved in the excitement. In between games the Game Over shakers entertained with break dancing and basketball performances and the afternoon was culminated with an appearance by the Knicks City Dancers who performed four dance routines straight from Madison Square Garden. Also throughout the day participants and spectators had the opportunity to win prizes and receive gifts from making baskets on the interactive New York Knicks Groove Truck and from 1050ESPN Radio and the Power 105FM Power Troopers street teams. For the participants, the draw of skilled competition and television exposure on the MSG Network -- not to mention prizes including a new car to be customized by Knicks power forward Jerome Williams, $2,000 cash, tickets to Madison Square Garden Basketball events, a tournament championship jacket and trophy – was magnetic, and it’s no wonder the field was so energized and eclectic. The 125th Street Harlem field of 32 participants included an assortment of streetballers and skilled competitors ranging in levels from former high school players to current European professional players aged from 18 – 50 years old and in height from 5’5” top 6’11”. Participants included a middle-aged man who could barely stand up by the end of his match in the sweltering heat, 38-year old streetball legend Bobbito Garcia -- and someone you REALLY don't expect to see at a street basketball tournament, the Albanian Assassin. A what-banian what? Yes, Elvis Kukaj indeed hails from Albania -- though the 24 year-old has been in this country, "Watching Michael Jordan tapes," he says, since the age of 4. Perhaps one too many, too: "I had a scholarship offer to Fordham but I didn't have the required credits so I ended up going to junior college," he says. "But I'd love to keep the career going. I have an offer of 10.000 euros a month from the Albanian National team - that's $13.000 - but I don't know if I can get used to the lifestyle." Which is? "No clubs, no cafes, lots of sheep," says Kukoj. No baa-baa on the ba(a)sketball court, the versatile 6-3 Kukoj got to the semis before losing to Arnell Milton. "The key is mental toughness, you can't back down from anyone or anything out there," the brick-like Milton, who played college ball at Div. II. Washington-Jefferson University, explained his one-on-one prowess. "It's all about confidence and finding your comfort zone. I'd love to have a chance to go play overseas." Albania, anyone? "I'm used to this - growing up, I had a brother I'd played against all the time," said 32-year old Andrea Gager, one of the few women who entered in the tourney. "So there's really no pressure on me doing this, and doing it well." At a petite 5-6, Manhattan-ite Gager was the starting point guard at Martin Luther King high school, averaging 15 points and 8 rebounds, and "won countless tournaments on the PAL and Converse traveling AAU teams. I hope someone from the WNBA is watching," she smiles. Gager made her mark, advancing past her first opponent before succumbing in a later round. It's not for the happy-go-lucky Garcia who's doing just fine right here, thank you. "I'm editor-in-chief of Bounce Magazine," he points to the colorful street-ball publication. "And I travel with a group called Project Playground which has done a halftime show of basketball tricks at Knicks, Hornets, and Mavericks games." Garcia also hosts "It's the Shoe", a hoop program on ESPN2. More Bounce-ing: the tournament uses True Bounce, "a new concept in basketball backboards," according to spokesman Eric Britto. "The surface is perforated with scientifically spaced and sized holes, making the rebounds come off the board both truer and closer to the basket." There are all kinds of players grabbing those boards at "Last Man": there's Thomas Grady-Price-Freeman ("Just call me hyphen," he smiles), a 23 year-old accounting consultant who "loves this game and still has a dream of playing it professionally somewhere." Then there's Paul Rivera, the star of street stars who easily made the Finals here, who was a great Div. III college player and toiled professionally in Puerto Rico. "The talent level is pretty high and pretty even on the street," he says. "So the difference makers are your heart and your desire. You've got to refuse to lose." "There's nowhere to hide in this game," adds Rivera. "No team, no teammates to pass the ball to when you're exhausted, no nothing. It's all you out there." Enthusiastic tournament spectators Knicks forward Jerome Williams added: "I'm out here because I have tremendous respect for these players," said JYD who couldn't have been a more enormous crowd favorite if he handed out hamburgers himself to the standing room only crowd on 125th Street. "I see the Dawg Pound is out here, too, and that's a very good thing. Hey, when I was a kid this is exactly how I honed my game. Street-ball is awesome." And, according to the Dog, the Knicks might be, too. "I talked to (President, Basketball Operations) Isiah (Thomas) just a couple of days ago and I congratulated him," he says. "I LOVE the moves. We've gotten exactly what we needed, the big, true shot-blocking center, the change-of-pace point guard, everything. Quentin (Richardson) is a lights-out shooter. And Channing (lottery Frye) has a great chance to be a top player in this league once he gets some experience." "I am very excited -- we should be a better team this year. And, given good health, we could be a MUCH better team."
Last Man Standing upcoming regional tournament dates and locations:
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