New York, big city, bright lights, the big apple, concrete jungle, the mecca, or just my dream come true….

I still remember it like was yesterday… my first time at Rucker Park

For the few days that I spent in Harlem, it was like the TV finally came alive and a lot of my dreams came true, one which was to go to Rucker Park and also to West 4th (known also as THE CAGE) and see some real ball where you wont see anywhere in the world. In that concrete jungle called NYC there is so much bball talent that at any street courts you go to you are bound to see some serious ballin’ going on.

At the Rucker, it was such an amazing experience being there especially for the EBC tournament which runs once a year. I got there just as the tournament started and for one of the games I managed to sit court side right behind Fat Joe’s team ‘terror squad’.

As a bball fan from Australia, seeing these guys in the flesh the first time ever was an experience I will never forget. There were NBA stars mixing it up with streetball stars and players trying to ‘get’ a name.

There were a few rappers there too which was interesting to see, namely the GAME. He was playing for his own team Black Wall Street who had mad black uniforms representing the West Coast. During time-outs he was running around throwing G-Unot t-shirts into the crowd. On the team with GAME was Gilbert Arenas, Tervor Ariza, Dorell Wright and others - fun team to watch and they got into a few fights on court and the rest of the crew did the same in the stands. Security in their orange shirts were quick to respond.

But watching some NBA players get destroyed by certain street stars was the most fun to see. The hardtop - it’s a whole different game. Gilbert Arenas was nice as hell only playing at 50% effort and still killing it. You know there are some NBA players who have street game, Arenas is one for sure. You weren’t allowed to take photos during the games, so I only took some during timeouts.

Other players who were great to watch were Kareem Reid, Kenny Satterfield, Bone Collector, Corey ‘Homicide’ Williams, Alimoe and many other And 1 stars.

Catching the subway every night after the tournament I was still in awe of what I had just witnessed….. I recommend every bball fan that goes to NYC doesn’t just go to visit the ‘tourist’ sites but should go deep into NYC.

You just dont know who you will see and meet. Walking down the street in Lower Manhatten, I saw Fat Joe drive past in his sky blue Bentley going to the Rucker. Walking out of the world famous APOLLO in Harlem I almost walked straight into P-Diddy who was flanked by bodyguards leading him in to the Apollo. Going to Jay-Z’s 40/40 club and seeing him there, seeing Carmelo Anthony chillin having some drinks. It was just truly amazing seeing these people who we normally only see on TV.

I would love to go back again, to the basketball mecca that is NYC and Rucker Park