Hey Chicago,
If there is one city in the country that can pull me away from a Chicago summer, it would have to be New York. Although I am partial to our beautiful city, New York does have a lot of great things going on in the summertime and if you're a basketball fan, there's one event that you won't want to miss this summer in New York.
Last week, I went to New York to cover the announcement that Nike Inc. and USA Basketball will be teaming up this August to bring, what will surely be, a historic event called the World Basketball Festival to New York City. This event will bring music, culture, NBA Hall of Famers, the U.S National Team and 4 international basketball teams together to celebrate the global influence that basketball is experiencing around the world.
Basketball has been a huge sport in America for several generations and is now the second most popular sport in the world behind soccer. And if you think of basketball in America, you think New York. New York is the mecca of basketball in this country, from the playgrounds of Rucker Park to the hardwood of Madison Square Gardens, New York is filled with spots that have influenced and shaped the way the game is played today. So what better place for Nike and USA Basketball hold an event that will surely influence the way the world sees basketball and appreciates the influence that New York has on the sport.
The World Basketball Festival will bring the U.S.A. basketball team and 4 international teams together in New York, from August 12th -15th for a weekend of games, concerts and NBA Hall of Fame appearances at 3 iconic New York locations.
Thursday August 12th, Nike and USA Basketball will shut down a portion of Times Square....
Yeah, that's right, Times Square, they will be shutting down a block of Times Square and be installing a hard wood basketball court and bleachers for 3,000 fans to watch a competition between the members of the U.S.A. Basketball team what is sure to be one of the most amazing places to watch a basketball game. After the game there will be a performance by a global superstar. They have yet to announce who it will be but they have said it will be someone HUGE...um let's see, New York, basketball...if I get one guess His name begins with a J and ends with a Z.
Friday, August 13th and Saturday, August 14th they will again install a hardwood court at the historic birthplace of street ball, Rucker Park in Harlem.
Fans there will get a chance to see scrummages between Brazil, Puerto Rico and France. as well as tournament games between some of New York's best street ball teams. Rucker Park is the home of street ball and continues that tradition by holding a summer-long basketball tournament between the best basketball teams in New York. These teams will get a chance to show their skills during games on Saturday night, followed by more music and partying.
Sunday, August 15th, the U.S.A Basketball team, led by Kevin Durant will play France at Madison Square Garden
The weekend will culminate on Sunday as Team U.S.A. will take on France and Team China will take on Puerto Rico in two exhibition matches.
This World Basketball Festival was the dream child of the Chairman of USA Basketball, Jerry Colangelo. He's been wanting to do something that would bring together teams from all over the world of basketball to the greatest basketball city in the world, New York. He wanted to show the world how the culture of each country has shaped the game of basketball and how the game of basketball has helped shape the culture of the world. So, Jerry enlisted the help of Charlie Denson, Nike Brand President, to make the event happen. I mean, who better to help fund a basketball event than Nike? After all, between the Nike, Jordan and Converse brands, Nike Inc. owns over 90% of the market share that is basketball!
Needless to say, the event is going to be like something the world has never seen. Think, rock concert, meets sports, meets international superstars...all in New York City, pretty cool stuff in the middle of August.
Check out some pictures from my trip to NYC below.
And check back this week for sneak peaks at new the new shoes and gear
coming from the Nike, Jordan and Converse Brands as well as my
interview with the Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant.
Have a great day!
mark@markbeier.com
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