8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

1/84

B A LT I M O R E S

DWYANE WADE // LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE // RAJON RONDO // BEN GORDON

KOBEAT RUCKER PARK

THE COUNTRYS MOST EXCITINGHIGH SCHOOL PLAYER

GETS BUCKETS & FIGHTS BAD GUYS

W E R E M I N I S C E

KOBE AT RUCKER PARKwww.dimemag.com / #65 / AUG/SEPT 2011

AQUILLECARR IS...THE

CRIME STOPPER

THEGREATEST SNEAKER

COLLECTIOIN THE

WORLD

THEGREATEST SNEAKER

COLLECTIOIN THE

WORLD

AQUILLECARR IS...THE

CRIME STOPPER

BEHINDTHE SCENE

with

BIRD

MAG

BEHINDTHE SCENE

with

BIRD

MAG

THE COUNTRYS MOST EXCITINGHIGH SCHOOL PLAYER

GETS BUCKETS & FIGHTS BAD GUYS

AQUILLE

http://www.dimemag.com/

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

2/84

2

light as _ _ _ _

011 adidas AG. adidas, the 3-Bars logo and the 3-Stripes mark are registered trademarks of the adidas Group.

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

3/84

3

adidas ad

At 9.8oz, this is the lightest ever.Its crazy quick, crazy fast and crazy light.

Let your game go crazy at adidasbasketball.com

adizero crazy light

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

4/84

4

Contents Issue #65 August/September 2011

58Aquille Carr Photo. Douglas Sonder

36 WELL-SCOUTEDWhen we came across Bonnie-Jill Lain, the NBAs rst and only female scout, we were understandably wowed. Were quite sure you will be too.

42 X-MEN ORIGINSFootball wont be the only game in town this year when Michigan and Ohio State square off during Big Ten play. You can thankTrey Burke and his longtime friend Jared Sullinger for that one.

46 LIONS FOR LAMBSIn two years time, Jeremy Lamb morphed from a skinny high school sixth man to an NCAA champion. With Kemba Walker nowin the NBA, the UConn rising sophomore is being asked to undergo another transformation: from sidekick to star.

48 INCEPTIONTwo years ago, life was different for Ben Gordon. He had it all: a city that loved him, a starting spot on a playoff team and a rep asone of the most clutch players in the league. But since coming to the Pistons, Gordon has dealt with constant questions. Coming off

the worst season of his professional career, BG is ready to remind everyone of exactly who he is.

52 RIGHT ON TIMEIts been a while since a team in the Pacic Northwest has had a surere go-to-guy to call their own. While one team has longbounced to the Great Plains, the other has already gone through two potential superstars both now likely lost to injury. Which iswhy when LaMarcus Aldridge decided to have his breakout moment in his fth NBA season, it was beyond a breath of fresh air.

58 A STREET CARR NAMED DESIREBaltimores Aquille Carr, the countrys most dynamic and exciting high school player, continues to burnish his growing legend while ghting crime in his spare time.

68 WHEN THE BUCKET RUNS DRY

Walter Luckett was destined for greatness on the court by the time he was a teenager, becoming one of the best amateur ballersin the country before landing a top-30 selection in the 1975 NBA Draft. But when a lingering injury derailed his hoop dreams,Luckett was forced to discover a new path beyond the hardwood. Some 30 years later, hes yet to nd any regrets.

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

5/84

BOUNCE - ISSUE 27

ON SALE NOW!

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

6/84

66

Issue #65 August/September 2011

Contents13 HOOPLA

14 TWITTER

15 TANGLED WEB

16 THE LIFE Dwyane Wade Fantasy Camp

17 PEOPLES COURT

Bostons Got Wings

18 STREET SEEN Division West

20 GRASSROOTS Big Apple Basketball

21 BUSINESS 21 NBA English Lessons

30 Sportscaster U

32 ShoeZeum

22 TOURNAMENT Red Bull King of the Rock

24 Q&A Jackie MacMullan

26 WHATS MY NAME 26 Jahii Carson

27 Jordan Tebbutt

28 Reggie Johnson 29 Brandon Smith

34 HIGH SCHOOL HOOP Isaiah Austin

72 STYLES UPON STYLES 68 WalterLuckettPhoto. Ohio University

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

7/84

http://www.dimemag.com/http://www.dimemag.com/

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

8/84

8

Issue #65 August/September 2011www.dimemag.com

Editor & Publisher Josh Gotthelf joshg@dimemag.com

Director of Content

Patrick Cassidy pat@dimemag.com

Managing EditorAron Phillips aron@dimemag.com

Staff Writers Jack Jensen jack@dimemag.comSean Sweeney sean@dimemag.com

Art Direc tionAlexis Cook

Contributing PhotographersDavid Alvarez

Jack BoydAdam Cairns

Andre CarterKelley Cox John Dowling Stephen HillDorothy Hong Nick LaVecchiaSteven MaikoskiStephanie Mei-Ling Garth Milan

JC RidleyBrandon ShowersDouglas SondersHance TaplinKelly Turso

Contributing Writers

Austin BurtonAlejandro DanoisAndrew Greif Jarrod HaleKyle HenryEric NewmanLucas Shapiro

Jason SimmsArie Stark Justin Williams

Dime InternsMichael Aufses, Jaimie Canterbury,Scott Horlbeck, Ryan Imparato, MartinKessler, Rachel Marcus, Dylan Murphy,Kevin Zimmerman

Dime NY Ofce212.629.5066

Worldwide Newsstand DistributorCurtis Circulation Company, LLC.

Newsstand Consultant Howard White & Associates

DIME, THE GAME. THE PLAYER. THE LIFE.and THE BASKETBALL LIFESTYLE MAGAZINEare registered trademarks of Dime MagazinePublishing Company, Inc.

For new subscriptions, subscription

problems and/or address changes pleasego to www.dimemag.com, call 818.286.3153or e-mail dimcs@magserv.com

PRINTED IN THE USA 52LaMarcus Aldridge

Photo. Hance Taplin

mailto:dimcs@magserv.comhttp://www.dimemag.com/mailto:sean@dimemag.commailto:jack@dimemag.commailto:aron@dimemag.commailto:pat@dimemag.commailto:joshg@dimemag.comhttp://www.dimemag.com/

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

9/84

9

Powerade ad

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

10/84

10

Photo. Douglas Sonders

For a summer lled with so much uncertainty, one thing has be-come undeniably clear: Basketball has never been better. After anepic NBA Finals, pundits around the world saw July 1s expiration ofthe collective bargaining agreement as the End of Days. Instead,we witnessed NBA superstars Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose and ChrisPaul y to the Philippines for an exhibition game; Kevin Durant,Brandon Jennings and John Wall hit every top-ight Pro-Am acrossthe country; and two of the most well-known summer leagues D.C.s Goodman League and L.A.s Drew League prepare to battlefor bragging rights in our nations capital.

But amongst all that, we could not help but nd ourselves com-pletely enraptured with an electric 5-7 point guard from Baltimorenamed Aquille Carr. Following in the footsteps of Charm City leg-ends such as Muggsy Bogues, Sam Cassell and Juan Dixon, therising junior at Patterson High School packs a gym to capacitywhenever and wherever he plays. So after two years and well overthree million collective YouTube views, we decided to introduce the

pint-sized monster to the world in a big way.

In the previous 64 issues of Dime , we have featured a high schoolballplayer alone on the cover only four times Dwight Howard in2004 (Dime #9), O.J. Mayo in 2005 (Dime #17), Tyreke Evans in 2006(Dime #24) and Lance Stephenson in 2008 (Dime #42). And Improud to say that as you have come to expect from us, we havegiven Aquille Carr the shine he deserves before anyone else.

-Aron Phillips,Managing Editor

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

11/84

WHERE THE PROS PLAY & TRAIN

info@attackathletics.com

Attack Athletics

2641 West Harrison, Chicago, IL

773.826.2300

Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, Andre Iguodala, Devin Harris and more

www.attackathletics.com

http://www.attackathletics.com/mailto:info@attackathletics.com

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

12/84

To me MJ & PIP are easily the best. Six NBAchampionships DO make a huge difference,and they fed off each other quite nicely. Inthis sense Stockton and Malone were alsogreat, while I would compare Kobe/Shaq toLeBron/Wade and Durant/Westbrook as twogreat players who happen to play next to eachother in one team. Magic and Kareem wouldrank behind Stockton and Malone simply be-cause by the time Magic really shined Kareemwas already on the downside of his career.-pipdaddyy

STOCKTON TO MALONE . Their combined num-bers would never equal Shaq and Kobe, Jor-dan and Pippen, or Magic and Kareem. Theydid not even won a championship. But nameme two players who are always mentionedin the same sentence more than any duo?Name me two players that kept a team inplayoff contention for more than 15 years.Name me two players that remained loyalto one team for a very long time.-alf (from melmak)

There were a lot of GOOD DUOS throughoutthe years in the NBA and there will be abunch of ANSWERS by asking this QUES-TION but when I think of THE BEST DUOI think of JORDAN & PIPPEN cause they wereVICIOUS.-Team JORDAN

ALL-TIME greatest duo has to be STOCKTONAND MALONE . Hey they didnt win a chip(who could have if youre going up againstMJ every time) but they have other numbersto validate their greatness. Stockton No. 1 inall-time assists, and Malone No. 2 all-timescoring.nuff said.-the boss

Gotta say, SHAQ AND PENNY were an enter-taining duo to watch. If only Shaq stayed if only Penny stayed heal thy. When theywere briey teammates in Miami, I nearlydied! Obviously, that didnt work out so wellwhat with Pennys injuries and all -clownsh

STOCKTON & MALONE are the greatest duoof all-time winning a championship isthe most overrated quality EVER. People actlike a player wasnt s--- if they never gota ring its ridiculous. Stockton & Maloneare the denition of the word duo. Theyhad an almost telepathic understandingof each other. You take either of them awayand they are a drastically worse player. Youtake a 94 era Jordan or Pippen and you canplug them into ANY team in the league andpretty much have the same output.-iCARNACKi

SHAQ AND KOBE easily. They won back-to-back-to-back championships in their primeand slaughtered their competition. It wasnt

even CLOSE. My vote is for them hands down.-Dana Walking Walker

LETTERS

WHO IS THE BEST 1-2 PUNCH IN NBA HISTORY?

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook cause havoc not just because of theirtalent, but for the way they complement each other. One is a shooter. eother, an athlete. One is a guard. e other, a forward. e one thing thatsets them apart is they are both really young. To be able to lead Oklahoma

City at such young ages elevates everything about them. eir image. eirexpectations. We know theyre great, but they could be gruesome in a few years. What they could be only adds to what they are, and what they are isreally freaking good. Good enough that we put them on the cover of Dime#64, deeming them e NBAs Best Duo Since Shaq & Kobe. Around thetime the growth of this devastating combo was detailed in these pages, weasked our DimeMag.com readers:

www.image-entertainment.com The NBA and NBA member team identifications are the intellectual property of NBA Properties, Inc. and the respective member t 2011 NBA Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Packaging Art and Design 2011 Image Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Includesexclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and more!

http://www.image-entertainment.com/http://dimemag.com/

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

13/84

13

THE GREATEST SNEAKER

COLLECTION IN THE WORLD

Bonnie-Jill Lain

36

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH

BIRD & MAGIC

INSIDE

D-WADES FANTASY

CAMP

Photo. Brandon Showers

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

14/84

14

TWITTER

e NBA may be locked out, but Twitters still working

@JayBilas

Ate at In-N-Out Burger, and ordereda Double-Double. Wife reminded memy name hasnt been associated with adouble-double since high school.

@ShannonBrown

I had a nice steak, a potato, carrots, broc- coli and zucchini! Topped off witha banana split!

@DwyaneWade

Gd 2 c that football is gettn closer to theirdealmy Bears could use a goal linereceiver..Man only if I didnt have a job..wait I DONT

@kevinlove

Does anyone have Rosetta Stone entrylevel Spanish I can use?

@swish41

I was wondering since there is a lockout,am I still allowed to watch nbatv?

@jasonterry31

ESPYs incredible if I dont get a pic wit j bieber my daughter gonna kill me.

@agentzeroshow

I dont hav a body guard..I know howto run.. it aint that hard to run and yellthey tryn to get me for my paper

@SteveNash

One of the nicest wineries in Bordeauxand @theborisdiaw is planking in thevineyard. SMH. Stay classy.

@JHarden13

Twitter has Change my Life. Lol oh well.

@CP3

Have yall ever had the BBQ ChoppedChicken Salad from #Panera??? # Bangin#4thumbsUP

@SHAQ

I have crazy pictures from my achillessurgery. Should I post them? u vote anddecide

@carmeloanthony

I picked a goooood night to watch tv!!!!!!Man vs wild: surviving the cut: rivermonsters: navy seals-untold stories.#showtime!!!!!!!!

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

15/84

151515

TANGLED WEB

Some sites to keep you occupied until NBA.com is back to normal

Humor www.jerryseinfeld.comSo, uh, this is awesome. To debut his newsite, the comedic legend that is JerrySeinfeld wanted to give his web surfers

something different, something new. Andhe did just that: posting three new videosfrom his career of stand up. Every. Single.Day. We know, us too. When every morn-ing is lled with new, old bits from oneof comedys all-time bests, its denitelycause to bookmark.

Music www.yourstru.lyThis is dope. Take the most interesting,rising talent in the music industry andprovide an avenue for their craft to truly

shine. No million-dollar lm shoots orfancy special effects; just bare bones mu-sic videos at their most unplugged form.And from Big K.R.I.T. to Chromeo, YoursTruly has been able to connect fans with adiverse and equally awesome collection ofartists to date. With so much utter dope-ness (theres that word again) at our n-gertips, its no wonder the site has becomea favorite of the Dime fam.

Fashionwww.wtsmikewearing.tumblr.comWho knew that His Airness owned such aunique denim collection? Or that leathersuit jackets were suddenly back in fashion?

MJ did, clearly. Which is how the Google im-age hunters over at this site struck troll-ing gold with their growing collection ofhis more original apparel choices. But nomatter the jacket or the jeans, Mike stillpulls it off because, hell, he is the G.O.A.T.In the meantime, were still waiting on awtfdidscottiejustsay.tumblr.com to pop onthe scene. Dibs?

Basketball www.veniceball.comWere hoop junkies. Its just in our blood probably in yours too. Luckily for the bas-ketball folks making due in the sprawlingcity that is Los Angeles, nding a decentrun isnt too difcult. And thanks moreto a history of strong play, and less aboutwhat Sidney Deane and Billy Hoyle havewritten, the courts at Venice Beach go hardyear-round. In the summertime though, itsamplied; the Venice Basketball Leaguebrings together the citys best in ball, musicand entertainment. A must visit if youreheaded out West.

Athletics www.rststring.comRemember the emotions that high schoolathletics brought? The passion, intensityand ultimately, relationships it entailed arewhat made high school sports so fun andfullling. And its that passion and sense ofcommunity that helped create FirstString.Its a site developed to help share that com-munity with others currently involved inthe H.S. scene and in turn, initiate con-versations between its participants. It alsomaps the stories and scores of teams andindividuals as soon as news happens, aswell as providing a detailed scouting outlet.Check it out.

Humor www.mrturnersties.tumblr.comAlong with our classic nostalgia for pogslammers and Dennis Rodman temporarytattoos, weve always got love for the oldschool awesomeness that is Boy MeetsWorld. And now everyone can relive all ofthe magic from John Adams High throughthe most ridiculous neck tie collectionever Jonathan Turners. Mr. Turners Tiesnot only highlights the best, err absurd,ties around, they also provide each screencapture with its own unique caption. Goodenough for Topanga, good enough for us.

http://wtfdidscottiejustsay.tumblr.com/http://nba.com/http://www.mrturnersties.tumblr.com/http://www.firststring.com/http://www.veniceball.com/http://www.wtfismikewearing.tumblr.com/http://www.yourstru.ly/http://www.jerryseinfeld.com/http://www.mrturnersties.tumblr.com/http://www.firststring.com/http://www.veniceball.com/http://www.wtfismikewearing.tumblr.com/http://www.yourstru.ly/http://www.jerryseinfeld.com/

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

16/84

16

At the inaugural event, campers 35 years old and up canmesh that excitement with a limo pick-up, cocktail re-ception and gifts of Jordan Brand apparel while living itup at the beautiful Fontainebleau hotel in Miami Beach,Fla. During a three-night stay from August 18-21, youllalso receive instruction from coaches including IndianasTom Crean, Marquettes Buzz Williams, and ESPN analysts

Tim Legler and Jon Barry. And of course, campers will bemeeting Flash himself.

Its like being a kid again and going back to camp, saysevent organizer Benny Fragela.

And at $12,500 per pop, its not for your average middle-aged father. Such participants registered include JoseRamon Mas, the CEO and President of MasTec NorthAmerica, Inc., and Ric Elias, CEO of the marketing servicescompany Red Ventures. Both Mas and Elias helped Fragelarecruit other participants.

Its a lot of CEOs, says Fragela. Most of them own theirown companies.

Fragela, who organized the event and is close friendswith Antoine Wade, Dwyanes cousin, says that there aremore than 50 campers signed up all are either players,or, for those not wanting to delve into the physical as-pects of the game, assistant coaches. And for the MiamiHeat guard, the fantasy camp offers an opportunity tospend time with some big-name businessmen. Fragelaproposed the fantasy camp to the Wades, and liking theidea, Dwyane ran with it.

Dwyane is doing it for the future, says Fragela, to meetpeople outside of basketball.

Dwyane Wade Fantasy Camp

BUSINESS

WORDS. Kevin ZimmermanPHOTO. David Alvarez

THE LIFE

Remember heading off to basketball camp as a kid, that giddiness of playing in front of the local highschool or college coach overwhelming you? If only that youthful feeling could be tapped into once again. Add in some world-class dining at a Miami resort and some well-known NBA names, and youve got theDwyane Wade Fantasy Camp.

For more information, visitwww.dwyanewadefantasycamp.com.

http://www.dwyanewadefantasycamp.com/

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

17/84

171717

SNEAKER SPOT

Bostons Got Wings

WORDS. Aron Phillips PHOTOS. Nick LaVecchia/Red Bull Media House

PEOPLES COURT

This past season, Dime teamed up with Rajon Rondo and Red Bull ina big way to give back to the City of Boston by creating Bostons GotWings. For every steal Rondo recorded (153 in only 68 games), Red Bulldonated $500 to the Boston Parks and Recreation Department to refur-bish basketball courts throughout the city, netting the parks $76,500.

Rondo, joined by Mayor Thomas Menino and surprise guest Glen BigBaby Davis, unveiled four refurbished basketball courts at Malcolm

X Park in front of 153 kids (one to represent each steal) and tons oflocal media.

It denitely means a lot, a kid like myself, growing up in the innercity, said Rondo, who joked that he played through a lot of injuriesthis season to run up his steal total. Having a place to play is verybig. Anything for kids, Im all with, and for.

Being on the court is a great place, added Mayor Menino. I usedto play basketball. I grew up playing basketball. Its a game. Makesure you have fun at it and learn from it. The friends you maketoday in this basketball game are your friends for life.

Backboards were repaired and a sealcoat was applied as part ofMalcolm X Parks renovation, while nine other area courts were alsorefurbished: two at the Back Bay Fens near Fenway, two at SmithPlayground in Allston, three at Ramsay Park in the South End, andtwo at Rogers Park in Brighton.

Having been a part of this initiative from Day 1, this dedication andcelebration with the community was a great feeling. And with eachkid handed a basketball by either Rondo or the Mayor, rest assuredthat the courts will be put to good use.

You might wonder how a random Tuesday in the middle of the lockout is one of the shining moments from Dimes illustrious 10-year history. But for those that were in attendance at Malcolm X Park inRoxbury, Mass. on August 2nd, they know that basketball is more than a game.

For more information on Bostons Got Wings,visit www.redbullusa.com/rondo.

http://www.redbullusa.com/rondo

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

18/84

18

WORDS. Aron Phillips PHOTOS. Jack Boyd & Andre Carter

Division West

STREET SEEN

After a few years of dreaming, co-founders Joel DeJong and Todd McMurry pulled the trigger in Septe 2008 and started creating what was to become Division West. Taking bits and pieces from other successhops they had visited over the years, the two synthesized their knowledge to create what they have nodope sneaker boutique located in Denvers Cherry Creek neighborhood. Carrying sneakers from the likof Nike, New Balance, PUMA and Saucony, as well as clothing from brands like 10.Deep, Stussy, MigHealthy and SLVDR, what sets Division West apart from their contemporaries is their commitment to tlocal scene. Whether its carrying local brands such as Reinvent yself, e GRO Project and Mantis Uned on their racks, or featuring a different local artist every month on their walls, Division West provideauthentic experience for everyone that stops through the shop. And being located about a block from wmost of the visiting NBA teams stay when theyre in Denver doesnt hurt one bit.

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

19/84

191919

PHILIP PORTERAGE: 27FROM: Denver, COJOB: Clothing Distributor / ArtistWEARING: shirt by Stussy, hoodie byRVCA, jeans by Levis, hat by Mitchell &Ness, sunglasses by Oakley, watch byCasio G-Shock, shoes by PRO-Keds

DIVISION WEST 2632 EAST THIRD AVENUE DENVER, CO 80206 303.800.4448www.divisionwest.com

JOEL DEJONGAGE: 31FROM: Glen Ridge, NJJOB: Co-Founder, Division WestWEARING: shirt by Reinvent Thyself,

jeans by Levis, cap by New Era, watch byNixon, shoes by Saucony

THAL WOODSAGE: 25FROM: Denver, COJOB: Personal TrainerWEARING: shirt by 10.Deep, shorts byRVCA, sunglasses by Oakley, watch byCasio G-Shock

PETE DRAGOAGE: 33FROM: Denver, COJOB: Business Director, Jiberish Clothing WEARING: crewneck, shorts and hat by Jiberish, shoes by Alife

LEE BARROWAGE: 27FROM: Miami, FLJOB: Stylist / Image ConsultantWEARING: crewneck by Diamond SupplyCo., jeans by Levis, sunglasses byMantis United, watch by Casio G-Shock,shoes by Jordan Brand

GABE ANDERSONAGE: 30FROM: Denver, COJOB: Business Director, Jiberish Clothing WEARING: shirt, hoodie and hat by Jiberish, jeans by Levis, shoes by NewBalance

http://www.divisionwest.com/

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

20/84

20

Jason Curry, founder of Big Apple Basketball, Inc., quit his nine-to-ve gig as a college basketball color commentator to start BABback in 1999. What started as one exhibition team traveling aroundthe country playing top-ight college programs, has since evolvedinto a full-service basketball and community-outreach organizationthat touches every skill level from ve-year-olds to ballers over 50.

Curry and his dedicated staff of coaches provide high-level workoutsessions, as well as the Scholarship Games a showcase for thetop 40 unsigned academically qualied seniors in the New Yorkarea. Off the court, Big Apple Basketball also has programs educat-ing student-athletes on how to select the right college for themathletically and academically.

I started Big Apple Basketball as a pro-am touring team and away for guys to get quality workouts while home from overseasbasketball, says Curry. I even played on the team the rst year. Weexpanded it to workouts for kids, the educational programs, then Idecided to do a more formal high school tournament event. Thathas helped create a buzz about Big Apple Basketball.

A virtual whos who of the high school basketball world have shownout in recent years at the Big Apple Basketball Invitational, includ-ing Michael Beasley, Jonny Flynn, Sundiata Gaines, Lance Stephen-son, Tobias Harris, JayVaughn Pinkston and Brandon Knight. Youname an elite prospect, and chances are theyve done work andin some cases, been exposed on the Baruch College hardwood.

Big Apple Basketball events are great, says West Virginia juniorguard Darryl Truck Bryant, who went to St. Raymond High Schoolin The Bronx. The crowds are great and an environment any highschool would want to play in. When I was at St. Rays, we loved thepublic school versus Catholic school format to prove that we werethe best league in the city.

Currys on-court credentials are legit, which earns him respectamong the young players he works with today.

Growing up in Jamaica, Queens, I was a pretty good player, saysCurry. I learned the game from Vincent Smith, older brother ofKenny Smith. At that time, if you could play in Queens, you wentto Archbishop Molloy [High School]. I followed Kenny Smith andKenny Anderson and went to Molloy.

At Saint Michaels College (Colchester, Vt.), he nished his careerranked No. 1 all-time in assists per game and free-throw percent-age, No. 2 in three-point percentage, and No. 3 in steals. Curry was

inducted into the Saint Michaels Hall of Fame in 2009.

Looking toward the future, Curry has plans to take Big Apple Bas-ketball to the next level, to where the BAB brand is considered theone-stop shop to empower youth through education and basketball.While he admits funding and securing partnerships can be frus-trating, as it is for almost any nonprot, there is no quit in Curry.

One-hundred percent of my blood, sweat and tears are in Big AppleBasketball, says Curry, and Im devoted to making this the bestorganization that it can be. Im doing this without a single spon-sor 99 percent of the money comes from my pocket.

Maybe Im stubborn, but my belief is I really feel I have somethingspecial and I put in the hard work. It doesnt matter who gets on,I will continue to do it and get better as an organization. If theywant to get on, great. If not, I still have a great product.

Big Apple Basketball

BUSINESS

WORDS. Kyle Henry PHOTO. Big Apple Basketball

GRASSROOTS

For more information on Big Apple Basketball, visit www.bigapplebasketball.com.

For three days each January, the Big Apple Basketball (BAB) Invitational takes over Baruch College inNew York City, showcasing some of the nations best high school talent under one roof. And while it is themost high-prole event on the calendar for BAB, there is so much more to the nonprot organization thatmakes it stand out.

http://www.bigapplebasketball.com/

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

21/84

212121

SNEAKER SPOT

NBA English Lessons

WORDS. Jason Simms PHOTO. Dorothy Hong

BUSINESS

Sure enough, there was Amare Stoudemire, Jason Richardson, JaredDudley and a small entourage. I approached Amare rst. Wouldyou be interested in doing a very quick interview that helps peoplein China learn English?

Im good, he said. But Jared Dudley overheard. How much trafcdo you have in China? I told him about a third of our million-plusmembers are Chinese. He was onboard.

With as many NBA fans in China as

there are in the U.S., players are look-ing for ways to interact with interna-tional audiences. Facebook, Twitterand YouTube are all banned in China,so aside from a handful of guys withforeign shoe endorsements and anoccasional preseason game overseas,opportunities can be hard to come by.Its especially hard to make a personalconnection with fans who have limitedEnglish skills.

Students in other countries want tospeak the same English we do in the

U.S., explains English, baby! CEO JohnHayden. The ability to learn basketballslang directly from an NBA star is some-thing very unique for them.

So I went on a mission to turn as manyballers into teachers as I could, helpingthe largest English education commu-nity on the Internet improve their courtlingo and knowledge of the game. Fortu-nately, I didnt have to stalk them all likeDudley most of the two-dozen playersweve enlisted over the last two yearsagreed in advance and all of themshowed a side of themselves American fans dont often see. Hereare some of the best quotes:

CARMELO ANTHONY may be mellow, but he aint sweet: I know inChina my name means sweet melon, but I dont like that name.

NICOLAS BATUMs rather brutal denition of slam dunk: You justgo to the rim, and crush. Crush the ball in the rim. Thats all. Yeah.

JARED DUDLEY using his favorite three-point slang in a sentence:Right about now, Ima drop some three balls on this team. Thereyou go.

ZYDRUNAS ILGAUSKAS may get lots of second-chance points, buthes not too keen on second chances: Second chance? I dont know!

Depending how forgiving your wife is! Not everybody gets a second

chance, so I guess my advice would be dont get to that point.

ZAZA PACHULIA on swag: Its spelled s-w-a-g and its a very popularword, especially in Atlanta. Its people who have their own style.Basically its something thats noticeable about you. SHANE BATTIER has picked up a thing or two on his annual visits toChina to promote his PEAK sneakers: I speak Chinese with Yao some-times, especially after my trips, but he looks at me like Im crazy.

SASHA VUJACIC on how to be a machine:You can be a machine if you dont sleepat all. You can be a machine if you dontfeel pain or whatever. Whenever yousee a little bit of supernatural power insomeone, you can call them a machine. YI JIANLIAN is pretty clear on whatit means to put the ball on theoor: Dribbling. Attack the basket.

MARC GASOL on the difference betweenplaying in the post and posting on hisblog: It has a different meaning. You

just write a story or something youwant to tell the readers. You post yourthoughts or your writings or anything.

J.J. BAREA on if his Puerto Rican dancemoves are also good moves on the court:I could do some things but Im not abig fan. But if I have to, Ill get it done.

CHANNING FRYE on breakthroughs: Youcontinually push on a piece of glass, youknow? You just keep pushing and push-ing and pushing and right when youthink nothing is gonna happen, you get

one crack and that crack inspires you to continue going and pushing.

RICHARD HAMILTON on running clinics in China: A lot of peopledont know that theres a lot of taller players over there. You getover there and you see kids 14 years old and 6-8, 6-9, and youwould never think that.

AL HORFORDs strategy for learning a language: Its all about repeti-tion and really listening to people and trying to catch everything.

To see these complete English lessons, as well as interviewswith Danny Granger, Juwan Howard, Marcin Gortat,

Rodrigue Beaubois and more, visit www.englishbaby.com/nba.

During the 2010 NBA Playoffs, I heard the Phoenix Suns were watching an Eastern Conference game at abar in Portland about a mile from the English, baby! office. I rounded up a cameraperson and headed over.

http://www.englishbaby.com/nba

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

22/84

22

LOS ANGELES

Mark PetersWhen Red Bull King of the Rock kickedoff its summer in Venice Beach this past

June, it brought out some of the citysbest local talent. And to the surprise ofeveryone, including his opponents, fast-talking guard Mark Peters born andraised in L.A. took home to tourneystop honor as section champion.

Every citys got ballplayers, but I feellike Im a supreme baller, said Petersimmediately following his tournamentvictory. Nobody is beating me. Anysize, any weight, all that bring em on.I dont care; Im not ducking nobody.

Taking on opponents far outmatchinghim in size, the under 6-foot Petersnever lost any erceness in his game.The dude was fearless on the court and its a mentality hell need to keepif he hopes to win it all on Alcatraz inSeptember.

Onye IbekweTheres never been a dened road to make it as a professionalbasketball player. Most bounce around overseas, some catch onstateside in the D-League, while the majority of others nd theroadblocks too hard to overcome. For 27-year-old L.A. native OnyeIbekwe, his path included something only a few players ever canclaim: A stop in the NFL.

After hooping at both Oklahoma State and Long Beach State in col-lege, Ibekwe who had only previously played two years of pigskinin high school decided to hit up the USC football pro-day. The6-6 beast of a forward impressed at least one squad, as the SanFrancisco 49ers picked him up for the year.

Ive always had the itch of playing football, said Ibekwe. Youknow, the position I played in college, I knew I wasnt going to makeit to the NBA. Im kind of too short for my position at the NBA, butI have a football body. So I did what Antonio Gates did, and I made

it. I made the team.

Ibekwe is now back to basketball, getting some burn in countriesaround the world, but found himself on the outside looking in tothe tournaments nal grouping. Not to worry though, as the kid

has plenty more opportunities on the hardwood left in front of him.

Red Bull King of the Rock

BUSINESS

WORDS. Jack Jensen & Kevin ZimmermanPHOTOS. Garth Milan/Red Bull Media House & Stephanie Mei-Ling

TOURNAMENT

One-on-one basketball is pure, honest truth. Man vs. man, ego vs. ego. Its bragging rights on a silver pter. Last year, in Red Bulls rst season of unleashing its King of the Rock one-on-one tournament onthoop world, ballers battled it out in six West Coast qualifying rounds to earn a spot playing at AlcatrazIsland. is summer, theyve upped the ante to 21 qualifying rounds around the nation, with even more going down overseas. And to kick off the race to $10,000 and bragging rights at e Rock on Septemb 24th, we caught up with some of the nest that congregated in Los Angeles and New York City to rockcourts. Here are their stories:

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

23/84

232323

NEW YORK CITY

Amseshem OJay HendersonThe winner of the New York qualifying Red Bull King of the Rock,Henderson, who played his college ball at SUNY New Paltz, pro-phetically declared himself a winner shortly after being one of therst players to arrive at the Lincoln Playground court in Harlem.

Im winning today, said Henderson. Mark my words.

He wasnt lying. The Queens native torched the competition to grabthe cash prize and a trip to Alcatraz, not surprising considering hisbasketball skills have earned him appearances on Spike TVs Prosvs. Joes and Ball Up Streetball of Fox Sports Network.

And when hes not lighting up opponents on the streetball court,Henderson works for the entertainment blog Pow-TV.net, travelingaround the world and catching up with celebrities like Gucci Mane,Diddy and Rick Ross.

Jerrell StricklandThe 26-year-old from Brooklyn said hed been thinking about win-ning King of the Rock ever since he saw the television commercialfor the event. The key to winning it?

My mindset? My mind was in Alcatraz already, said Strickland.You can do anything you want if you believe.

After playing two years of college ball at TCI in Manhattan, Strick-land went to Bacone College in Muskogee, Okla. Despite falling toHenderson in the nal game in Harlem, Strickland can still makesome noise in Alcatraz, and hes hoping that will help him getnoticed enough to land a job playing pro ball overseas.

Rocco RubinoAfter playing college basketball at New Yorks St. Francis Collegeand Hunter College, the 21-year-old is eying Italy as a destinationfor his professional career to begin. Rubino, who has been coaching

For more information or to find a qualifier near you, visit www.redbullusa.com/kingoftherock.

high school ball the last few years, saw himself advance to the nalfour in New Yorks King of the Rock qualier.

Next up, the smooth operator from Brooklyn is waiting to gainItalian citizenship and a passport.

Im aspiring to play professional, said Rubino. Ive been trying toget my Italian passport to play overseas. As long as you can traceyour bloodline, you can play in Italy as a native.

http://www.redbullusa.com/kingoftherockhttp://pow-tv.net/

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

24/84

24

Q&A

Dime: What was the process like putting this booktogether? Jackie MacMullan: Well, Larry contacted mein 2003 in response to an unauthorized bookthat was being put together. It was actuallysupposed to be a coffee table book highlightingLarry and Magics career in pictures with about30,000 words which I was asked to write.But after beginning the process, we realizedthere was much more to be done with this andluckily the publisher messed up the project, sothankfully it never happened.

Dime: Do you think the HBO special aided in the popularity of the book? JM: At rst I was very uncertain about the HBOspecial. Through an agreement they had ac-cess to the manuscript, which was a bit nerve-racking at rst, but they stuck to their wordand I really enjoyed the show.

Dime: Were there any specic subjects that providedsurprising insight? JM: I was surprised just how deep the hate was on both sides ofthe rivalry. I originally thought it was just an on-court thing, butguys like Cedric Maxwell and Byron Scott had such hatred towardsthe other team. Of course Pat Riley had so much to do with fuelingthe Lakers side of things and Larry on the Celtics side, but Dennis

Johnson, before he was traded to the Celtics, used to work out withMagic in L.A. during the offseason, which stopped immediatelyafter he headed east to Boston.

Dime: Do you think enough of todays players realize the enormous effectthat Bird-Magic and Celtics-Lakers had on essentially saving the NBAand propelling it to an extremely high level? JM: I do, to an extent, and I credit the coaches for that. Doc Rivers,Scott Brooks, Phil Jackson and Doug Collins are all examples ofcoaches that talk about it a lot. Glen Davis told me that Doc gavethe book to the team to read last season. After the Celtics wonthe championship in 2008, Paul Pierce told me he had gotten sotired of watching Bird championship highlights that he had tohave his own.

Dime: At the height of the 1980s, did you realize you were watchingbasketball greatness and history as it was unfolding in front of you? JM: Yes. Bob Ryan reminded me each and every day, as he was a

mentor to me. He would ask, Jackie, do yourealize what we are watching? There will

never be another team like the mid-80s Celt-ics because of both the time period and thedilution of the league. As a young reporter Igot very lucky, as I have not covered a moregracious group of athletes. It was the bestprofessional experience Ive had.

Dime: How would you best describe the evolutionof your relationship with Larry Bird? JM: Larry was always great to me. He pur-posely waited almost an entire season toaddress me by my name, which of course Ilater found out was completely calculated onhis part. I was able to do the Sports Illustrated cover story on him when he was coachingthe Pacers, which led to my rst book withhim, Bird Watching, which he asked me towrite. I was shocked to learn he thought sohighly of me.

Dime: Where would you rank Bird all-time based on his years between1984 and 1988? JM: One of the best to ever play the game. Michael Jordan and BillRussell are at the top, bar none, but Bird is the most motivatedathlete I have ever covered. Losing ate at him more than any personI have ever seen. Every year, Larry and Magic would come backwith something new to their game. It was awesome to witness.

Dime: What was Larrys relationship like with the late Dennis Johnson? JM: Their relationship was almost entirely based on basketball.There were some days at practice or even a game where D.J. wasnot ready to play and Larry would be all over him. But when it camedown to it, D.J. was a great competitor who always knew where tobe and he made clutch plays. Obviously the steal in 1987 againstthe Pistons is the prime example. When Larry stole the ball andwas tiptoeing the baseline, he did not see that it was D.J. cutting tothe basket, he just saw a white ash and he knew it was D.J. That iswhy Larry would refer to him as the best teammate he ever had,because of those instincts. D.J. was also a complete gentlemen, ashe was the rst player who tried to learn anything about me andactually got the team to upgrade my plane ticket to rst class ona road trip while I was having back problems.

Dime: After Larry and Magic shot that Converse commercial in 1985,

INTERVIEW. Eric Newman

When The Game Was Ours

Q&A

From the moment Larry Bird and Magic Johnson took the court on opposing sides, they engaged in a erce physical and psychological battle. But it was this uncommonly competitive relationship that came tosymbolize one of the most compelling rivalries (and friendships) in NBA history. With intimate, y-on-the-wall detail, nationally recognized sports columnist Jackie MacMullan penned an up-close-and-personal

portrait with basketballs most inimitable duo after spending three decades at theBoston Globe . From abasketball history standpoint, When the Game Was Ours is one of the best books I have ever read andmy time speaking with her only added to it.

P H O

T O S

. H O U G H T O N

M I F F L I N

H A R C O U R T

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

25/84

25

Q&Adid anyone know that a friendship was evolving while the rivalry wasstill at its peak? JM: Larry never let anyone know about their friendship followingthe commercial. It was simple with Larry: You are either with meor against me. Magic thought maybe the next season they wouldshare a meal the night before their game and catch-up, but therewas no chance of that happening with Larry.

Dime: Would you agree that Larry reached the top of his game before Magic did? JM: Yes, Larry was the featured player in the Celtics offense im-mediately as a rookie. Magic had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who he hadto get the ball to until he ofcially took over in 1985.

Dime: Were the 1984 NBA Finals between the Celtics and Lakers thebest series you have ever seen? JM: Yes, but 1987 against the Lakers is right up there. The Celt-ics were so banged up as Bill Walton was out, Kevin McHale wasplaying with a broken bone in his foot and Danny Ainge was alsoinjured, but they never gave up and fought the Lakers until the end.

Dime: Did you speak with Larry when he found out Magic was HIV positive in 1991? JM: Yes, he was very upset about the news as you can imagine.Larrys memory was actually affected when he was recalling theexperience regarding whether he played the night he received thenews or the next evening. He played the next night against theHawks and it was the rst time he just didnt want to play basket-

ball. I was actually afraid to approach him that night as he wore

the sadness on his face.

Dime: Would you put the 1986 Celtics up against any team that hasever played? JM: Yes, without any question. Michael Jordan will argue it withthe 1996 Bulls and Magic claims the 1985 Lakers, but the 1986Celtics were the best.

Dime: If there was one Bird game that you could relive again, whatwould it be? JM: Wow, very tough to pick just one. Id have to choose betweenthe Portland home game in 1985 when Larry made a three fromthe left corner behind the backboard to win it at the buzzer, andthe Indiana playoff game in 1991 when Larry hit his face on theoor and then came back in the second half. Truly remarkable.

Dime: Derrick Smith (Nolan Smiths father) played a huge role in that1991 game for the Celtics. Did you get to know him before he tragically

passed away? JM: Derrick Smith was one of the nicest guys I have ever covered.I was devastated when he passed.

Dime: How would you describe todays Celtics-Lakers rivalry comparedto the 80s? JM: Its really good, but not quite the same. There is more familiar-ity with the players now as most are friends. Paul Pierce being fromL.A. and winning for Boston has been very interesting, and thereis genuine dislike between Kobe Bryant and Ray Allen they really

do not like each other. Hopefully they will meet again.

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

26/84

26

Jahii Carson

WORDS. Kevin ZimmermanPHOTO. Steven Maikoski/USA Basketball

WHATS MY NAME?

Call on the guy whose name translated from Swahili means tolead with dignity. At 5-11 and 160 pounds, incoming freshman JahiiCarson isnt very tall, but his brashness makes up for it. Not that hethinks hes better than everyone, but the point guard believes hecan create a winning culture at ASU by playing with a sometimesover-the-top attitude.

I denitely have a condent swagger about me, says Carson. Idont want to say Im cocky or conceited about any of it. I have acondence about myself on the basketball court. I think that some

guys have it, but they dont like to express it.

I think when people say ASU needs that, thats what they mean try to bring out the best of guys, he adds. Thats what I want todo with all my teammates.

On a Mesa High School (Mesa, Ariz.) team that saw his scoring asa necessity, Carson averaged 32.2 points, 3.6 assists and 2.1 stealsper game during his senior year. He was even more spectacular inthe state playoffs, dropping 37 and 38 points his rst two playoffgames both wins before scoring 58 points for the Jackrabbits ina 96-82 loss during the state seminals.

At ASU, the incoming freshman is expected to bring his blind-ing speed, passing skills and mind-blowing dunking ability into aSendek offense thats been hurt by the lack of a pure playmaker.

My speed is my strength, says Carson. I try to get up on defenseand try to make the offensive player uncomfortable. Im just allabout making everyone uncomfortable thats playing against meon the opposing team.

Im an explosive guard who likes to get up and down the oor.

That condence in himself has made Carson do what very few havedone before him. Ask most top-10 point guards in the country livingon the West Coast, and theyll tell you theyre interested in joiningthe Washingtons, Arizonas or UCLAs of the world rather than sniffthe Sun Devils. But forging his own path isnt the unthinkable forCarson, who chose the hometown school over the big-time Pac-12basketball programs.

Before he arrived for workouts in Tempe, Ariz., however, Carsongained valuable basketball lessons in Lithuania and Latvia as theonly high school player on the Under-19 USA Basketball Team ros-ter. It was a humbling experience that has kept his ego in check.

I think that Im going to get something out of every city and tripweve been on so far, Carson said from Riga, Latvia. The physicalcapabilities of the guys is denitely something Ive had to adjustto and also become more true to, to understand that sometimesIm not always going to get as much playing time as I want to see,or Im not going to be able to score as much as I want to score.

But following his European trip, Carsons future has much intrigue. Joining ASU after it went 12-19 last season and nished last in thePac-10, he becomes the second program-dening signee for the SunDevils under Sendek, Oklahoma City Thunder guard James Hardenbeing the rst. Theres trust in his coach, and Carson believes hecan help improve over last seasons record. At the same time, hedoesnt believe going to a traditionally unheralded basketballschool will hurt his chances at making it to the NBA.

I wanted to change, switch and make my own path, he says.

Coach Sendek is a great coach, and I feel like he can help me getto the next level. Hes a very intellectual guy, hes a very smart guy,and I think that he can use my talents the best.

So how far does his balance of swagger without cockiness takehim? Carson has broader goals of making the Pac-12 All-Freshmanteam and upping the Sun Devils win total next season. After that?

It is denitely a challenge for me, says Carson about the pressuresof reshaping a basketball program. I dont look at it like a struggle. I

just look at it as a process that I have to go through with my team.

Swagger and cockiness. eres a ne line between the two. For an Arizona State basketball program com-ing off a down year, head coach Herb Sendek needed someone who could ride that line to winning.

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

27/84

272727

Two years before, the Tebbutts adoptedat birth a daughter, Chelsey, in Portland.Wanting to adopt again brought them toArkansas, where they considered gifts fortheir new son. For parents who admit tonot being involved in athletic things atall growing up themselves, they came upwith quite the prescient idea.

We named him Jordan and thought,

Wouldnt it be funny if we went out andgot him Air Jordans for his rst shoe? saysBrad Tebbutt, a chaplain and teacher. The shoe t.

Hoops has stayed with Jordan Tebbuttseemingly ever since, and leads to hislatest arrival. Tebbutt left small HorizonChristian in a Portland, Ore., suburb aftera dominant three-year span to go acrossthe nation to one of the nations best-known basketball brand names, Oak HillAcademy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., for his

senior season. I know some guys who are there right nowbut it wasnt really like they were working on me to come, saysTebbutt, mentioning AAU teammates and friends Jordan Adams,Damien Wilson and A.J. Hammons. Its always been on the back ofmy mind and now we just kind of shot out to them and they saidwe want you to be part of our fam. How did a combo guard who didnt play national AAU ball until ayear ago claim a spot at his dream school on one of the nationstoughest rosters, following the likes of Oak Hill alumni guards Bran-don Jennings, Ty Lawson and Rajon Rondo? Certainly, hes good.

Ranked in the top 100 of the Class of 2012, Tebbutt is a versatile 6-3,ripped 210-pound player who can play both guard positions andthe wing. As a physically mature slasher his AAU coach calls himan Adonis his frame allows him to defend guards and forwardsalike. Other prep schools offered scholarships, and other Portland-area high schools inquired about a transfer as he averaged morethan 20 points and nine rebounds per game playing nearly everyposition for the Hawks last year. Before winning his second straightClass 3A Player of the Year award and a second straight state title,he dropped 41 at the Les Schwab Invitational in nearby Hillsboro,the same tournament Oak Hill has won four times and will play inagain this December. Hes kind of a quiet kid, hes a quiet competitor, but he denitelycompetes, says Double Pump Elite coach Christian Aurand, whos

directly worked with Tebbutt beginning this summer. With his

frame he gets down that lane and theresnot many guys who are going to get inhis way. Hes on the radar of every Pac-12 school,as coaches came away impressed with hisplay and a humble side that belies his na-tionally touted game with Double Pump. I heard one Pac-12 coach tell me thats the

best that Ive seen him, says Aurand. But as much as he t Oak Hills style, it wasequally important the school t him andhis family. The move represents the nextprogression for the Tebbutts, who guidedtheir son from strictly mid-level regionalteams through his freshman year to thenational scene as a sophomore. All thisdespite knowing nearly nothing about thegame before Jordans childhood, when hewould watch NBA videos in rst grade be-fore mimicking moves in their cul-de-sac.

They believe its curbed basketball burn-out and fostered a breakout.

You always heard about it, but the funny thing is theres so much onthe East Coast, says Tebbutt of the adjustment. Denitely its like,Wow. Because playing in Oregon sometimes no one else is out there,so once I got out to nationals it was alright the rst couple times, butguys started picking my pocket, blocking my shots. In Oregon I wasdunking or would get a oater, I denitely had to change. The schools national hardwood prole was the advertisement thatcaught Jordans eye six years earlier, but its similarities to HorizonChristians ideals were the selling point. They offered him a scholar-ship last year after he visited the school with his mother in August.In the myopic AAU landscape, his father believes taking the long viewwas the right choice. I fell in love with basketball because my kid did, says Brad Teb-butt, who was spending vacation at the familys home while hiswife traveled with Jordan in Indianapolis. But its really easy asa parent to get caught up and make it more important than it is. Now Jordan Tebbutt is preparing for his rst day of school at OakHill after a summer of trying to show his versatility. I like to drive it more than I like to pull-up, says Tebbutt. I knowwhat youre trying to expect. In what is his latest hoops arrival, he believes his game is ready

to take the leap with him.

Jordan Tebbutt

WORDS. Andrew Greif PHOTO. adidas

WHATS MY NAME?

Jordan Tebbutt arrived early, so the rst time Brad and Jennifer Tebbutt saw their adopted son was fourdays after his birth, in a Little Rock, Ark., hospital on an August day.

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

28/84

28

Reggie Johnson

WORDS. Arie Stark PHOTO. JC Ridley

WHATS MY NAME?

The only thing in my head was, knock em down. Im in my hometown,I gotta knock em down.

This is what Johnson told me a day after sinking the winning freethrows with four seconds left against Wake Forest in his hometownof Winston-Salem, N.C. It was special, adds Johnson. I had alot people there for me. People from my church, friends, middle

school teachers who all came out to watch me. And nishing witha career-high 25 points and seven rebounds, leading the Hurricanesto their rst -ever win at Wake For-est, he did not disappoint.

In fact, Johnson himself almostbecame a Demon Deacon if not forunforeseen circumstances. When Iwas a sophomore I wanted to stayhome and be a Deacon as much asanyone, says Johnson. But we wentour separate ways when coach died.

That coach was the late Skip Prosser

who fell to a heart attack the sum-mer before Johnsons senior yearof high school. While Wake Foresthalted their recruitment of Johnsonafter Prosser passed, he managedto nd a home with the Hurricanes.That is, not before leaving a lastingimpression at Winston-Salem Prep.

Leading the Phoenix to the NorthCarolina 1-A state championship,

Johnson finished his senior yearwith beastly averages of 24.1 points,16.1 rebounds and 7.1 blocks pergame. Youd think the Carolina-na-tive came out of the womb clutch-ing a basketball. Not so.

I got into the game late and I onlystarted playing in my sophomoreyear of high school, he says. Inever went to camps or anythinglike that beforehand. The game just came to me I guess.

Despite his strong showing in high school, transitioning to thecollege game wasnt easy for the big man. Though there were otheraspects of his game that needed polishing, there was one glaringproblem that took precedence over everything else his weight.Coming out of high school a heaping 350 pounds, Big Reg as his

teammates called him needed to shrink in order to improve his

mobility and stamina. Mission eventually accomplished. Withinhis rst year at Coral Gables, Reggie managed to shed almost 50pounds with help from coaches, teammates and trainers alike.

It was tough! Coach made me stay after practice, use the ellipticaland treadmill a lot, says Johnson. I couldnt eat after 8 p.m. Ivelimited my sugars. I have no fruit punch and I limit my Gatorade.

Im still learning what not to eat sometimes. I love chicken nug-gets and Hot Pockets, so I still gotta work at it. Some of the guys

on the team help me out too, butthey can eat all that junk food andnot gain weight.

After redshirting his rst year at Mi-ami, Johnson began to get minutesbacking senior star Dwayne Collinsthe following season. With a highlyefcient game, a soft touch at theline and a special prociency on theoffensive glass, it was only a matterof time before Reggie busted out.

Johnson exhibi ted th is st rongplay as a sophomore, where hisminutes and almost every othermajor statistical category wouldsee a huge boost from the previousyear now as starting center. On theseason, he averaged 11.9 points, 9.6rebounds and 1.3 blocks per gamewhile shooting 59.1 percent fromthe oor, helping the Canes reachthe quarternals of the 2011 ACCTournament and NIT, while receiv-ing an All-ACC Honorable Mentionin the process. Johnson also tallieda career-high 20 rebounds againstFAU in the rst round of the NIT the rst 20-rebound game for aMiami player in 26 years.

Just as everything seemed to befalling into place for the big man

even going so far as irting with the idea of entering the 2011NBA Draft Johnson suffered a major setback in the form of a tornmeniscus during a pickup game this offseason and will miss veto six months.

Despite the hardships he has encountered in his young career, it isbecoming more and more apparent that Big Reg will get through

it all and wont let anything derail his plus-sized dreams.

Size? Check. Soft touch? Check. Footwork honed by the practice of ballet? Check. Reggie Johnson isnt yourtypical college center and nor is he trying to be. As a relative latecomer to the game of basketball, the 6-10, 305-pound Miami Hurricane has overcome, and continues to overcome, all hurdles thrown in his way.But its the intangible aspects of his game and character that will push the rising junior to his ultimate goal.

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

29/84

292929

Brandon Smith

WORDS. Scott Horlbeck PHOTO. Kelley Cox

WHATS MY NAME?

This year, Im a lot more of a leadersince the seniors graduated, saysSmith. Im kind of stepping intothat role and at the same timetrying to work the hardest out ofeverybody. Im having to push theguys to a whole other level, and ifIm going to push them, Ive got to

be above the standard.

Smith realizes that to be great, youhave to be patient. From his fresh-man to sophomore year, he sawvast improvements in almost ev-ery prominent statistical category.Much of his success he credits toexperience, getting acclimated withthe system and good old-fashionedcondence.

I think as I grew, my condencegrew, and my percentages and ef-ciencies and all that kind of im-proved along with it, says Smith.I mean, by the end of the season, Ishot like 42 percent from the three-point line, 40 percent from the eldand was able to hit some big shots.

Though Smith averaged only 6.4points and 3.9 assists per game last season, it was the other endof the oor where he truly excelled. On Jan. 16 against WashingtonState, this was made clear.

Deadlocked at 76 heading into overtime, Cals chances looked grim.In addition to blowing a 10-point lead in the second half, the Bearshad no answer for Klay Thompson, who scorched Cal in the rst40 minutes of play (36 points) and had no reservations of stoppingin OT. These plans, however, came to a screeching halt once Smithwas assigned the sharpshooter from Pullman.

Not only did the future lottery pick go scoreless in the supple-mentary period, he went shot-less. Thompsons assist with twominutes left was his only offensive statistic a notion that speaksvolumes to Smith and his defense. Cal went on to win the game88-81, outscoring the Cougars 14-7 in overtime.

Smith played 44 of the 45 minutes in that game, scoring nine points,dishing out a career-high nine assists and grabbing a career-highve boards one of his best performances of the year.

But hes not satised. For the 2011-12 season, Smith has set sev-

eral goals for himself, two of whichinclude being named First TeamAll-Pac-12, along with leading theGolden Bears back to the NCAATournament. With that said, Smithis optimistic about next years squadand feels the pieces are in place tomake another run in March.

You know what, I think well nishtop three in the Pac-12, says Smith.A lot of teams lost some major play-ers. I mean, last year we were rightthere in the thick of it. I think wehave a lot higher expectations forourselves than the media do. Wedont necessarily have the greatesttalent, we dont have the greatestathleticism, but weve got a lot ofheart and a lot of guts.

In regards to the NCAA Tournament,

nothing is more important than aquality head coach, and Smith feelsthe Golden Bears have a good onein Mike Montgomery.

I love that hes a teacher of thegame, says Smith. He knows thegame, the ins and outs, the Xs and

Os hes a great leader, a great leader. Hes the type of leader thatyou want to learn from, you want to gain from. I love everythingthat he brings to the table as far as coaching and philosophy.

And that feeling is mutual. After the transfer of Gary Franklin atthe beginning of last season, Coach Montgomery went on recordsaying he often turned to Smith in times of turmoil, advising theyoung point guard who only played 174 minutes his freshmanyear to run the club. Smith carries with him an effortless poiseand natural tranquility, imperative characteristics when handlingsuch immense responsibility. In other words, hes the perfect manfor the job.

Lucky for Smith, his acts havent gone unnoticed. A Bay Area na-tive, he lives not far from Berkeley, making it easy for his familyto attend almost every one of his games.

Playing at home, I love it, says Smith. That was one of the majordeciding factors for me. My family is just so important to me family over basketball, school, all that. Just seeing them be able tomake pretty much every home game, and at least one of my family

members at every road game, is really special.

Brandon Smith embodies the mentality of a true leader a seless oor general who wants nothing more thanwhats best for his team. And when talking to the 5-11, 185-pound rising junior, you cant help but notice howmuch he cares. He cares for his coaches, he cares for his teammates, and most importantly, he cares about winning.

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

30/84

303030

Sportscaster U

SNEAKER SPOT

WORDS. Rachel Marcus PHOTOS. John Dowling

BUSINESS

Every summer since 2008, Syracuse UniversitysS.I. Newhouse School of Public Communicationshas hosted a different kind of student at Sports-caster U NBA players. The course is a career-development program in conjunction with theNational Basketball Players Association.

So this is what some NBA players are doing over

the summer. When theres not much going on anda lockout to top it off, they nd solace in preparingfor life after basketball. Every day brings a dif-ferent adventure for the players. One day theyllanchor. Another day theyll do stand-ups, anothertheyll work from the basketball court. From radioto television, they cover it all.

It was never the same, says Earl Boykins, a 12-year NBA veteran who participated in June. Wenever did the same thing twice. Basically it waslike college. Youre a student.

The programs growth over the years resulted in both a June and

July session this past summer. Participants included Vince Carterin June and Jason Terry in July.

The course is taught by adjunct Syracuse professors Dave Ryanand Matt Park. For $5,700, NBA players can participate. Most inthe program are still active, but for program alums who have sinceretired, such as Malik Rose and Eric Snow, theyve found their nichein the broadcast world.

The success rate of the guys so far as time has gone on has beengood, says Park. I think as it goes on and word gets around theleague that its a pretty cool program and its worth the playersmoney, we get more players and to a degree maybe higher proleplayers that are interested in it.

BREVIN KNIGHT KNEW IT. The minute he walked out, he just knew.Broadcasting was for him.

I let Dave and Matt know, says Knight, that they would be hear-ing me or seeing me some way for something broadcast-wise.

Knight is a success story. He participated in Sportscaster U in 2009,right after his NBA career had ended. And just last season he wasalready doing commentary for the Grizzlies.

He uses everything that he learned in the program. First lesson,he says, is preparation time. Second? Dont be afraid to ask ques-tions. You have to get a feel for everything, he says, because its a

brand-new eld nd your niche and roll from there.

Knight seems to have taken the advice to heart. Just one year after

taking part in the course he had a broadcasting job. He had done someNBA TV in the past, but was still a relative newcomer in the eld.

To be able to do a job that a lot of people spend a lifetime trying toget in just two years being removed is just a blessing, says Knight.

Knight agrees with Boykins in that the course was like school.Except he says it was a step up from school because it was sospecied. And intense. An added day or two would have been nice,he says, but the course still covered nearly every aspect of thebroadcast world. The Game Plan, was, in other words, a non-stop,break-only-for-food kind of course.

I knew that I better get my rest at night, says Knight, becausewe were gonna be in a crash course, going at 100 mph when wewere there and thats exactly what it was.

We get kind of accustomed to just playing basketball and wekind of know what everybody does. And so you may not study asmuch. Being on this side of it, you gotta know your ins and outsand know your stuff cause you gotta talk on the y and you dontwant to be stuttering.

And for the most part, the guys put in the work and effort neededfor such a short, yet packed course.

Any notion that, oh these guys are in the NBA and theyre lazy andthey wont work, thats ridiculous, says Park. If you get to the levelthat they have as a player, the amount of time that you spend in

the gym, theyve been coached and theyve worked hard so theyre

e Game Plan starts with travel and a check-in at the hotel. ose are the easy parts of the whole sched-ule and process. But once everyone settles in, the crash course can really begin. ats when the rest of theplan is put into motion.

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

31/84

31

used to that. And when they come here they give us their best.

Sportscaster U doesnt hand players post-playing career jobs, butit does set them up with the knowledge and tools to pursue abroadcasting career when their time in the NBA ends. Everyonehas survived the Game Plan, and for most its quite the experi-ence. One that places them ahead of their peers when it comes tobroadcast knowledge.

It was an eye-opening experience, says Knight. Nothing but apositive experience.

EARL BOYKINS WAS OUT of his comfort zone. He was doing some-thing different from basketball, something unfamiliar.

Yeah, I was nervous the rst time, says Boykins of his rst broad-cast experience. Whenever you do anything new youre always alittle nervous.

The players make their livings and names on the court. And toestablish themselves off of it, well, it takes some time for most.

None of us like to fail, says RichRinaldi, NBPA career counselor. Butthe rst day theres a lot of nerveson the part of all the guys, no matterwhich one. Its like, Oh my God, thelights are on and I gotta deliver now.

Virtually every player comes intothe program open to learning. Mostcome in thinking that they want totalk about sports, that theyre bas-ketball experts. But they learn thatthe broadcast world is more than

just jabbering about hoops.

They think that when it comestime to talk about it, somebody putsa microphone in their face, puts theswitch on, and they just go, saysPark. When they leave, they havea much deeper understanding of allthe work that goes into it.

Still, most players wont be pros when the program is over. Notafter just a few days.

We dont pretend that theyre going from zero to Emmy Awardin three days, adds Park. All we promise is that were going towork their butt off, theyre gonna get a little taste of everythingand theyre gonna leave wanting more. And thats what happens.

Some, like 2009 participant Shaquille ONeal, are naturals. For others,it takes time. Each player is different. Their backgrounds, educationlevels and interests inuence how well players pick up the tricks andtrades of broadcasting.

Weve had a couple guys who were trying hard but it was prettyevident that it wasnt their thing, says Park. And weve had acouple of others that have been absolutely natural and have a giftof gab and a smile and personality, and know the game.

For Boykins, success is all about putting the time in. Like anything

else, he says, broadcasting is a matter of putting in the work. And

now, after going through the program, Boykins will consider broad-casting as an option when his career is over.

Its something hes interested in. Thats why he participated, after all.But now he knows more than what he used to watch on television.

I think its a great opportunity, says Boykins. I think the program isinvaluable to anyone whos serious about pursuing it as a profession.

The program may take hard work and dedication, but not everymoment during the four-day period has a business-like approach.

Boykins says he got the chance to know the guys in his class offthe court, away from their usual competitive nature present duringgames. To get to know their personalities, he says, was interes ting.Knight says that the opportunity to get to know the other playersand talk for more than two minutes in a learning situation wasalmost like a fraternity outing.

Carter knew it would be intense, but being there with other playersmade it easier.

We all felt the same coming in, says Carter. How will I do on-camera? What if I mess up some-ones name? But we all help eachother. Its not a competition.

FOR THE LAST 11 YEARS, Rinaldihas served as a career counselorfor the NBPA. He gets players on acomfort level and answers career-related questions. Hes a group liai-son between the players and, in thiscase, instructors for Sportscaster U.

Rinaldi has seen 27 players gothrough the program. He helps pre-pare them for the transition fromlife as a player to life in, as he putsit, the real world.

For them to get there, theyre veryserious about their life after basket-ball, says Rinaldi. Where theres a

will theres a way, and these guys wanna do it and theyre gonnaget out there and nd themselves a gig.

When Shaq couldnt make the program with the set dates in 2009,they tailored the program for him. Hes the biggest name to gracethe broadcast sets at Newhouse since the courses inception.

Rinaldi says he got involved with Sportscaster U four years ago.Before that, it was simply a program that Park and his co-workersat Newhouse had thought of but hadnt been put in play. Thatswhen Rinaldi and the NBPA stepped in.

Once they came in a few years ago, says Park, we got it rollingand ne-tuned it over time to where were pretty proud of it now.

That point now is where the program currently stands. Still asuccess, still bringing in NBA guys. Rinaldi helps oversee it, whilePark and company teach it. Both continue to make a difference.

They all admit when they leave, says Rinaldi, that theyll never

look at television again the way they looked at it before.

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

32/84

32

ShoeZeum

SNEAKER SPOT

WORDS & PHOTOS. Jarrod Hale

BUSINESS

According to Geller, whos been collecting kickssince 1999, its more about the stories and in-spiration behind the 2,000 pairs in his privatecollection than it is the actual merch. Housedin a 9,000 sq. ft. warehouse in San Diego, Gellerexplains, Every corner, nook and cranny inthe whole place is jam packed with Nikes and

nostalgic memories. But thats just the begin-ning when it comes to constructing possibly thegreatest single collection in sneakerhead history.

Dime: What got you started collecting shoes andwhats been your motivation behind arguably the

greatest shoe collection of all time? Jordan Geller: I have loved Nike shoes foras long as I can remember, and I have beencollecting them for more than 12 years. A fewyears ago, I made the decision to build the mostcomprehensive collection of Nike shoes in theworld. I built the collection so that I could sharemy love and passion for Nikes with others. Ialso wanted to teach people about Nikes andI thought the best way to do that would be tobuild the ultimate Nike classroom.

Dime: Buying and selling the amount of shoes you have, how were you able to keep up with thenumber of orders you were taking? JG: I started my business with $300 and builtit from the ground up. At my peak, I was sell-ing 200 pairs per day, seven days a week. Thesystems and processes that I built to deal withthe volume of orders grew very organically. I amvery organized and extremely detail oriented,and the business that I created was, and stillis, a well-oiled machine.

Dime: Whats your all-time favorite pair of kicks? JG: My 1973 Pre Montreal Track Spikes are my favorites. They weremade for Steve Prefontaine to wear in the 1976 Montreal Olympics,but he tragically passed away and never got to wear them in theGames. I bought these shoes for $3383 on eBay.

Dime: What about the ShoeZeum are you most proud of? JG: I am proud of the ShoeZeum because it is a culmination ofmy life through Nike shoes. The shoes are laid out in a way thattells my personal story, as well as the story of Nike. I am proud totell my story and to teach about Nike. I love inspiring people thatcome and visit me. It brings me great pleasure to bring joy and

happiness to sneakerheads and collectors everywhere.

Dime: Why only collect Nikes and Jordans? JG: Plain and simple: Because they are the best. (laughs) My loveof Nike stems from the fact that my dad ran 10 marathons in Nikewafes and Air Maxes when I was a kid. Plus my name is JordanMichael Geller. For these reasons, it would be an absolute travestyif I supported any other brand.

Dime: Whats the next step for the collection and its curator? JG: The ShoeZeum is still a live and well in San Diego. I am cur-rently exploring options to move it to L.A., Vegas, NYC, and abroad.Right now, the ShoeZeum is housed in a warehouse right next tothe Adult Depot. It is in an industrial part of town and there isvery minimal parking. Needless to say, the location is not ideal

for the collection.

e pictures alone dont do it justice. As a member of the sneaker industry, Ive been fortunate enough to besurrounded by sneakers every day, but as I took a private tour of the breathtaking and sprawling warehousethat is Jordan Gellers ShoeZeum this past July, I could barely say anything. I did, however, stop partwaythrough to pull out my phone and text a few close friends: I hope this is what heaven looks like when I die.

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

33/84

33

Dime: Do you remember the exact moment that you realized you wereon to something special with your quest to build the Field of Dreams

for sneakerheads? JG: I knew that I was onto something even before I built the place.I had a vision of a place that would bring people back to their child-hoods. My vision was to make a giant art project, using Nikes as mypaint and my warehouse as my canvas. I thought all along, If youbuild it, they will come. When Mark Parker, Tinker Hateld, SandyBodecker, Nelson Farris, Eric Sprunk, Rick Shannon, and MichaelLeming visited me on Nikes private jet, I accomplished my goal.In an interview, Hateld said he cant imagine any collector havingas much recall as me or having done that amount of research inthe rst place. I think he said it best: You just single-handedly

brought back the best memories Ive ever had in my life.

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

34/84

34

Austin City LimitsWords. Lucas Shapiro | Photo. adidas

Etop Udo-Ema, Austins AAU coachwith the Compton Magic, still recallsa time when he saw the soon-to-besuperstar. At the time, Isaiah was onlyin middle school and stood at 6-3. The

next year, Udo-Ema ran into him againand he was standing at 6-10.

Youve got to realize, this kid has se-rious genes, says Udo-Ema. His dad,Alex Austin, is 6-8 and played at Arizo-na State and holds many records there.He played a little bit in the NBA andoverseas. His grandfather, who recentlypassed away, was 6-11 and 320 pounds.His uncle is Ike Austin, who played along career in the NBA, and is 6-11 and300 pounds. Theyve got crazy genes inthe Austin family.

Before the growth spurt, Austin was aguard. After the growth spurt, he hasstill retained his guard skills, but aver-aged 14 points, nine rebounds and sixblocks per game leading the Lions toa TAPPS Class 4A title.

His skill set is ridiculous, adds Udo-Ema. I dont think there hasever been a guy with that kind of size and those kind of skills. Icant tell you how many times Ive seen him dribble the ball downthe court and make little guards fall. You can see those clips onYouTube; theyre real.

Forget genetics, Austin gives his props to a higher power.

Ive got to thank God for this talent, says Austin. I work on mycoordination a lot, but mainly being this tall and this coordinatedwas something that was given to me.

No matter how many ankles he breaks or dunks he pulls off, Austinhas managed to keep his head on his shoulders. He puts familyrst, which explains why he chose to commit to Baylor Universityin Waco, Texas its 45 minutes away from his mothers house.

My family loves to see me play, says Austin, so anytime I step intothe game, I put my heart and soul into it for my family.

And its his family that will be a key factor in him succeeding. His

father and uncle have exposed him to the horror stories of big-

time high school basketball players whotried to make a run to the League butcame up short something that manyother players who grow up on the highschool basketball scene are not fortu-

nate enough to hear. Just in case, Austinhas even thought of a Plan B if thingsdont work out in basketball.

I would become someones nancialadvisor if I didnt have basketball, hesays. Im good with numbers.

Speaking of numbers, Austin wasputting up double-doubles and triple-doubles nearly every week last season,while also continuing to add muscle tohis frame. To date, some of the com-plaints about his game have been hislack of ability to obtain position anddefend in the post.

My strength, says Austin, thats beenthe main knock on my game. Some-times Ill be able to hold a defender inthe post, but thats why I also work onoperating on the wing.

Some have said that Austins rise to fame is similar to that offormer No. 2 pick Tyson Chandler. They are, after all, both 7-footersfrom west of the Mississippi with some incredible athletic ability.Udo-Ema, however, thinks otherwise.

The crazy thing about Tyson was that he was very athletic andcoordinated, says Udo-Ema. He was seven feet tall coming intohigh school. He was huge and athletic. People knew he was goingto be so good since he was so coordinated at a young age. (Isaiahand Tyson) are very, very different players. Tyson was not skilled.Tyson still isnt skilled. Hes not a shooter, hes an athletic shotblocker. Isaiah Austin is an athletic shot blocker who is also a skillguy, which is ridiculous.

While hes not quite on Chandlers level yet, Austin is not con-cerned. His main focus for now is improving his game, keepinggood grades in school and recruiting good players like fellowTexas native L.J. Rose to come play with him at Baylor. Whileeveryone watching him right now cannot wait for his future, itis good to see that there is one player out there who has not yet

bought into his own hype.

With big men nowadays, you are either a Dwight Howard (someone who focuses on blocking shots and grabbing rebounds) or an Andrea Bargnani (someone who can step outside to shoot and present mismatchissues on offense). It is rare that you can nd a mix between these two. at is why Isaiah Austin, a 7-foot,

200-pound rising senior at Grace Preparatory Academy (Arlington, Texas) could become a special player.

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

35/84

35

http://www.highschoolhoop.com/

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

36/84

36

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

37/84

-SCOUTED

W ell

WORDS.

JACK JENSEN

PHOTOS.

BRANDON SHOWERS

STYLING.

LYNDZI TRANG

HAIR/MAKEUP.

JULIA PAPWORTH

As with any potential story that comesacross the ofce and e-mail channels ofthe magazine, we look for its particularintrigue for what it is and what it couldbecome. The uniqueness of the subjectis paramount, for obvious reasons.So when we came across the journey of BONNIE JILL LAFLIN,the NBAs rst and only female scout,we were understandably wowed. >>>

37

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

38/84

38

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

39/84

39

IN H E R C A R E E R , L A F L I N ,35, has gone from N BA/NFLcheerleader to L.A. Lakers scout to D-League Assis-tant GM to charity creator, future book author andradio host. Shes seized seemingly every opportunitythat the City of Angels, and sports world, has to offer.And as she looks forward to the next plot point in herprofessional path, Lain has left us wondering what

avenue cant she make an impact on.

When you go through the necessary channels to connect with Laf-lin, you immediately realize that she is no ordinary basketball scout.There are publicists, restricted phone numbers and a Twitter fol-lowing of around 17,000 deep. Its partly due to her extensive reachacross media platforms, but also because, to our knowledge, theresnever been another member of the profession whos been sluggedinto a Maxim Hot-100 list before. Scouting just went Hollywood.

As a scout with the Lakers where Lain arrived via working insports broadcasting and after a few years removed from dancingas a cheerleader for the Golden State Warriors, San Francisco 49ersand Dallas Cowboys Lain was challenged to comb through thetalent pool of the Big 12 and Pac-10 conferences. After becomingan integral piece of the Lakers franchise, for which she holds veNBA championship rings, she was able to move over to L.A.s D-

League afliate, the D-Fenders, as their Assistant GM. Currently, theNorthern California native is in discussions to bolster her portfolioeven deeper into athletics, although as of yet, its something shecannot comment on.

But what further separates Lain is her never-ending motor tokeep going and keep pushing the boundaries of her public reach.Shes walked the red carpet at the ESPYs, models for commercial

shoots, and if she isnt responding to almost every direct tweet inher Twitter timeline, it sure looks like it. Away from the spotlight,Lains an advocate for both animal rights and our nations armedservices having traveled overseas for an astonishing 18 tourswith the military as of this August. In dipping her hand in all ofthese respective buckets, shes essentially built a brand, and astandard, of silencing any doubters that may lie in her wake andshes doing it her way.

A lot of people think that if youre female or come from the path thatI came from, that you cant be attractive and have brains, she says.And Im here to show you that you can. I like to prove people wrong.

Consider yourself proven.

DIME: What initially made you want to be a scout?BONNIE-JILL LAFLIN: The long-term goal was for me to own andrun my own team. So, what better place to start than to scoutand to know the (dynamics) of running a team. Ive always lovedbasketball and it was just something that I had felt was somethingIve always wanted to do. To be able to scout and to be able to scoutthe Pac-10 and Big 12 was just like a dream come true.

DIME: So what did your typical day-to-day look like?BJL: With scouting, youre on the road at all different games and,obviously, there are tons of tournaments. Theres everything fromgoing to oh gosh, there are so many tournaments, I cant even tellyou how many we had the Portsmouth (Invitational) that wed goto, then wed go to the NBA pre-draft camp. People think its justduring the season, but its year-round scouting.

I like to prove peopleWRONG.

8/10/2019 DIME-NO65 2011

40/84

40

DIME: When looking at players, what are the skills and intan-gibles you look for?BJL: When Phil Jackson was there, wed know what he likes. So,everything from someone having a high basketball IQ and beingable to run that triangle offense on top. A smart player, a big guard we like big guards so, youre always looking for what everyoneelse is looking for: a diamond in the rough.

DIME: Did you nd any of those diamond-in-the-rough guys?BJL: Jordan Farmar was one of my guys. Obviously, I wish (theLakers) still had him; it would have been nice to have him this lastseason. As you can tell, we need a fast guard.

DIME: You mentioned working wi th Phil any memorable warstories?BJL: Its funny, because as scouts, we dont really work with Phil.I reported to Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss, and our assistant GM,Ron Lester. So, you dont have too much interaction with the coach,its more of your front ofce people.

DIME: What was the organization like from the inside?BJL: The Lakers organization is like a big family. Its pretty neat tobe with that organization, and the Buss family is so great. I mean,everyone Ive worked with has just been amazing, and if youvebeen with the team as long as I have, you get to know everyone.

DIME: But you grew up in the Bay Area, so you werent inherentlya Lakers fan, right?BJL: A fun fact is that I was actually a cheerleader for the Warriors.So, I actually grew up more of a Warriors fan, but Ive always lovedthe Lakers. Especially during the Showtime years, and Ive alwayshad so much respect for Magic [Johnson]. Even my dog, I named mydog Wilt Chamberlain, so Ive always respected a lot of the Lakersgrowing up. And obviously once you work for a team with all thatlegacy and championships, you cant help but become a fan.

D I M E : How were you able to make the transition from cheer-leader to behind the scenes in the front ofce?BJL: Yeah, I mean a lot of people think I jumped right from beinga cheerleader into the front ofce, which is not the case. I was acheerleader who started off really young I started cheering inthe NBA at 17 and then went off to the (San Francisco) 49ers, andthen ended up cheering for the Dallas Cowboys. Then, from there,I got my broadcast journalism degree (at the University of Texas)and went off to start doing sports broadcasting for many years andthen went on to the (Lakers) front ofce.

DIME: And youve got a few championship rings to show foreverything so far.BJL: Yeah, I actually have ve. I have ve (NBA) championship ringsand I also have a Super Bowl ring.

DIME: You wear that bling out to the club though, dont you?BJL: (laughs) For the games, Ill wear my rings and for specialevents, I will. But I dont wear them all the time. Its funny howwhen you wear them, its denitely a conversation piece.

DIME: Beyond the