With summer here and the new streetball season in full effect Streetballin.net caught up with The Professor as he prepares himself for the 2007 And1 mixtape tour.
BT. First up I want to thank you for taking some time out to answer a few question. I know your a busy man with the tour coming up so we appreciate you stopping by. United Streets of America, thats the theme for this years tour.How have you prepared yourself in the off season knowing you’ll be playing outdoors and touring less city’s?.Professor. Knowing that all the games this year are going to be outside, i have taken it upon myself to work out my legs way harder than usual because i know that playing on the concrete is much more brutal on your body over time, especially your legs. So i run several miles a day along with sprints. But they are not average workouts! ill be in the gym either early morning or late night, whenever i can make it and be in there until the workout is complete which can be up to 3 hrs sometime. but in that 3 hrs theres hardly any breaks or bullshittin. I’m on a mission to do what i got to do.
BT. Apart from the off season training you’ve been busy with other projects. I hear you’ve been working on two movies that are yet to be released. Can you tell us a little about them and when we can expect to see them?.
Professor. Yeah the two other projects that ive been working on this year are two movies. One is a comedy starring Will Ferrell, Andre 300, and Woody Harrilson about the 1970′s ABA. My role in the movie is minimal, i am on the rival team. I play agains will, woody, and andre in the final game of the movie, the San Antonio Spurs vs the Flint Michigan Tropics. I play for the spurs. In the movie that i’m currently filming, Ball Don’t Lie, I have the lead role and play a 17 year old kid who plays basketball and is striving to overcome major hurdles in life in order to play college basketball. Its a phenomenal script and im having the time of my life working everyday filming it. Both movies are set to be released mid 2008.
BT. Now that half of last years And1 team has split and branched off to form Ball4real how do you think that has effected the dynamics of the team?
Professor. It hasn’t affected the dynamics of the team at all. We still have half the same team that has been down for the past few years and have gotten 6 new players that bring more to the table. We have a complete team from 1 to 12 and are upgraded. Not sure exactly what you mean by dynamics but we are just as good, if not more, entertainment and skill wise. Definitly are younger in age as well but not lacking experience in streetball
BT. By dynamics I mean the make up of the team is a little different then last year. What I want to know is how the team is gelling together having the new players come in.?
Professor. The team is gelling more so then ever before. Honestly, I don’t think we’ve ever had a group of guys on the same page this much ever.
BT. I know every year you come with new tricks and we saw you throw one down at the Run ‘n Shoot a few years back. What can we expect from the Professor this season?
Professor. This upcoming season you can expect to see my game upgraded as usual with a few new tricks as well as a better jump shot. My whole approach to the game is different now as i grow and expirience more of the game and get stronger. Plus now i work out harder than i ever have so i can’t even explain how excited i am to get out there and perform.
BT. How do you think your roll on the team has changed now that most of the O.G’s have gone?
Professor. I think now that most of the O.G.’s have gone I have been put into more of a leading role position no question. Besides Hot Sauce and Escalade Ive been here the longest and out of everyone on the team ive been on the most tours. I haven’t missed 1 since 2003 domestically or internationally. As far as on the court i like it a lot. I get way more touches and more opportunity to show what i can do. Its been great the past few years but im excited to move foward and pave my own path.
BT. Which stop off are you looking forward to the most this year
Professor. I generally look foward to all of the stops equally because i feel its the same every city we go as far as the game goes. Its just another chance for me to get to do what i love in front of people and entertain by showing off skills. As far as hanging out i have my favorites…..I like Miami, Las Vegas and New York. This year im looking foward to LA a lot though because ive met some great people out here and they are looking foward to coming to the game august 25th.
BT. What do you do in your spear time when your not either playing or in the media spotlight?
Professor. I just like to go back to Oregon and kick it with family and friends. Im pretty regular at home i like to go to the movies, play video games, go shopping and chill. I rarely have time to do these activities especially this year, its been crazy busy! But that is a good thing. I get a little break to go home july 4th weekend and im really looking foward to that.
These are a few questions from some of the forum members
B-X. Two years ago when you and a small group of And1 players traveled to Vancouver for an exhibition game which you ended up sitting it out, what was the reason for that?
Professor. The reason I sat out that game was because under contract in 2004 or 2005, whenever that game took place, I was only allowed to play in And1 sanctioned events unlike other players on my team such as Escalade and Go get it who played in that game. Don’t for a second think it was because i didn’t want to. Even though that game was a little weak. I ended up squaring up against everyone who played in that game since then so it didn’t matter much. The only reason i was in the building is because the promoter paid me just for the appearance.
B-X. Do you have plans to return to the IBL next year?
Professor. As of now I’m not sure what i will do this upcoming basketball season. I think they are going to have a new CBA franchise in Atlanta that has showed interest so im looking into that. As far as touring we will be heavy this winter so that may be tough but well see. As for plans on returning to the IBL, maybe if nothing else is crackin at the time. I love playing in Salem and i love the people in charge of the franchise.
qtkid21 Will you be doing another Asia-Pacific Tour this year? (specifically here in Manila Philippines)?
Professor. We are definitly doing another asian-pacific tour this year. Don’t know if well be heading back to the phillippines though. Its possible, but i think as of now all we have planned is China, Japan, Australia and maybe Korea. Dates have not been confirmed.
jkbjoe – How do you work on your Jump Shot and what do you do to increase your range
Professor. As far as working on my jump shot i try to get as many shots up as i can when im in the gym. I usually do a workout with myself making a certain amount from the seven spots around the arc or from 15 or I will practice off the dribble and do fullcourt workouts. One thing that has always helped increase my range is lifting weights. But its all in the legs! Your jumpshot is soo much of your leg use and i think players often sleep on that.
jkbjoe – Do you still keep in contact with Roberto Yong?
Professor. I havent spoken to Roberto since 2004. I don’t have any beef with him though, as some people have rumored. I guess we had lost touch because we lost each other’s number. I didn’t try to reachout to him because i had heard that he got a tatoo of a graveyard that had some of my teammates names on the gravestones. I thought that was a little too much and didn’t think the survivor contest should be taken that serious. I think roberto thought that guys on the And1 team were hating on him and thats the reason he always got voted off the show eventually. When in reality, the players werent even the ones in charge of picking the players to advance, it was up to our coach steve burt and opposing coach mike ellis. The players didn’t even care hardly! But i guess he thought they were hating so he went ahead and put dudes names on gravestones on his arm as to say those were the players he killed on the court. Kinda silly too me, but whatever ya know.
BT. Any last words for the people out there?
Professor. Yeah as for the people on the message boards sayin negative things about my game in coney island, that really confuses me. They sayin i didn’t have a good game but i don’t see why it was bad in any way. First off, i was 5 for 8 from the field, I played solid defense nobody really took me or even scored on me for that matter, I had no turnovers, I hit the only 3 of the game, and outplayed the other guards on the opposing team. Them the dudes that really should be talked negatively about. World Premier shot 3 or 4 airballs from 3point range, no lie! And crossing guard had about 2 pts the whole game! with at least 7 or more turnovers! and yall talk about my game being bad???? Im officially convinced the message boards are people who don’t really know the game. And if they attended the game in coney island, they didn’t watch close…Professor
AND 1 FOR LIFE
    |
