Entertainer's Basketball Classic @ Rucker Park
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Entertainer's Basketball Classic at Rucker Park Official MySpace!!
Male
29 years old
NEW YORK, New York
United States
Last Login: 10/21/2008
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| Status: | Single | | Zodiac Sign: | Gemini |
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Entertainer's Basketball Classic
Harlem, New York US
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6/1980 - Present
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Entertainer's Basketball Classic @ Rucker Park's Latest Blog Entry
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2007 EBC Playoff Schedule
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Fan Appreciation Concert and Games - Thurs. Aug 2, 2007!
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2K Sports Presents the First-Ever Nighttime, Outdoor Motion Capture Shoot for NBA®2K8 - 7/25/07
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Ladies and Gents ... Welcome to the EBC
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2007 Teams and Week One Schedule Released!!
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Entertainer's Basketball Classic @ Rucker Park's Blurbs |
About me:
VH1 and the Entertainer’s Basketball Classic present our 2nd annual “Hip Hop Honors Celebrity Hoops” exhibition, which will take place at the Brooklyn campus of Long Island University on Sunday, October 7 at 3PM.
Players for this year’s “Ol’ Skool vs. New School” game include Common, Matthew Knowles, Fatman Scoop, M.I.M.S, Lyfe Jennings, D.J. Clue, Nuttin’ But Stringz, Luv Bug Starski, Grand Master Caz, LA Sunshine, CL Smooth, Positive K, Chubb Rock, Dana Dane, Mike C, Steve D., Saigon, D.J. Unk and more. Celebrity coaches include Grandmaster Melle Mel, Tyrone Williams, and HOT 97’s EBRO. Special guests in attendance will be Salt N’ Pepa, Irv Gotti, Tiffany Pollard (aka Ms. New York) and Melyssa Ford as celebrity MC. Halftime performance by Swizz Beats, with the national anthem to be rendered by Chrisette Michelle. The game is presented by VH1, EBC, Long Island University and HOT 97 with proceeds to benefit the Madison Square Boys and Girls Club. Tickets will be on sale beginning Wednesday, September 12. The price is $10 for general admission and available through Ticketmaster at 212-307-7171 or at Ticketmaster.com. 
Harlem, New York, Summer 1980. A rapper by the name of Greg G and his group The Disco Four played a game of basketball against The Crash Crew at Mt. Morris Park on 122nd St and Madison Avenue, to the tunes of Mr. Magic. An audience of over 1,000 people who jammed into the park to see two well-known rap groups make history. Gregory Marius was Greg G, and that game was the first ever Entertainer’s Basketball Classic, (EBC). Upon entering the court for what would become the first of many EBC games, he was shocked to see some of the top rap groups of the era in the stands such as The Sugar Hill Gang, Cold Crush Brothers, and Treacherous 3. It became evident that the athleticism of basketball combined with the flare and style of Hip Hop sparked an interest in individuals of all ages and could prove to be successful endeavor.
During the first years of the EBC, the teams were comprised mostly of rap groups like the Disco Four and nightclubs such as The Rooftop and Disco Fever. Greg, with the help of his Disco Four buddies, organized eight teams. As the EBC approached its third season, it became evident that the company was in need of sponsorships. Marius turned to an employee of The Athlete’s Foot, a new sports chain, who was working with a representative of new sneaker company called Brooks. Brooks not only agreed to sponsor one event, the EBC All Star Game, but as an extra bonus would have their spokesperson attend the game. Their spokesperson at the time was none other than Dominique Wilkins, the 1985 NBA Slam Dunk champion.
With the rapid growth of the tournament solely through “word of mouth,” the police and parks department recognized the frenzy and the tournament had to be moved several times, ultimately landing it at its home now on 155th and Frederick Douglass at Holcombe Memorial Rucker Park. By the 90s, The Entertainer’s Basketball Classic had become a huge marketing event and hip hop entertainers such as Sean “Diddy” Combs, Russell Simmons, former president of Def Jam, Jay-Z, current President of Def Jam, and Fat Joe have all sponsored teams each featuring NBA superstars such as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury, just to name a few. By 2000, the media and other sponsors recognized the EBC as an international sensation and authentic institution integral to Harlem and the sport of basketball. The Entertainer's Basketball Classic has a national circuit in EBC America as well with teams in major cities such as Los Angeles, Atlanta, Seattle, Miami, Boston, and Washington D.C. The large reach in the community, and the diverse demographic that follows this tournament allow Greg Marius to take EBC to new heights in the near future.
It has now been 26 years since Greg held court at the first EBC game in Mt. Morris Park. He has not played in the tournament in years and no longer goes by Greg G the rapper. Harlem has changed a lot since Greg first started the tournament but when the EBC holds court at Rucker Park the same energy and excitement of seeing great basketball and your favorite artists remains. Last season, Greg had new R&B superstar Chris Brown perform at The Rucker Park and rapper The Game, who played with his team Black Wall Street, took home the 2005 Championship title. The EBC receives loyal sponsorships from mega branders like Reebok, Gatorade and Pepsi and is sanctioned by the NCAA and NBA. “Next season I want to have more performances and stronger teams. I want to get the scouts here again”. What is the secret to such long-standing success? “In order to stay on top you have to keep changing, people get tired of the same thing.”
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