B4R kicks off today in Seattle

We’ve been telling you about it for weeks now, and finally the day is here - the Ball 4 Real World Tour kicks off tonight Seattle.

We got with one of B4R’s stars - Circus - to talk about his game and what he expects to bring to the tour. You might remember Circus from ESPN’s Streetball reality show last year. He earned a spot on the bus and then a fan vote made him the show’s champion, earning him a contract with the traveling squad.

And now he’s back, but this time starting fresh as one of the core members of the Ball 4 Real crew …

Dime: How did your life change after winning a spot on the bus on ESPN’s “Streetball” last year?
Circus: The amount of people that knew me outside of Brooklyn and Atlanta grew but other than that, I’m the same dude.

Dime: Did it seem as if people wanted to be closer to you after seeing you on TV?
Circus: People wanted to be around me in general because a lot of people view me differently since I’ve been on TV for three months. I keep a small circle though.

Dime: What was the hardest part about earning your spot?
Circus: The competition. I played against guys like “Springs” and “Special FX.” If they would’ve won I wouldn’t have felt like I got robbed. The big stage, elimination night, etc. But I’m from Brooklyn so that stuff didn’t really do anything—it just got me more hyped. Before the competition started, I told myself that I’m going to win the contract and I learned a lot from the challenge. I learned that if you put your mind to something you can get it done.

Dime: How hard is it to get a good meal on the bus?
Circus: Guys will have turkey and cheese sandwiches and other little snacks but I stay away from that stuff. We are fortunate enough to stay at some of the finest hotels and when we do, we eat good.

Dime: You’re a New York-area guy who played ball at St. Pat’s in New Jersey. In high school you had a stacked squad right?
Circus: We were the truth. My big cousin Al Harrington – he was playing the three for us at 6-9. Sam Dalambert. We were loaded. Herve Lamizana (Rutgers) - the whole team went DI, so it was a real privilege to play there and I think it made me the player I am today.

Dime: What are some of the things you learned playing with those guys?
Circus: I used the talents I picked up playing on the streets to get to St. Pat’s and once I got there, my coach Kevin Boyle was so smart he taught me all the fundamentals. It was a wrap from there.

Dime: Is Al Harrington actually related to you?
Circus: Yeah, he is really my cousin. He is my right hand man. I’m from Brooklyn but I went to high school in New Jersey and he is from New Jersey so I stayed with his family when I was in high school. We’ve been close ever since.

Dime: Were you watching when Golden State went on their playoff run?
Circus: I was there man. I was in Oakland.

Dime: If you weren’t playing basketball for a living, what would you be doing?
Circus: I have a sociology degree but I would probably be coaching.

Dime: Any song in particular you are listening to right now?
Circus: Everything Hov ever touched and Da Drought III mixtape by Lil’ Wayne is crazy.

Dime: What’s your pre-game ritual?
Circus: Ever since high school, I listen to Jay-Z and take a shower before every game.

Dime: What are you most looking forward to about the Ball 4 Real tour this summer?
Circus: I’m looking forward to the challenge from the competition. I know I’m the target because I won (the contract) last year. I know people are going to think, “If I can outplay Circus I can get some of that cash.”