The basketball world lost a true streetball legend last night when word broke that AND 1 Mix Tape star Tyrone Evans, aka “Alimoe,” aka “The Black Widow,” had suffered a seizure and passed away (a rumor confirmed by his close friend and fellow And 1 teammate Aaron “AO” Owens).

Alimoe was a legitimate playground icon – the Harlem native was one of the original pioneers at the head of the AND 1 Mix Tape revolution of the late ’90s/early ’00s. He was a phenomenon in his own right; one of the leaders in a movement that altered basketball culture forever. And he was in it before TV and corporations turned it into Clown Town (Luckily, Alimoe got out before it went that far south).

Standing 6-7 with wicked handles and an effusive personality, he was perfect for the cameras and a natural foil for the other AND 1 stars, especially Rafer Alston. The two of them even starred in their own “Skip vs. Alimoe: Battle Tape” (You can see clips from the tape after the jump). Read More »

When I first got to Rucker on Monday night the park wasn’t quite as packed as it has traditionally been on past opening nights. But by the time the opening night of the 2010 EBC at Rucker Park was finished, the crowd was tremendous and we were all treated to a display of insane athleticism. Read More »

If you’re in New York City tonight, it’s well worth your time you head up to Harlem to check out the opening night of EBC at Rucker Park. Playing in NYC for the first time in four years, Larry “Bone Collector” Williams will be joined by Rafer “Skip 2 My Lou” Alston and Darryl “Showtime” Hill as they take on the Angie Martinez All-Stars featuring Adris “2 Hard 2 Guard” DeLeon (2010 Nike NYC Player of the Year), “Jiggy” Josh Watkins and Jersey’s Finest. Read More »