Hood Classic

Was able to get over and see most of the first game of the Adonai Hood Classic at Garfield High School last night. Non-blogging duties (some much-needed time with my globe-trotting wife) and the sweltering climate inside the gym kept me from staying longer, but the hour I was there gave me more than my $10 worth.

I’m man enough to eat my words, so please consider the following words eaten and digested. I was dead wrong when I said this yesterday:

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that I’ll be thrilled to see even one NBA player come back for the event…

The Rainier Beach team, with Nate Robinson, Jamal Crawford, Terrence Williams, and C.J. Giles (former Oregon State Beaver, and a D-Leaguer last season), was a lot of fun to watch as they outclassed the O’Dea squad that had no one I recognized.

I couldn’t stay long enough to know whether Brandon Roy, Aaron Brooks, or Jason Terry made it out for the second game, but it’d be hard to imagine anyone competing with Rainier Beach unless the other team had some serious star power.

A few impressions and highlights, and then some photos and videos:

• You’ve got to respect these guys for coming back to their hometown to play in a balls-hot gym against iffy competition for what I imagine to be no pay, or very little pay. It means the world to the people of Seattle, as evidenced by the mostly packed Garfield gym, that despite their pro careers taking them all over the country, these guys haven’t forgotten where they come from.

• C.J. Giles is a guy I hadn’t heard much about until I did some reading up on him last night. Maybe it’s because he was the only guy playing at close to full speed of the A-listers I saw at the Hood Classic, but he was impressive. He’s about 6’10 with redonkulously long arms, and looks like he could hurdle over the backboard if he wanted to. He was beginning to make an impression at Kansas when he got kicked off the team after his sophomore season. He was then dismissed from Oregon State after one season, saddled by a host of immaturity issues off the court. Attention to any any NBA or European team in need of a big man: Give C.J. a look!

• Not that this will be news to anyone, but Nate Robinson is a freak of nature. Fun to watch someone that good who’s aware enough of his talent to really play to his hometown crowd. Here’s a good article on Nate’s current contract situation with the Knicks.

• No current NCAA ballers were allowed to play, which meant no Venoy Overton playing for the Franklin team. But, saw Venoy (and his entourage, which must’ve been about 10 deep) and Matthew Bryan-Amaning enjoying the action from the crowd.

Here’s some photos and videos from the event. Nothing great, quality-wise. My equipment, and my seat, didn’t make for the ideal shooting situation. Nonetheless, hope you enjoy what you see. If you were there tonight, I’d love to hear about it. Please let me know in the comments section!

Nate: "Hey, O'Dea, in those uniforms, y'all look like a little like the Cavaliers. . . if LeBron let his kitchen staff suit up for one game."

Just before a put-back dunk. O'Dea was asked to provide warm bodies for the occasion, but they sent these guys instead.

Jamal Crawford works his man before launching a three ball.

Terrence Williams is a physical specimen. Even at half-speed, I left thinking this dude is going to make it when he plays for the Nets next year.

"Did they mess up and invite alumni from the O'Dea J.V. team?"

And here are four video clips from the event. I had to put these on YouTube because my blog isn’t strong enough to hold the large files. The best one is the last one. Here are the links:

• Jamal Crawford hits a three at the end of the half.
• Nate Robinson hits a long three.
• C.J. Giles throws it down off an alley-oop.
• Nate does the Running Man, then knocks down a jumper.

Hey, thanks for coming!

UPDATE (8/2 @ 11:25 PM): Here’s the link to the Seattle Times’ coverage of the event, which includes everything I wasn’t there for, and an explanation of B-Roy’s absence.