Streetball the focus on TNT basketball documentary

By ERNEST HOOPER

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 5, 2000

Malloy Nesmith dribbled the ball like Curly Neal.

He took it between his legs and behind his back. He threw in a crossover move, then another. He changed speeds, dribbling fast then slow. All of his tricks were displayed. And he did it all standing on a flight of a stairs.

A flight of stairs.

Nesmith is just one of the dazzling basketball players featured in On Hallowed Ground: Streetball Champions Of Rucker Park, a TNT documentary that debuts at 10 p.m. Saturday. It's a captivating look at an asphalt court in Harlem that has become a mecca for great streetball players.

Nesmith and some of the other legendary players who make and break reputations at Rucker such as Anthony Heyward Jr., Shane Drisdom and Waliyy Dixon aren't household names. But if you know anything about the New York City basketball world, you've probably heard of "The Future."

That's Nesmith's nickname, and he's not alone. Everyone at Rucker has a flavorful handle and a game to match. By show's end, you will end up speaking with reverence about "Half-Man, Half-Amazing," Heyward, "Captain Nappy" Drisdom and "The Main Event" Dixon.

The documentary centers on the Entertainers Basketball Classic, a summer tournament that draws thousands of fans and attracts NBA players and coaches. New Urban Entertainment, show producer, could have rolled out the cameras and put together a highlight reel, but the incredible dunks, fancy dribbles and long-range shots are blended with interviews that give a real sense of the magic found at Rucker.

Not only do you learn about the current players, but On Hallowed Ground gives you the history of the park, complete with photographs from the 1960s and 1970s. Wilt Chamberlain, Connie Hawkins, Julius Erving and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar all helped build the legend of Rucker.

But to hear people tell it, Pee Wee Kirkland was as good as all those guys, maybe better. Kirkland crafted his game at Rucker and led the one-time Rucker pro league in scoring for consecutive seasons. But he eschewed the NBA to make money in more illegal ways.

After an 11-year stint in prison, Kirkland turned his life around and now mentors others.

"Believe it or not, life at Rucker is bigger than the game of basketball," Kirkland said. "It's about pride, self-respect and community. It's not just a park, it's our history."

It's also about missed opportunities. Without being overly righteous, the producers show many of these players have the talent to play collegiately or professionally but were sidetracked by various obstacles, including academics.

But one player contended Rucker glory is greater than NBA stardom. Chances are that statement will not seem as preposterous by show's end.

INNOVATION: ESPN will debut "Ultra Slo Mo" cameras during its broadcast of Sunday's Houston-Los Angeles baseball game.

The innovation is expected to be five times slower than conventional Super Slo Mo cameras, and should allow viewers to see the spin of pitches, the stress on a pitcher's arm as he snaps off breaking pitches and the bat making contact with the ball.

DERBY DAY: ABC will profile Kentucky Derby favorite Fusaichi Pegasus and his attempt to break the Derby-favorite jinx as part of its prerace coverage, which begins at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

There also will be features on Jenine Sahadi, the trainer of The Deputy, who seeks to become the first woman trainer to win the Kentucky Derby; and Todd Pletcher, the 32-year-old trainer who has four entries (Graeme Hall, Impeachment, More Than Ready and Trippi).

FINE TUNING: Golf Plus will replace Pro Golf Weekly on CNN/SI starting at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. Jim Huber will continue to host and Sports Illustrated will have a greater presence. ... As part of an on-going restructuring, Tracy Dolgin was named Fox Sports Net president this week. ... Fox Sports Net's Regional Sports Report will debut on July 17. ... Magic assistant coach Tom Sterner will break down the Heat-Knicks series on Sunshine Network Live at 10 tonight. ... ESPN's ratings for the NHL playoffs are about the same as last year, but the network is touting the fact that viewership among males 18-34 is up 53 percent, coming off a regular-season increase of 37 percent.

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