From Air Jordans to Africa
When in doubt, show love to those who deserve it.
By Ben Osborne
There will be Tuesdays (my designated day on the site, in case you forgot) that I have a burning issue to discuss something that isn’t already being dealt with in the magazine (which will always get the bulk of my “creative” attention as long as I sit in the Editor-in-Chief’s chair and the site is so ably handled by Sam and friends).
Then there will be the Tuesdays that the mag’s business (such as locking in our next cover) is draining me and I feel grateful that interesting people from the world of basketball contact me almost every day looking for love/publicity…and instantly solving my dilemma of what to write about.
Spotlight number one should be shone on my man Calvan Fowler, the producer of JordanHeads: A Documentary About Air Jordans and the People who Love Them. We first shouted out Calvan about a year ago on the Links when Calvan’s project was just starting and he needed subjects to interview. Step two in SLAM’s promotion of Calvan’s project came when I wrote about him in last summer’s issue of KICKS. I hadn’t heard from Calvan since that ran, so while I assumed the project was going smoothly I didn’t know for certain. Well, a phone call the other day filled me. “The movie is going very well,” informed Calvan. “I want people to see my site not because I need more people to interview—although if their collection is very special they can feel free to reach out to me—but because I’m making so much progress on it and I’d like people to see it. So, if you can, send them to the website so they can see the new trailer.”
Not one to lead our loyal readers astray without researching things first, I checked the site this morning and Calvan was not lying—the trailer is fire. There aren’t captions under the people being quoted, but true SLAM heads will recognize a number of people from the extended SLAM family, past and present, including Come Chantrel, Scoop Jackson and Russ Bengtson. Calvan expects his project to be completed in time to come out at the same time as the 2008 release of the Jordan XXIII, which will be, in his opinion, “the most promoted thing ever.” But who’s being quoted is kind of beside the point anyway. What you can tell from the trailer is that the look, sounds and passion of the film will be on point, and that anyone with even a passing interest in Michael Jordan and the shoe phenomenon he created will love it.
But don’t just take my word for it. Check out the film’s site to further whet your appetites.
Speaking of shoes, what do you do when you have too many? Giving them to someone who needs them is a good start. We know of few better organizations that handle that than Hoops 4 Hope, a non-profit that uses basketball to work with young people in South Africa and Zimbabwe (and redistributes kicks from oversaturated American closets to needy African feet. Check here for more info on how to spread your wealth.)
Now, Hoops 4 Hope always warrants love, and to be honest, a lot more coverage than a blurb on my blog. To remedy that situation I’ve got an excellent, Africa-based writer working on a lengthy feature on Hoops 4 Hope that will run in one of the next two or three issues of the magazine. Trust: this will be an article worth reading. My reason for mentioning H4H today is that they have an event in a couple weeks that founder Mark Crandall wants publicized. It’s Hoops 4 Hope Night with the Knicks, March 20th at Madison Square Garden. The eflyer for the event is pasted right here…
or you can also get info about the event at this web address. For those of you too lazy to read the small print or click on that link, the goal of the evening is to sell donated Knick tickets to H4H supporters who will either attend that night’s Knick game (against the Mavs) or give the tickets to local kids who don’t make too many games. Regardless of who uses the ticket, the money spent on the ticket will benefit Hoops 4 Hope’s efforts in Africa. Seems like a worthy event to us, so see if you can help out. And again, at minimum feel free to empty your closet for these guys. After all, you’re gonna’ need room for those next Jordans.
28 Responses to “From Air Jordans to Africa”
Feb.27 at 4:45 pm
Bigi says:
Sounds like a pretty-good-idea…Now I can’t wait for those 08′ Jordans…Thanks.
Feb.27 at 4:50 pm
Bigi says:
By the way I from Finland and I’m soon coming to NY…And if you guys could give me some tips to find some kicks and jerseyz that would be great…I know one place:NBA-Store…That’s it!So help me out…Peace.
Feb.27 at 4:51 pm
Bigi says:
And yeah…F.I.R.S.T.
Feb.27 at 4:52 pm
Ben Osborne says:
Sensing the post before it comes…Ryan, many thanks for connecting me with Hoops 4 Hope when you were vacating the chair. I hope you like the story we’re working on.
Feb.27 at 5:04 pm
Anonymous Testimonial says:
While living in South Africa I occasionally worked with Hoops 4 Hope. Everyday in multiple townships around Cape Town, you know those infamous ghettos of dirt, sheet metal, wood and concrete, young adults are schooling the youth on basketball, AIDs awareness and other skills. Hoops 4 Hope does its best to give kids the ability to navigate through the multiple hazards of township life and introduce, to many of them for the first time, a game that means so much to some of us elsewhere in the world. Working with these kids, and the Hoops 4 Hope people, I was excited about ball in a way I hadn’t been since I was about 12 years old; in the days of the X-Man, where New Yorkers gave each other chest bumps on the street and Ro Blackmun was the missing piece in the Knicks championship run… More than a worthy event, I would say its an easy opportunity to give a bit of that joy the game may have brought to your life to those who may not find it, if not for the efforts of Hoops 4 Hope.
Feb.27 at 5:58 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
Just got 107, that Wade thing sucks huh?
Feb.27 at 5:59 pm
bigmike407 says:
This Hoops 4 Hope thing is pretty hot. Where can I get a hold of them to send my old sneakers? That will be my good deed for the day. And maybe I can get my girl to get rid of some of her shoes. They clog up our closet, so she can give them up and everyone’s happy.
Feb.27 at 6:09 pm
Ben Osborne says:
Anonymous: MANY thanks for the cosign.
Boing: The Wade thing is awful. We’ve been jinxing cats like crazy. At least we didn’t put him on the cover.
Big Mike: did you go to the website? I’ve sent shoes right to the Long Island address in the site I linked to (Hoops 4 Hope, PO Box 895, East Hampton, NY 11937) but email hoops4hope@mac.com to double check.
Feb.27 at 7:08 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
We did guerrilla filming for my part in Jordanheads—hopefully it came out all right (I haven’t watched the trailer yet). I’ve got a face for radio. And I think I can come up with a box of shoes to send their way for sure. (I’ve donated shoes before, mind you, but only locally.)
Feb.28 at 6:18 am
bja says:
Russ, that’s gotta be you in front of the LOVE sculpture in the trailer, right? Tony G said you were read headed and had skating scars in his resignation editorial.
Feb.28 at 7:38 am
Jonathan says:
hey thanks for the hoops 4 hope info. just to say, i was over in South Africa in dec/jan and there is a real need for this kind of help. it can give young kids hope for a better life by just giving them something to concentrate on. im going back in july for a couple of years and would love to get involved with h4h.
peace
Feb.28 at 7:58 am
Special K says:
i’m proud to be a part of the H4H family, it’s tough work on the ground trying to create a energetic space in people who for generations were convinced that they could be nothing, and new kicks for most of those kids is like the key to unlocking a lifetime of ambition and possibilities. i’ll be in NY in July (first trip to the US) and looking forward to seeing the place were so much luv for Africa is nurtured. H4H more fire, and VIVA SLAM
Feb.28 at 11:47 am
Lang Whitaker says:
Russ, you have a face for radio, but at least you’ve got a voice for print.
Feb.28 at 11:49 am
Cub Buenning says:
Ben, the jinx continues as the boys from the AFA just dropped their 3rd straight last night and had their nation-long 30 game home streak snapped in the process. Those guys all hate me now.
Kudos on the H4H effort.
Feb.28 at 11:58 am
Ryan Jones says:
Ben: I cannot WAIT to read the H4H feature, as you know. Those guys do incredible work and deserve all the help SLAM and its readers can give them.
However, as psyched as I am for that, I’m equally dismayed to see Big F*cking Tigger with the SLAM Jordans. I mean, I know how the business works, and I know I got plenty of free gear because I worked for SLAM that I never would’ve sniffed otherwise — but seriously, who is this clown? Is anybody gonna buy some Js who wasn’t already because Big F*cking Tigger has them? Please understand, it’s not hating — I got a pair myself — but I also spent 7 1/2 years at the damn magazine.
All that said… the movie looks like it’s gonna be dope. Can my man Russ get an Oscar nod? Dude, if you don’t make fun of those kids with Jumpman tattoos in the movie, I’ll be very disappointed.
Feb.28 at 12:11 pm
Ben Osborne says:
I was very startled to see that Tigger had the SLAM joints, albeit proud that he chose to display them so prominently.
Feb.28 at 12:13 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Yeah, I guess…
Feb.28 at 1:42 pm
dante lumpkin says:
why not they need to feel fresh like we do ya dig
Feb.28 at 1:42 pm
dante lumpkin says:
why not they need to feel fresh like we do ya dig
Feb.28 at 3:21 pm
Jason Holmes says:
I gotta see this film and cop the XXXIII’s. In that order.
Mar.1 at 1:19 pm
Nick Hoops4Hope mvp says:
I wanted to thank you guys so much for all of your support, as the stateside coordinator, I know that we can use all the help we can get. I spent a month in South Africa and Zimbabwe last winter, working with the kids of the townships and even playing a little with a semi-pro team in Zim. There is a passion and a vibrance out there that can not be adequately described “response” blurb. But i just wanted to let you guys know how much your help and coverage means to us, and anyone that is interested in helping out, getting involved, or donating can contact us at hoops4hope@mac.com or me at nkt516@yahoo.com Thank you guys so much… ~Nick
Hoops4Hope Stateside Coordinator
Mar.1 at 4:26 pm
Mush says:
bigi NY probably have bball stores on every street
Mar.16 at 10:39 am
Mark Ricardi says:
Saving money now to cop the 23’s. Wade is the truth. Sneaker stores are everywhere, makes it easier shop around. I will camp out for the Jordan Heads film.
Mar.28 at 4:38 pm
MOOSE says:
starbury kicks buy them
Mar.28 at 4:39 pm
MOOSE says:
starbury kicks buy them homes just do it ok
Aug.21 at 9:42 am
Sipho says:
hey guys
we are waiting on the slam article of H4H to happen so we can really know what goes on in Africa and how a pair of kicks can change lives
Nov.14 at 9:14 pm
loveintheair says:
yall need to donate some fresh J’s down South we poor too
Dec.2 at 2:04 pm
Jordans says:
those are some hot kicks