UNDER REVIEW: Asphalt Phenoms of New York City
From the pages of SLAM No.112.
Basketball DVDs are, for some, a thing of the past. The lack of quality highlight moments and, sadly, the lack of street hype around the game have left the hoop mixtape a thing of the past. In the case of “Asphalt Phenoms of New York City: The Lost Years,” the selling point is that the footage included is of legendary players who are known mostly in name and kept alive through oral tradition. The DVD is totally worth checking out and only available at AsphaltPhenoms.com
FROM SLAM NO.112, ON STANDS NOW!!!
Being “taken to school” is one of the hazards of playing pick-up ball. The old school cats, who always seem to have “next,” love to remind young pretty boys that the game was different “back in the day.” Played tougher, harder and with a “life or death” attitude toward winning. With Asphalt Phenoms of New York City: The Lost Years, producer Dorian “Black Stallion” Graham—himself a streetball player of some repute—skillfully revisits a time when basketball in the city was the law of the land, an almost secondary government.
Much of the DVD is spent identifying New York’s playground legends of the era that directly preceded AND 1’s takeover of the streetball scene. Players like Ron “Terminator” Matthias, “Sudden” Sam Worthen and James “Speedy” Williams all dominated the city’s playgrounds for decades, but unfortunately, very little video footage of them actually exists. Their reputations were built off the strength of word-of-mouth. As time elapses, fewer and fewer people have first-hand knowledge of what guys like “Master Rob” and “Dancing Doogie” left on the court.
This documentary’s main accomplishment is giving shine to these extraordinary players, some of whom have been known only in name for years. Some love is lost, however, as too much of the commentary centers on the bashing of the modern street game, and the limited supply of real footage is, if understandable, frustrating. Regardless of any shortcomings, though, every streetball enthusiast out there will appreciate the secret history collected in Asphalt Phenoms. Playground knowledge is important because while many legends seem to be disappearing, the pretty boys are only multiplying.— MATT CAPUTO
*Anyone in the Slamonline audience who has produced or directed basketball DVDs or documentaries are free to e-mail. I’m always looking to peep a good hoops flick and would probably review it for the website.
13 Responses to “UNDER REVIEW: Asphalt Phenoms of New York City”
Sep.19 at 4:19 pm
Tarzan Cooper says:
hi matt
Sep.19 at 4:26 pm
Matt Caputo says:
whats good?
Sep.19 at 4:44 pm
Tarzan Cooper says:
the dvd looks nice. what other hoops dvds do you reccommend?
Sep.20 at 9:08 pm
Devontae Palmer AKA THE WONDER BOY says:
ballislife is going to be something funky, tarzan. I am going to get that one as soon as it comes out. Thanks for the info Matt. I do have one question though. When are you guys going to choose who is on the Slam team? Because I am sweating more than R. Kelly at a girl scouts meeting right now waiting for the results. play wit it.
Sep.22 at 12:07 pm
chosen623 says:
yo, this dvd is Acid hot. it’s not a highlight package to music, it’s a story about a game that many play but few know “how to play”. well worth the $15…COP IT NOW!!!!!
Sep.24 at 2:13 pm
ill says:
modern street ball should be bashed
if you played in the 80s or 90s and someone threw the ball off your head youd probably snuff him
Sep.24 at 2:13 pm
ill says:
modern street ball should be bashed
if you played in the 80s or 90s and someone threw the ball off your head youd probably snuff him
Sep.24 at 2:15 pm
ill says:
i recommend The Real: Rucker Park Legends as another DVD that is dope
Oct.16 at 7:55 pm
YAY AREA'S FINEST says:
YAY AREA’S FINEST HOOP MIXTAPE VOLUME.. CHECK OUT THE MYSPACE LINK: MYSPACE.COM/YAYAREASFINESTHOOPMIXTAPE
Nov.5 at 7:17 pm
the real says:
Dorian you are a real clown. First lets get 1 thing right you were never a legend. you were a garbage man. I seen you play a whole lot of games. Stop acting like today’s legends like homicide abuta, bone collector, steve burt jr, t2, white choclate carl krauser , darryl hill, not out there puting in work. you old disgruntle playground (I wish somebody would remember
me) need to stop it. Skip 2 my lou bounce the ball off steve francis head on the ebc dvd1. But yet you praise that. Bone killed everybody you know. and he will throw the ball off you and term face. clowns
Nov.5 at 7:26 pm
the real says:
dorian you got smacked in the head, by jim ice mr. untouchable. (112) clown. pookie RIP got beat down by my man los when him and smiley was on the same team ( wreckin crew. Stop trying to disrespect todays guys. You should have used hot-sauce or one of those clowns f you were trying to make a point. Don’t put bone in that. They REAL tough guys over there. not that Term crapt let me fight a ball player. Show some respect or get chased down in the streets. Broke Suckers
Jan.29 at 11:20 pm
chosen623 says:
first of all you are more than a clown. jim-ice (my dude from way back) and i always played on the same team since we were biddies you idiot. i’ve never said hitting the ball off of anyone’s head was cool, no matter who did it. obviously you have been a fan your whole life. i’ve never needed anyone to tell me i was good. people want me on there team to this day. so on the real, speak smartly or don’t speak at all.
Feb.20 at 5:38 pm
plastic man says:
you do your thing doe, this is kev young i just wish you try and get more material, because alot of talent came out of queens. try and get some footage, queens legends