To misquote a memorable lyric from Beastie Boy turned filmmaker Adam Yauch, when it comes to dribbling towards NBA glory, eight of the twenty-four high schoolers prominently featured in his latest doc Gunnin’ for That #1 Spot, take it to the hoop because they can’t, they won’t, and they don’t stop until they come to Rucker Park and rock the "Sure Shot." Think of it as a cinematically trip/hip hop-infused journey (stylistically influenced by both music videos and Requiem for a Dream-like repetition) that takes a Mad Hot Ballroom, Wordplay, or Spellbound-like narrative documentary approach.
In Gunnin', Yauch acquaints us with eight very different, versatile, and amazingly athletically gifted players from across the 50 states who — regardless of age, creed, color, background, connections, or income level — are invited on sheer talent alone to play in the now legendary Elite 24 Hoops Classic.
The three day event which culminates on Game Day (September 1, 2006) at Harlem’s Rucker Park is known throughout the land by those "who've got game" as the “Mecca” of street basketball. In addition, its location has resonated for sixty years like no other state-of-the-art arena in the world, according to interviewees who explain that it’s the same park that makes or breaks dreams, launches careers, introduces kids to those with connections, and offers them memorable street cred in the form of often hilarious nicknames by the MC/narrator Robert Garcia. Perhaps most importantly, Rucker Park helped cement the court to greatness taken by Dr. J, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Wilt Chamberlain.
While the odds are against the young men with shrinking statistics regarding the numbers of high school students who make it into division one or two universities and colleges let alone the NBA, throughout the U.S., the teens in Yauch’s film do what they can to separate from the pack to level the odds and climb upwards in the questionably political and ever-changing online rankings those in the film say may be dubiously crafted by men who look like they’ve never shot a ball in their life. However, with little complaint, the students go through the craziness it all brings and find it's more than worth it, especially when offered the ultimate reward of an opportunity to don a white or blue team jersey annually at Rucker's Hoops Classic.
Article comments