Sammy Lee's first open-run indoor hoop session in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles is officially a wrap! Check out recap footage by Edgardo Cervantes
"HEAT ON FEET"
A small group of hoopers gathered with good vibes in Little Tokyo to share their love for the game with The Sole Drop's Sammy Lee on Saturday morning (March 4th, 2023). We held an open-run session and a 3-point contest. Everyone got in some good hoop-time rockin' their favorite performance kicks. And friendships were made.
We also gave away our first-ever XOVR Traction Reset System to the 3-point contest winner, Regan. Congrats!
The XOVR Traction Reset System by sōlscience® is coming soon for indoor court sports...
Afterwards, some of us grabbed lunch together at Pasta e Pasta for delicious Japanese-style pasta and talked trends, fashion, and of course, sneakers with Sammy. Let's run it back!
The Sole Drop ANTIDŌT
In usual sōlscience fashion, we concocted a The Sole Drop ANTIDŌT in the lab w/ Sammy Lee's collaborative efforts. And it's now officially available in limited quantities here.
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6 Years in the Making to Recreate the DeadStock Smell Sneaker Freshener
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - LOS ANGELES, October 1, 2022
sōlscience®, makers of ANTIDŌT®️ Sneaker Fresheners, in collaboration with Since Apparel, a nostalgia-driven apparel brand, will very soon release the "Fresh Since" ANTIDŌT, a deadstock leather-scented sneaker freshener.
The original idea behind creating the ANTIDŌT Sneaker Freshener was a "deadstock" shoe deodorizer for sneakerheads - the new sneaker smell encapsulated inside our sneaker deodorizer spray.
Leather is one of the critical components of the deadstock scent and a big part of the inspiration behind the ANTIDŌT collection.
The deadstock leather fragrance has been something we've been trying to perfect since the inception of the brand in 2016. The development process has been a long and holistic journey including numerous rounds of samples being sent to Chris (aka @nightwing2303 of WearTesters.com and Since Apparel).
Chris is known to be an aficionado of the new sneaker smell and often starts his new sneaker reviews with his nose entering inside a sneaker to get that addicting hit off the new sneaker smell. It has now even become a thing where his fans often tag him on Instagram sharing photos of themselves getting "high" off of the new sneaker smell. Viewers of his WearTesters YouTube channel know he is very particular when it comes to getting things just right. So needless to say we were ecstatic when we finally heard back from him saying that we got it 100% spot-on with the leather scent.
"I've been a fan of Chris and his basketball sneaker performance reviews for a very long time and it's been super dope to be able to form a relationship and work on a project together," says sōlscience co-founder Daichi Nakagawa.
The Fresh Since ANTIDŌT is a play on the 90s nostalgic sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air starring Will Smith who famously wore the Air Jordan 5 in the early episodes. We felt the nostalgic era and sneaker tie-in was just right for this collaboration.
The scent can be best described as the essence of what a sneakerhead experiences when opening up a fresh box of deadstock kicks. It's like stepping into a sneaker stockroom at your local footwear store. The freshener smells of real, thick, genuine, quality leather that's been bottled (and sneakerheads know most releases nowadays are unfortunately missing that scent).
Spray a few pairs, close your eyes and imagine yourself being in the middle of a room filled with your favorite pairs of deadstock sneakers.
In Chris's words, "A pure leather smell, like an old watch strap, purses, boots. When a shoe smells like that, then you know they used some really good sh-t." You can thank him for the experience. #NightwingKnows #NightwingApproved
sōlscience and Since Apparel will be accepting orders for the Fresh Since leather-scented ANTIDŌT beginning Saturday, October 1st, 2022 (PST) via www.solscience.co
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Sidenote: Ian has such an interesting story, not to mention his own shoe, the Nike 'Wet Floor/Caution' Dunk High SB, with a really dope visual tie-in. (If you don't know, now you know.)
Fast forward to 2020, the pandemic hits, and while we've been really low key working on projects remotely and communicating mainly via calls and Zoom, Covid hadn't seemed to stop the DEADSTOCK Coffee crew from continuing to physically and creatively spread the DEADSTOCK vibe via the Coffee Champs Tour and other means.
When we saw they were planning to stop by Los Angeles as part of their tour, we took advantage of the opportunity and met Ian to gift him with our DEADSTOCK Coffee version of the Mocha Fresh ANTIDŌT scent that he had asked about.
We weren't sure if we' were actually going to release the DEADSTOCK version of Mocha Fresh, but recently, even with an ultra-busy schedule, Ian blessed us w/ a DM saying that it'd be cool to throw some of the limited bottles up on our site.
Thank you Ian Williams and DEADSTOCK Coffee. It's an honor.
Aside from the DEADSTOCK Coffee Crew that has a batch for their friends and family, we're offering an ultra-limited batch of the DEADSTOCK version of our Mocha Fresh ANTIDŌT exclusively for you.
Because coffee (and sneaker fresheners) should be dope!
ABOUT DEADSTOCK COFFEE & GALLERY
DeadStock Coffee is a Sneaker-Themed Coffee Shop based in Portland, Oregon, the undisputed sneaker capital of the world. Learn more about them here and make sure to stop by when in Portland.
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Amongst all the inter web clutter out there, sometimes you stumble upon a hidden gem. It's not necessarily always the loudest that gets heard. And it's not necessarily what's merely in front of you that's most important. We must learn to decipher and build what we truly believe in; only then will they come.
. . . . . . . .
I took some time to really reflect on answering these questions as best as I could which truly dug deep to be my true self. I didn't want to base my answers on hype and current styles. I wanted the answers to be legit so that in a week, couple months, years down the road, I can look back and say:
. . . . . . . .
Ashley Ladouceur
What inspires you?
Travel inspires me. When I travel, I experience culture which allows me to immerse myself in another way of thinking. It allows me to be adventurous and anonymous, you can be and do as you please to a certain degree. You’re like a little mystery roaming around the city that is unknown to you and which you are unknown to them. I learn so many things.
How long have you been collecting sneakers?
I have been collecting for about 12 years now.
How would you stylistically describe your fave pair of sneakers in 10 words or less?
High tops, leather, black and red, comfortable, those are the Breds.
If your sneaker room was burning down (sorry, I would never wish that upon you, just being dramatic) and you can only grab 3 pairs, what would they be?
Wow! Didn’t see that one coming… I would scoop up my Air Jordan 1 Retro High ‘Bred’, my Air Fear of God Raid ‘Black’ and my Air Jordan 1 Retro High ‘Balvin’.
Top 3 fave sneakers that you don't own?
OFF-WHITE X Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG ‘Chicago’, Dior X Air Jordan 1 High and Dunk High SP ‘Ambush – Spruce Aura’
Top 3 fave sneakers that you want (that are not Nike)?
YEEZY BOOST 350 ‘Turtle Dove”, GUCCI White embroidered Bee Ace sneaker and OFF-WHITE Grey Suede Vulcanized Low sneaker.
Rank your top 5 favorite sneaker brands.
Nike/Jordan, adidas, Vans and Converse
What are your top 3 favorite clothing brands?
That’s really tough, top 3 would be:
Essentials by Fear of God, John Elliott and G-Star Raw.
Most comfortable sneaker to wear when roaming around the city streets shooting?
Air Jordan 1 Retro High ‘Shadow’, they come with me on all my trips. They’ve walked the streets of Barcelona, New York, Montreal. They’ve climbed hills and mountains in Colombia and Peru. They have LOTS of mileage making them extra comfy!
What's the story behind Cholula and what's your fave thing to put it on?
You know, I tried Cholula hot sauce once on tacos and I was hooked. I put that stuff on everything! It’s basically the only hot sauce I eat. It’s perfect to me. When Kanye West dropped The Life of Pablo album I played off of “I feel like Pablo” with “I feel like Cholula”.
How do you like your coffee?
Black.
Fave spot to buy kicks (and other fresh gear) in Ontario?
I mainly shop online at Stadium Goods and Flight Club but a new shop in Ottawa just opened called Oakshop. I think that’ll be the spot.
Best sneaker boutique in the world?
Stadium Goods
Favorite 1) athlete, 2) clothing brand, 3) photographer and 4) book?
1) Dwayne Wade
2) G-Star RAW
3) Raven B Varona
4) Becoming by Michelle Obama
How would you describe your graphic design style?
I’ve got a minimalism graphic design style. In my opinion it’s all about using the most essential elements to communicate a message. Straight to the point. Done right, it can come off looking very luxurious.
On a more serious note, sincere respect w/ your interest in early childhood education - how/why did you specifically get involved with Pies Descalzos Foundation based in Bogotá, Colombia? And also Fundación Fútbol Con Corazón?
Thank you very much! I have been volunteering with the Pies Descalzos Foundation for a little over 13 years now. Kids are our future and they deserve a fair chance at an education, we need to help and invest in that. Colombia is beautiful and the people in it are beautiful. The Foundation helps so many kids attain quality education in cities like Barranquilla, Cartagena and Quibdó. They have grown and provided so much; I can’t imagine not being a part of it. Fundación Fútbol Con Corazón (Soccer with Heart) is also based in Colombia. They use soccer as a way to help develop values and life skills, giving kids a chance to learn how to make good life decisions, faced with the challenges of their environment. I highly recommend checking out both foundations, making donations, I’m always available to answer questions and to pass along.
That's super cool. I've been pondering a lot as well in this regard. What personally touches me so that I'd like to devote some time forever into a cause for bettering the world in my own little way...
If you could hop on a plane right now and spend a full day, where would you go and what would you do?
NEW YORK CITY! First thing would be a quick stop at Le Pain Quotidien for an espresso and a pastry then off to the MoMa. From there, I would hit up a couple stores on 5th Avenue (Nike and the NBA store) and make my way down to SoHo to pick up a few pairs of kicks at Stadium Goods. Grab a meal at the Shake Shack and head down to Brooklyn to finish up my day walking around Dumbo, snapping some pictures of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Future goals, dreams, purpose in life...last words?
I want to travel more and become a citizen of the world. I want an Audi. I hope to keep doing things that inspire people either it would be to start their own sneaker collection or to continue them. I hope to touch and inspire people to join a good cause and volunteer their time and skills towards it. I want to thank Solscience for reaching out. This has been a great experience. Stay fresh.
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Tees can be pricey starting at $28 to upwards of over $100 each. But they don't have to be. We're procuring various irregular tees, quality controlling them ourselves to ensure quality standards, and carefully hand-pressing heat-transferred designs onto them one tee at a time.
Introducing The IRREGULAR Series by The SprayFresh Crew. Save money, rock freshness.
At $12.00 a tee, imperfections are perfection.
(Noone will be able to tell the difference)
]]>ODE Magazine, a digitally based review site that reviews and ranks a plethora of useful products across various categories, recently ranked ANTIDŌT the #1 Sneaker Freshener amongst the competition.
Peep the link here.
Also, visit Ode Magazine here.
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This is just a really cool article on Jeff Staple and his insanely productive work ethic that we wanted to share. Click here for the jump.
Photo: Michael Kusumadjaja (Taken from LifeHacker.com)
]]>We wanted to share two stories. One to express hope and the other to express the need to take things seriously. In our minds, they go hand in hand. (Psst, and read until the end, we've got a fun offer you won't want to miss!)
"THE LIGHT"
So many mixed emotions ranging from fear of the unknown to worries of xenophobic hate crimes. The distress from small business struggles and unemployment woes to the repulsive disturbance of COVID-19 scam stories. Empathy towards those fighting on the front lines to save lives at risk, on-and-off panic from a quickly deteriorating stock market and global economy, conspiracy theories, and uneasy thoughts of what a post COVID-19 future holds for our children as well as what the near-term future holds for our elders and susceptible. It's surreal. End-of-the-world, movie-like vibes. We're all experiencing mixed emotions in our own ways.
But we can't forget the silver lining. The potent hope of a new, kinder, more enduring world rising from the ashes - strength through solidarity. Real positive change. Big picture change.
So many varying emotions in various doses differing from one person to another. It's the gift and the curse of being human, I guess. The gift being that we have the ability to believe that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Some of us see it brightly while others may not yet be able to see it at all. As a singular human race, let's all look for it, head towards it, and help others begin to believe it's there in the best way we can.
Especially if we're young, vibrant souls. Onward. Upward.
Instead of letting the sound of a cough from someone with a skin color different than yours bring about malignant feels, reprogram your brain - REPROGRAM YOUR HEART - to signal acts (or at least thoughts) of compassion, not ignorance. You can choose to look for opportunities or you can choose to look for obstacles. Whichever you choose, 'that' is exactly what you are going to find. I guess that's the curse - that humans can go either way.
The gift must trump the curse. Let's flip the script on 'em, keep an open mind and do our best to keep calm, be kinder, and carry on. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
"Patient 31"
This story exemplifies how one person can spread the virus to thousands of people.
On January 29, "Patient 31" is asymptomatic. She traveled to crowded spots in Daegu (South Korea), as well as in the capital city of Seoul. She attended (church) services on February 9 and again on February 16. The woman went to a buffet lunch with a friend at a hotel. On February 18, health authorities announced she was the country’s 31st confirmed case. In only a matter of days, those numbers had soared as hundreds of people at the church and surrounding areas tested positive. Another smaller cluster emerged from a nearby hospital in Cheongdo, a county close to Daegu. Authorities are investigating links between the church in Daegu and a funeral service at the hospital, which a number of church members attended. If confirmed, it means Patient 31 could be linked to both clusters. As of March 18, this Church cluster accounts for at least 60% (5,016 linked infections) of all cases in South Korea. Please think about your community.
Read "Patient 31" unabridged version here.
In tribute to the late Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and everything he stood for, we decided to share and pay our respects in our own way. It only made sense to reach out to our good friend and true Kobe fan, Rrroberto aka @StangNHoops, to take part and share his thoughts on what Kobe Bryant meant to him.
His words below:
"Strength. Determination. Perseverance.
When I was asked to do this, I was overcome by a sense of awareness, an awakening. An experience in feeling like walking in someone's footsteps, even if just for a brief moment. I smiled. I felt proud. I felt... honored. Kobe Bryant. That name exudes thoughts of strength. Winning. Hard work. An unbelievable drive towards excellence.
Some think of the championships, the awards, and the accolades. I think of everything that he had to sacrifice to try and satiate that unrelenting persistence towards his goals. The willingness to do whatever it takes to help make his dreams a reality.
Then, I think of the stories told by those close to him about how no matter what, he didn't try to compromise what he loved the most. His family. He was a man who pushed to perform at his job in the best way imaginable, but he still wanted to figure out how to make that work along with spending as much time as possible with his family.
His work ethic garnered my respect. His love for his family is what gained my regard. Watching his evolution from player to father was something that earned not just my attention but my gratitude. He went from professional sports hero to a human being. He became relatable.
I wish that I could have thanked him for the lessons, the reminders, and the revelations. I wish that I could have shaken his hand and given him a nod. Kobe, thank you for being a reminder of what it means to give it our all so that we can be the best possible version of ourselves. From process to belief. That is from you, for all of us.
Honor. Loyalty. Family. Gone but not forgotten."
]]>We had a successful turnout at the BBall Junkies headquarters in Anaheim, CA.
"No.5" was a collaborative effort between BBall Junkies and sōlscience created around the idea of ballin' fresh and making sure you don't foul out. No.5 represents the fifth foul in the NBA suggesting that by using the ANTIDŌT No.5 Sneaker Freshener, your sneakers will always smell fresh and you'll never foul out. When you got five fouls and no more to give, make sure it ain’t a Fragrant Foul.
Event Highlights:
ANTIDŌT No.5 (available online here) + Limited Merch Release (available online here)
ANTIDŌT Fragrance Bar + Sneaker Refresh Station
Mini Hoop Shoot-Out w/ Prizes + Raffle
Clipps & Drew of The Follow Through podcast doing a live NBA Kick-Off episode on site
Special Guest Appearance by Nightwing of Weartesters
Food & Refreshments
..and Music by The Earl
Peep the post event highlight video above!
Our good friend Rob's (aka @stangnhoops) daughters hooked it up major w/ a super legit unboxing video of two of our more recent ANTIDOT sneaker fresheners, specifically, @tracydesu's SUPringo and @underthepalms' Maple Drips. Thank you to @theemiliezone and big sis Kayla... watch out world! They're the future! Peep their video up above!
]]>So our brand is for basketball and sneaker enthusiasts with a dash of street culture influence. Like this right here. Some may not recognize the flip and that's just blasphemy!
Finding out Verdy (Girls Don't Cry, Wasted Youth, VK Design) initially designed a t-shirt graphic for his girl to wear on a trip to L.A. makes it that much more likable. We didn't get a chance to cop from the recent Girls Don't Cry drop. We couldn't get inside Family Style Food Festival for his Jon & Vinny collab. And we definitely won't be able to make it out to Verdy's Harajuku Day. 😞
So we did the next best thing we could think of. Some think imitation is the best form of flattery. Others think it's a form of thievery. We just happen to love his design and wanted to have fun with it.
ANTIDŌT Grails Don't Smell won't be for sale. But we’re doing another giveaway. By the time you read this, we would've had chosen 3 winners. So, besides for our own bottle, there are only 3 more in the world. Congrats! #GrailsDontSmell
]]>YET, at least.. NOT FOR SALE YET. Meaning, it might be, it might not be, we haven't really decided as of right now.
Like most parents' kids that use our product, co-founder Daichi's son is super into basketball (Clippers fan, if you're wondering). And so when D copped his son the Kyrie 5 SpongeBob series, a lightbulb immediately lit up. We'd been working on various fragrances that never see the light of day and one of them is a pineapple scented sneaker freshener. As soon as the SpongeBob series Kyrie collection dropped, we thought how fun it would be to create a pineapple scented ANTIDŌT Sneaker Freshener inspired by SpongeBob and his pineapple house. And so here it is... we're calling it ANTIDŌT "Pacific Pineapple," but for now, we're only giving away FIVE bottles for FREE via our Instagram account, @antidot_fresh. So good luck! And, if you're one of the five winners reading this, reach out to us and let us know how you like Pacific Pineapple. How does it smell? And, how do your kicks make you feel knowing they're F-R-E-S-H!?!?
Oh, and a magnetic sponge base is included. But don't wash dishes with it.
]]>We met Jacob DeLawrence aka @JDela_ indirectly via JumpmanBostic and have kept in touch ever since. We appreciate the opportunity of being interviewed and featured. So many people talk, not many listen.
Click here for the JUMP.
]]>How did everyone else make their initial personal discoveries into this world? What was your initial touch point? Was it a certain tee shirt brand? A certain pair of kicks? Or a certain blog that put you up on game?
Because that's what made it feel so special back in the day. As I recall Bobby Hundreds mentioning on a podcast, it was like knowing what the secret handshake was. We were never in the secret boys club, but we were always digging. For me, the gateway drug always seems to lead back to two entities: Digital Gravel & Evil Monito.
Digital Gravel (1999), the independent streetwear e-commerce website that supported so many new brands. Just the idea of being able to explore, discover and obtain something new from the internet that was also in itself, new. (Side note: Does anyone remember The Diggers Society? And what's crazy to me is that I just discovered that Hutch LA was directly tied to Digital Gravel via The Harsh Truth.)
And, of course, Evil Monito (2001) and the enigmatic Rickey Kim kept me utterly curious for nearly two decades. An intellectual, articulate and unassuming Asian American providing his perspective on shit that was cool. And to think Evil Monito just announced a comeback..
This took me down memory lane. I began thinking of brands like Obey (1989), Alphanumeric (1998), Fiberops (2002), The Hundreds (2003) and individuals such as Alyasha Owerka-Moore, Shepherd Fairey and Bobby. Remember the Alphanumeric engine graphic? It blew my mind seeing worlds collide like that. There were so many brands I discovered during this golden age. I have an image in my head of lying on the carpet floor of my ex-girlfriend's parent's house with a set of headphones on and listening to Jeff Carvalho and Rob Heppler (The Weekly Drop) interviewing Lupe Fiasco while he was speeding across the Brooklyn Bridge in his Range Rover. It took me to another world. It felt surreal and as if I was sitting there in the backseat, like a fly on a window. There were just so many brands to discover.. from 3Sixteen to Gourmet to Mishka..
Reflecting back, it was seeing new things I had never imagined materializing through visual design, and being able to pair it with discovering the people behind these creations that brought about a sense of intrigue and inspiration that nothing else has ever compared to. And the various messages quietly flowing underneath it all. After twenty years, streetwear, has been the one thing that has kept my mind interested. That and Hip Hop (back then). It's like continuously receiving pieces to put together an endless puzzle.
I've recently stopped picking up new pieces. The picture has gotten so large that it's hard to interpret now. Either that or I'm just old(er) and no longer interested in the same way. Here's a link from an old interview w/ Neek pre-Anti Social Social Club before he blew up. Thank you streetwear for keeping me interested in creativity for such a long time. For changing the world. And for flipping the status quo. The underdogs have quietly taken over. And most don't even realize it yet.
It might be a generational thing. That and, of course, Rashone Bryant (aka @afrikan_caesar) is an intelligent, prolific, down-to-earth cat that has cultivated an ever-evolving idea around his love of sneakers early on. Quick to realize no one has the attention span to read anymore, he experimented with content via podcasts in 2014 and ran with it - and with his solid crew he's taken a journey that's currently on the verge of making The Sneaker Box Radio Show podcast a full-time gig.
Isn't that what it's all about? It is for us. Doing cool things with good friends.
But moreso, I really admire and respect the fact that he sees the much bigger picture and he connects what he does with his roots. The long game is by nature a strong game, focusing on the micro but always seeing the macro. He passes the depth of character test in our book.
"I wanted to put Detroit on the map. You hear about LA all the time. You hear about NY all the time. I wanted to showcase African Americans in a positive light other than the buffoonery you see on VH1 or whatever, right."
In our hour long chat, we talk about Caesar's involvement with Sneaker Bar Detroit, how this led to The Sneaker Box Radio Show and linking up w/ ANTIDŌT ambassador and friend, @JumpmanBostic and the rest of the current crew (@guru_knows, @francis313, @geenokicks).
We also rap about how analytics can sometimes completely miss the mark, why Caesar feels we're a "home-cooked meal" and his definition of a hypebeast.
With over a half million downloads on iTunes alone now and heavy rotation at all DTLR/Villa brick-and-mortar locations via the DTLR Villa Radio Station, Caesar and the crew are on their way. But, what's most important to recognize is that they didn't set out to do this for the fame and fortune - not that there's anything wrong with fame and fortune. We just suspect that so long as it stays real, they'll be doing this for awhile in some form and fashion. Because, moreso than the money, if you can somehow keep loving what you do and honing your craft, as we always say, the process is the goal.. and it'll never be just about the money.
We happen to really click with Caesar and his crew. At least we feel that way. We probably don't even have to have the common thread of sneakers and basketball, really. There's a certain, common thread and laid back vibe that knows no boundaries and automatically aligns when the values are the same. Again, it might just be a generational thing. At least partly.
Peep the unedited, hour long audio file chat here and make sure to not just hear what they're saying, but listen to current and past The Sneaker Box Radio Show episodes here.
]]>SpaceBall Mag: Bridging The Cultural Baller Gap between the U.S. & Japan (An Interview w/ Bang Lee & Jeremy Renault)
Photo Credit: Jeremy Renault
SpaceBall Mag has become a beacon for helping to spread the sport and culture of street ball and basketball to Japan and other parts of Asia. They're sharing their experiences from one culture and fusing it with another by promoting, organizing, learning, and giving back to the growing baller community within Japan. And something beautiful is slowly brewing.
Considering 75% of sōlscience's co-founder heritage roots from Japan, it was a pleasant surprise to be linked up with Jeremy Renault through our good friend, Ian Rice better known as @clipps555. You can read about Clipps here.
Jeremy moved to Tokyo in August 2017 with his wife and works in marketing and content production for basketball organizations in Japan and Taiwan. He introduced us to his long time friend, Bang Lee, a basketball consultant, editor, private trainer, and a coach who lived in NYC for 6 years and is especially known for helping to bring US street ball culture to Japan as well as Japanese teams to U.S. basketball tournaments such as the VBL and West 4th St.
Over the years, they've organized various events such as Adidas Nation Tokyo, Tokyo Weekdays Basketball League, and a new 3x3 league that started in November 2018 that we're proud to be involved in. It's a full court (smaller than the standard) 3x3 men's league with no subs during the game, only between each 5 minute quarter.
Jeremy has been studying Japanese basketball culture for over a year now realizes how much they care about the gear: sneakers, basketball, and accessories - hence the newly founded relationship between SpaceBall Mag and sōlscience.
Japan is special to us. Jeremy states that even after a game, when most people in the US just go home dressed with their sweaty shorts and t-shirts, the Japanese carefully pack their shoes in a shoe bag, clothes in another bag, they use Japanese deodorant body sheets all the time.
We were curious and wanted to learn more from Jeremy, Bang Lee, and the SpaceBall Mag movement in Japan. Here are some questions we asked them:
For those that don't know, what is SpaceBall Mag? And why the name?
BL (Bang Lee): It used to be a free paper about STREETBALL in NY. Now we organize some events in Japan. Basketball is like our universe, and you can go anywhere you want with it, like space.
Could you briefly describe how the two of you met?
BL: I brought team Japan to Venice Beach for VBL World Games in LA then.
JR (Jeremy Renault): In 2014 I was working for VENICEBALL in LA and Bang Lee who was a long time friend with Nick (Founder of the VBL) brought a team from Japan to play in our World Games tournament.
Could you give us a brief description of what you do individually, and also in the realm of basketball?
JR: I work in marketing, digital & experiential, mostly here in Tokyo with a strong background working with basketball organizations in the US. I also do basketball photography and videography and whenever I can help with a basketball league, media, collaboration I am always in.
How did you two come to begin living in Japan? And how long do you plan to live there?
BL: Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. Undecided.
JR: Moved from LA to Tokyo with my wife, I have always kept in touch with Bang Lee since 2014 and I liked what SpaceBall Mag was doing in Japan. I am very thankful to him for giving me an opportunity here. Undecided ,but so far it has been a great journey, basketball and food wise. =)
How did the idea of bringing the culture of US Street Ball to Japan come about?
BL: Simple. I used to live in NY for like 6 years and it's the Mecca of basketball there.
JR: I think from the lack of public facilities and outside courts being a problem. (You can find a lot of half court courts though.)
What are some key differences in basketball culture between US and Japan? The style of play? Sportsmanship?
BL: We have no playgrounds here in Japan. People can't play ball easy.
JR: I will say, Japan has less basketball facilities/park/outdoor courts, but there are a lot of events and leagues going on for men and women all year long. They like 1-on-1 and they work hard on their handles because compared to Americans, they are less physical, so speed and handle can help them dominate a bigger player. I have never seen a player getting mad or looking to fight with another player during a game.
How popular is Japanese college basketball? Does it air on TV like in the US?
BL: It's not...
JR: Cant even be compared to College nor HS games in the US.
Do you think the interest in basketball in Japan is growing? Why do you feel this way?
BL: Growing well, now we have a top pro league called the B league. It's year 3 now!
JR: its definitely growing with current Japanese NBA and NCAA players, Rakuten sponsoring an NBA team, the Tokyo 2020, 3-on-3 pro league here and more and more pro players coming to play in the B League (Robert Sacre ex Lakers plays in it, and a few D1 players). Last summer Stephen Curry, Westbrook, Draymond Green, and Ray Allen came to Tokyo and they are talking about hosting games for the 2019-2020 NBA pre-season in Japan.
Do you foresee more Japanese basketball players coming to the US (ie. Yuta Tabuse, Yuta Watanabe, Rui Hachimura)? If so, who are some of the up and coming players we should be on the lookout for?
BL: Kai Toews in NC, Chikara Tanaka (IMG Academy)
JR: Don't have names in mind, but seeing how the game is changing and how the young are training, I wont be surprised to see more Japanese players coming to US.
What do you feel the Japanese could learn from the Americans (and vice versa) within Street Ball culture?
BL: Alot. There is a playground at the corner if you walk, every 4 blocks in NY. There are 80 tourneys in the summer time in NYC. People pay money for playing basketball as culture in U.S.
JR: Would love to see a Japanese pro-AM league during the summer, 5-on-5 mix of street ballers, college, and pro. The Japanese city office should be open to build/renovate more basketball courts like in the US. Americans should learn to talk less on the court (J/K).
When did you first start playing basketball? Did you play in high school, college team or an adult league?
BL: Started when I was 13 to now. Played pro-am in NY a lot.
JR: Played in club in France from 9 years old to 21, then moved to US, played for few rec league S/O to Sawtelles Sonics ;)
What are some of your hobbies and sports outside of basketball?
BL: Soccer sometimes.
JR: Content production, photo video, marketing, currently taking some classes to learn Japanese
What do you hope to accomplish while in Japan?
JR:: Being fluent in Japanese. Work on more basketball events. Be part of some Tokyo 2020 activations. Would love to have my own photo exhibition. Keep building the relationship between Japan, US, EU like how we started with you guys.
:: LET'S PLAY FAVORITES ::
Favorite current basketball shoe:
BL: Adidas Crazy BYW
JR: Crazy Explosive
Favorite all-time basketball shoe:
BL: Taichi Mid
JR: Kobe VII
Favorite sneaker brand:
BL: Adidas
JR: Adidas
Favorite basketball player in Japan:
BL: Kai Toews
JR: I haven't seen a lot of games here yet but I have met Hiryu Okamoto at some workouts and I was very impressed with his speed handle.. they work hard.
Favorite NBA basketball player:
BL: Nate Robinson
JR: Rondo
Favorite NBA team:
BL: NY Knicks
JR: Celtics
Favorite up-and-coming basketball lifestyle brand:
BL: Adidas
JR: Adidas, Aime Leon Dore, for US and Euro people, please check-out AKTR and BALLAHOLIC brands from Japan, they are a big part of the basketball culture here.
Favorite basketball related artist:
BL: Bobbito Garcia
JR: Andrew Archer
Who do you think is the GOAT and why:
BL: MJ (why not?)
JR: MJ because he became THE reference when it comes to basketball highlights, moves, everybody wanted to "Be Like Mike" including Kobe and LeBron.
And finally, your prediction for 2018-19 NBA champions:
BL: GSW
JR: GSW, but I would like to see Harden with a ring.
For more info on SpaceBall Mag, Bang Lee, and Jeremy Renault, please see below:
Bang Lee
Instagram @banglee
Jeremy Renault
Instagram @_jerem
]]>
The same way John C. Jay urged us to keep an OPEN MIND, STAY CURIOUS and realize none of us really know jack. Unlearn to learn. This was right after John Maeda beamed in via hologram form.
Why is a "sneaker freshener brand" blogging about this? Because it really left an impression. (And because we're more than just a sneaker freshener. We're humans trying to build something.) And for us suburbanites (Daichi and myself), moments like this mean the world to us. Seeing and being around people we're inspired by. Isn't it sad? Suburban is defined as contemptibly dull and ordinary. And in all honesty, sometimes we feel that way. Or at least I do. (Sidenote: Is sulbculture to culture what suburban is to urban?) Especially when we're on social media much too often... seeing only people's accomplishments and all the cool things they're doing and cool people they're meeting and seeing how everyone wants to be perceived... we're all guilty of it. It's so important to disconnect with the digital and connect with the physical. And that's why, when David Choe told us to hug the stranger next to us and say something nice, we actually remember and felt that moment. We're all just humans living in a finite moment. Try to make the most of it. It seems so easy when reading those words alone..
"Hi Alex. Your eyes have a very warm feel to them. It's nice."
"Hi Kent. You have a very calming effect."
We both felt good after this, thanks to David Choe. I should incorporate this into my daily routine. Taking a moment to say something genuinely nice to someone. Because in that moment, It didn't matter that we looked different, come from different socioeconomic backgrounds or have different needs and wants.. the facade is stripped down. Although it probably helped that David Choe was shirtless with purple overalls, we felt connected. And that was unexpected as fuck, thanks again to David Choe.
It was a similar species of feeling when it dawned on Jennifer Ferro (KCRW) and she mentioned she felt this relief and the anxiety slip away when she realized (while staring at sand pebbles on the beach in Palos Verdes) that we're all going to die. That sameness takes the fear away from the fear of not being able to try something new. These are some of the moments that really impacted me.
So then the question becomes, what do I (fearlessly) do? Start With Why. And that's where I'm at. In life. In business. Trying to connect the dots. Trying to make sense of everything. Trying to find clarity within self.
Humility. Selflessness. Purpose. That's Jayson Mayden. And I'm so not there yet. Not on that scale. To think.. from Nike to helping kids through his company, Super Heroic. It's refreshing and out of this world to know that people like Jayson exist. It really puts things into perspective. Maybe someday. For now, I'll have to focus on myself first before I can help others at such a meaningful level.
We learned alot this day. We felt inspired. We met a few new people and a few familiar faces. We heard differing thoughts and beliefs. It was nice to take everything in and contemplate it all. And spending the entire day with Rob from BBALL Junkies and Kyoko was a treat as well.
Exciting times... we're just scratching the surface... and looking forward to the next Unexpected Connections.
It was an absolute pleasure meeting Eugene, Alex, Charis, Tommy, Lindsay, John C. Jay, Jun Cha, Levi, and a few others.
Oh, and here's a good article via The OC Weekly.
(Sidenote: I also recall Julia saying, "Don't squander your luck away.") Words from the wise.
]]>Super stoked that co-founder and die-hard fan, Daichi Nakagawa, reached out to one of his sneaker review heroes, @NightWing2303 - founder of WearTesters.com, sneaker reviewer and arguably the most trusted performance tester of basketball sneakers and basketball related products of his kind. Now a friend of the brand, we sent NightWing2303 a beta version of our unreleased UNBX™ Unboxing Key - and he loved it.
The UNBX Key features a puncturing component that will initiate a smooth, tape-cutting, glide action and a serrated blade to assist with those stubborn unboxing situtations caused by stringy packaging tape. It's designed to be the ultimate convenience tool to safely unbox your newly purchased kicks without damaging the precious box inside.
The inspiration was actually the Adidas tape...it states, “do not open with sharp instrument” - so we figured why not make an unboxing tool that won’t cut the shoe box inside?
Hence the UNBX key, where the blade length is short and safe enough to use without the worry of sneaker box damage.
Plus, it’s also designed in a way so that when you hold the key, your fingers also act as a “stopper” so that you can’t go too deep with the key.
Ben Baller and Matt Halfhill both thought it was a dope idea when we teased it awhile back on IG. We're still unsure when we'll release this as we're still in the development phase. But peep the video to see one of a very limited number of test samples put to use! (Ironically and unfortunately, NightWing's "Homage to Home" AJ1 box already came damaged.) =(
TO BE CONTINUED....
]]>Thanks scoop208 for reviewing a couple bottles of ANTIDOT, sneaker fragrance and deodorizer on your Youtube channel. He seemed to really like JumpmanBostic's Midnight Cherry fragrance. For those of you that aren't familiar, follow him and subscribe here.
]]>Livin' Las Vegas Neek Style
by a former Fatlace Staff Writer
First published in 2009
Every normal kid wants to look good and do their thing. A lot of them think starting a brand or a cool guy blog might be the ticket and end up jumping in and cloning what they deem cool without knowing what lies beneath the surface. At the end of the day, their drive is gone and they've had enough of their fair share of the false, fifteen minute e-fame fix, hardly getting past a paltry logo design and a few forgotten, mediocre blog archives. There's always that exception to the rule, however.
Enter Andrew Buenaflor better known as Neek. Born in New York, the Bronx to be exact, Neek is currently living out his college years in Las Vegas. He caught the Japanese fashion bug through the likes of Warp and Street Jack, two notable Japanese young fashion and culture related magazines he cites as initial portals to this world. An early Vegas transplant, Neek equates the slow-paced Las Vegas lifestyle to lots of time spent on the internet. In a strange way reflecting back on our interview, Sin City may have been a blessing in disguise.
Do whatever interests you, stand out effortlessly, use the internet advantageously, and learn from the upper echelon within the industry. Neek is doing exactly that probably without even realizing it, which led to the e-fame that's slowly transforming into real, long-term value, so long as the cards are played right. And so far, I think they are.
Even back in '02-'03, he was already ahead of his time quite possibly being the only dude at his high school rocking skinny jeans, Nike SB Dunks and long, shaggy hair. Neek quickly gained a following on NikeTalk.com through his WDYWT (What Did You Wear Today) thread posts to the point someone ended up producing sold out Neek tee-shirts based off of a Supreme parody. Let's not forget he was also interviewed for the NY Times, but that's all in the past before he even had a driver's license.
Nowadays, the only difference is that he's busier, more focused and, has accumulated a few extra added toys into his life. His photography (Neek doesn't consider himself a photographer, but instead a documentor), his clothes, his Biancha Pista fixed gear, his whip, and his Japanese porn fetish all assist in rounding out the Neek character.
While Neek's life is becoming more business oriented, the car culture world has become his current release from it all. No business involved here except for the occasional wheel swap amongst cohorts in the xB community. Regardless, Neek takes his hobbies seriously and his ride is definitely an extension of his personality. The current project is a completely blacked-out, 2nd generation Scion xB outfitted on 16"x7" +30 Work Leadsleds, a Chicano-style, discontinued wheel produced by a major Japanese wheel brand. Decals tastefully applied to the Yakima roof rack along with a black-and-white checkered vinyl scheme on the hood accents the xB nicely, standing out from the rest of the pack effortlessly. He's recently lowered his stance significantly and swapped over to a more aggressive 17"x7.5" +20 SSR Vienna Kreis wheel set-up, but already looking to trade for some BBS. I guess the devil is in the details.
Currently, Neek's working on attaining his International Business Management degree at the College of Southern Nevada and currently holds a job at the Stussy store in Las Vegas managing a variety of tasks on a daily basis such as taking product shots, sales and marketing, photoshoots and sometimes even helping to market UNDFTD. His relationship with industry figures such as Chris Julian of Fruition and Eddie Cruz of UNDFTD amongst others has led him from being a fan to becoming an official mover and shaker. For a year and a half stint, there was even a There's Neek link on The Hundreds site, a play off of his Where's Neek blog site. That's similar to a kid back in the day being involved and showcased in the print catalog of his favorite clothing brand, but with a bigger audience. That’s huge (no pun intended). He was showcasing the Las Vegas lifestyle through his photoblog on the well-known Hundreds site until he was offered the gig at Stussy LV through Chris.
If you've never met Neek, his online persona might seem a bit mysterious, creepy even. What else would you expect from a self-proclaimed professional lurker. And although his real personality has a straight up, non-corny, I'll-tell-you-how-I'm-really-feeling type of vibe, he also delivers a certain respect for older folk that they can appreciate.
What I found really surprising is that Neek is currently only 20 years of age. That's probably why there's such little pretense, or none at all. Neek is refreshing in that sense. It's good to get a head start so long as you don't burn out. It's good to love what you do without being too conscious of others around you. While many are unable to show their real personalities and hide behind computer screen alter egos, he's the exact opposite. Whereas you may meet someone who seems normal online and turns out being socially inept, Neek's far from it. His personality is real, rough, rugged and raw with an unmistakable charm. It's gotta be the age.
In order to take the next progressive step, Neek will need to continue to walk that fine line between staying relevant and having fun all the while continuing to network correctly and hone his skills. And that's an extremely tough thing to do. Most feed off of the attention and once their relevancy is lost, so is their focus and drive. Others end up having too much fun, also losing their focus and drive in the end. Some simply become jaded over time. And the rest will ride the wave as long as they possibly can until they realize they'll need to produce in order to keep it moving. Personally, I'm rooting for Neek to rise above all that at a steady pace, in due time.
I'm really interested in seeing what will come about from the successful bunch of this loosely categorized type of individuals, Neek included. Those that have a keen sense of business and style, usually ahead of the curve, not socially inept, are interested in various things, and seem to be able to make life work for them. A jack of all trades in which productivity and creativity come naturally. It's never only about the money for these folk. I can only hope that the higher-up powers-that-be realize how productive certain individuals can be and continue to help mold the next generation correctly. And I hope the next generation don't lose their focus and become jaded. And instead they really plan ahead, think long term, strategically, respectfully, creatively, with business savvy and tact, and take their sweet time. It's always about the business, but ultimately, with a holistic approach and a real interest and respect for the creative. Like the account executive that understands, nurtures and meshes seamlessly with the creative side. And vice versa. Peace.
Favorite Brands:
Neighborhood, Visvim, Double Taps, Supreme, Stussy
On Style:
"I'm all about the plain white tee look, my 2007 Black Flash Savage Neighborhood denim and a pair of red wings. That dirty, after-working-on-a-car-look or something. But you still gotta rock the $400 denim. It’s also more simple these days. You can’t be wearing the lime green or the orange. More simple, muted tones, black, white. Classic Americana style. But right now, I rock mostly plain old Dickies now, Grey/Khaki/Blue. Get them dirty and don't care I love 'em!"
On Supreme:
"I've been rocking Supreme. That was like my number one.. that was my brand. It was Supreme strictly for me. Angelo is director of marketing for Supreme. I was reppin' them to the fullest. As far as Supreme, I can't say I worked for them, but whenever new shit comes out, I'll put it on my blog and Hypebeast will use it."
On Chris Julian (Fruition):
"I met Chris Julian, worked there for a year in 2005 and helped them start Fruition. I helped with the marketing, like internet blogging, guerilla marketing, viral marketing, things needed in the whole circle of how to run a shop. I learned the marketing and business side and started meeting everyone through the industry. Chris is pretty much the bossman of Vegas, he runs UNDFTD, Stussy and Fruition. He runs Vegas pretty much."
On Eddie Cruz (UNDFTD):
"Coolest guy ever, Eddie Cruz. That's the dude. Really humble guy, really nice, like very authentic, very real. Even though he runs everything, coolest guy in the industry."
On Car Culture in Vegas:
"I think car culture here is dope. I chill with the bB squad. We'll roll out, like 20 of us, hit up a couple of car shops, it's cool. It's not really business oriented."
"Cars fascinate me more currently right now. It changes my mood just being around cars. It's a whole different kind of people. When the dude steps out of their car, it's like dude, oh man, I never would have thought you owned that car."
On Las Vegas:
"There's no beach, the parks suck. That's why I go to all the Scion meets.
Las Vegas is like a mirage, man. We're in the middle of the desert, literally.
The culture here is really bleak. That's how I see Vegas. Lots of people are transplants.
The realness isn't there. It lacks a vibe. The culture is growing, but not as fast as LA or NY. That's why UNDFTD and Stussy are here. We want kids to come in and get knowledge. We want kids to come and hang out and not just to shop. We want kids to feel comfortable and show them what's up. That's why I'm gonna do a show next month at the shop. Throw more events, bring people together. We're cool people at the store.
You don't have to be scared of us."
On Neek's Bike:
"My bike is a Bianchi Pista. It's been powderecoated many times. As my mood changes my bike changes. It was Forest green before. But now it's Hot pink, blue and red flakes. I had a Lime green aero spoke. But now just the Lime green deep V's. I love my Toshi double straps. A friend gave 'em to me for 20 bucks and that changed everything. I dont think I can skid stop without them."
On House of Commons & Critical Mass:
"They left not too long ago, but the good thing about them is they brought the Fixed Gear Culture to Las Vegas. When they were here, they brought all the people that rode bikes man. Met up in front of the shop and held events together. It actually started this whole trend in Vegas. We rode down the strip, there's a good 20-30 of us, and now there are over 100 bikes that ride with us. They were from SF and brought it here. They brought a little culture here."
"Critical Mass is every last friday of the month. We went around Vegas over 100 of us on fixed gear bikes. We ride the strip. Imagine the strip filled with bikes."
On Japanese Girls (& porn):
"I'm a big fan of Japanese girls. I like their pale skin, I like girls that are skinny, innocent looking and honest. Their hair and style, you know the dyed orange/blonde hair, gyaru type. Those types of girls. It's all about porn. I don't like the mainstream girls, but I do like alot of porn stars. Any girl with big hair that's pale and orange, like a gyaru type, I'm down."
On http://Jen.Lu
"Shanghainese girl in New York. That's like a real girl that I talk to. Her name is Jen Lu, she's a graphic designer. Ugh, I love that girl. Everytime I go to NY, I hang out w/ that girl. She did the Ice Cream Skate DVD cover. She works for Lowe. We go out to lunch, but it doesn't go past that. Damn it!"
On Stussy/UNDFTD:
"It's like a secret code. I can't be messing around with certain brands because I work with the higher ups."
"It's all a family. Supreme, Union, UNDFTD. I think of it as a mob. To be cool with us you gotta know us."
Because Rob is local, we've been able to link up more than a few times. Whether it's for basketball or a sneaker event or Slater's 50/50. Through Michy, we met both @stangnhoops and @thebrokenballer. Digital to physical. What began as support through our Antidot Sneaker Freshener & Deodorizer, has evolved into a relationship based around more than just keeping the insides of your kicks fresh. Read more about Rob aka @stangnhoops below.
1. What do you believe to be your biggest strength?
Honesty followed by loyalty. I couldn't just give one. Sorry!
2. What do you imagine yourself doing 2-5 years from now?
Helping others, in as big a capacity as I can!
3. What's the #1 thing you are currently working on?
Trying to provide for my family; they're everything to me.
4. If you could sit down and pick one person's brain, who would it be and why?
Peter Tägtgren; musical extraordinaire, because he is a massive influence.
5. Words you live by?
"You only live once" and "be the best you."
6. Current Favorite Sneaker?
Kobe XI Elite Low iD "Mamba Days" (Multi-Color/University Blue)
7. Favorite Sneaker of all time?
Air Jordan 5 "Metallic"
8. Favorite Apparel Brand of all time?
Quiksilver and Rusty (1988-1992 era) The quality was sick!
9. Favorite Sports Team of all time and why?
Los Angeles Lakers; because of heritage, heart, and showtime!
10. Favorite Athlete of all time and why?
Greg LeMond. Inspirational U.S. Cyclist who won Le Tour twice! (Bonus point: Read about his injury and comeback to win the second Tour!)
Lastly, would you like to say anything to your friends, family, followers:
First, thank you for all of your support! Second, don't ever shy away from trying things. Third, continue to grow; spiritually, mentally, and physically. Lastly, I am honored to speak with each and every one of you so don't ever hesitate to send me a question or comment. Peace!
Because Rob is local, we've been able to link up more than a few times. Whether it's for basketball or a sneaker event or Slater's 50/50. Through Michy, we met both @stangnhoops and @thebrokenballer. Digital to physical. What began as support through our Antidot Sneaker Freshener & Deodorizer, has evolved into a relationship based around more than just keeping the insides of your kicks fresh. Read more about Rob aka @stangnhoops below.
1. What do you believe to be your biggest strength?
Honesty followed by loyalty. I couldn't just give one. Sorry!
2. What do you imagine yourself doing 2-5 years from now?
Helping others, in as big a capacity as I can!
3. What's the #1 thing you are currently working on?
Trying to provide for my family; they're everything to me.
4. If you could sit down and pick one person's brain, who would it be and why?
Peter Tägtgren; musical extraordinaire, because he is a massive influence.
5. Words you live by?
"You only live once" and "be the best you."
6. Current Favorite Sneaker?
Kobe XI Elite Low iD "Mamba Days" (Multi-Color/University Blue)
7. Favorite Sneaker of all time?
Air Jordan 5 "Metallic"
8. Favorite Apparel Brand of all time?
Quiksilver and Rusty (1988-1992 era) The quality was sick!
9. Favorite Sports Team of all time and why?
Los Angeles Lakers; because of heritage, heart, and showtime!
10. Favorite Athlete of all time and why?
Greg LeMond. Inspirational U.S. Cyclist who won Le Tour twice! (Bonus point: Read about his injury and comeback to win the second Tour!)
Lastly, would you like to say anything to your friends, family, followers:
First, thank you for all of your support! Second, don't ever shy away from trying things. Third, continue to grow; spiritually, mentally, and physically. Lastly, I am honored to speak with each and every one of you so don't ever hesitate to send me a question or comment. Peace!
]]>Michy Asquith, probably one of the best role models we know, reached out to us early on and it's been one of our strongest relationships to date. From introducing us to others to simply being an example of what a dedicated father, friend and disciplined athlete should strive for, we owe a lot to Michy. And, of course, he's in love with our ANTIDOT Sneaker Freshener! Here's a really small window into his mind. [Photo Courtesy of @ma76bball]
1) What do you believe to be your biggest strength?
Helping the youth and encouraging others.
2) What do you imagine yourself doing 2-5 years from now?
Still helping others and being an awesome dad!
3) What's the #1 thing you are currently working on?
Teaching my son about how life rolls.
4) If you could sit down and pick one person's brain, who would it be and why?
LeBron James. His ability to take care of his body.
5) Words you live by?
Each one teach one.
6) Current Favorite Sneaker?
Brandblack Rare Metal Lightning
7) Favorite Sneaker of all time?
Brandblack Rare Metal Lightning
8) Favorite Apparel Brand of all time?
Nike. Their DRI-FIT pieces are top notch.
9) Favorite Sports Team of all time and why?
Chicago Bulls. I grew up on MJ.
10) Favorite Athlete of all time and why?
MJ. Unrelenting and accomplished.
Final Words:
Failures and obstructions are expected. How we deal with these events and what we learn from them is key.
ThinkPiece #004 | Presented by solscience®
If it didn't happen on the Internet, it ain't real...
It still fascinates me that you can discover someone via Instagram that you initially hadn't heard of, catch a general vibe of what he or she puts out into the digital world, and then end up physically connecting and planting the seeds of possibly building together. And, there’s a certain beauty to it, especially when it’s built on something not necessarily deliberate nor calculated. Instead, organic and serendipitous. From being fans and followers of what we’re passionate about to carving out our own lane, the playing field is slowly leveling itself out. Build it and they will come. The ingredients: Passion, persistence, a good idea and a positive vibe. We constantly need to remind ourselves not to lose sight of that.
Enter Ian Rice aka @clipps555 – we were digitally and informally introduced by way of Michy Asquith aka @ma76bball. Michy, albeit residing in Japan, was actually the catalyst, who is literally part of our family and also linked us up with others including one Robert Martinez aka @stangnhoops, another member of the squad. Everyone is just good people sharing this love of family, basketball, sneakers and creating. And, of course, we’re grateful they all support the solscience brand and use our ANTIDOT premium sneaker deodorizer and freshener regularly (shameless plug). Ian is officially part of the BrandBlack squad and everyone here also supports that movement as well.
Breaking bread with Ian at North Italia in Irvine a few months back, we were interested and got the chance to delve into his story and learn more about him. And from all he’s been openly talking about to witnessing it slowly come to fruition, it seems like everything in his world has been leading up to this, the first chapter of the @clipps555 movement. Ian’s recently been actively plotting and making moves and now it’s coming time to execute. But let’s rewind a bit and connect present to past because there are a lot of previous chapters. There’s been obstacles along the way, but that only strengthens character providing real meaning and value.
The IG handle @clipps555 comes from the fact that Ian is a diehard Clippers fan. It actually all started with the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team. Ian’s best friend at the time when he was in the fifth grade had season tickets to the Clippers. And although Ian was into other sports, once he experienced watching the game, he instantly fell in love with the team and the sport. To the point where Ian saved up enough money to buy a ten-game pass and eventually see guys like Michael Jordan, Shawn Kemp and Shaq play. He stirred up the curiosity of his ticket guy, Phillip Johnson, who was so impressed by his enthusiasm and how young Clipps was, that after Ian expressed his interest in becoming a ball boy, he told Ian to write him a letter and that he’ll put it on the guy’s desk that makes this decision. That whole summer Ian wrote a letter a week to Phillip Johnson. Chris Bayer, who just recently left the Clippers, ended up hiring Ian.
Ian did what he does best; he got friendly with the players. Guys like Danny Manning. Brent Barry. The whole squad. His respect of the game and towards the players, knowing how to talk to them on their level and of course, the swag. It all facilitated Ian in becoming one of them.
"Brent Barry won the 1996 NBA Slam Dunk contest, bought a brand new Mercedes, and I'd ditch school and go to lunch with him and just hang out."
And, Clipps was at their practices. He’d play them one-on-one, and if you weren't a player, you weren’t even allowed to shoot, but if they missed, he’d still make some cash – and even if he lost, they’d still hook him up. He was just good around the players. He gained their trust.
And then everything changed when Lorenzen Wright entered into his world. 7th overall pick in the '96 draft w/ Allen Iverson, Stephen Marbury, Kobe. And when he came to town, Ian and Lorenzen just clicked. Their friendship grew tight and Lorenzen took Clipps under his wings. When Lorenzen was away, he trusted Clipps to take care of the pad in Marina Del Rey, the 600 Benz, the Tahoe. Their bond grew so strong, the same night that Clipps graduated from high school (many of the Clippers were in attendance at his graduation), he immediately flew out with Lorenzen to spend the entire summer in Memphis. And when Lorenzen was traded to the Atlanta Hawks, Ian moved there as well. They had all kinds of plans. Ian was inner circle. Like the center of the inner circle. The future together seemed bright.
"Hindsight is 20/20, I think I was pulled out of that situation by a greater power because I wasn’t supposed to be there."
Without getting into the details, on July 19th 2010, Lorenzen Wright was murdered.
It changed Ian's entire life. His whole perspective on life. Ian went into a dark place and was lost. He turned to basketball and got way more into it. Maybe part of the reason was to not have to think about the reality of what just occurred. Ian was already pretty good at the sport, but he started to really get into basketball. Super seriously. It took some time for the wounds to heal, but day by day, Ian would begin to build his life up again. He built up a business, bought a house and things were beginning to settle down and stabilize. All the while playing basketball religiously.
And then he blew his knee out. He tore his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) and the doctor told him he'd never play again.
The BrandBlack Chapter
Fast forward a few years. Working in the restaurant business, you tend to meet a lot of people. One morning, while working at The Red Fox in San Clemente, Ian's boss hits him up and asks if he knows who Jamaal Crawford is and what shoe brand does he wear.
"Of course I know who Jamaal Crawford is. And he wears BrandBlack."
A guy by the name of Bryce (Ian has his position now at BrandBlack) happens to walk into The Red Fox and invites Clipps to Venice Beach to meet some of the BrandBlack basketball guys. And, similar to how it was with the NBA guys, Ian began building relationships again. He's been with BrandBlack for four years now. And, everything he's done up to this point... all of the basketball videos of himself he's accumulated, everyone he's met through the Clippers, BrandBlack, Instagram... he's slowly become a brand in his own right.
"I just love this game so much dude, and I don't know what I'm gonna do when I can't do it anymore."
But he does. And he is. Ian is ready now to transition into something more seriously other than just playing basketball. Whether it's selling product, building platforms, helping other people get better, happiness for Ian is doing what he loves to do and that outweighs everything. And that happiness revolves around the hoop. Money isn't the end goal. It should never be. And for people who are passionate about what they do, it never is. The players insipired him, and now he wants to reciprocate and inspire the next generation. While having fun.
The Clipps555 Chapter
I just finished listening to Episode 3 of The Follow Through with Clipps & Drew podcast series. And it’s fire. If you follow @clipps555 on Instagram, you'll know this has been in the works. The chemistry between Clipps and Drew makes for both an entertaining and educational show regardless if you’re a hardcore hooper that follows all the college and NBA stats and players, or someone just casually growing more interested in the world of basketball.
This is only the beginning of a story written about him, but intended for you and I. It's a message and reminder to all of us to keep having fun. And that you have to keep doing what you love. And that part of doing what you love is also having to go through things you don't necessarily love. How can you have the good without the bad? Life is short, but the chapters our long. It'll have its ups and downs. You can't control everything. But what you can control, control it well and put your everything into it in your own way. Ian Rice is on that path because he's persevered. And the path sometimes zigs and zags. From ball boy to an ambassador to the world through the game he loves and all of the people involved in his life past, present and future. Passion is so priceless. His is spreading positivity and his love of basketball through the platforms he's a part of. What's yours?
IG: @clipps555
IG: @clippsndrew
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