{"product_id":"asphalt-gods-an-oral-history-of-the-rucker-tournament-paperback","title":"Asphalt Gods: An Oral History of the Rucker Tournament - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eVincent M. Mallozzi\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe real basketball deal-the inside story of Harlem's legendary tournament and the pros and playground legends who have made it world famous. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eEarl \"The Goat\" Manigault. Herman \"Helicopter\" Knowings. Joe \"The Destroyer\" Hammond. Richard \"Pee Wee\" Kirkland. These and dozens of other colorfully nicknamed men are the \"Asphalt Gods,\" whose astounding exploits in the Rucker Tournament, often against multimillionaire NBA superstars, have made them playground divinity. First established in the 1950s by Holcombe Rucker, a New York City Parks Department employee, the tournament has grown to become a Harlem institution, an annual summer event of major proportions. On that fabled patch of concrete, unknown players have been lighting it up for decades as they express basketball as a freestyle art among their peers and against such pro immortals as Julius Erving and Wilt Chamberlain. X's and O's are exchanged for oohs and aahs in one of the great examples of street theater to be found in urban America. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eAsphalt Gods\u003c\/i\u003e is a streetwise, supremely entertaining oral history of a tournament that has influenced everything from NBA playing style to hip-hop culture. Now, legends transmitted by word of mouth find a home and the achievements of basketball's greatest unknowns a permanent place in the game's record.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eVINCENT MALLOZZI is a native of Harlem who has become the Rucker Tournament's unofficial historian, covering it for such publications as the\u003ci\u003e New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e, the\u003ci\u003e Village Voice\u003c\/i\u003e, the\u003ci\u003e Source\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eVibe\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eSlam\u003c\/i\u003e. He was recently elected to the Rucker Hall of Fame for his community service. He is a sports editor for the\u003ci\u003e New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 272\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.67 x 8.5 x 5.5 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e June 17, 2003\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45338567671910,"sku":"9780385520997","price":31.9,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0599\/7255\/0758\/files\/QytJQ0dsUnFSRGJOS3Fpak0xYkNtZz09.webp?v=1774633833","url":"https:\/\/infinitylightwa.com\/products\/asphalt-gods-an-oral-history-of-the-rucker-tournament-paperback","provider":"Infinity Light","version":"1.0","type":"link"}