– If basketball is all you care about, why you bonin’ me? Why don’t you bone Dick Vital? – All’s fair in love and basketball. – Double or nothing.

Yeah, double or nothing… In love as in basketball: you play and you go through this exiting felling. So if you, guys, love basketball think about the love in your life!

Is it easy to meet exactly that girl who is a basketball nut, who wears Converse and follows all sports novelties? I know for sure it’s not easy but it’s really possible!

When I heard about dating sites I didn’t believe it could work. But recently I’ve got a good chance to check it. And I was really surprised with the fact there are so many pretty girls who is eager to meet a real sports guy. I’ve found a friend there, now we go to all Converse events and parties, visit basketball matches and we always have the things to talk about. This is cool, just try it.

First you should know about the sites which are the best on the dating market. To make a right choice read dating reviews. It will help you to stop the choice on one or two of the best dating sites.

There is the rating of the most visited dating sites and many reviews for each of them. Different people from different countries write there thoughts about sites’ design, positive and negative features, abilities, payments and so on.

Love basketball? Want to find your perfect match who’ll be in love with you and Converse shoes? Read more dating sites reviews and choose where to meet your dream!

In love as in basketball…
What basketball is?
The game?
The lifestyle?
Something more…

We saw a lot of movies about sports: hokey, football, gymnastics and…basketball.

When you playing basketball you feel the ball, the game, the rivals but you forget about everything else. And only when you are set down on the reserved bench then you remember that

When you playing basketball you feel the ball, the game, the rivals but you forget about everything else. And only when you are set down on the reserved bench then you remember that

you’re alive, that you have family, sweetheart, friends..

The characters of this basketball movie forget about everything when they’re playing. But leaving the sports ground they keep on being true to the game not to themselves. They hardly can say each other how many feeling and emotions live in their hearts. They used to be strong and to hide their feelings behind the game.

But once all that things, so ordinary style of life disappear. And after that the basketball loses its sense. When they are staying behind the gulf so they come to understanding how illusory their dreams were. So they start to differentiate the game and real life…

The line is the love story. Monika and Quinsy know each other from their childhood. Many years ago he was stroke with the fact that girl could play basketball even better than he. So they became friend and some time later – lovers. But to reach a success Quinsy left Monika. He dreamt of becoming a famous basketball player as his father did. But now, when he is already a professional player the destiny gives him a chance to correct the biggest mistake of his life and to make Monika be back…

So the basketball broke the two people in love off and brought them together.

“Love & Basketball” premiered in USA in 2000. It is a romantic drama movie, written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. This basketball story stars Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan.

“Love & Basketball” was produced on an estimated $15,000,000 budget. In the opening weekend of its release, it was shown on 1,237 screens, and took in $8,139,180.

“Love & Basketball” was produced on an estimated $15,000,000 budget. In the opening weekend of its release, it was shown on 1,237 screens, and took in $8,139,180. It would eventually take in a total of $27,459,615 at the box office.

Desson Howe – American film critic – wrote about the movie: “Love and Basketball’ had moments of such tenderness and sophistication, complimented by such romantic dreaminess between lead performers Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan. First-time filmmaker Gina Prince-Bythewood’s film joins such films as ‘The Best Man‘ and ‘The Wood‘, which look for the class, not the crass, in African American life.”

It earned about 7,8 million dollars and became one of the most famous documentary film in US

It earned about 7,8 million dollars and became one of the most famous documentary film in US. So the impression from the movie is really great. It’s an interesting story about Chicago students. The high school where they were studying had an outstanding basketball program. Having difficult lessons at the university they found the time to work hard on their sport skills. Gates and Agee were the best friends and held the same views during their life and career. It’s a story about success and failures, about guys who wanted to reach the NBA level. Besides that the film highlighted a lot of problems and issues of secondary America. So it told about race, class, economic and education in US. It won 7 different awards so made its best among recent basketball movies. After it had been nominated as a best documentary movie the Academy Award changed the its voting rules so every director who was working in these sphere could vote for award in the documentary genre he worked in.

Neither Agee nor Gates made the NBA. But this fact tells us that it’s not so important to reach the aim how important to have it. They knew what they had been living for and they chose the right way to fill their lives with sense.

I know that these guys didn’t stop training and playing. Arthur Agee made the “Hoop Dreams” sportswear line in 2006. A lot of bad events happened in their families, but they stayed strong and optimistic. The movie “Hoop Dreams” is an interesting sad story that can touch every of us. But if you are a real basketball fan so it’s an obvious movie for you! Look for and download sports movies here

Neither Agee nor Gates made the NBA. But this fact tells us that it’s not so important to reach the aim how important to have it. They knew what they had been living for and they chose the right way to fill their lives with sense.

]]> http://www.theconverseblog.com/2009/11/hoop-dreams.html/feed 0 http://www.theconverseblog.com/2009/11/converse-and-foot-locker-europe-present.html http://www.theconverseblog.com/2009/11/converse-and-foot-locker-europe-present.html#comments Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:04:00 +0000 admin tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2264515227915358964.post-5940115136836932857 If you’re reading this, and I know that you are, then you have the ability and means to use the world wide interweb. I’m also going to go out on a limb and say that atleast some of you use Facebook. Finally, I’m going to assume that you like Converse since you’re on my website.

Now that we have all of that cleared up, I want to tell you about an exciting new competition. Converse has teamed with Foot Locker Europe to start an online competition through the social networking site named Facebook. It’s the “Always On” competition and the rules are really simple…read on for the info.

Below comes from the competition’s page on Facebook.

To all you lovely Converse people. Starting on Monday (today), your mission is to upload daily photo tasks, score high and win great prizes! At the end of the first two weeks we will announce a winner, who wins a pair of Converse. The third, and final, week you can win a year’s worth of Converse. Awesome right?

Above you can see the Converse Padded Collar Chuck Taylor that is being released in conjunction with the competition. The facebook page can be found here and here, but not here….okay you can find it there too. Here is the kicker, you have be from Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, France, or Italy to compete.

That’s it for today, thank you so much for checking out the blog. Don’t forget to follow along on Twitter @TheConverseBlog

Below is the press release from Converse and a picture of the White/Black/Red colorway of the Weapon. However, for more pictures and even videos you need to take your internet loving self over here.

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.--(Business Wire)--Converse today announced the launch of the Weapon Evo, an all-new, court-ready,basketball shoe evolved from the original Weapon, which was worn by superstarsduring the game's "Golden Age." The Weapon Evo will be branded with the iconicStar Chevron logo, which will now be the primary logo on all Converse basketballfootwear. 

"The Star Chevron logo represents a defining time in basketball history," saidGeoff Cottrill, Chief Marketing Officer. "This logo first appeared on footwearwhen players changed basketball by bringing their unique style to the sport.Converse still stands for that today and we celebrate those who create positivechange and challenge the status quo." 

The shoe's design is inspired from the original Weapon. It features an anklesupport Y-bar and the original "broken Herringbone" traction pattern that allowsincreased grip. The iconic Weapon toe and heel overlays, along with bold colorblockings, give the shoe a retro look for off-court appeal. 

The Weapon Evo also debuts Converse Balls Technology, an all-new cushioningsystem in the shoe's heel that provides excellent impact protection. The heel ofthe shoe has several polyurethane balls that rebound and push back whencompressed during play. The cushioning system creates unique, low profilesupport that reacts to the athlete's foot as it responds to the demands of thegame. The balls are enclosed in a clear TPU cage to provide stability andattractive visible technology. The Evo also features a perforated leather upperfor enhanced breathability, fit and feel and an additional lateral supportoverlay to help contain splay during hard cuts. 

The Weapon Evo brings Converse's independent attitude to players, both pro andpick-up - with Converse Balls Technology and a refreshed design that bringsConverse heritage to today's game. Converse introduced the Weapon Evo tomusicians this summer at the first-ever Band of Ballers tournament. Jim Jones,Asher Roth, Pac Div, Matt and Kim and others laced up the Weapon Evo and squaredoff on the court in gritty 3-on-3 contents where Jim Jones walked away achampion. Content from the event is posted online in webisodes on Converse.com. 

The Weapon Evo hit stores with two premium colorways that pay homage to theoriginal Weapon, worn by two of basketball's greatest on-court rivals. Thepremium colorways retail for MSRP $90 and are available now at select FinishLine stores, FinishLine.com and Converse.com. The Weapon Evo will continue toroll out in nine team colorways for MSRP $80 at nationwide sports specialtyretailers in September. Two additional in-line colorways roll out for MSRP $80at nationwide sports specialty retailers in October 2009. The Weapon Evo is alsoavailable on converse.com.

Today’s TCBMTDML, is the Converse Abolisher.  The Abolisher might actually be the best name a for a shoe EVER, or it could not be, but I am leaning more towards that it is.  These are a 90’s basketball, that looks to be during the REACT era.  However, these don’t actually feature React.

The Upper features a nice zig-zag pattern that was apparently all the rage back in the 90’s.

I’m out like what little respect I had left for Kanye West.  Thanks for checking out the blog.  Don’t forget to follow along on Twitter @TheConverseBlog

If you’ve been reading my blog then you know that I am not content with the current Converse.  I’ve been searching for a more diverse Converse for years now. My desire to see Converse in more performance categories than just Basketball and Skateboarding led me to today’s post. So let me simply ask a question, what if Converse signed Michael Vick? What really got me thinking about this was a recent post over at SoleCollector. So if you haven’t read their article go read it real quick and then come back over here…or just click over there when you’re done here, that’s your call.

So my gears started to turn and I thought that it would be nice to see what a Converse Football cleat would look like today.  So I took a picture of the Converse Artillery basketball shoe that is supposed to be releasing soon, I hope, and asked for a huge favor from the Internet’s BP the Owner.  BP is a photoshop wizard of the highest level, click over and check out some of his work.  I asked him to work up a cleated version of the Artillery in Eagles colorways and he came through big time.

Currently there are only a handful of companies producing performance football cleats, Nike, Reebok, Under Armor, Adidas, New Balance, Pony, and perhaps Starter with Tony Romo.  Basically what I am saying is that there is room for Converse.

There would be a large risk in signing Vick, but it’s not like their football/training sales can go any lower considering they don’t make any football/training products anyway.  Signing Vick could jump start Converse in the Football and Training categories. It could also make huge strides in gaining the respect of other NFL players and Vick’s fans.  Of course the flip side is also true, signing Vick could drive others away from the brand.  Regardless, any company associated with Vick will have to work hard with him and the Eagles to help and try to correct his previous wrongs.

However, is a long shot because this would greatly disrupt the current status quo at Converse.  Also, Nike seems determined to push Converse towards a fashion only brand.  And if they really wanted to enter the football and training markets there are probably much better ways to do that…but it sure would be fun.  I’m not trying to be negative, but sometimes it’s fun to just dream about what could be.

Thank you for checking out the blog and don’t forget to follow us along on Twitter @TheConverseBlog!

TCB:  I want to start off by thanking you for taking time out of your extremely busy schedule to do this interview with TheConverseBlog.com. Speaking of being busy, you’ve been all over the internets recently. Where do you find the inner strength to run a successful company and relentlessly challenge Dwyane Wade at the same time?

CCM: I am very talented. I find the inner strength I need from starting every morning eating an egg hard-boiled. It is good protein. Next question.

TCB: You’re obviously a very confident and ambitious person, how did you arrive at the decision to challenge Dwyane Wade to a game of 1 on 1?

CCM: The decision was a very simple one. Dwyane Wade is the best. I am better. Better hates the best. If you fail to understand this simple premise than I think you are a pant(y) waste.

TCB:  You’ve just woken up stranded on an island, which book, album, and movie do you wish you had brought with you?

CCM: What an interesting question, sir. As there is only one book I would want with me and that is “Obstacle Get Out Of My Way – The Charles Charles MaGalls Story.” Because it is fascinating. (http://www.magallsindustriesglobal.com/obstacle.htm). The rest of that question is stupid and irrelevant and I will not answer it because islands do not have electricity and if they did then why would I leave if I could run my empire there unless it was like that island on the television where the people are stranded and there is the ghost monster in which case I would want a movie that would teach me step by step how to build a boat to get off the island and if there is an educational musical album that accompanied the movie and taught me the same thing or navigation by stars so much the better.

TCB: We’ve seen your challenge to Mr. Wade on billboards, ads at arenas, social networking websites, and Youtube, but can we expect to see a national TV commercial?

CCM: Probably TV commercials. I am in talks right now to develop a Broadway Musical for my challenge. I think I will call it “Defeating Dwyane Wade to 10 by 1 Gotta Win by 2 – The Musical.”  My research and development team is looking in to “to 10 by 1 gotta win by 2” skin grafts that will soon be popular on the beaches of Miami. Of course, maybe none of these things as uncertainty is my sixth man, you see.

TCB: Has anyone ever said, Charles Charles MaGalls, the man so nice they named him twice? How does that make you feel?

CCM: No. I am fine with that.

TCB:  I’ve noticed that you’ve been at a few Heat games recently; can the fans expect to see you during the playoffs?

CCM: There is only one person that must see me and that person is Dwyane Wade. From what I heard he is seeing me often. I now hear he demands of team members in practice “Play to the level that Charles Charles MaGalls would play me” and “Dunk on me like Charles Charles MaGalls would dunk on me” and so on including “Revolutionize the sport of basketball like Charles Charles MaGalls revolutionizes the sport of basketball” and such.

TCB:  Seeing as how this is The Converse Blog, I’d be amiss if I didn’t ask you about your choice of footwear. I’ve seen you wearing some Jack Purcell’s and some Chucks; do you have a shoe picked out to wear when you finally get to play Mr. Wade?

CCM: I would like to defeat Mister Wade in pair of Wade 4.0s because it is what’s known as poetic’s justice. You see the shoes have Mister Wade’s name on them and in many ways it would be like he was dunking on himself and I imagine this new reality would make him sad and question his very worth on the basketball court.

TCB: If you could travel back in time and change one thing in history what would it be?

CCM: Agreeing to this interview.

TCB: On a lighter note, can you tell us some more about MaGalls’ Asphalt Kids?

CCM: A lighter note? Are you crazy?!?!?. The Asphalt Kidz are one of the most serious things in my life. As a friend of children everywhere and an enemy of Dwyane Wade in Miami it is my goal to make sure that these citizens of tomorrow become sworn rivals of Dwyane Wade today.

TCB:  It seems that Mr. Wade has been ignoring you, have you thought about buying Converse from Nike in order to get his attention?

CCM: Finally, a question of journalistic integrity!!!. You seem to understand the Charles Charles MaGalls psyche of always thinking one step ahead on the checkers board. That is the Charles Charles MaGalls way. We could use a man of you keen intellect at MaGalls Industries Global, Mister Martin. Perhaps you would consider employment?

TCB: We’ve seen your challenge to Mr. Wade on billboards, ads at arenas, social networking websites, and youtube, but can we expect to see a national TV commercial?

CCM: You asked me this question already. I rescind my offer of employment.

TCB:  Last question, if you’re fortunate enough to get a 1 on 1 game with Mr. Wade have you thought about what kind of trash talk you use on him? If so can you share any with us?

CCM: There is no fortune involved, Mister Martin. I will play Mister Wade. Mostly I will make fun of his losing to me by 7 or 8 points. Or I will make fun of his career high of 55 points. My research shows that in that very game I could have scored 61 points. That is at least 6 points more!!!. Or I will make fun of his freakishly tall height. You see Charles Charles MaGalls has many secret weapons that will make Mister Wade insecure as both an opponent and as a person. I am not afraid to play dirty.

Two things I want to make mention of…this was an email interview and I changed the order in which some of the questions were and I forgot to delete the TV Commercial questions from it’s original location.  I didn’t realize until I had already sent Mr. MaGalls the question.  I left it in here because his answer is classic, even if he did pull back a job offer to me.  My bad Mr. MaGalls I’d really like a second chance to earn your trust.

Secondly, my favorite question is the one about which shoes he would wear.  I am a man that enjoys some good irony and if he were to play him in the Wade 4’s it would be the best thing ever. We all know that Dwyane never played in the Wade 4 but depending on how this plays out it could move a few more units of the shoe if Mr. MaGalls wore them in their game.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the interview and you can look for more coverage if or when Mr. Wade and Mr. MaGalls meet on the court.

“I hit up Soho this morning for the ‘07-’08 Converse Basketball preview. The most historic footwear company in basketball has come a long way in the past few years. The new product looks great and there is real positive energy and enthusiasm driving the brand. Product previews are often in stale show rooms, and the people showing want to be there less than you do. But, on occasion, they are actually worth the time and the Converse crew did a great job pulling this one together. The space was dope, the OJ was fresh, and the kicks were on point. We finished off the morning with a mini history lesson viewing the last molds used to make Larry Bird and Dr.J’s shoes, the first Converse basketball shoe ever made (around 1915), as well as an actual shoe worn by the Harlem Rens (’30s). New products to keep an eye out for are the Wade 3 (On sale 11/3), the “What If” packs (March), and the Dumalis. Check out more pics…”

I am loving this, it sounds like everyone is getting excited about what Converse is bringing to the table in 2008. Before I got into some of my thoughts I want to post some pictures that they had on there website so you can have a reference to what I am talking about. The first picture below is the first Converse basketball shoe ever made, circa 1915.

This is the shoe made for the Harlem Rens in the 1930’s, you can click above in Justin’s comments to learn more.

Now here is the big daddy. I wish I could make the picture bigger, but I can’t find a way. So the best thing I know to do is talk you through each smaller picture. Starting in the upper left box you see a few of the new models coming out, you can’t tell much about them really. I also don’t have a name for them, but Udonis Haslem and Maurice Evans have worn one of them during the preseason. Then moving to the right we see a pack with the Converse Revolution, which was supposed to be a new Chuck Taylor like shoe for last year. I’ve heard it was scrapped, but it looks like it might have some life again. Then another unknown basketball shoe followed by what looks like the Wade 3.0 in a Black/Red colorway. The third picture on the top row is special makeup of the Pro Leather.

The second row starts with the Dumalis that Justin talked about liking. I’ve got some more pictures of these to share later. Next pictures of Dr.J and Larry and Magic’s Weapons. The third row beings with another shot of the three shoes featuring the Revolution, unknown, and the Wade 3.0, this may be the “What if” packs that Justin talked about. Then the foot molds that Justin talked about for Dr.J and Larry Bird, followed by another pack of the three shoes mentioned before. The only new picture in the last row is that of some Converse Yearbooks from back in the day. Someday I’ll try and provide a little history lesson on those.

Big thanks to Dime Magazine and Bounce Magazine for posting their story, please go by and check out their sites. I’ll try to get some more information of the unknown sneakers and get that information to all of you. Thanks again for stopping by.