 | | 'Baller |
Basketball is more than a game, it’s a way of life. This was evident at Nechells Community Sports Centre on the 5th August when Nike Midnight Madness came to town. Combining basketball, music and gaming, it brought passion, enthusiasm and excitement to the heart of England- it was truly slam dunkin!! What is Nike Midnight Madness? Organised by a guy called Nhamz, it is a basketball competition that runs from 8pm to 6am!!! That’s right all night - hence the name Nike Midnight Madness! It gives the opportunity for Basketball players, of any level, to compete for the chance to go to New York and battle it out against the finest street players.  | | Nhamz |
There are three heats, in Brixton, Crystal Palace and Birmingham. With the finalists from these heats fighting it out for the final ten places on 19th August at Brixton Recreational Centre. Nhamz, who is from north-west London, has played basketball professionally both here and in America. So he knows what is needed to make it in basketball. In 1999 there was an increase in gun violence in London. Worried about the rise in gun culture he felt he needed to do something. He could not just sit back and let things escalate, without providing an opportunity for those that wanted it, to get off the streets and channel their energies into something more positive. That’s when he started Nike Midnight Madness. He wanted to create something that was open to everyone. To this day he is most proud of the fact that it is not elitist. Anyone is able to showcase their talent.
Just turn up and play! Why Birmingham? When I asked Nhamz why he chose to expand it to Birmingham he explained, ‘Well, obviously there is a huge basketball base here. But also I think there is a need for it’. Not to mention its location within England. ‘It made sense to have it in Birmingham because it is central, making it more accessible to people around the country.’ Can you separate Basketball from the Hip Hop culture?  | | Kiefer, Micah and Kwamae |
There is clear synergy between basketball and music and Midnight Madness embraces this fact. There was a DJ playing all the latest hip hop tunes, whilst the games were being played, the music did not seem out of place. I can’t imagine this being the case in any other team sport! Around midnight we were treated to performances by different rap/hip hop groups. The hard hitting beats of the music all heightened the atmosphere. If you needed a break from the noise and excitement, there was an arcade style games area, where anyone could play on the bank of games consoles or you could escape to the chillout zone. This had been set up with big comfy sofas and a giant TV screen showing films. It also had laptops so you could surf the net, and food for everyone. When he first started it, Nhamz’s partner made the food and he brought along his own games console for people to play on!! Things have certainly moved on from there!  | | Shinade, Shaineka and friends |
Initially in 1999, 150 players entered the competition. Now, there were 200 people registered in Birmingham alone. The growth of this event should be credited to Nhamz, who seems modest in its success. People come from as far away as Plymouth to enter. One person who entered is now playing in the NBA. But rather than searching for a new basketball superstars, Nhamz has not forgotten the main focus of the scheme and that is to ‘create a positive community action’. What you thought of the event Mitchell, from London, who was injured for the Brixton heat said, ‘It’s a great stepping stone’. Darryll, who wants to be a basketball player thinks the scheme is a great idea as it ‘brings a lot of people together.’ Kiefer, aged 16, was there with his cousins Micah and Kwamae. Kiefer found it a great experience. Whilst Micah, who is only eight, said he can’t wait till he can play.  | | Jennifer - doin' it for the girls |
Shinade, aged 15, who was watching the event from the sidelines said, ‘Basketball all night- you can’t really fail and the music is excellent too’. Her friend Shaineka admitted she was only there for the boys. One of the competitors, Jennifer, was the only girl to be selected as a finalist for the night. She thought ‘It’s an excellent opportunity for people to show what they’ve got’. Even though I had never watched basketball before, I came away with a positive feeling. Media attention tends to focus on the negative when it comes to young people today. But events like this show that it is not all bad. | 
