Tour Conclusion

The last leg of the tour took us back west across the country.  First we had three events in Houston where the heat and humidity were unmatched.  The event included members of the And1 Mixtape Tour and NBA player Von Wafer.  From there we headed out to Los Angeles, driving through the southwest as fast as possible so that we could enjoy the west coast and Venice Beach, where our event was.  Vegas was our second largest event with nearly 450 testers and was the day we passed our 6,000 mark for the tour.  Made it to dinner in Hermosa and Santa Monica during our stay and the crew could feel the tour conclusion approaching quick as we hit the road for the Bay Area.  It was great being back in the Bay Area and having events in the Golden Gate Park Panhandle and Mosswood Park.

The final leg for our team was a showing at IDL in Portland and a dinner with the Jordan clients, IDL and MKTG.  We dropped the truck off today and took care of a last few errands before we go our separate ways tomorrow.  Been a long summer but it seems like the tour just started; so many memories and lucky to have have the opportunity to be a part of the Jordan Rise Above Truck Tour.

This is Flight...

Houston downtime

Crossing the Bay

Mosswood Park

Foggy SF

With the boss at Nike!

Back to the East Coast

Finished up a long week in Chicago with a long drive to Fayetteville, North Carolina.  Had a great time in Chicago checking out the city including Loyola of Chicago Law School.  Had one event at the Bulls/Sox Academy which is where the Bulls practice.  Our last event at the Nike Fuel house at Lincoln Park was right off Lake Michigan with a great view of downtown Chicago.  We only had one event in Fayetteville which was during a rainy day at Freedom Courts and take off tomorrow for Houston as we wind down the tour with our west coast stops

Off to Fayetteville

NY to Chicago

Finished up the New York tour at Basketball City and then had a week off at home for Ash's wedding before heading back to Chicago.  First day in Chicago was off which allowed us to be tourists and see the most important thing in the city, the Michael Jordan statue.  Have a long week of events ahead including the Bud Billicken Parade on Saturday where Obama will be in attendance.  Looking forward to seeing more of the city and having a successful tour with the Jordan clients coming into town.

Adios New York

Union Station

MJ

New York City Part 1

New York City! Full day drive from North Carolina got us into NYC late last Friday night and we checked into The Dream Hotel in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan.  Had a couple nights out in the city before our first event on Sunday at Chelsea Park and checked out the rooftop bar with the guys.  Ended up having extra days off and toured around the city going to Ground Zero, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square and Madison Square Garden.  Love the city life, walking the streets, taking the subway and finding great places to eat.  Made it to Rucker Park where we played pickup and went 4-0, going out on a high note! Unfortunately, there was a shooting there later that night which canceled our event for the next day.
Going to have a busy six straight days of events before heading home for the wedding and a nice week off at home, after which we'll be meeting in Chicago.

Hotel rooftop view

WBF DC

Successful stop in the Capitol for the World Basketball Festival.  Four long days in the hot and humid heat of DC. I sweat non stop from 9 in the morning till 10 at night, California will be a welcomed return to reality in September! Jordan clients were in town and we also had special guests Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul stop by one day as they prepare for the Olympics.  Had to do an emergency breakdown of the Rise Above Truck when a downpour showered over our footprint, but still got to see Melo and CP3.  The crew celebrated in the party bus that was the athletes "green room" after the event was over. 

Made it out a few nights in DC and to the USA vs Brazil basketball game with former Bronco Nate Mensah.  Nosebleed seats but still awesome to see Team USA in person.  Finished up with a day off on Tuesday and a dinner in the city along with a stop by Shelly's Backroom for cigars and drinks.  On the road now to Durham, North Carolina for the Jerry Stackhouse Pro-Am before heading to New York on Friday

Retro Giveaways

Big Tigger MCing

Melo and CP3

Team USA

Made it to Columbus, Ohio.  Finally saw some scenery besides desert on the ride today, passing through Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio so instead or rocks it was corn fields! Ran into two huge storms in Oklahoma on Monday which made driving the truck terrifying, feeling like you were going to hydroplane off the road.  Stopped at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and saw Lucas Oil Stadium in Indi, which seemed as big as the whole city.  Last leg of the trip to DC is tomorrow and then a day off until the start of the Wold Basketball Festival.

Arrived in Albuquerque at midnight after leaving Los Angeles at 8 in the morning.  Spent all day driving through the deserts of California, Arizona, and New Mexico, which made for a pretty dull ride but were getting closer to DC which is exciting.
The two events at St. John Bosco High School and Pan Pacific went well but we still some kinks to work out to be ready for the World Basketball Festival and the rest of the summer.  Spent the last night in LA downtown by the Staples Center and had our first night out since the tour started.

 Pictures from the first two road trips...

Lake Shasta

Los Angeles

Mike Brown rocking the Harley getup

Roscoe's

#9 Obama Special

On the road to DC, first stop Albuquerque