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| The
GrowlersWorld Interviews |
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INDEX
The
GrowlersWorld Interviews are an ongoing quest, bringing you closer to
successful and creative people in all walks of life.
Rawle
Austin presents...
A conversation
with George Okwir - Dancing his way to Greatness and Hoop Dreams
George
Okwir is an expert dancer and an authority on basketball. He's also
studying for an English Degree. I spoke to him to get the low down
on his love for basketball and dancing.
Rawle
Austin: When did you first start watching basketball?
George
Okwir: I first started watching basketball at about the
age of 8 or 9. This is around the same time that I started to play
the game, although not competitively. At weekends I would play basketball
at my local court and watch games on television. |
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RA:
What attracted you to the game?
GO:
I was first attracted to the speed and tenacity of the game, as well as
the team ethic, which means every player in the team must be involved
if they want to be successful.
Because
of the frantic speed at which basketball is played at, in basketball leagues
all teams have rolling substitutes to stop players from getting burnt
out.
RA:
Who's your favourite team and why?
GO:
The NBA team that I follow is the Sacremento Kings, a name you may
or may not be familiar with.
You
have probably seen somebody or other walking down the street in
a purple NBA jersey at some point.
I
enjoy watching Sacremento play, as their style is different from
that of any other team in the league.
In
terms of points, assists (basket making passes) and rebounds (getting
control of the ball after a missed offensive/defensive shot), they
are far more spread out than with the bulk of the other teams.
The
teams has superstar players in Mike Bibby, Brad Miller and Ron Artest,
yet the franchise works because no one player is bigger than the
team. |
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RA:
Who are your top 5 current players and why?
GO:
In reverse order, my top 5 current NBA players are...
5)
Amare Stoudemire: Before his knee injury which has limited him to under
5 games in the last 12 months, I would have ranked Stoudermire in my top
two because of the strength of the 6"10 power forward was incredible
and he would manage to force baskets only a player like Shaquille O'Neal
in his prime was capable of.
It
remains to be seen whether he will be the same player.
4)
Dirk Nowitzki: 7 feet tall yet plays and shoots with the capabilities
of a far smaller and agile player. Practically impossible to defend
against, he is too quick for the big guys, yet also too long for
the smaller guys to defend effectively.
3)
Kobe Bryant: By far the best scorer in the NBA and probably the
most talented, but it's his teamwork problems which leave him incomplete
and only at number 3 in my list. |
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His 81 point
performance in a game last season, the second highest points total by
a player in an individual game ever,shows that when he decides to fully
concentrate on basketball only, he is probably the best player in the
league bar none.
2)
Dwayne Wade: It is his application
and sheer determination, which makes him number two on my list.
Others
are more talented, but are inferior players because Dwayne Wadeworks much
harder than everyone else.
1)
LeBron James:
Offensively he does just about everything for his team. His statistical
record is monstrous, and considering that he is only 21 years old.
LeBron
also has an astonishing leaping ability and is a 6"8 brick
wall.
When
he gets the ball and drives to the basket players simply move out
of the way rather than get hurt.
RA:
Who are your 5 all time best players and why?
GO:
There may be argument, but I can only rank players who I have actually
seen play a match (ok, classics included!)
5)
Larry Bird: Known as 'The Great White Hope' because he simply was
that. Has been the last great white superstar in an African-American
dominated NBA. |
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A
very cocksure character, but his confidence was built on the success he
had as a player, which included 3 NBA championships.
4)
Earvin 'Magic' Johnson: Existed purely to allow his team mates to score.
Magic Johnson was an assists machine and seemed to have an innate knowledge
of the court which allowed him to create openings for his team in a way
superior to any other point guard.
3)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Famed for his 'sky-hook' shot, in which he would
extend his 7"2 frame to its full potential then drop the ball into
the basket.
Winner
of the NBA most valuable player award (MVP) six times. Amazingly
graceful.
2)
Wilt Chamberlain: The first superstar of the NBA. Nicknamed 'Wilt
the Stilt', the 7"1 points machine is the only player ever
to manage to score 100 points in a game.
1)
Michael Jordan: Simply
the best player of all time based on talent, athleticism, and
the manner in which he managed to turn a very mediocre Chicago
Bulls team into champions, winning 6 rings and almost single handed
at times.
His
feats arfe unheard of in the modern era and will probably never
ever be replicated.
RA:
What are the biggest issues affecting the game in your opinion
and how can they be resolved ?
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GO:
There has been a recent uproar in the NBA because of officials favouring
the superstar players, and the implementation of rule changes for the
adavntage of the bigger player.
For
the instance the basic two-step lay up rule, which you were probably taught
in school in Physical Education, P.E, (left step, right step, shoot etc),
has been adjusted to allow three steps because many players were taking
that number of strides before a lay-up or dunk, which is a violation.
By
adjusting the rules to reduce the number of calls the referee makes, the
NBA board have given the players sanction to cheat.
RA:
How would you compare the US and UK basketball scenes?
GO:
There is a huge gulf in the standards of basketball, which
can be seen just by crossing the Atlantic.
In
America, basketball is a blockbusting sport, generating millions,
which allows investment into the nurturing of world class athletes
of sufficient ability to compete in the NBA. |
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In
the UK, basketball is still in its developmental stages, meaning the funding
is not there and that top quality players are few and far between.
I
would compare the BBL (British Basketball League) to be around the same
standard as US high school leagues.
So
in my opinion: at best the premier basketball players in the UK are at
the same level as 16-year-old Americans.
RA:
How can UK basketball ever reach the heights of US basketball?
GO:
I think in this time and age it would be difficult for
a sport to elbow football to the sidelines and become the national
treasure.
Being
of American invention, basketball will always be slightly ridiculed
by the British as the whole concept of the game is quite strange,
but so is the concept of most sports.
UK
basketball has not had mass exposure by the media, but there is
enough interest in it coming from young Britons for basketball to
become intergrated with British culture, although it will never
replace the nation's love of football.
You
also like dancing, particularly body popping. Can you introduce
readers to this scene?
This
scene is sometimes called pop 'n' lock, which is a common error
as the 'pop' and the 'lock' are two very different practices. |
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Locking originated
nearly 10 years or so before popping and was supposedly accidentally created
by Don Campbellock while he was trying to unsuccessfully teach himself
the chicken dance.
Locking
involves 'locking' your limbs to a fast paced funky beat, such as the
music of James Brown.
Locking
moves are performed in a strutting showman like manner and can vary in
degree of difficulty from pointing gestures and wrist twirls, to various
kicking manoeuvres.
Poppin'
involves the tensing and relaxing of muscles while keeping on beat,
which achieves a popping effect.
The
most famous poppers are the Electric Boogaloos, with the members
Poppin' Pete and Pop 'n' Taco being credited for teaching Michael
Jackson his moves, so that's some resume.
Poppin'
also includes floats and glides (leg moves, which make you appear
to be floating or gliding) such as the moonwalk and various forms
of wave (an illusion of a wave passing through ones body).
To
know you are an expert popper is when you are able to create your
own power moves; dance moves of great degree of difficulty which
will wow an audience.
RA:
What do you like about it?
GO:
I like the fact that it is up to you what you learn and how you
want to dance. |
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Even
if you go to classes you will end up with an individual style, as some
moves you will naturally be able to do better than others, and no two
people will perform a move in exactly the same way.
This
means that everyone will always have something new to show you, in fact
a pupil at a lesson could find out a way of waving which creates a better
illusion and teach this to their teacher!
RA:
How did you get into it?
GO:
I taught myself to glide, as in the various forms of moonwalk,
be it on the spot, backwards or circular motion.
Then
at university I made friends with a guy who had been popping for
about three years and also knew some locking.
Through
him I was introduced to various dance clips on the Internet, which
enabled me to learn the basic popping principles, which I try to
improve on every day.
Poppin'
is something which you can improve on yourself or through going
to classes; it is down to your own personal preference.
It
is this freedom, which I enjoy most, and is vital for individual
artistic development. |
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Locking
interests me mainly because of its funky style and energy. It is a combination
of fairly simple moves, which once together form difficult high-speed
routines.
Locking
is more structured and routine based, with a distinct set of moves, which
every accomplished locker will know, so joining a locking class is advantageous
for beginners.
RA:
What else do you want readers to know about the art of pop 'n' lock (body
popping)?
GO:
I would say that it is quite difficult to become competent,
so don't expect to be a revelation overnight.
With
perseverance however, quality will shine through, and once you have
learnt the basics everything will become much more easier.
The
history of poppin' and locking is heavily influenced by music, more
specifically the invention of breakbeat and hip-hop music.
Two
developments, which coincide with the growth and evolution of the
dance practices.
RA:
And finally, any last words for the readers?
GO:
Having an interest with which one can be immersed in is
beneficial in many ways as it helps provide focus in the other parts
of your life where you must apply yourself. |
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If you are
without a pursuit I urge you to find something you enjoy and perservere
with it as the repercussions will only be good ones.
Learn more
about NBA Basketball at www.nba.com
Ciara
Lavers - Drumming up a Global Presence>
<Lisa
Chisholm - Driving her way to a Grand Prix Future
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