Brooklyn born and raised, Tyrone Grant has spent all of his adult life as a pro basketball player. The 6-foot, 7-inch forward/center from St. John’s was selected in the 1999 CBA draft, and later was signed by the Charlotte Hornets. He never appeared in a game during his month with the team, so he went abroad to play in some of the world’s top leagues.
After four years in Italy and a year in Greece, he recently signed to play this upcoming season in Spain, one of Europe’s most competitive leagues.
“I told my mom the other day that I’ve got 10 years left as a pro,” the man called “The Negotiator” and “Dolemite” said in a typically calculated statement.
Grant’s two nicknames are reflective of the dichotomy of his game. “The Negotiator” developed because “people said I look like I’m trying to decide what I’m going to do when I have the ball,” Grant said.
“The Negotiator” persona is also representative of the way the 28-year-old understands his place in the game.
“I’m not that athletic, I’m not that fast but I’m versatile. I use my head more than anything,” he explained.
“I’m not jumping over anybody but I’m successful because I know what I can and can’t do and I stick with it,” the cerebral Grant said before the “Dolemite” side of his persona added, “most of the city guys don’t know their limitations.”
Grant’s “Dolemite” moniker comes from the outrageously streetwise 1970s blaxploitation film character. It is that side of his personality that proudly proclaims, “If I’m not one of the biggest, I’m the biggest trash talker in the [Pro City] league.”
Grant said much of his trashtalking is not to throw off his opponent but for self-motivation “because sometimes I can get relaxed if I’m out there easily scoring.”
Grant is frustrated with some of the attitudes he plays against in the summer leagues. He said the talent showcased in Pro City is top-tier but some guys get caught up in the hype and are held back from more success.
“There are a lot of NYC players who need to get their acts together . . . 9 out of 10 of them at worst could play in Europe, but they can’t get past the mental part.”
Grant keeps his edge because he believes there is jealousy amongst the players who are not full-time pros. “Guys need to stop hating on us [professionals],” he said.
“City-game guys take it a lot more seriously, especially the nonprofessionals,” Grant explaied.
“Some guys spend all winter working up a grudge against me.”
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BLACKTOP BEAT
PRO CITY
PDG Q’BRIDGE 125, N.Y. SKYRIDERS 119
Going into halftime, PDG opened up a 61-48 lead on the strength of Mike “The Therapist” Nurse’s long distance shooting – ending the half on a fall-away buzzer-beater.
In the third, PDG kept the pressure on with former St. John’s player Reggie Jesse showing his midrange game, draining jumpers to push the lead up to 91-75.
Jesse finished with 22 points and “The Therapist” had 27.
S. “The Playmaker” Fordham helped the Skyriders claw their way back in the fourth. His 28 points, along with Fabian Pinnock’s and S. Brown’s 24 apeice made the game close down the stretch.
Ultimately PDG had too many weapons, including a 10-point, 10-rebound, five-assist performance from Marcus Toney-El.
DYCKMAN
COREY “HOMICIDE” WILLIAMS NAMED REGULAR SEASON MVP
“For his play, his aura, professionalism, sportsmanship and he was the tournment’s leading scorer.” – Ken Stevens, Commissioner of Dyckman Basketball
RODNEY PARK 72, DA YOUNG ONES 58
A battle of 3-2 teams, a higher playoff seed was on the line as “Too Hard To Gaurd’s” 19 for the up and coming Young Ones wasn’t enough. Rodney Park was led by “Nesto” with 23 points.
KINGDOME 63, COMPLETE GAME 47
Complete Game’s Chris Ruiz led all scorers with 25 points.
“Mel” had 15 to lead a more even effort from the Dyckman squad.
POWERFUL INC. 76, POPS 5 74
A close one with major playoff seeding implications. Powerful Inc. was able to stay undefeated, led by “Crabby” with 29. Quentin Mosely of POPS 5 also racked up 29 points as his team fell to 4-2 and the middle of the pack in the East.
MONEY TRAIN 98, CHA-CHING 76
C. Mapp’s 27 led the way for undefeated Money Train. Despite 21 points from Eddie Jones, Cha-Ching fell two games under .500.
RUFF RYDERS 104, BWAY ENT. 90
Bway’s Mike Nurse did his best to heal the wounded, putting up 27 points.
The Ruff Ryders’ stacked lineup dominated the game and the score sheet. Kenny Satterfield dropped 38, Antoine Dubie had 37 and Karim Reid added another nine (all of his scoring coming after his late arrival in the second half).
CONRAD McRAE
FIRST ANNUAL ALUMNI GAME:
WHITE 105, BLUE 98
Last weekend’s special events day at the Conrad McRae game was highlighted by this contest.
The Blue team was led by young stars Reggie Davis with 23 points, Truck Bryant with 19 and Brandon Walters (Lincoln H.S.) with 13.
The White squad’s Ron Sheppard had 25 and Corey Fisher had 24. Erving Walker fed them all day, finishing with four points and 15 assists.
OLD-TIMERS GAME:
WHITE 84, BLACK 67
Carlos “NBA Los” Easterling had 13 in the win and Ellis Everett and Raheem Scott each added 12. Seldon Jefferson had a gamehigh 25 points in the loss and Pat Burke and Gary Rey contributed with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
DESERT STORM 70, GBX/HARBOR GRP. 55
Gavin Scott had a monster day dropping 35 points. Ethan Clare pitched in with 21.
The offensive production of those two alone outscored GBX. Still winless, GBX was led by Leroy Lewis’s 13.
PHAT & JUICY 72, CHECKS & MORE 66
Both teams entered with 2-4 records and a shot to climb towards the middle of the standings. Antoine Brown racked up 22 and Jesse “Pop” Moorehead added another 21 points for the Checks & More team.
But the day belonged to Phat & Juicy led by Vernando McCoy’s 24 and Sharif Phelps’s 23.
TEAM NIKE 64, S.CARTER ALL STARS 55
Lamont Hinton had 20 and Dion Jones added another 15 for Nike. The S.Carter team was handed their second loss despite Winston McLeod’s 16.
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GAME OF THE WEEK
Nike “E” One 121, Gold’s Gym 113, OT
Defending Pro City champ Gold’s Gym put its perfect season on the line in the regular-season finale. They trailed by five after the first as Reggie “Hi-Five” Freeman’s hot hand led a charge to end the quarter. Freeman finished with 26 points.
In the second quarter, Junie “Mr. Xcitement (GE)” Sanders took over at both ends, as the lead changed hands several times. Gold’s took a 58-56 lead into the break. Sanders finshed with 16 points due to a tweaked ankle that kept him out almost the entire second half.
The capacity crowd was energized by NYC basketball vet Brawley Chisholmon the mic making sure they were aware of the magnitude of the game.
Tyrone “Dolemite” Grantwas the tilt’s most consistent contributor; most of his seven defensive boards came down the stretch.
After trailing the entire third quarter and most of the fourth, Nike “E” One was finally able to tie the game at 101 with 4:04 left to play. Gold’s Omar “The Chef” Cook” (St. John’s and Christ the King) answered right back with a top-of-the-key jumper. Charles “CJ” Jones then hit a deep 3-ball to finally take the lead for One with 3:15 left.
After tight D by One and some clutch free throws, Joe Forte (UNC) hit a smooth jumper off the glass to give Gold’s a 109-108 lead with 26.7 seconds left.
Foul shots left the game knotted at 110 heading into overtime. “CJ” hit a 3 from the top of the arc to kick off the extra stanza and Nike “E” One never looked back. Head coach Mark Figureroa was happy to seize the top seed in the playoffs but stressed, “there’s still a lot of work we have to do.”
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THIS WEEK’S PLAYOFFS
TODAY
West 4th Basketball League
The Cage (West 3rd & 6th Avenue)
6 p.m. Showballers vs. Pick ‘N Roll
Nike Pro City
Hunter College Gymnasium (68th St. & Lex.)
6:30 p.m. Gold’s Gym vs. Primetime
8:30 p.m. Nike “E” One vs. United Brooklyn
TOMORROW, August 10
West 4th Basketball League
6 p.m. X-Men vs. Diamond
Dyckman College/Pro League
Msgr. Kett Playground (204th St. & Nagle)
7 p.m. JTA vs. Bowens Basketball
8:15 p.m. Da Posse vs. POPS 5
THURSDAY, August 11
West 4th Basketball League
6 p.m. Money Train vs. Footprintz Stars
Nike Pro City
7 p.m. Championship Game
FRIDAY, August 12
West 4th Basketball League
6 p.m. Paradise vs. Big Apple Basketball
Dyckman College/Pro League
7 p.m. Da Young Ones vs. Kingdome Ballers
8:15 p.m. Powerful Inc. vs. KYDA
SATURDAY, August 13
West 4th Basketball League
3 p.m. United Brooklyn vs. The Youngsters
4:30 p.m. TBD
Dyckman College/Pro League
4:30 p.m. Bway Ent. vs. Anotha Level
6 p.m. 84th Street vs. Complete Game
7:15 p.m. Rodney Park vs. Ruff Ryders
8:30 p.m. Dominican Power vs. Team Unk
Nike Pro City
7 p.m. NYC Champions vs. LA Champions
SUNDAY, August 14
West 4th Basketball League
4:30 p.m. TBD
6 p.m. TBD