Daze StreetBall

 

 

1934 Pond St
Madison, WI 53704

Daze StreetBall News

Some News Old And New On Daze StreetBall 

  • Who Got Next

     

    By A Dave Dahmer


    Streetball is an urban form of basketball — big-city playground ball — that has skyrocketed in popularity throughout the nation over the last few years. Although you can catch some good games at James Madison and Olbrich parks here in Madison, the local streetball scene is not very big.

    Daze Streetball Crew is working to change that. Representing Madison, this upcoming streetball crew is working to get its name out. “We’re taking baby steps right now, trying to get our name known,” says Madisonian Troy Dean (pictured top left). Jesse Muench (pictured bottom left) came up with the Daze Crew about a year ago and was quickly joined by Dean.

    “I’m a fan of all basketball in general – I watch college basketball, NBA, WNBA,” Dean says. “Streetball allows you to do creative things. You might have a trick that someone else can’t do. It’s a lot of ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs.’ It’s more entertainment value.” While the rules of streetball are essentially the same as those of normal basketball, streetball places a higher emphasis on one-on-one matchups between the offense and the defenders.

    Often the attacker will perform numerous flashy moves while attempting to drive to the basket. “Streetball is just an extension of basketball with some rules being broken,” Dean says. “We’re like a modern-day Harlem Globetrotters — a lot of tricks and fancy passes and fancy dribbling moves.”

    They also allow a little bit of leeway on normal transgressions like carrying and traveling. “But not to the point where they run the basketball like a football,” Dean smiles. “Nothing too crazy.” There are seven players on the Daze Streetball Crew, but only three of them have met. Two are from Canada, one is from New Mexico, one is from California, and one is from Germany.

    “Our long-range goal is to get the whole crew together and travel to some schools and colleges and play some games like the And-1 team does,” Dean says. To be a streetballer, you have to have a nickname. “My streetball name is ‘The Myth,’” Dean says, “and that name came about from an old friend who talks about me jumping over six kids in a dunking contest in high school. Then it turned into a myth [about] jumping over as many as 10 kids.

    For the record, it was five. “Jesse’s streetball name is ‘Snake’ because of the way his body bends and turns when he is doing tricks,” Dean adds. “The rest of the Daze Streetball Crew is made up of Hollywood (New Mexico), The President (California), G-Berg, and Amnesia (Canada), and Mr. Sandman (Germany).”

    The Daze Crew has just returned from Milwaukee, where it was at the And-1 Open Run July 2. “They have a thing called an ‘open run,’ where they allow anybody with any kind of skills to go up there and show them off,” Dean says. “Jessie and I were some of the finalists. We got the respect of all the streetball players.

    They liked what we were doing. It was a lot of fun.” And 1, an athletic shoe manufacturer specializing in basketball shoes and apparel, maintains a team of well-known streetballers, including legendary players known as Helicopter, Main Event, Half-Man Half-Amazing, The Professor, and AO. “The biggest team right now is the And-1 team, who have their own shoes and their own TV show,” says Dean. “They travel all over, even overseas.” Every year, all the best players of the And 1 team tour America, trying to recruit the next streetball legend.

    While doing so, they compile a video “mix tape” of the most skilled performances they encounter at the games they hold. This is released on DVD and VHS each year. The Daze Crew has its own DVD out, which members hope will get them some recognition. It’s a Battle DVD featuring Dean and Meunch going at it one-on-one.

    “The second time we met, they played a one-on-one game, and it lasted about an hour and a half,” Dean recalls. “We had this idea where we would put together a battle tape where two people from the same streetball crew play against each other – which never has been done before. Usually, people on the same streetball team play against other streetball teams.”

    Dean hopes the DVD will give them some exposure within the community. They’ve already done some exhibitions at elementary schools. “We want to be involved with the community as much as possible,” Dean says. “We talk about trying to do camps, teaching kids. We want to go around to schools and Boys and Girls Clubs.” Most important, they want to bring new originality and creativity to the streetball world.

    “Win, lose, or draw, we want people to be entertained,” Dean says. “We’ve went to basketball tournaments where people didn’t care if we won or lost. They loved the moves – they’ve never seen something like that before.” Daze Streetball Crew is looking for a few more people to join their crew.

  • Daze StreetBall Brings It

    There was a basketball game Monday evening, but there were no losers. There was a memorial honoring a fallen friend, but there were few tears. Instead, a packed gymnasium at Weston Elementary School welcomed staff, students and friends for a basketball game to benefit the John Klang Memorial.

    The competition was stiff as the Daze Streetball Crew out of Madison provided an entertaining evening.

    "This is for a great cause, a way to give back to the community," Daze member Troy Dean said. "From everything we've heard and seen, Mr. Klang was a kind and giving man."

    The Daze crew came to Weston during the day to provide demonstrations for the community, highlighting some of the moves that the team uses on the court. Dean, also known as "Myth" on the court, and Jesse Muench, known as "Snake," provided the highlight-reel moves for the fans. Daze draws from a national group of talent such as Jake "Hollywood" McDonald, who flew in from Albuquerque, N.M. to play in the game.

    "I think everyone who was at the demonstration is here tonight," team member J-Roc commented. "It's great to see it."

    Using a mixture of music and emcee Spencer Dean's colorful play-by-play, the Daze took on a group of faculty, staff, students and others from the Weston area. But at the end of the night the score didn't matter, the cause did.

    In November Troy Dean contacted Weston principal Melissa Nigh, asking what the group could do to help after hearing about the tragic events of Sept. 29, 2006, the day John Klang was fatally shot by a 15-year-old student.

    "We wanted to do something. I know when I was in school, I was really close to my principal," Troy Dean said. "When I heard about the event, I tried to put myself in the kids' shoes."

    After months of trading phone calls and e-mails, bouncing ideas off of each other about what special event could come to Weston the basketball game was decided on.

    "I was surprised when I first heard from them," Nigh said. "I just want to say a huge thank you to (the Daze), they have just been great."

    During the evening bricks and tiles were on sale in the lobby area. These will be placed along the walkway to the memorial column.

    Fans in attendance got their money's worth and participated in giveaways, on-court antics and a special halftime show performed by a local group of cheerleaders.

    As time was running out on the court, Troy Dean gave the fans one last reason to stand and cheer, as he pulled off his jersey to proudly display the blue super hero styled shirt underneath that has become the rally call of Weston Schools, "John Klang is my superhero."

    After the game the court became a crowded mass of people. Daze members passed out shirts, signed autographs and shared many hugs.

    "It just brings tears to my eyes — seeing all of these people and everything," Nigh said. "The community support, and the surrounding communities, they've been wonderful supporting this great cause."

    As a result of the evening, $2,804 was raised to help fund the John Klang Memorial. Added in to that is $3,000 for benches that were also sold.

    Nigh says the memorial committee has reached its goal of $7,000 for the memorial, which tentatively looks like it will be located near the entrance of the elementary school.

  • THERE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Daze Streetball returns the show to Baraboo

    By Matthew Ryno / News Republic

     

    The Daze Streetball basketball team will raise the roof this Friday at Jack Young Middle School gym and raise money for youth groups when it once again challenges the Baraboo Community All-Stars to a game.

     

    A team of teachers, firefighters and local employees will try to hold the slick Madison-based trick basketball team to under 100 points, organizer and JYMS teacher, John Gunnell, said.

     

    It will be hard when the slamdunks keep coming one after another, but it promises to be a fun event for the entire family.

     

    "The thunderous dunks tend to get the loudest reaction from the crowd," Gunnell said. "The Daze team also displays some dazzling ball-handling maneuvers."

     

    Last year's fundraiser game netted $1,500 for the Baraboo Boys & Girls Club. Gunnell is hopeful this year's event could raise even more for the club, student council, the JYMS Wellness Committee and the middle school builder's club, despite what may seem like bad timing.

     

    The Baraboo Thunderbirds boys basketball team will also play a state tournament game againsMadison Memorial on Friday night in Waunakee. 

    "Last year we thought we'd lose a lot of fans with the Badgers playing in the NCAA tournament, but we had a really good turnout," Gunnell, a former girls basketball coach, said. "I am first and foremost a Thunderbird fan, but maybe we can offer an alternative for basketball fans that won't be making the trip down to Waunakee."

    Daze Streetball team leader Troy "Myth" Dean said he appreciated the crowd that came out last year, and as a former Boys & Girls Club staff member he is glad to help.

    "Every kid can't make the swim team, or the basketball team," he said, "But you have a good outlet with the club. You're able to sharpen your basketball skills, do homework and study all in a safe environment."

    Dean said his team travels to Wisconsin schools to create good community spirit and attract crowds for fundraisers through their entertaining style of play. The team will also promote values like teamwork, exercise, and sportsmanship during a skills demonstration at JYMS Friday afternoon.

    Daze Streetball is made up of a mix of streetball tournament players and former college basketball stars who play in a style similar to the Harlem Globetrotters, but with more improvisation involved.

    "We go with the flow of the game," he said. "There are some moves you may have not seen from last year that we'll pull out of the bag. We always like to keep the crowd involved and keep people guessing what we'll do next."

    Dean said he never knew what the Baraboo team could bring to the court to challenge them. Last year he said a Boys & Girls Club staff member drained a series of three-point shots against the Daze to the delight of kids from the club.

    Gunnell joked that the Baraboo Community Basketball All-Star team has a few more surprises planned.

    "That would be the element of total surprise that comes from having absolutely zero practices together as a team. Even we don't know what we are going to do," Gunnell said.

    The basketball game will begin at 7 p.m. following a skills demonstration at the end of the school day, and a dance from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

    Concessions and other family oriented activities will be provided. A Nintendo game system will also be given away to a lucky winner.

    If you go

     

    * Daze Streetball team vs. the Baraboo Community All-Stars in a basketball game.

     

    * When: 7 p.m. Friday.

     

    * Where: Jack Young Middl School 

     

    * Cost: $3 for students and $4 for adults.J ack Young Middle School.


     

  • Blacktop Bio: Troy Dean aka The Myth

    By Casey Lee

    Myth3

    Name: Troy Dean
    Nickname: The Myth
    Ht: 6’1
    Wt: 200lbs
    D.O.B. 9/23/77
    Hometown: Madison, Wisconsin
    Position: Combo Guard

    Why do they call him The Myth? Could it be that perhaps the Daze Streetball player/owner brags game mostly found in that non-ball state with the Big Cheeseheads? Yeah…Wisconsin…where its supposedly cold like all the time and nobody plays ball outside of Milwaukee. Pfff…Street basketball is an EPIDEMIC and growing!! Even a state not known for ball, like Wisconsin, has playgrounds and ballers galore.

    Okay, okay…even though, hoop heads and historians alike cannot always vouch for Wisconsin in the past, we must look to the present and the future state of streetball. Right now, the dude called the Myth is putting the area on the map, making an impact in the community, and earning a place in history while doing it.

    Daze_Event_059

    Troy Dean shares a list of accomplishments comparable to cats who stay on their grind with 50 projects at a time! Take a look at some of Dean’s achievements over the years:

    Accomplishments:
    -Daze Streetball: player/owner
    -Semi-Professional basketball player (2 years): Wisconsin Blast
    -Made the Fort Wayne Fury (before the CBA went bankrupt)
    -AND 1 Mixtape Tour player: Chicago, 2003
    -AND 1 Mixtape Tour Open Run Finalist: Milwaukee, 2006
    -Hosted the 1st Daze Streetball All-Star Game: July 2007
    -Wisconsin Badger Halftime Show: Nov. 20, 2007
    -Mad-City Man Show performer: Dec. 8, 2007
    -Title Town Tip Celebrity 3pt. Shootout: 2007 & 2009

    Myth2

    Troy Dean earned his stripes on the blacktop by playing at damn near every playground in Madison. Since his hometown was not enough competition, Dean decided to take over the state! During a three year span, he entered his squad in 3-on-3 tournaments all over Wisconsin and continued to dominate wherever they went. Think Sega in 1992 when Mortal Kombat came out: flawless victory!

    and to think this was only the beginning…

     

     

    In 2001, Troy was dubbed Showtime for his dribbling finesse in a tournament against former Wisconsin guard Roy Boone (who was on the Badger team that made it to the Final Four in 2000). When he nailed 9 straight 3-pointers during one game, a light broke through the clouds, and a new moniker was born. People who did not know Troy kept calling him “The One” (Who Did This or That). The name stuck until he met soon-to-be Daze member Jesse “Snake” Muench — a basketball freestyle fanatic.

     

    Snake asked Troy what his name was or how he was most known in the hoops circuit. When Muench heard this story, the word spread from fact to fiction or better yet from truth to Myth…

    “…that name came about from [my cousin] who talked about me jumping over 6 kids in a dunking contest in high school. Then it turned into a myth [about] jumping over as many as 10 kids.”

    For the record, Dean leaped over five people. The court erupted after few having witnessed a scene like this before. After the throw-down, it might as well been both teams under the basket!

    If his basketball resume is not enough, not to mention daily runs on the local playgrounds like James Madison, White Tail Ridge Park, and many other through Madison, Troy put in work in the community. He helped to raise over $3,000 for the John Klang Memorial at the Weston School. Also, Myth has put together a number of fundraiser events in 2008 and 2009 for varies groups such as the Boy’s & Girl’s Club of Sauk County and other Community Centers, such as the Dane County Salvation Army, and Madison Area Libraries.

    Myth1

    As Troy Dean passes along basketball courts in the Midwest, he is known as the Myth but for his contributions to the community, (no disrespect to Paul Pierce) he will be remembered forever as the Truth…


By B. Marcus,
ElevationMag.com Staff Writer

Ever wonder why some high school and community college teams don’t have a single player who can really handle and dribble a basketball? Ever wonder why some schools just don’t ‘get it’, and did you ever see a coach blow up and call time out when one of his kids goes between the legs, or shakes some defender out of their kicks?


ElevationMag thinks they’ve found the answer…the best guys in town, the ones with the handles, and the ladies are on the corner court or at some Y or rec center working on their handles, shakes, shams and slams. Their school’s team just hasn’t caught up to them yet. We found these guys hoop’n it up in the urban areas across Canada, up and down the West Coast and the U.S. Midwest. Hey, we even found a couple yo’s up in some valley in Montana. With names like the Hoopsters, Daze Crew, Flair and even some with names I can’t pronounce in Asia, and Europe every kid with a handle is starting a crew.

Unfortunately many of these crews are just a lame bunch of kids from the burbs gett’n their “G” on for some whacked out dream of making the And1 tour or doing their own fame making thing or just getting out of the rut they live in. They should have spent that time on homework or juggling or some other activity that could make them a buck. Whatever the reason, the good ones like the Daze crew, the Hoopsters, Ghost’s crew, and a couple others are a bit hard to come by. What I’m saying is, is that there are lots of posers out there. Whether you are a couple ‘Back Street Boy’ look-a-likes from the Montana, a couple of Puerto Ricans from the Boogie Down – BX borough or 5 Dominicans from Dyckman, a XXXXL white tee and a pair of J’s, doesn’t make you a streetballer. No a streetballer is skill, basics, high intensity, and the ‘attitude’. The skill, it’s like the juggling thing, its practice, its even art. The basics, well do you know the way to the hole, can you put up an NBA three and can you slam it down like a slam dunk contest wants you to. The intensity, that’s the speed the drive, that’s the “boogie” – at least that’s what Jay Brantley told us. And last but not least, you need the attitude, the face the game face, the rhythm. You put this package in a XXXL T and you’ve probably got a baller.

Now to get a crew, you need five guys wrapped pretty much the same way. We’ve been looking at some of DVD’s that a crew out in Wisconsin has put together. The Emag crew has been impressed. These guys from Daze Streetball come to us from a place that’s not quite the ‘hood’ and certainly not some mountain valley. They play on the streets, parks, rec centers and just about anywhere else they find flat ground and a hoop. These guys even play on the stairs and sidewalks (with or without a net).

ElevatonMag.com gets several requests a week from various “streetballers” or crews from around the world looking for us to do a story on them. One of the more fun crews we’ve run across lately is Daze Streetball. Currently there are eight guys in the mix - Snake, Myth, Hollywood, Sandman, E-Nasty, Amnesia, G-Berg and Mr. President - but soon they will be adding a baller from Germany to their family. These guys may not be the biggest and the ‘baddest’ of bad asses on the court but they can move that rock and move it with true style, skill and intensity. They’re not acting bad, they look to be themselves, having fun, getting us to have fun and generally keeping us all amazed. What I personally enjoyed about these guys, was the honest, and solid work they put into the craft of streetball entertainment. They make the game fun, and in my opinion they are bringing more kids and even older guys to the game because they can make it fun and amazing at the same time. A smooth player is always fun to watch and even to try to be like. Daze has eight of these guys.

Another thing that impressed me was the business like approach Daze has about the game. Yes they are having fun, and yes they are taking us along for the ride, but they are still about the business and the future. They are from the Madison area of Wisconsin, home to a great University and a radical past. They are in reach of Milwaukee, Chicago, Detroit and the rest of the heart of the Midwest. Since most crews are from the east, west or Canada, Daze may be able to claim the Midwest as theirs. They’ve got the skills and obviously the drive to pull it off. I would not be surprised to see Daze on tour and Daze Streetball gear and DVD’s in stores across the country some day. Remember, you heard it here first. - Out

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1934 Pond St
Madison, WI 53704