ust one year ago, Ricard “Ricky” Rubio- born in El Masnou, October 21, 1990— became the youngest player to debut in the ACB league. On the day of his debut, he still hadn’t even blown out his 15 candles. Today we are in the presence of an important player of a first-level team like Joventut, whose inexhaustible reserve of young players never get tired of showing their talent year after year. The green and black point-guard is capable of playing and orchestrating plays while surrounded by his opponents and teammates, who in some cases, are twice his age. His statistics leave no room for doubt as they are leading him to be the sixth man of La Penya’s (Joventut) rotation. This summer, the young basketball prodigy returned to the center of media attention when the Spanish national team was awarded the European U16 championship title: in the final he tallied up an impressive 51 points, 24 rebounds, 12 assists, and 7 steals, in addition to forcing an overtime during which he scored a 3-point shot from mid-court.

As soon as he turns sixteen, Rubio will sign his first professional contract. His team has been trying to stop the rumors and avoid the temptations by the rival teams, who are very interested in getting the contract of the future star. Up until now it has been impossible, since the labor legislation forbids employment of youths under the age of 16. This is quite a contradiction, as Ricky shares the locker-room with professionals who make their living on the court. Achieving success in a sport at such a young age can have its disadvantages and can end up damaging the professional career of a boy who has yet to graduate high school. There are a few previous young athletes who were not able to reach the finish line, unlike sports icons like Fernando Alonso or Tiger Woods. Basketball in the United States has an advantage over us in this situation. There, with the exception of a few cases, players who have not graduated from college (usually graduate by age 22) are not allowed to leap into the professional circuit. Rubio will have to mature on a personal level, with the help and control of the people around him. At the moment, it seems that Aito has taken the reigns. Ricky does not even appear on La Penya’s official website as a player of the first team.

The comparisons in terms of his premature impact on European basketball are similar to another point guard, equally as precocious in his time: Drazen Petrovic. When the genius from Sibenik jumped into the limelight, the NBA remained a far reach for any European basketball player. However, in the case of Rubio, they are already talking on end about his future in playing for the best league in the world, while there is still a long way to go around these parts. Either way, he knows that to be a well-rounded player, he has to apply the same amount of intensity on defense as he does in the attack. To make even more improvements in his technical performance as well as to prepare himself physically, he still has time. But he is off to a good start…already wearing #32, the same number as Earvin “Magic” Johnson.

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CEO of Microsoft Greater China to Lead New NBA China Entity

NEW YORK AND BEIJING, SEPT. 19 – The NBA has named Tim Chen, CEO of Microsoft Greater China, as CEO of NBA China, effective October 15, it was announced today by NBA Commissioner David Stern. NBA China is a new enterprise being created to encapsulate all of the league’s businesses in Greater China.NBA China will be governed by a Board of Directors that will include NBA owners, representatives of outside investors as well as Stern, NBA Deputy Commissioner and COO Adam Silver and NBA President of Global Marketing Partnerships and International Business Operations Heidi Ueberroth.

Ueberroth, who led the recruiting process said, “After an extensive search that produced many qualified candidates, Tim Chen was the clear choice based on his tremendous experience and accomplishments. Tim will assume leadership of a very talented team of NBA employees based in China including Mark Fischer, who will be promoted to Senior Vice President.”

“Tim Chen is a proven business leader who has guided the dramatic growth of two Fortune 100 businesses in China,” said Stern. “Tim is the ideal person to lead NBA China as we expand our infrastructure and operations to meet the growing interest from fans and consumers throughout the region.”

“The NBA is a truly exceptional brand with a huge fan base that reaches across all parts of China,” said Chen. “I’m thrilled by the scope of this opportunity and the ability to work with such a talented team, as we build on the enormous business potential that spans media, merchandising, marketing, events and new initiatives.”

Chen comes to the NBA from Microsoft, where he led the software giant’s growth in China since 2003. Chen worked closely with the government to incorporate Microsoft software into the growing network of PCs in administration and education. Under his leadership, Microsoft sales and revenue grew more rapidly in the Greater China region than in any other market in the world, while at the same time significantly increased its investment in R&D and domestic software ventures.

Chen was Chairman and President of Motorola in China from 2001 to 2003 and increased the company’s market share to become the leader in the competitive Chinese mobile phone industry and mobile system business. Prior to 2001, Chen spent eight years with Motorola, including serving as its general manager responsible for marketing and sales operations for the Greater China Cellular Infrastructure Division. Prior to joining Motorola, Chen spent nine years at AT&T Labs based in the United States.

Chen received an MBA from the University of Chicago and two master’s degrees in computer science and mathematics. Chen, who earned his undergraduate degree at Chiao Tung University in Taiwan, currently resides in Beijing with his wife and two children.

With 300 million people playing basketball, 83% of people ages 15-24 saying they’re NBA fans and 20% of traffic to NBA.com coming from China, basketball is rapidly growing in popularity. The NBA has relationships with 51 TV stations that provide NBA programming to more than 1.2 billion viewers. The league maintains marketing partnerships in China with 20 of the world’s leading brands and makes products available to fans in more than 50,000 locations. The NBA is conducting more than 170 special events in 112 cities in Greater China including the NBA China Games 2007, three pre-season games in Shanghai and Macao in October.

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NBA 2K8 for Xbox 360 will be released on October 2.  The gameplay, graphics, signature moves and just about every detail you can image are superbly done.  You can catch me playing 2k7 and soon to be 2k8 on Xbox Live before work, during work, in the evenings or even late at night.  Now granted, I’m a baller offline, but I’m becoming a pretty good gamer, so come prepared or be prepared to chalk up another stat in the L-column.

In case you haven’t seen screenshots of NBA2k8, here are a few photos.

Kobe Bryant

Yao Ming

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2K Sports, the sports publishing label of Take-Two Interactive
Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), today announced that NBA® 2K8 will
feature original and exclusive tracks from the late legendary producer
J Dilla (aka Jay Dee) with Common, Q-Tip, Talib Kweli and Madlib
providing vocals. The in-game soundtrack will also include music that
harkens back to the roots of hip-hop, as well as an eclectic mix of
songs from other genres that complement the virtual hoops action.

As one of the music industry’s most influential producers, J Dilla
inspired many artists, including Common, Q-Tip, Talib Kweli and Madlib,
all of whom he had previously collaborated with in some fashion. These
artists were tapped to keep J Dilla’s legacy alive because of their
friendship and respect for this fallen talent. Now exclusively on the
NBA 2K8 soundtrack, three J Dilla tracks will feature the lyrics of
Common, Q-Tip, Talib Kweli, and Madlib.

“J. Dilla was one of the industry’s greatest talents,” said Q-Tip.
“This recording is reflective of his legacy and of the wonderful body
of work that he left behind.”

The in-game soundtrack to NBA 2K8 introduces today’s gamers to
classic tracks from The Highlighters Band, Ernie and The Topnotes,
Billy Ball & The Upsetters, and The Fabulous Jades. Rounding out
the soundtrack are offerings from Quasimoto, Percee P, Run-DMC, Devo,
Cut Chemist, Fishbone, Stone Roses and many more.

“For the NBA 2K8 soundtrack, we wanted to produce something diverse
that bridges modern hip-hop with its rich heritage in funk and groove,”
said Tim Rosa, 2K Sports Director of Brand and Lifestyle Marketing. “In
addition to showcasing some of J Dilla’s finest and unreleased cuts
with marquee artists like Common, Talib Kweli and Q-Tip, we’ve included
a diverse group of artists whose music really captures the spirit of
the game.”

Track listing:

J Dilla feat. Madlib “The Official (2K8 Mix)”

J Dilla feat. Q-Tip & Talib Kweli “Lightworks”

J Dilla feat. Common “E=MC2”

Run-DMC “Sucka MC’s”

Stone Roses “Fool’s Gold”

Breakestra “Getcho Soul Together Pt. 2”

Fishbone “Skankin to the Beat”

Tommy Guerrero “Molotov Telegram”

Percee P “Throwback Rap Attack”

Quasimoto “Chrome Dreams”

Devo “Through Being Cool”

Quantic “When You’re Through”

J. Rocc “Cold Heat Megamix”

Cut Chemist “Bunky’s Pick”

Billy Ball & The Upsetters “Tighten Up Tighter”

The Highlighters Band “Funky 16 Corners”

A Guy Called Gerald “Hurry to Go Easy”

Sonic Trip “Energy Play”

Baron Zen “Turn Around (Peanut Butter Wolf Instrumental Mix)”

Finley Quaye “Ultra Stimulation”

G-Love & Special Sauce “Shooting Hoops”

Ernie & The Topnotes “Dap Walk”

The Fabulous Jades “Cold Heat”

NBA 2K8 is rated E for Everyone and will be available October 2,
2007 for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from
Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and
PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. NBA 2K8 features exciting
all-new play modes, defensive mechanics, off-ball controls, a radically
improved franchise mode and an impressive set of other updated
features.

About Take-Two Interactive Software

Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
is a global developer, marketer, distributor and publisher of
interactive entertainment software games for the PC, PlayStation® game
console, PlayStation®2 and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment
systems, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Xbox® and Xbox 360™ video
game and entertainment systems from Microsoft, Wii™, Nintendo
GameCube™, Nintendo DS™ and Game Boy® Advance. The Company publishes
and develops products through its wholly owned labels Rockstar Games,
2K Games, 2K Sports and 2K Play; and distributes software, hardware and
accessories in North America through its Jack of All Games subsidiary.
Take-Two’s common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol
TTWO. For more corporate and product information please visit our
website at www.take2games.com.

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Alloy Access Reveals the Urban Hustler Demographic

Alloy Access has released a demographic study of the “Urban Hustler“. For older generations, the term hustler may still conjure up scenes from Midnight Cowboy. But for younger folks, or those obsessed with tales of rising from the hood to global pop stardom, a hustler is an aspirational figure who may have gotten where he got in less than legal ways but is all about working hard and going legit.

However, Alloy Access is going for something bigger, the use of the term “Urban Hustler” to define a slice of the U.S. demographic pie that maps on to a lucrative cross-section of the hip hop listening and
living market.

The press release doesn’t give a brief straightforward definition but sketches out the dimensions of this demographic group. Here’s a bit:

Redefining themselves as positive, upwardly mobile ‘hustlers’, the group is identified as the new “Urban Hustler”. Alloy Access sought to provide a clear portrayal of this new brand of consumer, a segment representing a significant slice, 19.6 million, of the 12-34 year old demographic that is highly coveted by corporate America, yet a segment that remains ill defined in the marketplace…

No longer confined to a demographic living in inner-city zip codes, the Urban Hustler has come to represent a specific mindset born out of the unique energy, creativity and diversity of America’s urban centers - closely connected to hip-hop, ethnically diverse with aspirations to succeed and a shared set of passions…

Nearly four in ten (39%) Urban Hustlers live in suburban areas and a similar amount (39%) of the group are white. What further distinguishes the consumers in this market is a shared belief in their
own influence.

The Urban Hustler is a self-proclaimed trendsetter, with almost three-quarters (73%) characterizing themselves as someone their friends seek out for advice on the latest trends. They spend a significant portion of their discretionary income hustling to define and keep up with what’s hot.

I checked in with Alloy Access for additional methodological info beyond what’s in the press release and should be getting more detailed material soon. However, I was informed that the folks whose responses represent the dimensions of the Urban Hustler were those who revealed, in rating a “variety of attributes”, that they were best described by such statements as:

-People look to me for the newest, hottest trends
-I enjoy the energy of urban, city life
-Hip hop culture is important to me
-Success equals money, fame and respect

So what they’ve done is to sketch out a lucrative subsection of the larger hip hop demographic, however that larger demographic is defined.

I also asked how folks like Damon Dash and Kwame Decuir were chosen for quotes and received this reply:

We are advertising partners with Blocksavvy, Damon Dash’s social networking play, so he and co-founder Kwame were
interested in commenting on the study and backed the importance of conducting the report to quantify these influential consumers. Blocksavvy was built to connect these consumers identified.

Believe me, I’ll be thinking a lot about this study and look forward to both examining more background info and following the response. Not
to disparage the accomplishments of the folks at Alloy Access but what this study reveals most strongly is the broader lack of examination of
the hip hop demographic and the fact that most discussions of said demographic trade in cliches based on personal observations rather than
solid data.

So it’s good to see Alloy Access exploring the topic and I’m hoping to see a lot more activity in this area in the future.

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