The Venice Basketball League is celebrating its fifth birthday this year and will start match ups this Sunday on the Venice Beach Blue Courts.
It will be the kick-off of a three month long event that will include all the best players from Venice Beach and around the world.
The shooting hoops competition begins at noon with surfing and yoga events held for children prior to the event.
Quarterfinal events will take place on August 25 at the legendary Venice Beach blue court the day after ESPN and the Elite 24 comes to town with the semi-finals held the following Thursday at the Hollywood Recreation Center.
Finals events, nicknamed the “Hall of Fame Day,” will be held on September 2 at the Venice Beach original blacktop courts, which will include all the greatest players to ever step foot on the Venice courts in a ceremony where they will be inducted in the hall of fame following VBL finals.
“We strive to showcase, entertain and inspire,” said Nick Ansom organizer of the Venice
Ball League. “The Venice Basketball League is a place where the game never stops as we take our competition from the beach to the most legendary courts in California and the world.”
The Venice Basketball League will consist of 10 teams this summer, and will be shooting hoops to the sounds of Venice’s best DJ’s that will be sure to bring a cool combination of entertainment-style play that includes LA’s top players in a structured team agenda with a “reputable roster compiled with the highest of standards in ethics and talent.”
“Our league ranges from Professional D-Leaguers and NBA draft picks to solid entertainment players, top entertainers, and celebrities to college and high school MVP’s and even street ball’s most skilled tricksters,” said Ansom.
The league has had the privilege of featuring NBA stars such as the Rockets JuaquinHawkins, the Lakers Zack Andrews, and the Clippers Keith Closs as well as street ball legends such as The Bone Collector, Sick Wit It, The Assassin, Springs, The Beast, Kenny Dobbs, Young Hollywood, J.Boogie, Hollywizzle, SpinMaster, and Rashid Byrd.
Lakers notables such as AC Green, Rick Fox, John Salley, Dirt Nasty, and Pittsburg Slim have also played as have directors Martin GuiGui, and Nick Goosen.
Recently, the National Football League’s Donald Penn and Cameron Jordan played in the winter and spring league sessions.
The event will be narrated by the Venice Beach League’s best announcers Mouthpiece & DB who according to Ansom will “catch every move, mistake and banter, providing a never before seen perspective for spectators and players alike.”
“With a history in the making that is too precious to miss, we capture every bit of action with our photographers and video production team,” said Ansom who said highlights would be broadcast on the web as well as on local TV networks. “We provide teasers, and highlights to educate kids of all backgrounds in healthy diet alternatives, yoga, sustainable living, and feature basketball fundamentals in order to prepare them for healthful, happy and basketball oriented lifestyles.”
