Waliyy Dixon
Encyclopedia
Waliyy Dixon better known by his streetball
nickname "Main Event", is an American
professional basketball player. He was born and raised in Linden, New Jersey
.
, 4th Ward Park. He attended Linden High School
and was chosen by Street & Smith
as an All-American after his senior season in 1991–92. Dixon graduated as its all-time leading scorer (1,760 points) and officially concluded his prep career by winning the Reebok
National Slam Dunk Contest. He chose to stay in New Jersey
to play college basketball and attended Rutgers University
. Despite a lot of success at the high school level, Dixon's career as a Scarlet Knight
was not noteworthy. He played for just two seasons (1992–94) and averaged 9.6 points in 26 games played.
was found by two of AND1 Basketball's partners, Jay Coen Gilbert and Seth Berger. The tape, which wound up being the AND1 Mix Tape Volume One, gave national exposure to streetball. It featured some of the jaw-dropping moves of a then little-known player named Waliyy Dixon. Then, in the summer of 1999, before the AND1 Mixtape Tour
ever existed, Dixon met with several AND1 representatives. After discussing the streetball scene he helped bring other streetballers to the AND1 family. He then worked with AND1 to host the original AND1 Mix Tape game later that summer at his home court in Linden. More than 2,000 people showed up to 4th Ward Park to watch what turned into footage for Mix Tape Vol. 2. "Main" and the other streetballers were then signed to endorsement deals that fall
. Dixon would play for the AND1 Mix Tape Tour from 2001 through 2006.
Nickname origin
At Rucker Park in the early 1990s, Dixon completed a 360 degree dunk that stunned the crowd. It earned him the name "The Main Event” as he began to attract a huge following to Rucker games.
(USBL) for the Atlantic City Seagulls and Long Island Surf. He also spent some time in training camp with the New Jersey Nets
before the 2004
and 2005
NBA seasons.
, a streetball tour similar in nature to AND1, was co-created by Main Event and a handful of other former AND1 players. It started in 2007, but after less than a year and a half it disbanded due to lack of revenue and media support.
.
Streetball
Streetball or street basketball is a variation of the sport of basketball, typically played on outdoor courts and featuring significantly less by way of formal structure and enforcement of the game's rules...
nickname "Main Event", is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball player. He was born and raised in Linden, New Jersey
Linden, New Jersey
- Local government :, the Mayor of Linden is . The former longtime Mayor of Linden is 82-year-old John T. Gregorio, who served as mayor of Linden for 30, nonconsecutive years and was repeatedly tagged with scandal during his mayoral career, including one felony conviction, later pardoned, which...
.
Early life
Dixon spent his youth honing his streetball skills at his favorite hometown courtBasketball court
In basketball, the basketball court is the playing surface, consisting of a rectangular floor with tiles at either end. In professional or organized basketball, especially when played indoors, it is usually made out of a wood, often maple, and highly polished...
, 4th Ward Park. He attended Linden High School
Linden High School (New Jersey)
Linden High School is a comprehensive community public high school located in Linden in Union County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Linden Public Schools...
and was chosen by Street & Smith
Street & Smith
Street & Smith or Street & Smith Publications, Inc. was a New York City publisher specializing in inexpensive paperbacks and magazines referred to as pulp fiction and dime novels. They also published comic books and sporting yearbooks...
as an All-American after his senior season in 1991–92. Dixon graduated as its all-time leading scorer (1,760 points) and officially concluded his prep career by winning the Reebok
Reebok
Reebok International Limited, a subsidiary of the German sportswear company Adidas since 2005, is a producer of Athletic shoes, apparel, and accessories. The name comes from the Afrikaans spelling of rhebok, a type of African antelope or gazelle...
National Slam Dunk Contest. He chose to stay in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
to play college basketball and attended Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
. Despite a lot of success at the high school level, Dixon's career as a Scarlet Knight
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are the athletic teams that represent Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey...
was not noteworthy. He played for just two seasons (1992–94) and averaged 9.6 points in 26 games played.
AND1
In 1994, a videotape of the Entertainer's Basketball Classic at Harlem's Rucker ParkRucker Park
Rucker Park is a basketball court in the Harlem neighborhood of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is located at 155th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard across the street from the former Polo Grounds site...
was found by two of AND1 Basketball's partners, Jay Coen Gilbert and Seth Berger. The tape, which wound up being the AND1 Mix Tape Volume One, gave national exposure to streetball. It featured some of the jaw-dropping moves of a then little-known player named Waliyy Dixon. Then, in the summer of 1999, before the AND1 Mixtape Tour
AND1 Mixtape Tour
The AND1 Live Tour, formerly known as the AND1 Mixtape Tour, is a traveling basketball competition and exhibition presented by B-Ball and Company and the basketball apparel manufacturer AND1. A group of streetball players, along with Emcee Rell and B-Ball and Company CEO Linda Hill, travel from...
ever existed, Dixon met with several AND1 representatives. After discussing the streetball scene he helped bring other streetballers to the AND1 family. He then worked with AND1 to host the original AND1 Mix Tape game later that summer at his home court in Linden. More than 2,000 people showed up to 4th Ward Park to watch what turned into footage for Mix Tape Vol. 2. "Main" and the other streetballers were then signed to endorsement deals that fall
Autumn
Autumn is one of the four temperate seasons. Autumn marks the transition from summer into winter usually in September or March when the arrival of night becomes noticeably earlier....
. Dixon would play for the AND1 Mix Tape Tour from 2001 through 2006.
Nickname origin
At Rucker Park in the early 1990s, Dixon completed a 360 degree dunk that stunned the crowd. It earned him the name "The Main Event” as he began to attract a huge following to Rucker games.
Other leagues
Waliyy Dixon played professionally in the United States Basketball LeagueUnited States Basketball League
The United States Basketball League , often abbreviated to the USBL, was a professional men's spring basketball league. The league was formed in 1985. The final champions are the Kansas Cagerz, who won the title game on July 1, 2007.-History:...
(USBL) for the Atlantic City Seagulls and Long Island Surf. He also spent some time in training camp with the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
before the 2004
2003-04 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-Yearly awards:*Most Valuable Player: Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves*Rookie of the Year: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers*Defensive Player of the Year: Ron Artest, Indiana Pacers...
and 2005
2004-05 NBA season
The 2004–05 NBA season was the 59th season of the National Basketball Association . It began on November 2, 2004 and ended June 23, 2005. The season ended with the San Antonio Spurs defeating defending champion Detroit Pistons 4–3 in the NBA Finals....
NBA seasons.
Ball4Real
In his post-AND1 Mix Tape Tour life, Dixon has embarked on several basketball-related projects. Ball4RealBall4Real
Ball4Real was the name of a traveling basketball exhibition and competition which made its debut in June 2007. A group of well known streetball players traveled from city to city to challenge teams composed of local talent...
, a streetball tour similar in nature to AND1, was co-created by Main Event and a handful of other former AND1 players. It started in 2007, but after less than a year and a half it disbanded due to lack of revenue and media support.
S.K.Y. Streetball Syndicate
S.K.Y., an acronym for Serving Knowledge to Youth, is the name for a new clothing organization, Streetball Syndicate. It focuses on special basketball tours and community outreach programs. Dixon is a co-founder of the organization with other streetball players, some of whom used to also tour for AND1. He currently serves as the Vice President of Player Development and works out of his hometown of Linden, New JerseyLinden, New Jersey
- Local government :, the Mayor of Linden is . The former longtime Mayor of Linden is 82-year-old John T. Gregorio, who served as mayor of Linden for 30, nonconsecutive years and was repeatedly tagged with scandal during his mayoral career, including one felony conviction, later pardoned, which...
.
External links
- AND1
- Waliyy Dixon at IMDB
- Goals of S.K.Y.