Talkin' Hoops with the Halifax Rainmen DJ, RS Smooth

DJs in pro basketball arenas are becoming a staple in keeping the crowds hyped and energized.  To name a few, there's 4Korners for the Toronto Raptors, DJ Irie for the Miami Heat and DJ Steph Floss for the Cleveland Cavaliers.  The Halifax Rainmen have their very own resident DJ by the name of RS Smooth, who has been on the Halifax music scene for years.  You've probably heard him either on CKDU hosting the weekly show $mooth Groove$ or on 101.3 The Bounce.  I caught up with RS and asked him about his thoughts on the Rainmen, why Halifax is a prime basketball city and what music artists the Rainmen players like to listen to.

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Romy (Haligonia.ca):  Along with other projects that you work on around Halifax, you're also the DJ for the Halifax Rainmen, how did you get involved with the team?

RS Smooth:  I became involved with the Rainmen through the assistant coach, Shannon Hansen. He got me to DJ a couple of events for the Rainmen before they started the first season. Then they liked my work so they asked me to be their DJ for the season and beyond.

Romy (Haligonia.ca):  You're from Halifax, why is this a good city for a pro hoops franchise like the Rainmen?

RS Smooth:  Halifax has always been a hot bed for basketball. You have the annual Provincial Black Basketball tournament that has been around for 30 plus years. The AUS/CIS draws people from all over the Atlantic Provinces as well. People just love baskteball here. I hope they continue to support the Rainmen as who knows what else it could lead to in the future.

Romy (Haligonia.ca):  Let's hear your thoughts on this year's squad. Do you think this is the best Rainmen roster to date? Can they grab one of these few playoff spots?

RS Smooth:  Well so far, it does look to me like this is the best Rainmen team so far. I like the big men, they've got some talented guards and it seems the coaching is on par with the level of talent and expectations. But in the short 20-game season of the PBL, every win/loss counts. We can't lose games against teams we should beat. Hopefully we can get in the playoffs.

Romy (Haligonia.ca):  All around the NBA, DJs are becoming more apparent in NBA arenas, why do think this is becoming the trend?
 
RS Smooth: Music and basketball go hand-in-hand. Most DJ's are on the cutting edge of what's hot and that definitely helps to keep the crowd and players entertained. I think the key is playing a lil somethin' for everybody. There's younger kids who are there with their parents so a lil' ol' skool here and there can work for sure. But it's also good to make the players feel at home, so some Dirty South, West Coast and NY Hip-Hop definitely gets 'em fired up!!!
 
Romy (Haligonia.ca):  Jump balls in basketball games usually call for either "Van Halen - Jump", "Kris Kross - Jump" or "House of Pain - Jump Around" to play in the arena before the jump, but those songs are all kind of played out, what song would you play?
 
RS Smooth: I've played all 3 of those songs before, along with "Pass The Courvoisier"... I think they fit in perfectly for that particular time in the game and don't really think they're "played out".

Romy (Haligonia.ca):  The guys on the team must have input on what you play during warmups/shootaround or even during the game, what do some these guys like to listen to?
 
RS Smooth: A lot of times the players like the latest Hip-Hop joints out and songs that from their region of the U.S. A lot of Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Young Jeezy, Snoop Dogg, etc. Latest jams really.

Romy (Haligonia.ca):  Aside from entertaining the Rainmen crowds at the Metro Centre, where else can we find RS Smooth?

RS Smooth: I'm all over the place, but you can tune into 101.3 The Bounce weekdays @ 5pm for The 5 O'Clock Mixdown, Metro's #1 Mixshow, Saturdays Noon-5pm on 101.3 The Bounce as well. Then there's $mooth Groove$, Sundays @ 5pm on CKDU 88.1 FM, a show which has entered it's third decade as of 2010. (It's been on since June 1998). And you can catch me DJing all over HRM/Nova Scotia here and there, whether it's clubs, private parties, weddings, concerts, award shows, etc. And last but not least you can check out $mooth Groove$ Radio on Live365.com, streaming smooth grooves 24/7-365
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Big thanks goes out to RS for taking the opportunity to answer our Q's!  Be sure to check him out entertaining the Halifax Metro Centre crowds at the Halifax Rainmen home games...Next game Saturday @ 7:00pm against the Vermont Frost Heaves.

Romy Aquino covers the pro basketball game (the Canadian Flavour of the NBA, the PBL's Halifax Rainmen) from a fan's perspective.  He also can be found at NBA hoops blogs, Hip Hoop Junkies (A Member of TheScore.com's Sports Federation) and Hoop Heads North.  Follow him on Twitter: @romyaquino

Halifax Rainmen Release Two

Welcome to the revolving door that we like to call minor league basketball. In a press release from the Rainmen today, the team released two players, the 7'3"centre, Shagari Alleyne and centre, Cory Underwood.

“Our bigs weren't giving us what we needed to be successful, so we had to make changes,” said owner, Andre Levingston. “We need to be tougher, and we will be.”

Alleyne signed with the team back in December and Cory Underwood was just signed within the past week.  Alleyne averaged 3.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg and Underwood averaged 7.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg as members of the  Halifax Rainmen.  This leaves Halifax thin at the centre position as Gordon Malone will likely see heavy minutes at the five spot.

The Rainmen are 2-1 and face off against the Vermont Frost Heaves on Saturday evening at the Halifax Metro Centre.

Romy Aquino covers the pro basketball game (the Canadian Flavour of the NBA, the PBL's Halifax Rainmen) from a fan's perspective.  He also can be found at NBA hoops blogs, Hip Hoop Junkies (A Member of TheScore.com's Sports Federation) and Hoop Heads North.  Follow him on Twitter: @romyaquino

Rainmen Rally in the Second Half to Defeat Quebec - RAINMEN 112, KEBS 87

(photo courtesy of Romy Aquino)

RAINMEN 112, KEBS 87
Adris DeLeon led the Rainmen to victory in Halifax's regular season home opener at the Metro Centre on Sunday afternoon.  DeLeon came off the Rainmen bench to lead all scorers with 23 points on 6/9 shooting in only 17 minutes of play.  It was a tight game up until the Rainmen finished off the third quarter on an 11-0 run, up 77-64 after three quarters.  As the Rainmen continue their search for their starting centre, coach Les Berry went with the new kid in town, Cory Underwood, to start at the five.  Underwood, formerly with the Albuquerque Thunderbirds of the D-League, finished with 11 points, 7 rebounds, a steal and a block.

The Rainmen continued to pound on the Kebs in the final quarter as Halifax's offensive weapons, Tony Bennett and Desmond "Moneyball" Ferguson, helped Halifax go on another run in the fourth.  Ferguson nailed back to back threes and then Bennett made three consecutive baskets midway throught the fourth quarter to give Halifax a 25-point lead.

For the Quebec Kebs, former PBL MVP, Jeremy Bell led the Kebs with 21 pts and 7 rebounds but also had 7 turnovers.  Former Halifax Rainmen, Cordell Jeanty finished with 18 pts.

Shaun "Mavs" Gillis & Ryan Dickison Player of the Game: 
Adris DeLeon  23 pts, 1 steal in 17 minutes of play

Romy Aquino's Player of the Game:
Tony Bennett  15 pts, 4 rebounds, 1 steal

Hat-tip to the Kebs:
Jeremy Bell  21 pts, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 three balls

Key Notes:

• Hot Shooting: The Halifax Rainmen shot an impressive 57% while Quebec shot 44%
• Halifax's bench had a field day as they outscored Quebec's bench 54-16
• Points in the Paint: 58-34 in favour of the Rainmen
• Canadian Watch: Garry Gallimore - 6 pts, 2 assists, Jevohn Shepherd - 11 pts on 4/4 shooting
• Strong Second Half: Halifax outscored Quebec 64-43 in the second half
• Canadian pop singer, Elise Estrada performed at halftime of the Rainmen home opener
• "WE WANT STRICK!" - Fan fave, "The Franchise" John Strickland got some run yesterday, 15 minutes, 6 pts
• In case you missed it, be sure to check out Haligonia.ca's interview with the newest member of the team, Cory Underwood

Post Game Links:
The Chronicle Herald

In their home opener before 3,276 fans, the Rainmen used an explosive fourth quarter to swamp the visiting Kebs 112-87 at the Metro Centre, completing a sweep of a home-and-home series that has them on their first winning streak of the young Premier Basketball League season.

Canada Basketball

Guard Adris DeLeon (New York) led the Rainmen scorers with 23 points, while Tony Bennett (Chicago) had 15 points. Desmond Ferguson (Lansing, Mich.) added 14 points, as the hometown team piled up 37 points in the final quarter.

The Raw Feed

Cordell Jeanty who sat out last game against the Rainmen because of injuries fought hard in fourth to keep the Kebs in the game. The Quebec City Kebs played a great game, but fatigue overcame them in the fourth, with three of their strongest players out due to injuries Jonas Pierre (shoulder) Louis Patrick Levros (ankle) and JP Morin (abdomen). The Quebec City Kebs are optimistic that two of the players will return in the next two weeks to play.

Next up, the Rainmen take on the Vermont Frost Heaves at the Metro Centre this Saturday night @ 7pm, live on Haligonia.ca!

Let us know your thoughts on the Rainmen home opener...what areas can the Halifax Rainmen improve on?  Put down your thoughts in the comments section below...

Romy Aquino covers the pro basketball game (the Canadian Flavour of the NBA, the PBL's Halifax Rainmen) from a fan's perspective.  He also can be found at NBA hoops blogs, Hip Hoop Junkies (A Member of TheScore.com's Sports Federation) and Hoop Heads North.  Follow him on Twitter: @romyaquino

Talkin' Hoops with the Newest Member of the Halifax Rainmen, Cory "C-Wood" Underwood

Cory Underwood is one of the newest faces to the Halifax Rainmen this season, "C-Wood" is a 6'10" power forward straight out of NY.  He made his Rainmen debut this past Thursday when the Rainmen defeated the Quebec Kebs 90-80.  Cory has an impressive basketball resume; he has played at the legendary Rucker Park in New York, he also played in the NBA D-League with the Albuquerque Thunderbirds and had also participated in last year's Philadelphia 76ers training camp.  Haligonia.ca had the opportunity to ask Cory about his thoughts on the city of Halifax, his Philly training camp experience and what basketball players he looked up to in high school.
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Romy (Haligonia.ca): So you've recently joined the Halifax Rainmen, what do you think of the city so far? Is this your first time in Halifax?

Cory Underwood: I haven't really haven't gotten a chance to get out yet...the city reminds me of Pittsburgh however...the hills and the water...I'm very big on scenery

Romy (Haligonia.ca): How did you get the call to join the Rainmen?

Cory Underwood: John Strickland...he's somebody I've watched when I was young and always got advice from...once I asked for my release from Albuquerque, he called me and said there's a spot if you want to come...I had a chance to go to another D League team, but I felt like I was pretty much done with that league...lol

Romy (Haligonia.ca):  You're from NY, have you played with a lot of these New Yorkers that are currently on the Rainmen roster?

Cory Underwood:  I've played with/against all the guys here and Antawn Dobie is my cousin..we went to high school together

Romy (Haligonia.ca):  A lot of basketball legends have made their way through Rucker Park, what is it like playing at Rucker Park in NYC?

Cory Underwood:  Well 55th (The Rucker) isn't the same as it use to be for whatever reason(s) but I'm glad to say I caught the very last few years where it "was" what it was...if you get what I'm saying...but it will never be how it was mid-late 90's to about 2005...honestly, you can't even get the elite players to play there except for the playoff week.
 
Romy (Haligonia.ca): You were a part of the Philadelphia 76ers preseason squad last year, how was that experience?

Cory Underwood: It was great...I loved it...Honestly, I should've lasted until at least til January (where contracts become guaranteed) but they gave two guys they invited to camp so much guaranteed money it made it impossible...last year they only carried 14 guys.  It still pains me to watch Sixer games. I still keep in touch with Elton, Reggie Evans and Lou Williams. Great guys.

Romy (Haligonia.ca):  If you were going to give a scouting report on your game, what would you say?

Cory Underwood:  Lefty...handles very well at 6'10, great offensive game...great touch out to 21 feet, solid rebounder and shot blocker.  Everyone tells me I play like Derrick Coleman at Syracuse...

Romy (Haligonia.ca):  Ok, flashback to your high school days....who was your favorite NBA team and NBA player at that time?

Cory Underwood: I really never looked up NBA guys...in high school I loved Lamar Odom. He was like my big brother, I followed him all over and patterned my game like his...I also liked and still do Ron Artest, Rafer Alston and a guy by the name of Rahim Johnson (Google that name), he made it cool to shoot everytime you touch the ball in the late 90's...lol

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A huge thanks goes out to Cory for taking the time to answer our questions.  Be sure to catch Cory at the upcoming Rainmen home games and get the latest on Cory at rainmenbasketball.ca.

Romy Aquino covers the pro basketball game (the Canadian Flavour of the NBA, the PBL's Halifax Rainmen) from a fan's perspective.  He also can be found at NBA hoops blogs, Hip Hoop Junkies (A Member of TheScore.com's Sports Federation) and Hoop Heads North.  Follow him on Twitter: @romyaquino

Breaking Down The Boxscore - RAINMEN 90, KEBS 80

RAINMEN 90, KEBS 80
Halifax Rainmen Record: 1-1
The Rainmen split their opening regular season road games as they bounced back from their season opener loss to the LS Cavs, and knocked off the Quebec Kebs last night, 90-80.  In what looked to be a close game, the Rainmen and Quebec Kebs were knotted at 65 after three quarters until the Rainmen won the closing quarter 25-15.  The Rainmen went on a 10-0 in the final minutes which included a couple of key three balls from Desmond Ferguson and guard, Gary Ervin.

Without an online feed for last night's game, we once again break down the boxscore:

• Great defensive effort from the Rainmen, as they held the Kebs to 20/50 FG (40%) shooting
• Desmond Ferguson and Tony Bennett led the Rainmen with 14 pts apiece
• Halifax Starting Five: Bennett, Ferguson, Strickland, Ervin and Crookshank
• Big Boards: Eric Crookshank worked the glass, grabbing 20 rebounds to go with his 4 pts and the Rainmen outrebounded the Kebs 52-47
• Points in the Paint: Looks like the Rainmen got it done down low, scoring 46 points in the paint to the Kebs' 36 pts
• The New Faces on the Rainmen: Plummer - 10 pts, 2 threes and Underwood - 3 pts, 3 rebounds
• Canadian Watch: St. FX alum, Gallimore - 4 pts, 3 rebounds
• Hat-tip to the Kebs: Samuel Audet-Sow - 30 pts, 6 rebounds, 2 steals

Post Game Links:

The Metro Halifax

The Rainmen went on a 16-6 run with about six minutes to go to break open a close game and post a 90-80 victory over the Quebec Kebs at the University of Laval on Thursday night, evening their Premier Basketball League record at 1-1.

 
The Chronicle Herald

Tony Bennett and Desmond Ferguson topped the Rainmen with 14 points each. Gordon Malone added 13 while newcomer Greg Plummer and Gary Ervin had 10 each. Power forward Eric Crookshank pulled down 20 rebounds, tying a franchise record set by Rob Sanders a year ago against Manchester.

Rainmen have their regular season home opener on Sunday in a rematch against the Quebec Kebs (Pop star, Elise Estrada will be performing at halftime)...

Romy Aquino covers the pro basketball game (the Canadian Flavour of the NBA, the PBL's Halifax Rainmen) from a fan's perspective.  He also can be found at NBA hoops blogs, Hip Hoop Junkies (A Member of TheScore.com's Sports Federation) and Hoop Heads North.  Follow him on Twitter: @romyaquino

 

Breaking Down the Boxscore – CAVALRY 102, RAINMEN 87

CAVALRY 102, RAINMEN 87

Halifax Rainmen Record: 0-1
The Rainmen made their regular season debut on Sunday against one of the newest teams to the PBL, the Lawton-Fort Still Cavalry. The Cavalry, formerly of the CBA and located in Oklahoma, displayed an excellent showing Sunday as they defeated Halifax 102-87. The Rainmen on the other hand, were short-handed as they were without recently released forward Mark McCarroll and guards, Lonell Jones and local flavour, Devon Norris, who did not make the trip to Oklahoma.  The leading scorer for the Rainmen was Tony Bennett with 17 points, 4 assists and 5 boards.

CANADIAN CONTENT: Week of 12/21 - How the NBA's Canadian Flavour performed last week

(Photo by P.A. Molumby/NBAE via Getty Images)

Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns (Victoria, BC)

18.7 PPG, 11.2 APG, 2.9 RPG
(Last week: 23 PPG, 9.8 APG, 2.0 RPG)
Steve Nash is Awesome.