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Local Sports

Local sports in the Panhandle are not just a game, they are a lifestyle. Our community eats, sleeps and breathes cheering on our local athletes.
News13 is On Your “Sidelines” bringing you more than the score.
News13’s Stephen Gunter is committed to giving you stories of the Panhandle’s top athletes, intriguing match-ups and unusual sports you may not even know exist.
sgunter@wmbb.com

Thursday, March 23, 2006

ESPN’s “City Slam” Jams On The Gulf

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. - “He throws it up there, then does a windmill and catches it, does a 360 dunk on the alley-oop!” excited spring breaker, Ryder King yelled.

Hundreds of spring breakers were courtside during the Gulf-side taping of “ESPN’s City Slam”.

A slam dunk competition featuring street ball players from 12 cities.

Thursdays contest showcased four dunkers from St. Louis: High-Flight Security, Two-Easy, Windmill and No Mercy.

All competitors were dunking in front of fans and celebrity judges.

“Some of these dunkers were fantastic,” Darryl Dawkins, NBA Slam Dunk Legend said. “Yesterday, Chicago came in, and these St. Louis and Philly boys gonna hurt Chicago. Chicago’s in trouble.”

Among the fellow NBA alumni on hand to judge were Spud Webb, Dee Brown and Kenny Walker.

“Oh man, I’m in awe,” Two-Easy said. “They all can dunk better than me. And they like my dunks!”

Dawkins or he so often goes by his nickname, “Chocolate Thunder,” was recognized throughout his career for his ferocious dunks that shattered backboards.

“None of these guys can break the backboard, right now,” Dawkins said with a grin.

But even “Chocolate Thunder” knows it takes more than “breakin’ the glass”, as he calles it, to win a dunk contest.

“Gotta have a good wind, keep your legs strong, not try stuff you’ve never tried before. Do something that works the crowd, play the crowd,” Dawkins said. And by all means, you have to put it in with authority!”

But street-baller, Two-Easy, has a more humble method.

“You just gotta rest, you can’t go out and party the night before a competition like this.

“And you have to know your dunks.”

“It’s great to see new young guys coming through with imagination, creativity that always keeps the dunk alive,” Dawkins added.

Friday, March 24, is the final day of taping for “ESPN’s City Slam”.

The winner of this competition will advance to the Regional Quarterfinals set for late June in Chicago.

This segment will air on our sister sports network, ESPN, on April 10th at 12 a.m. CST.

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