BEMIDJI, Minn. – Bemidji State University’s Hobson Union Programming Board will be bringing the street ball phenomenon to Bemidji on Tuesday, April 29, when it hosts the Hustle Up Street Ball 2008 Tour. The Hustle Up Street Ball Team, which has been featured on the ESPN and ESPN2 Street Ball series, will play against the Minnesota All-Stars, featuring the best street-ball players in the state of Minnesota.

The game will begin at 7 p.m. in the BSU Gymnasium of the Gillett Recreation and Fitness Center, with doors opening at 6 p.m. Tickets to the game are $13, and available by calling the Hobson Memorial Union at (218) 755-3760.

Often referred to as the “Gen X Harlem Globetrotters,” the Hustle Up Street Ball team plays a style of basketball featuring tenacious dunks and ball tricks. The team, which features the players Hotsauce, Highrizer, Springs, Ghost, JFK, Big Swoal, Pat DS Rock, Spyda and A-Money, has each played on or captained a team in the legendary Rucker Park streetball league in New York City.

The players on the team also have each participated in one or more of the following events or activities: the Mountain Dew/AND1 Mixtape Tour, the Magic Johnson/MTV “Who’s Got Game” Reality TV show, Nike dribbling commercials as part of the Nike Freestyle Team, the movies ‘Above the Rim’, ‘On Hallowed Ground’ and “Crossover,” and various EA Sports Street Ball video games for Sony Playstation 2 and 3 and Microsoft Xbox and Xbox 360.

There will be a slam dunk exhibition at halftime of the game and an autograph session will be held afterwards.

For more information, please contact Mary Tosch at the Hobson Memorial Union at (218) 755-3760. More information about Hustle Up Street Ball can be found on the Web at http://www.hustleupstreetball.com.

FOR YOUR CALENDAR
April 29 – 7:00 p.m. – Bemidji State University Hobson Memorial Union presents Hustle Up Street Ball 2008 Tour; Minnesota All-Stars vs Street Ball Legends. Location: BSU Gymnasium (doors open 6 p.m.). Tickets: $13 in advance; call (218) 755-3760.

About Hustle Up Street Ball
In its fourth year, The Hustle Up Street Ball mission is to bring the best street ball players in the world to communities across the country. Not only will the players entertain with their skills and talent on the court, but during stops in each city the performers visit local schools and youth organizations and speak to children about the importance of education and avoiding drugs and involvement with gangs. The Street Ball players also give certificates to students with outstanding grades, donate game tickets to underprivileged children and visit local pediatric units to spend time with hospitalized children. A portion of the door proceeds are donated to the school hosting the Street Ball event.

For more information about Hustle Up Street Ball, visit it on the Web at: http://www.hustleupstreetball.com.