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Dunaway Sports claims ‘Big Dawg’ championship in MadHops 5-on-5
tournament in Columbus
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| TEAM SHOWING – Dunaway Sports captain Lucius Jones (center) of Marion,
Ohio displayed the Big Dawg trophy from the second annual MADHOPS 5on-5
basketball tournament. (PHOTO COURTESY OF MADHOPS). |
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| LOCAL JUDGES — Tina Tatum (left) and Herb Baldwin(Right) pose with
celebrity judges (from left) Antonio Watson, Tonya Edwards, Sean Anthony
and J. Rawls. (PHOTO COURTESY OF MADHOPS). | The slam
dunk competition of the Second Annual MADHOPS 5-on-5 Basketball Tournament on
Saturday, August 16 was dedicated in memory of Demetrius Tatum. The co-owner of
Tina Tiny Toons, Tatum, a victim of violent crime in May, was slated to play in
the tournament In honor of her son, Tina Tatum was on hand to award the
slam-dunk champions’ trophy.
A crowd favorite, the slam-dunk competition
did not disappoint onlookers. Eight high flyers participated in this year’s
event – which was also open to public participation. Six foot five inch tall
DaJuan Tate defended his title as the slam-dunk champion with three thunderous
dunks in the final round, which gave him the honor of taking home the trophy.
His cash prize was donated to his family’s favorite charity. Nick-named “DA SHO ”, Tate led a group
of very impressive dunkers that included Dube Black (Dunaway), Mike Day
(Dunaway), Scott Keyes, Keith “K-Butt” Butler (Tiny Toons), Marwan Gaines
(Dunaway), Darren Pore (Dunaway) and Ed McCants (Dunaway).
Because of an
unusual twist of circumstance, the team from Dunaway Sports, of Marion, OH,
walked away with the tournament’s coveted “BIGDAWG” trophy and the $1,600 grand
prize.
During the tournament, local celebrity guest judges were on hand
to judge the slam dunk competition and to lend their support including Sean
Anthony (Power 107.5), Tonya Edwards (WNBA), J. Rawls (Lone Catalysts/Hip-Hop
producer) and Antonio Watson (former Eastmoor Academy stand-out and OSU star).
The tournament took place at The Hoop Basketball and Fitness Center.
Baldwin plans to repeat the event next summer with a little twist. Because of
NCAA regulations that don’t let kids play in tournaments for money, Baldwin
stated, “I don’t think I’ll give away any more money. I would like to see more
kids get an opportunity to play.
Baldwin also has plans to incorporate a
three-on-three tournament for the spring and to evolve the “BIGDAWG”
five-on-five tournaments to include playing levels for children in the fourth to
twelfth grades.
Baldwin, who says he had always envisioned his tournament
to be strictly for the “big dawgs,” stressed that there is always room for the
kids.
The Columbus Post was the official print sponsor of the second
annual MADHOPS five-on-five Basketball Tournament.
Compiled by Pamela
G. Thornton
Columbus Post Staff Writer
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