Columbus, Ohio November 2002 - Mad Hops, ltd. Pres./CEO, Herbert L. Baldwin, Jr., today announced that the company's nationally recognized amateur adult basketball tournament will take place on May 10th and 11th, 2003 at The HOOP Basketball and Fitness Center located at 4185 E. Fifth Ave. in Columbus, Ohio.

Participants in this annual event will range in age 18 years and older; Men and Women. This year, the MADHOPS Basketball Tournament will expand to include a women’s open division. Although the tournament was originally designed to include women playing with (co-ed) or against men, no females participated in the event, last year. In order to more effectively include this group a new division for women’s competition was created.

The first annual event was impressive. "The games were fantastic and the competition was fierce." claimed Mad Hops, ltd. Pres./CEO Herb Baldwin, Jr. "If you weren’t dunking on anybody, you were getting dunked on!"

A surprise visit from B.E.T. TV personality, "Hits"(from the video program, "Hits From The Street"), highlighted the tournament as he dramatically entered The Hoop facility just as the championship game was coming to a close. "Hits" signed autographs and took pictures with fans, the Champion and Runner-Up teams, respectively.

"Hits" will participate in the 2nd Annual Mad Hops 5-on-5 Basketball Tournament as the Master of Ceremony (MC) for its Slam Dunk Competition, Three-Point Shoot-Out and Championship game(s).

20 percent of the proceeds from this event goes towards diabetes research through the American Diabetes Association. A.D.A. performed FREE diabetic screenings for any willing spectator during the 1st annual event. Baldwin’s own mother was diagnosed with the disease a few years ago and he views the tournament as an opportunity to not only help her but anyone suffering from diabetes.

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