Community hub
Community hub
Recent from talks
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
SlamBall
SlamBall is a hybrid sport combining elements from basketball, American football, hockey, and gymnastics played with four trampolines in front of each net and boards around the court edge. While SlamBall is based on basketball, it is a contact sport, with blocks, collisions and rough physical play as part of the game, similar to elements of American football and ice hockey.
Professional SlamBall games currently air on television for ESPN and stream on ESPN+. Previously, they aired on television with Spike TV for two seasons in 2002–2003, and the POWERade SlamBall Challenge was aired on CSTV (now CBS Sports Network) in 2007. SlamBall returned in August 2008, airing on Versus (now NBC Sports Network) and CBS. The 2008 SlamBall season aired at one point on weekends on Cartoon Network. SlamBall was shown on One HD in Australia during 2009. SlamBall held its first major international tournament in China in 2012.
SlamBall was invented in 1999 by Mason Gordon, who was working at the time for Tollin/Robbins Productions. The name SlamBall is owned by Gordon's company. Inspired by video games, Gordon sketched an idea on a napkin for a sport that combined several existing ones. He approached his boss, movie and television producer Mike Tollin, who liked the idea and thought Gordon was "onto something." Tollin helped finance the construction of a prototype court in an East Los Angeles warehouse six months later.
Gordon then tried to convince street basketball players to test his new idea; he wanted to find skilled, strong players who could compete comfortably while launching off trampolines and crashing into each other in mid-air.[citation needed]
Five recruits—James Willis, Sean Jackson, David Redmond, Michael Goldman, and Jeff Sheridan—trained with Gordon to produce the first games. These original six players were part of the first two teams, the Los Angeles Rumble and the Chicago Mob. These two teams played an exhibition series in 2001, which the Chicago Mob won. Soon, more players were brought in, including Stan Fletcher, Rob Wilson and Dion Mays.[citation needed]
First played in Los Angeles, the game gained attention from street basketball players in the area. Within a year, 400 people had been enlisted as potential players. Open tryouts were held and the selection of players based on athletic ability, body control and court awareness started. Reducing numbers to about 60 players, the first ever SlamBall combine was held where players and coaches learned safety, the game and basic strategy.[citation needed]
In 2002, SlamBall made its television debut, on The National Network (later Spike TV and now the Paramount Network), soon after former Philadelphia 76ers owner Pat Croce had signed on as a partner. Six teams (the Bouncers, Diablos, Mob, Rumble, Slashers, and Steal) played in the inaugural season. Former NBA All-Star Reggie Theus served as studio co-host and color commentator.
After the second season in 2003, SlamBall creator Mason Gordon and co-producer Telepictures Productions had a disagreement.[1] The league was dissolved. Five years later the league resurfaced for one more season. The league opened its doors to open try-outs.
Hub AI
SlamBall AI simulator
(@SlamBall_simulator)
SlamBall
SlamBall is a hybrid sport combining elements from basketball, American football, hockey, and gymnastics played with four trampolines in front of each net and boards around the court edge. While SlamBall is based on basketball, it is a contact sport, with blocks, collisions and rough physical play as part of the game, similar to elements of American football and ice hockey.
Professional SlamBall games currently air on television for ESPN and stream on ESPN+. Previously, they aired on television with Spike TV for two seasons in 2002–2003, and the POWERade SlamBall Challenge was aired on CSTV (now CBS Sports Network) in 2007. SlamBall returned in August 2008, airing on Versus (now NBC Sports Network) and CBS. The 2008 SlamBall season aired at one point on weekends on Cartoon Network. SlamBall was shown on One HD in Australia during 2009. SlamBall held its first major international tournament in China in 2012.
SlamBall was invented in 1999 by Mason Gordon, who was working at the time for Tollin/Robbins Productions. The name SlamBall is owned by Gordon's company. Inspired by video games, Gordon sketched an idea on a napkin for a sport that combined several existing ones. He approached his boss, movie and television producer Mike Tollin, who liked the idea and thought Gordon was "onto something." Tollin helped finance the construction of a prototype court in an East Los Angeles warehouse six months later.
Gordon then tried to convince street basketball players to test his new idea; he wanted to find skilled, strong players who could compete comfortably while launching off trampolines and crashing into each other in mid-air.[citation needed]
Five recruits—James Willis, Sean Jackson, David Redmond, Michael Goldman, and Jeff Sheridan—trained with Gordon to produce the first games. These original six players were part of the first two teams, the Los Angeles Rumble and the Chicago Mob. These two teams played an exhibition series in 2001, which the Chicago Mob won. Soon, more players were brought in, including Stan Fletcher, Rob Wilson and Dion Mays.[citation needed]
First played in Los Angeles, the game gained attention from street basketball players in the area. Within a year, 400 people had been enlisted as potential players. Open tryouts were held and the selection of players based on athletic ability, body control and court awareness started. Reducing numbers to about 60 players, the first ever SlamBall combine was held where players and coaches learned safety, the game and basic strategy.[citation needed]
In 2002, SlamBall made its television debut, on The National Network (later Spike TV and now the Paramount Network), soon after former Philadelphia 76ers owner Pat Croce had signed on as a partner. Six teams (the Bouncers, Diablos, Mob, Rumble, Slashers, and Steal) played in the inaugural season. Former NBA All-Star Reggie Theus served as studio co-host and color commentator.
After the second season in 2003, SlamBall creator Mason Gordon and co-producer Telepictures Productions had a disagreement.[1] The league was dissolved. Five years later the league resurfaced for one more season. The league opened its doors to open try-outs.