"In The Name of God"
July 2004

"One of the (Biggest) Days of My Hoop Career"

Everyday I play hoop or even think about the beautiful game that God has blessed this Earth with, I increase my knowledge in some area of the game. With all the time, sweat, tears, and blood that I have put in the game I truly believe and know that I am a Student/Teacher of Basketball.
On this day I was in front of the Heads of the professional organization that I have invested a big portion of my life in, or even my whole life. I am an Oakland native and the Golden State Warriors is a team I grew up watching rooting for and honing my skills after.
So this was a special event on about ten different scales. One, for the Brothers and Sisters in the World of Hoop that the law of averages, politics, and the cards that were dealt that didn't allow them to play in "The League/NBA" or even had the chance play professionally, or even on the college level. They're NBA/Professional playing derives on "The Blacktop". In which I personally know that the greatest players in the World Reside.
And this is where (the Hook Mitchell's) all around the world are raised, mentored, sought out, and taught. This is where the Brothers such as myself and the likes of others from the concrete jungle make their game more acute, intensified, and effective. "This is where the Brothers in the World of Hoop sharpen their tools at!"
My tryout with the Warriors is not for just me myself, this here is for those players didn't make it to the NBA and the WNBA, to the Legends of Playground. See this is bigger than Hook Mitchell because there will be Hook Mitchell's after me and there were Hook Mitchell's before me. This is for the people that have ever played for hours at a time on the Blacktop and have not been acknowledged for their hard work. And especially those people that I grew up playing with and against because without them there would be no Hook Mitchell.
See, no matter where you grew up playing at you had to come across the Blacktop that is "the rites of passage" in any sport hands down. "Let's think for a minute where did we first play any kind of sports? On the asphalt!
There have been so many W.A.R.'s on that same asphalt that we grew up playing on. Games that only God has recorded and none of us can play back, so many incredible moves, shots, and performances that can't be repeated. "You all know what I mean." Okay, enough on that subject because I can write all day on watching and playing any and every sport that was invented in my adolescent state.
First thing I did on the day of the tryout was educate myself, everyday I wake up in some form and fashion I attempt to grow or educate myself in some old practices or some new ones. I try to enhance my mind early everyday because it broadens my understanding and enlightens my day. So on this day I had completed my fifth entry to my diary on this web page (I pray that you all enjoy it, if anything good came from it was from God and if anything was erroneous it's from me).
Then, I had to go have treatment on my left knee because it was sore from being banged twice a month prior to this tryout. On top of that by me playing so much I haven't given it the proper rest that is needed for it to heal.
Then, I went and lifted weights. That makes my shot a little softer. I have a ritual I perform before I hoop, I perform a routine of push-ups, light curls with a dumbbell, and back arms; in which I perform off a hard surface like a sink or a table and lean forward and thrust forward and backwards. It makes my shot feathery and my passes precise and on point. I love and live for dropping "dimes".
Then, I just relaxed and had some honey. Honey has fructose and that has a natural in there. I drink pure honey for energy and for the natural energy level it sustains me at. Right before I was scheduled with one of the Warriors representatives I had to contact two people.
One, being Mr. Aaron Goodwin, because he has been on my side since I've been home attempting to get me a shot in "the League" and has been advising me I my negotiations with RBK International, "Reebok". Also he has been monitoring me on my personal development and my transition with all this current public acclaim.
Two, Mr. B. Ward "my Brother" because he has meant so much to me as he and his family have opened up their hearts to me, Alice, Leon, Nu-Nu, and my little heart "Lil Bumble", I love you all, thanks for everything. I wanted B. Ward to be there for me because this tryout was for me but was also for those that grew up with me and helped my game to develop at each stage of my life. "This is for you all too."
They are a part of Hook Mitchell's Hoop Life and career and are deeply saturated in my life, because hoop is all I know (When you all see hoop, you see me).
Okay, to the tryout itself. In the tryout I was matched up with a 6ft 8in Brother from New York and he was 15 years younger than me but I felt this was my time to shine and to show the Warriors organization what I have worked on for 25 years.
We went through a light stretch, a light warm up, and a hand full of drills that had the two of us taking a lot of shots, on the move, stationary, and etc. Inside the three point line, and beyond it. At one point when the new Warrior Head Coach came in, I made 10 of 12 NBA three pointers. I had a superb day of shooting. At one point during the workout the Head Coach said something to me and it stop me in my tracks because he knew who I was. That's one of the things I have to become more accustomed to people inside and outside the Basketball World knowing who I am (just the other day this young man was very excited when he saw me, he was looking at me with a nervous look on his face and I was monitoring his actions and then the young Brother asked "Was I Hook Mitchell and could he have my autograph?", and this was at the grocery store. I have a lot people come to me asking "Am I Hook Mitchell?", and have people always saying "There's Hook Mitchell." It's like I'm a folk hero or something, actually I don't know how to react to it or how to respond but most of the time I respond humbly and respectfully because I don't feel that I am a Legend or need to be looked upon highly)
Back to the tryout, the tryout ended with the me beating the 6ft 8in Brother in a game of one on one to 3 points (I won 3 point to his 2) and the 6ft 8in Brother getting hurt.
This tryout was the highlight of my hoop career. And let's think for a minute, I have only been out of prison for 3 months. And, I have had a tryout for The Golden State Warriors, in negotiations with Reebok, I have my own nonprofit organization (Project Straight Path), my own basketball clinic, I have been NBA Finals, and the blessings are continuing to pour in. My biggest accomplishment is being surrounding by a beautiful core of people that have endured this struggle with me and still want only the best for me and best for the future of our youth. May God reward all of you who support Hook Mitchell in the Spiritual Sense and in the physical form.

Stay tuned for the next entry in which it entails 3 elements:
1. A Car
2. A Basketball Court
3. And Hook Mitchell

Thank you reading my humble words and may God reward you all for your support.

Thank You,

Hook Mitchell, W.A.R.

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