CASE # HITS.08 - HOMICIDE

RC: Your favorite players to play against? And why?
CW: My favorite player to play against is "A-Butta" Adrian Walton (Williams laughs), just kidding man. I don't want no more t-shirts made up about me!!! There's a lot of players in the city. It's so competitive in the summer. I think I like to play against the current and former NBA players when they come out there. I don't think no other playground player is supposed to get at NBA guards more than me. If a NBA guard walked in the park, and the streetball "a-listers" are all there, who do you think people want to see match up againt that guard? I pride myself in matching up with the best player on the other team anyway. Other players run from matchups. I notice that a lot because they are afraid to lose that matchup, but me, I don't care. I'll put it all on the line. That's the type of person I am, let alone player.

RC: Last summer was a rejuvination of "Homicide" and you reminded NYC that you were gone for one year but came back the same way you left...what drives "Homicide"? Do you somehow set certain goals for yourself when you play in the various tournaments over the course of a summer?
CW: What drives me is simple, the burning desire to show I am the best playground baller on the planet, regardless of where I play. I AM EXPECTED TO KILL AND GET 30 EVERYWHERE I GO THE WHOLE SUMMER!!!

RC: The "Homicide" nickname is probably one of the most famous nicknames ever given to a streetball player...does having a nickname, especially a nickname like "Homicide" pose any pressure for you to go out there and perform where fans are expecting you to do certain things since you are "Homicide?"
CW: There is no other player in the city with that type of pressure on them...NONE. It ain't pressure, it's motivation. Though I might add that the craziest thing that happened to me was people was definitely hating on me last summer. I had a mohawk with crazy designs, camera crew with me everywhere, fresh to def with crispy K1X gear everyday, documenting me on my every move on and off the court. Every court I went to, just heard people yelling out "bust homicides a**!" and it was just the 1st quarter. Relax I would tell the crazy fan, en route to 30 points. But it got bad man. I guess when your're on top, they act like your're not!! If they ain't talking about you, you really aint doin it!!! I mean, players (A-Butta) are making t-shirts about me. That was just another form of flattery. He just had a different way of showing it. That kid needs a hug man.

RC: Do you somehow set certain goals for yourself when you play in the various tournaments over the course of a summer?
CW: Since I stepped onto the scene in 2000, I've been doing that. Players come and go, they get hot, they have a good summer and try to make a career and sometimes, they think they are a "legend" and eventually they fade away. I respect the players who've done it at a high level when it's expected for at least 6 or more years straight. That's hard to do. It's players out there who have been doing it for over a decade. Kareem Reid still plays at a high level, how can you not respect it? Whether you like his game or not, he is still doing it.

RC: I hear that you have, or going to have your own K1X shoe called the "187". How do you feel about that?. Because not everyone gets to have their own sneaker.
CW: My sneakers, shorts and t-shirts will all be in Foot Locker in May 2008, not VIM...Foot Locker, in over 300 stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, as well as Germany, France, Russia, Spain, China, Australia and Dubai. Some of you might not even know where Dubai even is, but that's okay. Currently in discussions with Champs, as well as Foot Action. There will be a 187 sneaker release party for press & media, my streetball family and friends, the real O.G.'s of playground basketball & sneaker guru's, all proudly sponsored by Foot Locker. Yes it's definitely going down in 2008. It's definitely surreal. I'm currently playing in the Australia NBL League with the Townsville Crocodiles. My General Manager just bought 1,000 "187" tees to sell at the merchandise store in our arena. Totally surreal. Yes, I have two t-shirts and shorts, which will be sold in Foot Locker, as well as the sneakers.

To continue reading part 3 of this conversation, click on link. Part 3