Hoop it Up

Pick up basketball tips

Comments (0) Thursday, Jul 15 2004

FRI 7/16

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So you wanna learn a drop-step post move that's money in the bank? Or a nifty crossover dribble to keep your man off balance? Or a sweet stroke from downtown? Well, if you wanna be the best you gotta learn from the best, someone like Alonzo Mourning for instance. The 7-time NBA all-star and former Miami Heat franchise center is once again sponsoring his Youth Instructional Basketball Clinic as part of his Zo's Summer Groove charity. The Groove, with numerous events happening over the course of 3 days this weekend (see "Night & Day," page 37, for more details), began in 1997 and has raised well over $2 million for local charities like the Overtown Youth Center, a state-of-the-art center co-founded by Mourning and art collector/real estate developer Martin Margulies for inner-city and at-risk youngsters. Some 1200 lucky ballers will participate in a number of drills, learn the finer points of hoopology from renowned NBA players, and gather for inspirational talks from some of their favorite stars of the court. Then they'll take those new skills to one of the many outdoor basketball courts Zo and the Heat have had resurfaced around the city. The clinic starts at 9:00 a.m. at the Overtown Youth Center, 450 NW 14th St. Admission is free. Call 305-476-0095.-John Anderson

Feral Foray

Watch wildlife under the stars

SAT 7/17

One thing animals at the zoo always seem to be, no matter the hour, is hungry. Lucky for you and your little ones, the event called Wild Nights feeds your faces with pizza before it sends you into the night with a zookeeper to see what all those beasts do under cover of darkness. Now you wouldn't want to be an evening snack for a peckish lion, would you? But if you were, imagine the cool stories your kids could tell their friends! Go wild at 6:00 at Metrozoo, 12400 SW 152nd St. Admission is $30 for 1 adult and 1 child, who must be at least 6 years old. Call 305-255-5551 to register.-Nina Korman