Playing basketball without a net is like wearing a pair of Reebok pumps without inflating them. Sure, you can do it, but it’s not nearly as satisfying. A network makes the game a better experience; It prevents the ball from sailing through the rim and bouncing all over the place, and provides an easier to spot target. And everyone loves a good swish sound.
Unfortunately, many of Toronto’s public basketball courts are jerk-free thanks to missing or derelict string and years of neglect. It’s a problem that has preoccupied Adam Bosley, aka Adam the Illustrator, for years. So last summer he decided to do something about it. The local artist started Nothin ‘But Net, an initiative that focuses on rewetting rims across the GTA. He and photographer Matthew Im walked around town replacing 20 nets, taking a few pictures, and making noise.
They’ve won the ears of Reebok and Foot Locker who now get away with the ultimate praise and have teamed up with Bosley to replace 200 nets across Canada this summer. They are asking the public to tell them which dishes on the Nothin ‘But Net, Reebok Canada and Foot Locker Toronto Instagram accounts deserve attention
Image via Matthew Im
The motivation behind the initiative is easy to understand: “This is important to me because I remember the feeling of playing ball as a child and the edge has no net,” says Bosley to Complex. “I want to make sure that children, teenagers and adults have a network when they come to their local court.”
Image via Matthew Im
Helping people is Adam’s business anyway. At the start of the pandemic, the 34-year-old Scarborough native was unemployed and mentally exhausted. To reduce stress, he illustrated funny instructions and shared them on Instagram (e.g. “How to Do the Toosie Slide”, “How to Give Yourself a Bowl Cut”). Over time, he began to weave positive messages about mental health, friendship, and the environment into his drawings – going more viral in the process.
“I remember creating a guide, ‘How to Make It in 2020’. The original concept started with negative ideas and I just didn’t feel like bringing it out into the world. I changed the tone and haven’t looked back since, ”he says. “A lot of the illustrations I’ve done come straight from what I’m doing right now: doubts, worries, patience, taking time for myself, and a lot more. It is important to me because I want others to know that they are not alone. “
Image via Peter Villari
Bosley now carries the energy we are all together to Canada’s courts. An avid ball player himself – his aunt worked for the Toronto Raptors, which made him fall in love with the game early on – realizes the value of outdoor nets in the life of the past year with closed gyms and sporting events People brought banned. He says he’s been on the notin ‘but net idea since 2018, but was spurred on to action by the pandemic. “With COVID stalling things, getting unemployed and focusing on my mental health, I thought, ‘now is the time,'” he says. “We took photos and let people know we wanted to make a bigger impact in 2021. I think we started it. “
Over the next few months, Bosley will hand-set 150 nets across the GTA, an average of five to ten per week. The other 50 are being shipped to schools across Canada as part of Reebok’s BOKS initiative, which aims to improve the physical activity of children across the country. We’re not sure how good Adam is at basketball, but that’s a splash in our books.
Image via Peter Villari
So if you have a dish in mind that needs some love, Bosley encourages you to beat it up or Reebok Canada. You can only make one difference.
He is also always on the lookout for new hooping targets. “The MacGregor Playground in Toronto’s West End is my home ground and Carlton Park is my favorite hidden gem that I regularly play at,” says Bosley of his favorite spots in town. “Apart from that, I would say Jack Goodlad Park. I’ve never played there before, but I remember driving by on Saturdays and Sundays as a kid and it was crowded, barbecues and ball games. Looked like a fun time. “
Image via Peter Villari
And what about his favorite kicks? He certainly has quite a few Reeboks in his arsenal. “I currently love the Kamikaze Lows. They’re functional and I actually prefer low cuts for the ball, ”he says. “I know we got Reebok pumps as a kid and I definitely had a pair of Iversons, I just can’t remember which ones!”
Anyway, Adam wants to make this summer a memorable one for Canadian ballers. We can’t wait to see the net results.
source https://outdoorsportsnews.com/reebok-local-artist-replace-200-basketball-nets-in-canada/
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