CHICAGO BUREAU - 312.202.0088
* Chicago Bulls: Drew Gooden, Larry Hughes, -- Ben Gordon and Luol Deng * Indiana Fever’s Tamika Catchings * Local H.S. Teams & Players: Whitney Young -- Magnet High (with Marcus Jordan), Simeon -- Career Academy, Farragut High, Von Steuben -- Metropolitan Science High, Marshall High -- and Crane High * Special Store Visit and in Mall Performance by -- hip-hop superstar Common November 2008: The legends of Chicago area basketball, members of the Chicago Bulls, high school students, and hip-hop superstar Common, among others, came together to open the ultimate hub for local basketball fanatics – the “House of Hoops.” Among the Chicago basketball elite who attended the Nike / Foot Locker celebration were: Chicago Bulls players Drew Gooden, Larry Hughes, Ben Gordon and Luol Deng and local Chicago high school basketball players from Whitney Young Magnet High, Simeon Career Academy, Farragut High, Von Steuben Metropolitan Science High, Marshall High, and Crane High and Tamika Catchings of the Indiana Fever. Whitney Young Player Marcus Jordan could not help but notice a familiar set of eyes piercing right through him. The youngest son of NBA legend Michael Jordan is guard for the team and the 17 year-old knows what those piercing eyes over his shoulder mean….. House of Hoops by Foot Locker features a hardwood basketball half-court as well as a big screen TV for consumers to check out content from the Nike, Jordan and Converse brands as well as behind-the scenes-interviews with top players. The basketball haven also gives hoops fanatics access to player exclusive footwear – the personalized performance shoes of Jordan Brand, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and others, as well as limited edition styles. Chicago’s “House of Hoops” follows similar openings in New York and Los Angeles. It is as much basketball shrine as exclusive retail store featuring Nike, Jordan and Converse, individual players’ shoes, apparel and sporting goods endorsed by the greatest athletes to play the game. The “House of Hoops” is the exclusive home to some merchandise that cannot be found anywhere else. Common’s tour of Chicago’s “House of Hoops” was nostalgic. Seeing some of the shoes his basketball idols wore while he was a ball boy for the Bulls from 1984-1986 brought back fond memories. Following his tour of the “House of Hoops”, Common took the stage to entertain the large crowd in the mall. Visiting the “House of Hoops” made Indiana Fever star basketball player Tamika Catchings wish she had a place to go to when she was growing up. Featuring a hardwood basketball half-court, wide-screen TV monitors for fans to catch the action along with behind-the-scenes interviews with top players, hoops fanatics will have access to exclusive player footwear – the personalized performance shoes of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Ben Gordon, as well as limited edition styles.