Streetball: The AND-1 Mix Tape Tour

From TeeVeePedia, the Internet TV Encyclopedia.

In an attempt to match NBC's success with their basketball-themed show NBA Finals, ESPN created Streetball: The AND-1 Mix Tape Tour in 2002. Originally hosted by Nike CEO Michael Jordan, Streetball was initially a collection of highlights from the "One on One" games played out in the ESPN parking lot by ESPN's talented personalities. As it turned out, viewers liked seeing the ESPN staff trash-talking each other while trying pathetically to score a basket. With ratings increasing, the network sent their "ballaz" on several tours of America. In 2006, ESPN announced a "World Tour" to be hosted by former NBA Finals star Bill Walton.

The term "Streetball" refers to the number of times ESPN interns had to run out into the street in front of the ESPN studios to retrieve the official ESPN basketball. The terms "AND-1" and "Mix Tape" have no real meaning; they were added to the show's title after Chris Berman randomly grunted them following a rare basket by Stephen A. Smith.