Tracy McGrady Visits Germany
NBA's Leading Scorer, "TMAC", opens adidas EURO abc Camp in Berlin, then makes a stop at adidas Headquarters in Southern Germany
Photos below: Tracy McGrady, the NBA's leading scorer, flies over Berlin's Brandenburg Gate with the new T-MAC 3.
Photos courtesy of adidas
PORTLAND, OR, Jun 20, 2003 / --- NBA Superstar Tracy "TMAC" McGrady began his offseason with
a visit to Germany.
He spent the first three days of his trip in Berlin, opening a top European
basketball camp, the adidas EURO abc Camp and attending the "Mellowpark Jam", an
inner-city event aimed at providing urban Berlin youth with the opportunity to
participate in sporting activities.
The last two days of his trip were spent in
Herzogenaurach, the Headquarters of adidas-Salomon AG.
Tracy was part of the official opening ceremony of the adidas EURO abc Camp.
The camp featured top junior players from eight countries and top international
coaches from five nations.
TMAC was impressed with the level of play at the
camp, mentioning the Spanish Junior National Team guard, Sergio Rodriguez,
specifically, "Some of these kids have got game, the point guard from Spain has
definitely got a future in this sport."
He worked out with the kids during a
morning and an afternoon session, being both an active participant and an
"unofficial coach".
The camp is part of the adidas global basketball camp
network, which includes the adidas ABCD Camp in Teaneck, New Jersey. The ABCD
Camp is run by basketball guru Sonny Vacarro and has been the "coming out" party
for NBA stars such as Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant, Stephon Marbury and Jermaine
O'Neal.
After Berlin, TMAC and his group went to the adidas Headquarters in southern
Germany. TMAC and adidas CEO, Herbert Hainer, introduced the new T-MAC 3 (will
hit retailers on November 1, 2003) to the crowd.
"It is a great feeling to have
your own shoe. Each year I have worked with the adidas design team to make the
shoe even better. I can tell you that the T-MAC 3 is the best one yet," added
TMAC.
Both the T-MAC 1 (launched in January 2002) and the T-MAC 2 (launched
November, 2002) quickly became the number one selling sports shoe in the US.
Then TMAC put on a basketball show for the adidas employees and the media. A
three on three tournament took place at the adidas World of Sports complex. The
games featured teams led by TMAC, his brother Chance McGrady and Bob Myers of
TMAC's management agency, SFX.
It was TMAC's second European trip, both being in connection with adidas, as
he was in Paris for the 1998 adidas EURO abc Camp. He also attended the 1999
adidas Asian Streetball Finals in Taipei, Taiwan and the 2000 adidas Asian
Streetball Finals in Manila, Philippines.
TMAC and adidas signed a lifetime contract in April, 2002. The deal, which is
for the duration of TMAC's basketball career and beyond, is the most significant
contract adidas has ever signed with a professional athlete.
"This is an
unprecedented deal for adidas," stated Erich Stamminger, Member of the Executive
Board of adidas-Salomon AG, responsible for Global Marketing. "Tracy is one of
the most exciting and respected players in the NBA and we are impressed by his
passion both on and off the court."
TMAC added, "adidas has always been a
company that has supported me, as far back as high school through the ABCD Camp.
This is an exciting time in my life and I am happy that adidas has the
confidence in me both as a basketball player and as a person to make this
long-term commitment."
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