S L A M

Yesterday I had a shoot for S L A M Magazine. I really enjoy shooting for them, especially when you meet people like "HOMICIDE". What a great guy. So Scott (my assistant) and I headed down to La Familia Rec Center. First we have to make a stop for some gin and juice. Actually a Latte. It was Scotts idea. He paid. I had nothing to do with it. But everyone should get a good coffee before shooting in the hood, right? I had seen the place before, but never payed much attention to it. We get there, park the car, and start looking around for a guy that looks like he could be named Homicide. I see a group of guys across the parking lot and head over to talk with them. I think Scott was stayed at the car. I yell out to them, "hey any of you guys named Corey" that's his real name. There were a few stares from the group and one guy shakes his head no. So i take it I have the wrong group of guys. So Scott and I stand around waiting to find our guy. We keep looking in cars as they drove by, making guesses at who it may be. I figured Corey would have an easier time spotting me than the other way around. So we see some guy driving slow looking out his window back at us. Scott is sure it is our guy and waves frantically back at him. So much that they guy must have thought he may be mentally challenged. The guy gets out of his car and yells at the group of guys i originally went up to. We look like total idiots. A few minutes later I get a call from Corey. He is there at the center and he just happens to be that guy in the car. So Scott was right. I think Corey was expecting someone else. We made our way over to his group of friends and shouts out, " you must be thinking i am up to something, walking around the hood with 2 white guys" They all laugh and then come the rounds of handshakes and hugs. I guess Corey used to play ball with these guys. They always had a standing Saturday game. It had been that way for years, and didn't look like it was going to change. It was nice to see the respect they all had for each other. No egos, no shit talking, just true friends. Even with Corey being on the verge getting his shot at the NBA, they were all equal. It was nice to see.