Air Apparent: And-1’s Latest Sensation

“I’m just lookin’ for good things to happen with this Tour this year.” Though basketball magician Waliyy “Main Event” Dixon’s on a phone in rural Philadelphia for the first day of And-1 Mixed Tape Tour mini camp, a smile resonates through the receiver. Main is one of the veterans on the team of cross-dribbling, gravity-defying hoopers. He’s witnessed the streetball movement he helped create go from the streets of New York to homes in Iowa City (via a popular series of And-1 Mix Tape DVDs) to jam-packed arenas in Japan in a mere seven years. And, according to Main, it’s only getting bigger.

“What’s going to make this year really special,” he asks. “Man, we got some guys that I’d say the NBA just really missed out on. They say the NBA is the place to be, but right now, And-1 is really what’s poppin’ and it’s going to be poppin’ in the future. These young guys that we got are unbelievable!”

And while cats like A.O., Spyda and The Professor are the household names, Main’s specifically talking about TJ “The Air Up There” Fontenette, this ridiculous 23-year-old talent out of Hitchcock, Texas, who’s debuting his high-wire act with the team this season. The ’06 Tour just kicked off on June 4 in Los Angeles, but TJ’s already been featured in Slam Magazine and has a character on the new video game, And-1 Streetball. So, technically speaking, The Air Up There’s already quite acclimated to the approaching storm of attention. That said, it’s only right THE NOSEBLEED SECTION gives him a lil’ bit more…

Talk about going to the open tryouts in Houston last year.
TJ: I was so nervous. There were so many people there. It was so hard to get on, too, ‘cuz in the open run it’s hard to get the ball. [Other players] will not pass you the ball. They’re tryin’ to get their shine on, too. Luckily, I did get a couple of dunks in.

So, you kinda have to demand the ball?
The people I played with, I knew them. I went up there by myself, but I saw some people I knew in line. They were like, “Man, come on up. You can play with us.” It was a lil’ bit easier for me, but at the same time, they’re tryin’ to get put on themselves. Sometimes you gotta demand the ball and be like, “C’mon, give me the ball!” You gotta pass to me if I’m open by myself. It’s a couple of lil’ things I had up my sleeve to get the ball. So yeah, it worked out for the better.

You’ve had a couple of major injuries in your playing career, but none, I’m assuming, was quite as heart-breaking as the one you got on the final day before the new And-1 player was chosen. You couldn’t have thought they’d still pick you, right?
That was the first thing I was thinking. Man, it’s over with! I’m gonna have to rehabilitate, find another job. Man, I gotta a lil’ girl back home. I almost broke down. But something said God is gonna take care of you. The day before the game, the guys were like, “Man, what happened?” [I said] It’s broke. “Don’t even worry about it.” They were letting me know, “Man, to let you know and to get all the pressure off your back, we think you got it.” Most of the guys picked me. I ain’t know what to think. I was so excited ‘cuz I was so hurt that night [prior]. For them to come up to me and be like, “We think you made it,” it was like a big relief.

You dunk like Vince Carter in ’01. We know that. But what part of your game would you like more people to notice?
I think I’m a great passer. I love to pass. My favorite player is Steve Nash. I try to mimic him as much as possible. I love to play with dunkers. I love to throw the [alley] oop. That’s why I’m so excited to play with Spyda and Helicopter and Baby Shaq this summer. I love to dish the ball. I wanna be a point guard so bad. I love to push the ball, dribble and give everybody an assist. I wanna control the show.



Who are your favorite dunkers?
Vince Carter, Shawn Marion, Andre Iguodala, Josh Smith and the lil’ dude for the New York Knicks [Nate Robinson]. I feel like I’m one of the short guys, too. I’m like 6’4, 6’5. People like me and Spyda and Helicopter, we aren’t really tall. People don’t understand that. They look on TV and say, “He’s like 6’5.” Nah, Spyda is 5’9. Helicopter is 6’1. I’m 6’2. We’re all three short dudes but I’d say we’re some of the highest-jumping people in the world. I stand by that. Even though I’m not 100%, I’m gonna stand by that.

What’s the biggest difference you see between the ’06 And-1 team and the team from five years ago?
When it started, it had more grimy type players; now it’s like more of a show. You see more dribbling and more alley-oops and stuff like that. More trick plays that don’t really go in the game. It was more crossovers. It was stuff that worked and got you excited, but it’s a different game now. It’s changed a lot. When I watch the first tape -compared to Vol 9- it’s a big difference. I’m trying to keep [the tradition of] Main Event and Half-Man, Half-Amazin’. They got the dunkin’ side. That’s my part. I’m trying to follow in their footsteps of what they’ve done, to keep it going. I’m not really like a showboat dribbler. I’m just tryin’ to take the dunkin’ to another level.

Has Main, Half-Man or any of the other vets offered you any advice?
Stay focused and don’t let the hype get to you. Don’t get a big head about this. Stay playin’ ball. A lot of people let it go to their heads, but not me. Nah, I can’t do it. That’s just how I am. I’m a humble person. For one, I’m real shy. I’m not trying to get out there. I’mma stay me. If I get out of focus, I’m not where I’m supposed to be. If I stay focused, I’m doing exactly what I need to be doing.

What’s your ultimate goal on the hardwood?
I take this And-1 [experience] as a stepping stone. Even if it’s just overseas, I wanna play in a professional league, where they got tournaments and national championships and all that. My main goal is really to get to the NBA. That’s what I’ve been fighting for.

What do you say to critics who say y’all are just hot dogs messing up the game?
It’s a showboat, but on the other hand, but we can still play ball. It’s an extra talent that we have and we’re gonna show it. Everybody wasn’t fortunate to make it to the league. Everybody wasn’t able to be seen at big colleges and stuff. Me? I can play ball. I guarantee you I can play with the best of’em. I’ve played with the best of’em. To me, it’s really not no difference as far as our game. But as far as the show that we put on, it’s a major difference ‘cuz we doin’ it for the kids and for the entertainment. We have open runs where we go and play real games. We have real game. My main thing is that I always listen to my coach. I’m an easy person to coach. I’ll listen to you. I’ll never talk down to my coaches. Whatever he tells me to do, I’mma do. I might have my own opinion, but on the same side, I’mma still do what the coach tells me to do. I’mma fight my hardest. I’mma play hard in practice. I’mma do whatever it takes to get the job done.

With the Tour and all these interviews, it must be a bit overwhelming for a Hitchcock native. Put it all in perspective for me.
It’s giving people another opportunity to makes something of themselves. I might [have] been on the streets selling drugs, killing or doing whatever. It’s giving us guys to take care of our family and do something productive. I mainly thank folks like Main Event and Shane [the Dribbling Machine] for paving the way. Like I said, if it wasn’t for them, I’d be a security guard right now.