Friday, 4 May 2012

RIP Adam Yauch: In Memoriam, Watch "Gunnin' For That #1 Spot"

In addition to being a member of the legendary Beastie Boys, Adam Yauch also made a hell of a basketball documentary.

(Getty Images / Bryan Bedder)

By now, you've probably heard: the legendary rapper and artist Adam Yauch, a.k.a. MCA of the Beastie Boys, died earlier today of cancer at age 47.

Yauch's death deprives the world of a versatile and talented creator, and one of his legacies that's least well-known is actually in sports. "Gunnin' For That #1 Spot," a documentary directed by Yauch, debuted in 2008, and it follows the best high-school basketball players in the country as they play in the Elite 24 All-Star game. The documentary is a dynamic piece of work, switching between personal narratives about the players and sensational on-court action. Among the guys to feature are:

— Jerryd Bayless
— Michael Beasley
— Tyreke Evans
— Donte Greene
— Brandon Jennings
— Kevin Love
— Kyle Singler
— Lance Stephenson

and a bunch of others. It rules. And apparently, the first parts are on YouTube. So take 90 minutes later today to check it out if you haven't before, and appreciate a whole different side of MCA.