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played less like an entertainer and more like his namesake; using his strength and leverage to get his 6-3, 230-pound body to the bucket and score as efficiently as possible.
"I'm 31 years old. Losing is not an option for me," said Jones after his 18-9 win. "I ain't got no choice but to win. I came out here, traveled all this way, to come get this money."
I was later told that Baby Shaq had been seen in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency in downtown San Francisco on Saturday afternoon, sitting alone and staring straight ahead for at least an hour. His focus was as menacing as his game.
Jones wasn't the only man on a mission. The line he repeated a few times – "I came too far to lose" – could have been the slogan for every player on Alcatraz Island. They had earned their spots in the final 64 via qualifying tournaments held in 21 U.S. cities and 12 foreign countries: China, Lithuania, Serbia, Slovenia, France, Spain, Turkey, Israel, Romania, Ukraine, Germany and Canada. This was a business trip for all involved.
Sheldon Bailey (profiled in Dime #60 for his acting work in commer- cials and as a body double for the likes of LeBron James) qualified in Los Angeles and flew in from Lebanon to play in the King of the Rock finals before hopping another flight to Dubai to report to his professional team.
"I love the international flair," said Bailey, who was eliminated in the round of eight. "The environment is crazy with the music, the crowd, you've got (announcers) Sal Masekela and Bobbito Garcia, just the whole production out here. I mean, it's a freakin' prison in the background! It's crazy out here. I love it."
Tyrone "Redz" Hill is a Philadelphia playground veteran whom Dime readers may also remember from his success in numerous 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 tournaments that have been featured in the magazine. Hill played in two KOTR qualifiers this year, losing in Philly before earning his spot in D.C.
"You know how I do. I'll travel city to city," said Redz. "This is 1-on-1, baby. I don't have my boys to play with me, don't have no one to pass it to, so it's just like 'Give me the ball.' Philly style, that's all."
Redz upset last year's Red Bull KOTR runner-up Gary Smith in the first round ("He's the runner-down now," Redz laughed) before losing to Centella in the second round. Smith did at least salvage something out of the trip by winning $500 in the KOTR dunk con- test. But last year's champion, Izeah "Clutch" Bowman from L.A., left empty-handed after losing to Dalane Finley from Virginia in a round-of-16 thriller.
After he'd made quick work of his first-round opponent, Baby Shaq stood on the baseline of his court and chatted with Rajon Rondo, the NBA superstar who is the face of the KOTR tournament. Not far from that same spot, Rondo presented Baby Shaq with the title trophy and championship ring.
"We were actually talking about Kentucky," said Jones of that earlier conversation. "He was in school there with my daughter's mother. My daughter's birthday is today, and his daughter's birthday is today. I guess with us talking, everything came full circle."
TOP AND BOTTOM: PHOTOS. GARTH MILAN/RED BULL CONTENT POOL; MIDDLE: PHOTO. CHRISTIAN PONDELLA/RED BULL CONTENT POOL