So you have a couple of big movie stars running the promotional circuit
promoting their next film. LA one day,
New York the next. The MTV, CNN and E! cameras are rolling. Sounds glamorous,
but life on the road can be tiring. The press will have to wait for the time
being, because these guys need a break.
But when the two stars are young actors, they
don’t fancy massages, manicures or herbal tea remedies. They want to do what
all kids like to do - play video games.
That's how Bow Wow and Jonathan Lipnicki, two
of Hollywood's hottest young stars, spent a steamy New York summer afternoon,
unwinding from the media tour they were embarking to promote their movie,
Like Mike. Bow Wow and Lipnicki took to the computerized court at the NBA Store in
New York, where they settled in for a friendly - OK, quasi-friendly - game of XBOX’s NBA Inside Drive.
Bow Wow started to warm up on the practice
court and demonstrated a firm grip of the controls, handling them with the same
ease as he does with the fanfare that accompanies being a rapper and movie star.
Though he was wearing a size XL Houston Rockets No. 3 jersey, it was a bit of a
surprise as to which team was Bow's preferred choice. "I've got to go with
Stevie Franchise and the Houston Rockets. Watch out!"
Lipnicki came into the game cautiously
confident, since this was his first try at XBOX’s Inside Drive, but he was
certainly unfazed by the challenge at hand. "I'm pretty good at NBA Street,
NBA 2K2 and All-Star Baseball 2003, but it's my first time playing this
one," he said. "I should pick it up pretty quickly though."
"I love the Clippers. They're a cool,
young team," Jonathan offered while checking over the different game
options. "Darius, Q and the Kandi Man are my guys."
As the cyber-Rockets and Clippers took the
floor, Bow decided to offer a very simple challenge. The winner takes the XBOX
- no other stipulations and absolutely no excuses. Jonathan eagerly agreed,
sealing the deal with a handshake.
"Now I've got to take it to the little
guy," Bow strategized as he prepped for the match up. And take it to him
was an understatement, as Bow used Stevie Franchise to go after the Clippers'
Michael Olowokandi with several early dunks.
"Trying to block my stuff?" Bow asked
incredulously with a raised eyebrow.
Bow ran out to an early 22-8 lead, and
Jonathan's lack of experience was certainly showing. But his game face was on
and he quickly turned things around, getting a knack of the controls and finding
his rhythm. After some minor adjustments, the Clippers made a late first-half
rally behind Quentin Richardson and Lamar Odom and tied the score, 37-37 at
halftime.
The stage was set for a fierce second half.
"I can tell he really wants it," Bow
said at halftime. "The kid is a quick study, he picked this game up
fast!"
That was until Bow unleashed Francis once
again, giving the 6-3 All-Star a barrage of shots in the third quarter, hitting
five in a row. During that stretch, the Clippers were defenceless, as the
Rockets went on a 13-of-17 tear and built a 16-point cushion midway through the
fourth quarter.
"In your face," Bow shouted several
times during the run.
Despite the inside presence of Elton Brand and
Olowokandi, the Clippers ran out of gas down the stretch, and Jonathan had to
resort to blocking Bow's view during garbage time at the free throw line.
The game ended with Bow's Rockets winning
70-58, and the XBOX was his. And after some short-lived ribbing, both players
were already thinking rematch.
"The game was HOT! I loved it," Bow
said. "I can't wait to play the little guy again."
"I picked up the game really quick,"
Lipnicki said. "I just ran out of time at the end. Bow has played before,
but he is a good player. I'm looking forward to the rematch too."
And before continuing their whirlwind
promotional tour, Bow offered this to the fans: "I really liked this game.
The graphics were hot! Jonathan was a good sport and a good challenge. But one
thing I don't do is tell tips. Fans will have to find out on their own on to
be a player on Inside Drive. It was fun."