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Bloomberg, Stoudemire dedicate Brooklyn hoops court; is this effort from Knicks? No, from Nike.

Given the role of the Barclays/Nets Community Alliance in repairing some playgrounds in Brooklyn, I wondered if a similar effort announced last week in Brooklyn, involving New York Knick Amar'e Stoudemire, represented an effort by the Knicks to position themselves in the emerging rivalry.

No, the corporate sponsor is... Nike.

From the press release, headlined MAYOR BLOOMBERG, NEW YORK KNICKS' AMAR'E STOUDEMIRE AND NIKE DEDICATE NEW BASKETBALL COURT AT THE TAYLOR-WYTHE COMMUNITY CENTER IN BROOKLYN: City Youth Will Benefit from World Class Court:
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, New York Knicks' Forward Amar'e Stoudemire and Nike North America East General Manager Daryl Jones today joined children from the El Puente afterschool program to dedicate a new basketball court at the Taylor-Wythe Community Center in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The court was originally used at Radio City Music Hall during last year's inaugural World Basketball Festival - a four-day celebration sponsored by Nike and USA Basketball. The Mayor, Amar'e Stoudemire, Daryl Jones and children were joined at the announcement by Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott, Executive Director of El Puente Frances Lucerna, Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Commissioner Jeanne B. Mullgrav and New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Chairman John B. Rhea. Following the dedication, Amar'e Stoudemire officially opened the court at a basketball clinic for the young people in DYCD's basketball leagues.

"Today is a great example of what can be accomplished when people give back to their community," said Mayor Bloomberg. "When kids are involved in sports, they learn the value of teamwork and start to build a solid foundation of skills that will help carry them through life - both on and off the court. This basketball court will help train New York's stars of tomorrow and would not have been possible without the generosity of Nike and Amar'e Stoudemire."

"I am proud as a Nike athlete to be a part of this great initiative," said Amar'e Stoudemire. "Growing up, I always imagined playing on a court like this some day. It's amazing to be here and see my dream come to life for the children in this community."

Amar'e Stoudemire has been working with the City since arriving in New York. The Amar'e Stoudemire Foundation regularly provides Knicks game tickets to DYCD children as a reward for their excellence in school and in their communities.

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