With the US Ball4real Tour now over and the world tour ready to begin we caught up with Special FX to see how his summer is going

BT: What's Up Special FX, thanks for dropping by to answer some questions. With the 2007 Ball4real tour now in the bag how do you feel the first season went?
Special FX: I think the first season went very well. This was my first time doing a full tour and it was the best summer I ever had. I made a lot of friends and fans

BT: What was the highlight of the tour for you?
Special FX: Every game was special. No game was the same there was a new highlight every night but if I had to choose 1 I think it would be oklahoma city cause I had about 40 points all dunks

BT: Why did you decide to run wit ball 4 real?
Special FX: I went with ball4real so that I could be a owner and I wanted to be a part of something new

BT: How old were you when you first picked up a ball and what made you start playing.?
Special FX: I was born with a ball in my hand. My father and uncles played ball in the 70's and 80's and I used to go to all the games as a kid. I try to do the same with my kids now, my youngest son loves the game and always has a ball with him

BT: How old were you when you first dunked?
Special FX: I first dunked when I was 13, it wasn't anything special just a regular 1 hand dunk. The 1 hand turned into 2 a few weeks later

BT: What's your standing vertical?
Special FX: The last time I had that measured was my senior year in college, it was about 42 but I was 245 lbs at the time. I'm jumping way higher now

BT: What are some of the things you do to work on your hops?
Special FX: I never worked on my hops it all came natural. Its a trait in my family all the men can dunk. If you watched streetball last year you seen my younger cousin dunk and he was 16 and 5"9

BT: What injuries have you sustained from dunking over the years. (apart from spliting you head open in the 2006 Miami And1 Open Run?
Special FX: I sprained my wrist, had 2 concussions and had pieces of glass in my arms and back when I broke some backboards a few years back(2 backboards 3 rims and I pulled the support out of the ceiling in DR last march) but nothing too serious

BT: Have you completed the 360 around the back dunk yet?
Special FX: Yes I completed it 3 times but never in the game. I made it in oklahoma city on the layup line. I don't have big hands so its hard to grip the ball

BT: If you would compare your game to anyone who would it be?
Special FX: A short Shawn Kemp. Flashy power dunker with a great midrange jumper. No matter what anyone says if I was 6"7 I would be in the NBA no doubt about it

BT: Who in the NBA or Streetball would you love having the pleasure to dunk on?
Special FX: I would love to dunk on anyone that I play against. I got a few NBA players before

BT: We know you're a regular at the EBC, what other NY leagues have you played in
Special FX: I played in West 4th, Dyckman, Ajax in Queens, Lincoln Park in Queens, Hunter College, and OCP in queens

BT: I had the pleasure of talking to Headache last week and he mentioned that you actually had more hops when you were younger. Is there any truth to that.? (He also told me to tell you he's going to slap you when he sees you next).
Special FX: Yeah that's true. I got the name Special FX when I was younger. I started playing with Headache when I was 17 up at the EBC and I was doing some wild stuff back then. I was the first to do the 540 dunk that was back in 99-2000

BT: City Slam will be holding a Dunk Competition next year called "World Slam". Basically its the 6 best dunkers in the U.S and the 6 best international dunkers. Have you heard about the event and would you consider entering it.?
Special FX: I'm not interested in that stuff. A lot of those guys do that stuff wit nobody else on the court. I do all those same dunks in games. Highrizer is 1 that does his same dunks from city slam in games. Let those other guys have there fun

BT: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Special FX: In 5 years I will either be overseas or doing the tour. I also see myself doing a lot of stuff beside basketball, like commercials and movies. Basketball won't always be a option

BT: Any last words before we go?
Special FX: I just wanna say all you young guys out there keep working on your game learn the fundamentals first. And to all you haters that watch to much TV before you talk about me know me first. Yeah I played at st.johns and didn't avg more then 6 per game but I guarantee none of you would even be able to walk on to a BIG EAST school. So stop running your mouths. And if you support me keep it up I promise I will never let you down. Big shout out to ball4real, boss lady, white mike, my brother circus, savage bus, ball 4 life (I'm family now), jack and the rest of the staff and shout out to all NYC ballplayers