sports
ALAN ARLT WANTS TO BRING OUT THE CARMELO ANTHONY IN ALL OF US. BY DANIEL A. GROSSMAN
PLAYING WITH PASSION and Maya Moore (WNBA). All have core values similar to those at Ultimate Hoops.
he idea for Ultimate Hoops, a recreational basketball league where each player is treated like a professional, came from Alan Arlt’s personal passion for the sport. He founded the league in 2006; in 2008 he sold it to Lifetime Fitness and in 2014 introduced training products. It is currently in 24 markets, making it the largest recreational b-ball league in the country. Here, we speak to Arlt about his dream.
What life lessons can young people learn from basketball? I think two key values are determination and commitment. Our goal at Ultimate Hoops is to reinforce a “never retire” attitude and state of mind. It’s unfortunate that 70 percent of basketball players quit by age 13 and never play again. We believe it’s critical to keep players playing in order to maintain their lifelong passion for the game. A passion for basketball often leads to a passion for other positive pursuits in life.
What is your mission for Ultimate Hoops? To instill passion and values, and improve basketball culture for the average fan. This includes creating stats and power rankings for each player.
What are the most exciting things going on at Ultimate Hoops?
What in your personal background inspired this dream? I was born and raised in Minnesota, then moved to NY in my 20s. I grew up a Knicks fan, but the players who most influenced me include Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Dennis Rodman (on the Pistons). I’m a big fan of Rodman for his heart and passion for the game. (I was never a Michael Jordan fan as he was the bitter archrival to my beloved Knicks.)
Who are the best NBA players today? The best role models? In my opinion, the best players are LeBron James, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Carmelo Anthony. I’d have to say Anthony is also among the best role models for his vocal stance on social issues. Also in the role model category: Curry, Durant, Westbrook
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In January 2016, we signed a partnership with NBRPA (National Basketball Retired Players Association). Our goal is to keep retired players involved in the game through speaking, training and other appearances. This past fall, we organized a media game at Sky Club in NYC featuring Carmelo Anthony and other retired NBA players. In 2017 we’re sponsoring an Ultimate Tour featuring athletes with core values that reflect ours. We continue to be involved in numerous national corporate and red carpet events with models wearing basketball gear. We’re also involved with the Maya Moore/Ricky Rubio Academy. Moore has sponsored this all-day academy for three years and is actively involved with the campers there.