The Nike SWOOSH League Director talks to nikebasketball.com/nyc.

Ray Diaz, a NYC point guard in his own right, knows the game as he continues to live it every day. He is dedicated to both his family and his surrounding community, as he has been a mainstay at Nike Pro City and the Nike SWOOSH League summer after summer. Diaz strives for perfection as his venue combines a unique atmosphere of tough city game with the pride and prestige of a pro team arena.

QUOTES (as told to Anthony Gilbert)

On the history of the league:
I have been with Pro City for the past 10 years. I came on board in 1998. The league started in ‘94 and I was very happy to celebrate the 10-year anniversary in 2004. The league is part of NIKE’s grassroots campaign. Although the league was good prior to my getting involved…it hadn’t reached its potential. I had been running the Ray Diaz Roundball Classic uptown, and NIKE asked me to run this [Pro City] and the NIKE Swoosh League. I do this for the love and I have been able to elevate both leagues. I have placed my energy in making this the number one league in NYC.

On the overall purpose of the NIKE Swoosh League:
I believe the overall purpose is to have a sound quality basketball league for our youth to play in for the love of the game, and who have aspirations to play at higher levels in high school, college and the pros. With the help of the site directors in each borough we seek to develop the youth in the NIKE Swoosh League. We have sites in each of the 5 boroughs, one in Westchester and another on Long Island, for a total of 7 sites, to bring the league out to all of the youth. All the champions from the sites will play in the Tournament of Champions to be crowned the NIKE Swoosh League Champion.

On what makes being the director so special:
What I like best is that I live every day like NIKE, as our philosophies match. I love to do things at a high level. I really enjoy the support that NIKE gives me to do what I do.