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Former Oregon Tech player competes against pros for TV show

08.03.2010

Oregon Institute of Technology alum Saif Abdur-Rahman (blue) went up against three former NBA players on Spike TV’s “Pros vs. Joes.” The episode will debut Wednesday at 7pm (photo courtesy of Spike TV)

For former Oregon Institute of Technology basketball player Saif Abdur-Rahman, playing on the same court with NBA all-stars Rick Fox, Brent Barry and Chris Mullin was an honor. But Abdur-Rahman's run-in with the former players was not by chance. Cameras rolled during their games of one-on-one, three-on-three and shooting challenges, all for an episode of Spike TV's "Pros vs. Joes." The episode will debut at 7 p.m. Wednesday on Spike TV. "I have to say it was a thrill to be on the same court," Abdur-Rahman said.

 
Pros vs. Joes
The Spike TV show pits professional athletes against amateurs in a series of athletic contests. Show producers first got in touch with Abdur-Rahman through his agent. Abdur-Rahman, a college All-American from Oregon Tech, is working as an actor in Los Angeles. He's acted in some Internet shorts and done some commercial work. "Pros vs. Joes" producers asked if he would like to be on the show and Abdur-Rahman agreed. He went through the interview process and later received a call that the shoot was ready to go.
Abdur traveled to an L.A. community college for the shoot. He and the two other Joes came out onto the court first, waiting to see who their competition would be. "We had no idea who we were playing against," Abdur-Rahman said. "The whole mystery thing is pretty cool." The players came out, a welcome to surprise to Abdur-Rahman. "That was probably my favorite moment," Abdur-Rahman said. "There's such a shock value there."

 
Holding his own 

The episode shoot was split into four games. Pros and Joes competed in one-on-one, three-on-three, shooting and half-court press break events. Abdur-Rahman had played against professional players before, and felt like he was good competition for the former NBA players. By the end, the effort among professional players had increased significantly. "At the end of the day, anybody who's played in the NBA has a lot of pride," Abdur-Rahman said. "I think they took it a lot more seriously. I felt like I held my own." Abdur-Rahman couldn't say who won the competition, but that it's "definitely worth watching."
Win or lose, Abdur-Rahman will remember the experience of getting to play with premiere athletes the most. "When else in my life am I going to get to shoot against Chris Mullin? That was really exciting," Abdur-Rahman said. "Literally being on that court and being competitive with the best of the best, it was absolutely bar none."

Story By RYAN PFEIL Herald & News Staff Writer

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