NAS Jacksonville hosts Scion Slam Military Tour

With freshly painted basketball courts instead of parking spaces, the main event at the Scion Slam was a three on three basketball tournament, with the winners of the men's and women's tournaments earning $1,000. The second place teams won $500 and the third place men's team won $250. There was also a half court contest with the winner receiving $250, and a three-point contest with a first place prize of $100.

Along the side of the basketball courts, there was a car show held with three categories. The first category was for military Scion owners, the second category was for non-military Scion owners, and the third category was for all other vehicles.

Children of the contestants in the Scion Slam Three on Three Basketball Tournament entertain themselves in the videogame tent at the Scion Slam held in the commissary parking lot Dec 1.

The first place winners of each category collected $250 and a plaque, while the second place winners got $150. Overall, there was $4,650 given out in prize money.

The Scion Slam Military Tour started in September with an event held at a different military base every weekend. The event is hosted by The Passion Group, Scion's marketing company and is meant to be a fun time for military members.

"It's a good event," said Shannon Degraaf, of The Passion Group, "We work with a lot of different companies. Scion is all about going away with a good experience. It's a morale booster, a reward for our military." NAS Jax was the 12th and final stop of the military tour.

The first place winner in the "Scion-military" category of the car show, AT2 Chris Hamilton, left, receives his plaque from a Scion Slam representative.

Disc jockeys also travel with the group, acting as announcers for the event as well as playing music. There is also a video game tent to entertain children while their parents play basketball and an interactive trailer where people can create their own Toyota Scion. XM radio also had a tent and held a drawing for a free XM radio.

Tim McKinney, fitness director for the NAS Jax Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) Department, had been planning on this event coming to NAS Jax for almost three months. "We really didn't have to do a whole lot," McKinney stated, "They brought most of their stuff and we helped them set up. Security helped out with the parking lot and we had a lot of help from Transient Personnel Unit members."

McKinney emailed most commands on NAS Jax with the information to get people involved in the event. He also drove to NS Mayport and NSB Kings Bay, Ga. to drop off fliers at the base fitness centers. MWR hung doorknockers on all the barracks rooms on NAS Jax and contacted all other military bases in the surrounding areas.

Two three-on-three basketball men's teams battle for the grand prize of $1,000 at the Scion Slam event held in the commissary parking lot Dec. 1. The event was held by Toyota Scion and NAS Jacksonville's Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Department.

"I thought we'd get a lot more turn out with all the bases involved," McKinney said. "I haven't heard anything bad about the tournament though," he added.

Twenty-two men's teams and five women's teams competed in the tournament. "I was glad we had some women's teams. As of Wednesday, we had zero, so that worked out well," McKinney said.

The teams participated in the double elimination tournament until there was only one team in each category standing, the proud recipients of $1,000.

Each participant received a bag with "Scion Swag" in it, including a T-shirt, visor and other sponsored items. Anyone who test-drove a Scion also got a bag. Rip-it Energy drinks provided free beverages all day.

"Overall, it was pretty successful. The weather is beautiful, that's a plus," McKinney added.

Shannon Degraaf congratulates the second place winner in the "all other vehicles" category of the car show.

Neither MWR, nor the U.S. Navy or any other part of the federal government officially endorses any company, sponsor or its products or services.