Check it out: Ahora! Ramon “Mone” Rodriguez was born and raised in Puerto Rico (Rio Piedras) and Manhattan’s lower east side. He has a B.S in Sports Management from New York University.

He enjoys all types of music, especially Hip-Hop, R&B, Jazz, Latin Jazz, African and of course Salsa. Ramon can play a couple of tunes on the piano and can also hit some beats on the congas. Enticing him to go to the movies and dining at new restaurants is usually no problem. PB&J or arroz con habilchuelas are his favorite foods. Daily workouts, swimming and bike riding keep him in shape. He can often be found spending time perfecting his skills with “Betsy”, his beloved basketball. His close-knit family and their togetherness have kept him grounded. Ramon is most grateful, for every opportunity that has been presented to him. 

Scroll down for some more detailed accomplishments:

 

Oct. 2002- Ramon forms the basketball performance group “Project Playground,” which includes himself and three other performers- Bobbito, Blackjack and Kenny.

Ramon’s vision for Project Playground was to bring together performers, each with their own style and expertise on the court. All are basketball performance veterans and work extremely well together while enduring the hours of practice that helps to perfect their unique performances. Project Playground is a success because of each performers love of the game of basketball. When Project Playground performs a halftime show its more than just a break in the game.

 

Ramon is also an accomplished professional Dancer. He has been a member of the Abakua Latin Dance Company since 2001. Abakua is a salsa dance company that tours both nationally and internationally. 

 

At age 13 Ramon appeared on Saturday Night Live, and in a commercial for MCI. Fast forward to 2001 where he was asked by Nike to be in a commercial with basketball superstar Vince Carter. Ramon remembered how it felt to act and be in front of the camera again, and has appeared in numerous commercials, films and live theatre performances.

 

Ramon has also been featured in various photo shoots for clothing lines such as Patria Collection and Nike. He has also appeared in Mambo and Newsweek Magazines. For Newsweek Ramon was featured in a full page spread in the Jan. 20th 2003 issue. He also did a photo shoot for Bounce Magazine, a new magazine that premiered in the summer of 2003.

I am very grateful for my achievements and even though I am presently living my dreams I look forward for that other commercial, that other acting role, that other Mambo event and that other basketball trick!
: )