Monday, November 28, 2011

Red Carpet Q&A with Platinum-recording artist DRAKE before he became Worldwide!

The Date: December 9, 2K8
The Event: Recording Artist/Model Teyana Taylor's 18th Birthday Bash
The Locale: KUSH Lounge, Lower East Side, New York City

RG: Where are you from?
Drake: I'm from Toronto, Canada.

RG: What do you like about New York City?
Drake: The nightlife...the women...the way New Yorkers carry themselves...EVERYTHING! New York City embodies class, and I'm a classy dude, so it works out!

RG: What's gonna set you apart as an artist?
Drake: As far as the new generation is concerned, artists like myself, Wale', Kid Cudi - we just offer a different brand of music with the melodies and Hip-Hop singing. We're trying to give the people a broader spectrum of entertainment and I think as a younger generation in the Hip-Hop game, we've got people really excited right now!

*During the time I interviewed Drake, he mentioned that he was a free agent still looking for a record deal, but was in the beginning stages of working with Lil Wayne and was managed by Gee Roberson, who was also managed Kanye West. He also towards the end declared to look out for him at the Grammys and other award shows in the very near future, so the brother was pretty confident in the music he was about to unleash to the masses globewide!

http://www.drakeofficial.com/

LockerRoom Q&A with Basketball Hall-of-Famer NANCY LIEBERMAN

The Date: Saturday, July 30, 2K11
The Locale: The Prudential Center, Newark, NJ before tipoff of WNBA New York Liberty vs Phoenix Mercury matchup.

RG: 15 years in, how proud are you of the success of the WNBA to this point?
NL: It's gone beyond where I thought it would be, especially with the level of talented players that the league has had in the past and that are now currently playing. We knew that there was going to be talent, but one of the most important things about the history of anything is respecting who came before you, and also respecting the totality of the 15 years, not just the fact that we've had great players for a 6, 7, 8, 9-year stretch. The Becky Hammons, Ruth Rileys, Tamika Catchings, Sue Birds, Maya Moores; they respect the history of the game, and I think that's really important. The veterans want to be remembered because they have 'skin' in the game....I have skin in the game and so does Ann Meyers-Drysdale, Lynette Woodard, Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper and all of the women who've played pro basketball before the WNBA came into existence in 1997. We just want to be remembered for our contributions, and todays player does, and I dig todays player. They are beautiful, talented, saavy, and they are great gatekeepers of the game. Our game is in really good hands.

RG: Your thoughts of  Teresa Edwards' induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
NL: I am so proud of that young woman. She did so much, not only collegiately, but for international basketball as well. It's the culmination of the game saying 'THANK YOU' to her.

RG: Your head coaching stint with the Texas Legends in the National Basketball Developmental League....How was that experience for you?
NL: It was unbelievable. I was given the opportunity by the team's owner Donnie Nelson and I am so thankful for that. We had a lot of work to do. There's no thumbprint for making history; You're creating it for others to follow. We were successful as a team in making the playoffs, and I had one of my players Antonio Daniels called up by the Philadelphia 76ers to fill a vacant roster spot for their playoff run. The NBDL is a league of opportunity, and giving people a chance to reach their NBA dreams. My guys were amazing all season for me and I'm so thankful for the Texas Legends in giving me that opportunity.

RG: I see the National Basketball Developmental League as a nice platform for talented players who are not able to initially crack a roster spot on an NBA team.
NL: It's big. We're splitting hairs for guys going up or down. There were over 22 call-ups a year ago during the 2K10 season, and it's unbelievable the level of talent in that league. I'm very proud of the guys!

*Also during the interview, Nancy mentioned that she is a BIG New York Yankees fan and is a good friend of current team manager Joe Girardi. She became a Yankee fan by following the legendary Hall-of -Famer Mickey Mantle, and when she was 10 years old, she had a pet dog named after beloved Yankee player Bobby Murcer.

*Lieberman is now the Assistant General Manager for the Texas Legends after coaching the team into the Playoffs during the 2K10-2K11 season. For all things happening with Nancy, log on to her website, http://www.nancylieberman.com/

Sunday, September 11, 2011

WNBA: NEW YORK LIBERTY VS MINNESOTA LYNX

The Date: Sunday, 9/4/2K11
The Locale: The Prudential Center, aka The Rock, Newark, New Jersey

Rookie All-Star Maya Moore scored 19 points and four other players tallied in double-digit figures, as the Minnesota Lynx crushed the New York Liberty, 86-68, in front of 8,247 fans in attendance. Plenette Pierson led New York with with 17 points and 8 rebounds in the loss. Liberty All-Star Cappie Pondexter had one of her worst offensive games in recent memory, scoring just 9 points, all from the free-throw line, and went 0-for-9 from the field in over 35 minutes of action. Cappie did however handed out a game-high 7 assists.

With the victory, Minnesota upped their record to 25-7, which is tops in the WNBA and will have the home-court advantage throughout the entire postseason which commences on Thursday, September 15. New York fell to 18-14, but have already clinched a playoff berth and can finish anywhere between second and fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings after they play their final regular season game against the current #2 seed in the East, the Connecticut Sun, on the road on Sunday afternoon, September 11 at 1pm EST.

~Other Notes~

*Former Liberty head coach Ann Donovan was in the arena taking in the game as a spectator and is still very close with the organiztion.
*Upon Lynx rookie and All-Star Maya Moore's introduction during pre-game, loud cheers echoed throughout The Rock. She is one super-talented, all-around basketball player and will win the Rookie of the Year Award for her amazing season.
*Newark Deputy Mayor Magarita Muniz addressed the fans before the game to show appreciation to the Liberty organization on their 1st full season playing at The Prudential Center while their real home, Madison Square Garden, undergoes a massive transformation project that will run until its completion in 2K13.
*I had the opportunity after the game to briefly interview Lynx players Seimone Augustus, Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Candice Wiggins, Maya Moore and Lindsay Whalen. I LOVE me some Candi Wiggins! She's a well-spoken (Stanford grad), animated and gorgeous-looking sweetheart!

www.wnba.com




Sunday, August 14, 2011

TOYA: A FAMILY AFFAIR (BET Network)--The Best Reality Series of 2K11

Why do I believe it's the best of the year compared to the likes of the 'Real Housewives' franchise on BRAVO, 'Basketball Wives' on VH1, The Kardashian family on E! and 'Jersey Shore' on MTV? Well, when it came to all-around 'authentic' reality TV, Antonia 'Toya' Carter and her family delivered in a huge way for the faithful viewers, including myself. Her personal struggles to me were captivating. From her trying to find her own identity outside of of being solely known as Grammy Award-winning hip-hop superstar Lil Wayne's ex-wife, to dealing with her mother Anita's long battle with drug addiction, to the dysfunctional circumstances within her family circle, Toya brought a vivid perspective to light on these issues that the vast majority of struggling African-American families go through in everyday life. To me, Toya seems to be a fantastic mom to her and Weezy's daughter Reginae, and her hunger to be successful in her own right is inspirational to women everywhere who have dealt with the same experiences as she has.

As I watched the series, I was mostly happy for: 1) Momma Anita's willingness to get the help she needed to kick her lenghthy battle with drug addiction and is now a co-owner of a restaurant in New Orleans, thanks largely to her loving daughter Toya.  2) Toya releasing her debut tell-all book, 'Priceless Inspirations' through Farrah Gray Publishing and 3) Toya and MempHitz tying the knot in the final episode. Plus she opened her own ladies boutique called GARB in her hometown New Orleans, Louisiana. Those were my touching moments of the series, in my opinion. The sky's beyond the limit for Toya, as she is truly a down-to-earth, career-driven, positive-minded, and of course, a gorgeous-looking sister who made a true believer out of me, without a doubt! I think it's safe to say in my humble and honest opinion that Weezy F. Baby gets a big FAIL for not staying married to this all-around fine lady.

www.twitter.com/toya_carter

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

WNBA: New York Liberty vs Phoenix Mercury

The Date: Saturday 7/30/2K11
The Prudential Center, aka The Rock, Newark, NJ

All-Star forward Penny Taylor scored a game-high 29 points and fellow All-Star Diana Taurasi chipped in with 16 points as the visiting Mercury defeated the Liberty, 91-84, ending a 3-game losing streak. After the Liberty cut the deficit to two, trailing 84-82 with under two minutes remaining on a 3-ball by All-Star Cappie Pondexter, Taurasi responded by scoring five consecutive points during the final minute to help seal the much-needed victory for Phoenix, who improved to 11-7 on the season. New York fell to 10-8 in a tough, emotional game and play again on Tuesday night, August 2 against a dangerous Atlanta Dream squad on the road.
In the losing effort, Nicole Powell led New York with 16 points and had 6 steals. Plenette Pierson scored 15 and Pondexter chipped in with 13 on just 4-of-19 shooting. (1-8 from 3pt range)

~Other Keynotes~

*Liberty center Kia Vaughn continued her amazing play with 11 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and a blocked shot. All-Star Essence Carson struggled off the bench for New York, scoring 12 points on just 4-of-15 from the floor and turned the ball over five times. As a team, the Liberty shot a dismal 58% from the foul line (11-19 FT) and the defense gave up 51% shooting to the Mercury. Bright spot of the game for New York was the strong play of reserve center Quanitra Hollingsworth. Despite being in foul trouble throughout the contest, 'Q' brought it with her energy and scored 8 points and grabbed 8 rebounds (5 on the offensive glass) in just over 20 minutes on the floor.
*Mercury guard/forward and reigning two-time Sixth Woman of the Year winner DeWanna Bonner played her usual expectional game off the bench with 8 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocked shots in just over 18 minutes on the floor. All-Star forward Candice Dupree had a modest showing with 10 points and 7 rebounds. Bright spot of the game for Phoenix was the play of back-up point guard Ketia Swanier. The 3rd year talent out of U.Conn  contributed with 8 points and handed out a game-high 7 assists. As a team, the Mercury went to the foul line 28 times and converted on 26 of their shots for a 93% clip. Both Penny Taylor and Diana Taurasi combined for a perfect 17-for-17 from the line.
*Over 7,200 fans were in the arena on a beautiful Saturday summer night to enjoy a great basketball game. There were a few questionable calls from the officials that didn't go in New York's favor and the fans voiced their displeasure big-time, especially after the game by booing the refs as they left the court.
*I had the opportunity to briefly interview Mercury assistant coach/former great WNBA player Bridget Pettis and Pro Basketball Hall-Of-Famer Nancy Lieberman, who was in town promoting her new book titled, "Playbook For Success." Next home game I'll be covering will be on Sunday, September 4 at 4pm when the Liberty play one of the best and most talented teams in the league this season, the Minnesota Lynx.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

WNBA: NEW YORK LIBERTY VS TULSA SHOCK

The Date: Sunday, 7/17/2K11
The Locale: Prudential Center, aka 'The Rock,' Newark, New Jersey

All-Star guard Cappie Pondexter scored 18 points and center Kia Vaughn continued her much improved play with 15 points and 8 rebounds as the Liberty cruised to an easy 88-57 win over the hapless Tulsa Shock. 1st time All-Star Essence Carson, wearing goggles due to a minor injury sustained to her right eye on July 1 against San Antonio, chipped in with 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting off the bench. Forward Plenette Pierson, returning to the starting lineup after not playing Friday, July 15 versus Connecticut nursing a knee injury, scored 12 points. For the Shock, they were led by former Liberty player Tiffany Jackson with 17 points and 11 rebounds. WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes played only 16 minutes and scored just 3 points on 1-of-6 shooting from the floor. With the victory, New York upped their record to 9-6, while Tulsa dropped to an abysmal 1-14 on the season.

The Liberty continue to play well as a unit on the defensive end, which for the most part has been the catalyst for their success thus far. They outrebounded Tulsa, 39-22 and held them to just 34% shooting from the field. The Shock play hard despite their poor record, but there's no consistent cohesion on both offense and defense. They have very talented young players that they can build on for the future and also have the veteran presence of both Swoopes and Betty Lennox, but they are still in a rebuilding stage as the franchise continues to adjust in their 2nd season in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

~Other Notes~

*During halftime, New York Liberty legend guard Teresa Weatherspoon was inducted into the franchise's 'Ring of Honor,' the 2nd player to receive the accolade this season. All 6,700+ fans in attendance gave T-Spoon a most deserving standing ovation for her great achievements as a player and leader of the Liberty from 1997 to 2003.
*6'8, 19-year-old Tulsa Shock rookie center Liz Cambage (cam-beige) from Australia, scored 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting and blocked a couple of shots in her 24 minutes on the floor. An imposing presence, but after chatting with her briefly in the locker room, postgame, I was impressed by her maturity and she is gorgeous-looking!
*I also had the opportunity to briefly chat with former Olympian and 2nd year Shock player Marion Jones. She told me that she is grateful for the chance to play in the WNBA. I also briefly chatted with veterans Betty Lennox & Tiffany Jackson of the Shock. Liberty locker room was loose & fun after their win. Next game I'm covering: Saturday 7/30/2K11 vs one of the top teams in the league, the Phoenix Mercury, at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ in what promises to be a great measuring-stick game for the Lib!

http://www.wnba.com/

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

WNBA: NEW YORK LIBERTY VS LOS ANGELES SPARKS

The Date: Sunday, 6/26/2K11
The Locale: Prudential Center, aka "The Rock," Newark, NJ

Cappie Pondexter scored a game-high 22 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, handed out 5 assists & recorded 3 steals on the defensive end in a 77-67 victory over their long-time rival L.A. Sparks. Essence Carson, (the team's 2nd most athletic player after CP23) contributed 18 points off the bench & Plenette Pierson scored 14 for the Liberty. NY went on a 12-0 run during the final 3:05 of the 2nd quarter to take a 41-33 halftime lead, spearheaded by the play of Pondexter on both ends of the floor. Super-talented All-Star Candace Parker led the Sparks with 16 points & 11 boards, but left the game midway through the 3rd quarter with a potentially serious right knee injury & did not return. Parker suffered the injury as she dribbling up the court & simultaneously banged knees with either her own teammate or a Liberty player. She was lying on the floor in agonizing pain for a few minutes & was able to get up on her feet to a nice ovation from the crowd, but was hobbling going into the locker room. L.A. was never able to fully recover & for most of the game were careless with the basketball, turning it over 20 times. With the win, the Liberty pulled even at the .500 mark at 4-4, while the Sparks fell to 4-3.

*Monday, 6/27/2K11: NY Liberty All-Star G Cappie Pondexter was named WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, 6/20 through Sunday, June 26.

*Other Notes: NY Liberty legend & current Louisiana Tech womens basketball head coach Teresa Weatherspoon & current player for the Chicago Sky Tamera Young (her team had the off-day) were in the building taking in the game. Also at The Rock were the newest members of the NY Knicks, draft picks Iman Shumpert & Josh Harrelson. I got the opportunity to briefly chat with them & ask a few questions. Shumpert was celebrating his birthday as well as supporting his friend & fellow Georgia Tech alum, NY Liberty rookie Alex Montgomery. 7,625 fans were in attendance. (Liberty & Sparks fans) NBA perennial All-Star Kobe Bryant's dad Joe 'Jellybean' Bryant is in his 1st season on the Sparks' bench as an assistant to head coach Jennifer Gillom.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

The 10 'Dirtiest' Foods You're Eating

An estimated 200,000 Americans contract food poisoning EVERYDAY, according to sources from The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, but in the opinion of notable microbiologist Philip Tierno, he believes the actual tally is closer to an whopping 800,000 per day. In 4 of 5 food poisoning cases, the attack happens at home-right (on the plate) under our noses. Here are the 10 foods to be cautious of:

1) Chicken
2) Ground Beef
3) Ground Turkey
4) Oysters
5) Eggs
6) Cantaloupe
7) Peaches
8) Lettuce
9) Cold Cuts (from the Deli)
10) Scallions

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Weiner MUST Be A Goner, & Soon!

(These were my thoughts a few days before he officially resigned on Thursday 6/16/2K11)

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Brooklyn, Queens NYC) now faces more pressure than ever to step down from his post in Congress as more 'inappropriate' photos are released to the public. And what's even more disturbing about the newest pics is that they were snapped at his workplace in Washington, DC & is not sitting well at all with his fellow constituents. As we, the general public, can now assess is that Weiner is totally obsessed with himself with all of these lewd photos, just to satisfy his female followers in the social internet world of Twitter & Facebook. In my opinion, he looks silly & is not acting his 46 years of age. It's also obvious that he wasn't thinking clearly of the potential circumstances & tried to cover things up from the get-go through denials & lies. The man truly needs pyschiatric help! Weiner, while he has remained defiant in saying that he has no plans on resigning, will eventually have no choice but to step down for the sake of restoring decency & respectability to how members of Congress should conduct themselves in the public eye. With all that has transpired with Rep. Weiner the past couple of weeks with this whole 'internet sexting' dilemma, which he brought all on himself, it behooves him to accept his unfortunate transgressions, resign from his post & solely focus on repairing his image in both his personal & family life. His wife of less than a year, the beautiful Huma Abedin, is currently 3 months pregnant with their 1st child & I presume immensely furious about the whole situation, but is standing by her man, for now. I think we've all seen this type of movie play itself out before & still no lessons have been learned. (ie. Tiger Woods (minus the nude photos), etc) Crazy, crazy & more crazy! SMH

Saturday, May 21, 2011

On The Rise: Alafia Tyner, Relationship Expert

Alafia Tyner, aka Mr. Casino, is a new author & relationship expert on the scene. His highly anticipated book, simply titled "The Guide to a Healthy Relationship," is scheduled to be released in January of 2K12. Alafia is also the CEO of his own company, Meccasino Entertainment & is constantly on the move, managing several artists from the USA as well as around the Carribean. Mr. Tyner has always had this kind of drive & motivation since his early childhood. When we look at people like Alafia, we often think "Workaholic," but this comes quite naturally for this relationship mogul/entrepeneur! You can find Mr. Tyner everyday on his personal Facebook page sharing his wisdom with friends & family from all over the world. I found this very amazing for a man as busy as Alafia to find the time to do this. I briefly chatted with Mr. Tyner & when I asked him how he finds the time to do it, this is what he said: "When you love helping others find their way, time is no longer of importance." If you ever have the chance to meet Alafia, then you'll know that he is as real as they come! He continues to discuss with me his personal experiences & what gave birth to the concept of his new book coming out early next year:

"I have experienced many relationships (wife, girlfriends, friends, sisters, co-workers) within my life & what I have learned is that it takes a lot of work to maintain those relationships. As I watched people live their lives & get older, it amazed me that some people live their entire lives without experiencing what a healthy relationship is. Then I saw the percentages of homes where the fathers weren't present & that shocked me. I have always strived to figure out what my purpose was here on Planet Earth & one day, it just came to me. My mission would be to help keep families together, so that our children can learn by example. The problems that we face in our communities to this day with our youth stem from our relationships at home & I talk a lot about this in my book. My goal is to make a difference in the world by writing a book that people can truly learn from through my perspective. I also have created ways for people to discuss relationship topics, & openly share experiences that will help others in their present situations. There are so many women in abusive relationships nowadays & I want to be able to create a networking source to help these women get out of their situation VERY CAREFULLY without a tragic ending occuring. It really touched my heart when I received an email from a woman that told me that she reads the comments of my Family Relationship Discussions on my Facebook page & it gave her the strength to leave her abusive situation. To me, making a difference in someone else's life is what it's all about & I want to take the time to thank all of my people that join in on the discussions on Facebook everyday! I grew up in a household where my mother was abused, & experiencing that as a child was very traumatizing. No woman or child should ever have to go through this. My best advice is that if you are in a abusive situation or know someone that is, PLEASE SEEK HELP IMMEDIATELY!"

Follow Alafia via Twitter @alafiatyner (verified account) for updates on book tours, radio interviews & relationship topics. You can also find Alafia Tyner on Facebook, where you can join in on daily relationship discussions with people from all over the world. Once you join this positive network is when you will be able to see how everyone can make a difference (give back) by letting your voice be heard!

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Music/Film Superstar TYRESE GIBSON: The New Master Motivator?

Tyrese Gibson, aka Black Ty, is a fantastic actor, R&B/Soul singer, and now author of his debut motivational book released in April, 2011 titled, "How To Get Out Of Your Own Way." Mr. Gibson stays busy in his never-ending quest for consistent success, but what drives him the most is his sharing of knowledge and imparting positive wisdom to his millions of fans, especially via the popular social micro-blogging site Twitter. On Thursday 4/7/2011 at the Panache Supper Club in Harlem, New York City, Tyrese appeared on 98.7 KISS FM's live radio broadcast with host Lenny Green and briefly sounded off on his new book and upcoming album:

"I dug into my chest cavity and put my entire heart into this book. If anybody in this world know what "broke, hungry, struggling, living-in-the-bottom-of-the-barrel" is, it's me - trust me! I had a problem with my "broke," my "hungry,"- the dysfunction. I'm from Watts in South Central Los Angeles, near Compton, California. My momma was an alcoholic for 27 years. I watched my momma drink herself to near-death, and by the grace of GOD, my momma's been sober for 4 years now. Everyone sees all the success that I've had so far - the sex appeal and whatever, and that's cool. But I want y'all to understand is that I'm no different from you. Y'all can come up with all the excuses in the world as to why you ain't gettin' it...why you ain't got more; but I don't wanna hear that s**t and I don't feel sorry for none of y'all. If you wanna get it, it's simple: GO GET IT! I had a problem with my hardships and I did something about it. I put so much of me into my book, NOBODY'S gonna be able to say that they don't know how to get it - I promise you! I have a problem with what a lot of people don't know, and hopefully I can be your "go-to" motivational source. As far as my new album, it'll be titled "Open Invitation," coming out later this Summer of 2011. It'll be independently released and will be my first album in five years. It's an open invitation for all you love-makers, and the grown & sexy that just want to hear some real music coming from a real place, because everyone's soundin' like robots on the radio right now and it's killing me! Everybody's "T-Painin'" it right now."

Follow Tyrese via Twitter @tyrese (his verified account) and pick up a copy of "How to Get Out Of Your Own Way" at Barnes & Noble and other bookstores. It's a worthwhile and hopefully life-changing investment for those who seek positive change in their life through a new voice in Film and Music superstar Tyrese Gibson!

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Rosa Parks: The Lil' Lady Who Stood Tall

Rosa Parks had a GOD idea, but it was a simple one: She didn't want to sit in the back of the bus. Of course, this took place in Alabama at a time when segregation was the law of the land & Blacks were expected to do what White people told them to do. But it had been a long day for Ms. Parks & she did not want to have to sit in the bumpy, noisy, smelly, uncomfortable back of this particular bus. So she sat down in the front. Then a White man got on the bus & demanded that she move back. There was even room for him to sit anywhere he wanted, but what he wanted was for Ms. Parks to move from the front of the bus. The bus driver stopped the bus & asked her to move, & she STILL would not move. They called the police, & she STILL wouldn't move. So the police had no choice but to put her in jail, all for the fact that she stood firm for her right to stay seated in the front of the bus instead of at the back, even though it was against the law at that time.

That was EXACTLY what GOD wanted! Rosa Parks' unwillingness to move became both a national issue & a national symbol during a very turbulent time in America. It helped galvanize the Civil Rights Movement & change America forever. Without Ms. Parks' firm stance on that bus in Alabama, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. may not have rose to the global prominence he eventually became in the fight for peace & human equality. Rosa Parks truly & forever was a GREAT AMERICAN & we should always give her thanks from Heaven above for her tall stance on that faithful day on the bus!

Sunday, April 24, 2011

10th Annual Jordan Brand High School All-American Basketball Classic

The Date: Saturday 4/16/2K11
The Location: Time Warner Cable Arena - Charlotte, North Carolina

Co-MVP and North Carolina-bound James McAdoo scored 26 points and grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds, as the East team edged out the West 113-109. The 6'8 forward is the nephew of NBA Hall of Famer Bob McAdoo. The nation's Player of the Year, 6'4 guard Austin Rivers, son of former NBA player and current Boston Celtics head coach Glenn 'Doc' Rivers, scored 16 points on just 4-for-16 shooting, but was impressive with 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals in 31 minutes of action. Rivers will be taking his incredible talents to Durham, North Carolina this coming Fall, playing for head coach Mike Krzyzewski and the Duke Blue Devils. Pitt-bound 6'9 forward/center Khem Birch also had a nice showing in the win for the East with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 blocked shots and a steal in just 16 minutes on the court.

The West squad was led by co-MVP power forward Anthony Davis, who scored a game-high 29 points on 13-for-15 shooting, grabbed 11 rebounds (6 off the offensive glass) and blocked 4 shots in 29 minutes of high-energy action the floor. The talented 6'10 Davis will star for head coach John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats this Fall. Washington Huskies-bound guard Tony Wroten, Jr. had an impressive stat line in the loss for the West: 16 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds. If I'm correct, Wroten Jr. is a cousin of current Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nate Robinson.

The annual Jordan Brand Classic showcases the nation's top high school basketball talent, and is the brainchild of NBA Hall of Famer and current majority owner of the NBA Charlotte Bobcats, Michael Jordan. A who's who of the current NBA superstars have all participated in the game during this past decade: LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose  and Andrew Bynum, just to name a few. Witness the future of basketball superstars before they hit the college and NBA hardwood at the 11th annual showcase, April 2K12 at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina!

For the complete boxscore of the game & to get more information, log on to http://www.jordanbrandclassic.com/ & follow them on Twitter @jordanclassic

Sunday, March 27, 2011

The 5 Most "Stressed-Out" Cities In The U.S.A.

1) Stockton, California

2) Miami, Florida

3) Merced, California

4) Modesto, California

5) Sacramento, California

Sunday, March 20, 2011

10 States in America With The Deadliest Eating Habits

This list is also based on high obesity rates & high risk of ailments such as heart disease & diabetes:

1) Mississippi

2) Alabama

3) Missouri

4) Kansas

5) Oklahoma

6) Nevada

7) South Dakota (a surprise to me)

8) Ohio

9) Arizona (also a slight surprise to me as well)

10) New Mexico

Sunday, March 13, 2011

"Obama-Care" Still Not Being Treated Fair

In February of 2K11, Florida Judge Roger Vinson became the 2nd federal judge to rule that the Health Reform Bill was deemed unconstitutional on the basis of the Commerce Clause. Vinson's ruling stipulates that it is unconstitutional for the government to regulate commerce that has not yet occured by forcing someone to buy health insurance they may not want. In December of 2K10, Virginia Federal Judge Henry Hudson rejected the "mandate" provision of the bill that all citizens must be covered.

With this second setback, President Barack Obama's landmark health-care bill must be weighed in by the Supreme Court on the legality of the legislation that was passed by Congress last year in 2K10. The ones that will be most affected by these setbacks are African-Americans who live in poverty or are the "working poor." Many of the illnesses that commonly plague Black people such as heart disease, hypertension & diabetes require expensive medicine, preventative care & routine visits to see the doctor. Unfortunately, most Black people don't go to the doctor unless they are already ill & this irresponsibility explains why the mortality rate for African-Americans with some of these curable diseases is higher than Caucasians.

President Obama's proposed bill has some popular provisions in it. If Congress has some semblance of rationale, those particular provisions should remain in there. This health-care reform issue continues to be a crucial one for millions of Americans & their families who are truly in dire need of affordable, reasonable benefits for the near future.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Will BYU Lose Its Roar Come March Madness?

The BYU mens basketball team as of this blog post has enjoyed a great season thus far. Currently they are ranked 3rd in the nation in the AP polls with a gaudy 28-3 record. An integral part of their successful run has been the play of super-talented 6'9 sophmore F/C Brandon Davies, the team's leading rebounder. But on Tuesday March 1st, Davies was unfortunately kicked off the team for the remainder of the regular season, plus the conference & NCAA tournaments due to him breaking the Mormon school honor code by engaging in premarital sex with his freshman girlfriend, who happens to play volleyball for the BYU womens team.

Are you kidding me, athletic director Tom Holmoe?  Let the young man live & give him the opportunity at least to learn from his mistake. I understand that it's a rule that's been respected & honored traditionally at BYU, but it shouldn't warrant him getting banished from the team. If anything, he should be suspended for a few games at the least. Losing a player of Davies' caliber will hurt the Cougars' drive towards the National Championship, taking place in Houston, TX on April 4th, immensely in my opinion, but coach Dave Rose is optimistic that the team will regroup & recover in time for March Madness. "This team has found ways to win games all year & I have all the confidence in the world that we will continue to do that," he said. "We'll get better. We'll find ways to deal with the loss of a player that we've relied on."

If Davies is outright kicked out of BYU for his discrepency, he should either enter this years NBA Draft as an underclassman if he is deemed ready psychologically & physically or transfer to another University so he can continue his academic studies, improve on his total game & most importantly, mature as an adult in today's society. As for the BYU Cougars, we'll see if they can continue roaring without one of its leaders all the way to Houston.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Season#12: Dancing With The Stars

The past 11 seasons of DWTS has been one of the more fascinating "must-see TV" spectacles, & the Spring 2K11 edition promises to be yet another fun, entertaining & drama-filled 8 weeks! Here are the celeb competitors for Season 12:

*Actor Ralph Macchio
*Entrepeneur Romeo Miller (Master P's son)
*Disney actress Chelsea Kane
*Fashion model Petra Nemcova
*Former boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard
*Actress/former Playboy Playmate Kendra Wilkinson-Baskett
*"The Queen of All Media" Wendy Williams
*Actress Kirstie Alley
*Wresting superstar Chris Jericho
*NFL player Hines Ward (Wide Receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers)
*"Loveline" radio host Mike Catherwood (an unknown to the global public)

Here's how I visualize the 12th cycle going down:

*Most Intriguing To Watch: Wendy Williams, Kirstie Alley & Romeo Miller.
*Most Likely To Do Really Well: Ralph Macchio, Mike Catherwood, (sleeper pick) Sugar Ray Leonard, Chris Jericho, Petra Nemcova & Chelsea Kane.
*The "2 Left Feet" Syndrome: Hines Ward, Kirstie Alley, Wendy Williams & Kendra Wilkinson-Baskett.
*Just A Random Thought: Hines Ward dancing to an altered musical arrangement of the hit rap song by Pittsburgh-based rapper Wiz Khalifa, "Black & Yellow." That would be pretty interesting to say the least!
*Clear-Cut Winner Out Of The Pack: Whomever is lucky enough to be partnered with repeat champion pro dancer Derek Hough out of the female celebs competing. (LOL) But seriously, I can't call it at this present juncture, but rest assure I'll be tuned in every step of the way for 2 months starting Monday, March 21st at 8pm EST on ABC TV!

Sunday, February 27, 2011

CelebrityDom: Stressful or Worthwhile?

Being a popular celebrity that's always in the spotlight has got to be one of the more daunting tasks in the history of civilization! Constantly navigating thru the throngs of annoying, aggressive paparazzi & crazed, yet adoring, autograph-seeking fans on a daily basis has to be ultra-stressful to deal with. There's zero privacy, even during downtime, & you're always protected by bodyguards 'round the clock. You are most likely to be deemed by the general public as being "untouchable" & "unapproachable" for the most part. I, still learning the nuances of the media game, find "celebrity-dom" fascinating in so many aspects. How were the late King of Pop Michael Jackson and legendary groups such as the Beatles, Rolling Stones and The Temptations able to maintain their sanity? How do current popular celebs such as Justin Beiber, Lady Gaga, Johnny Depp & Angelina Jolie cope with all of the madness?

And so I pose this question to you all: If you were in the public eye as a well-known celebrity, how would YOU handle the fame & newfound fortune? Would "celebrity-dom" drive you crazy or keep you humble?

Friday, February 25, 2011

*THE DENVER NUGGETS, POST-CARMELO ANTHONY*

Thursday, 2/24/2K11

The Denver Nuggets defeated the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Celtics 89-75, ending the last 6:05 of the game on a 16-0 run to seal the victory. Kenyon Martin scored 18 points & grabbed 10 boards despite playing with flu-like symptoms. Newest Nugget Wilson Chandler scored 16 points in his debut. The other former NY Knicks Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari & Timofey Mozgov also made their Denver debuts as well. With the loss of an offensive super-talent like Carmelo Anthony, the new look Nuggets will now be transformed into a more defensive-oriented team. There's a ton of talent now in place at every position & without Carmelo Anthony, I think Coach George Karl will do a nice job getting these players to play extra hard & solidify their playoff standing in the Western Conference.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

WELCOME TO NY, CARMELO ANTHONY & CHAUNCEY BILLUPS!

Wednesday, 2/23/2K11

The additions of both NBA superstar forward Carmelo Anthony & veteran PG Chauncey Billups will truly help All-Star PF Amar'e Stoudemire in a major way for the remainder of the season as the Knicks make their push towards a playoff berth. Anthony scored 27 points on 10-25 shooting & grabbed 10 rebounds as the Knicks beat the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden, 114-108. Mr. Big Shot scored 21 points, handed out 8 assists & grabbed 6 boards in the win for NY.
While the additions of both Anthony & Billups are great, team defense will still have to be a vital part in them being a truly contending team in the NBA in spite of their offensive talents. Trading away young forwards Wilson Chandler & Danilo Gallinari, along with talented PG Raymond Felton hurts them a tad defensively. Hopefully with the new adds, they will get it together in due time.