I saw "Django Unchained" this past weekend. It was a very entertaining movie. However, if you think the movie is directly about slavery, you would be a little off base. The movie is a love story between two former slaves, one of which was subsequently freed. The love story is couched within the 1850's Antebellum south (Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi). For any history aficionados, this is the time period just before the Civil War. Slavery was the law of the land. Before viewing the movie, it is important to understand who directed the movie. Quentin Tarantino has a very interesting imagination. That said, he has a flare for the dramatic and is not remotely interested with keeping with the status quo. He plays by his own rules. The characters in the movie are complex. Some are clearly more believable and more closely aligned with logic than others. Jamie Foxx plays Django, who is the lead character and former slave turned bounty hunter. His love interest, Broomhilda, is played by Kerry Washington. She is extremely talented and her popularity has blossomed as of late because of her role in the hit television show, Scandal. Leonardo DiCaprio plays a slave owner named Calvin Candie. Samuel L. Jackson plays the "head Negro" on Candie's plantation, Stephen. "Django" has elicited a great deal of controversy. Spike Lee has called the movie "disrespectful" but also stated that he has not viewed the movie. He has taken issue with Tarantino's use of the racial epithet "nigger" in the past. However, in a movie set in the 1850's Antebellum south, the racial epithet is probably a reasonable choice. Though, its use over 100 times in the movie may be a little excessive. Other people are quite naturally sensitive about a movie that indirectly deals with slavery. But, again, "Django" is a love story that happens to be set in the Antebellum south. That said, you have to view the movie through the proper lens. If you are expecting a historically accurate account of slavery and a likewise serious tone throughout the movie, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. If you view the movie as a love story and not as a historically accurate account of slavery, I think you will be able to look past possible historical inaccuracies and humor filled, inappropriate moments.
I would not be surprised at all if multiple actors from the movie win an Oscar, or at least be nominated for the award. Jamie Foxx did an excellent job playing Django "the slave." He did an even better job playing Django the slave handler/bounty hunter. He looked the part and spoke the part. I also like how he let his true feelings about slavery and slave owners surface at certain times. He used his status as a free man to make remarks to Candie that would have otherwise led to his death. Kerry Washington nailed her role as Broomhilda. She and Django were married before they were sold at a slave auction after attempting to flee. She wore the scar of an "r" on her face for "runaway" and the scars on her back from a vicious whipping she endured. The whipping scene was one of the most gut wrenching scenes in the movie. Her tears and screams during the scene are hard to capture in words. The look in her eyes during that scene captured the fear, pain, and despair that must have been shared by many slaves. The scene sent chills up my spine. Leonardo DiCaprio's portrayal of Calvin Candie, the slave owner, was excellent. I hated what Calvin Candie represented. On the one hand, he had a slave mistress, but on the other hand, he ordered a runaway slave to be eaten alive by rabid dogs. What a character and I believe there were many just like him during slavery. To him, the slaves were nothing more than investments in his business of slave trade. His fascination with Mandingo fighting and his abuse of the racial epithet "nigger" only added to my disdain for his character. Samuel L. Jackson's portrayal of Stephen was by far the most disgusting of all the characters. I hated his character and everything he represented. He was lower than Candie. Stephen was the head Negro at the "Big House." He was a slave but because Candie gave him a certain degree of control over the other slaves, he thought he was better than them. He reminded me of a court jester. When Candie laughed, he laughed louder. When he first met Django, he hated him more than his master hated slaves. He represented the lowest of the low. But, unfortunately, his character was likely a true depiction of many head house negros. As much as I hated his character, he had some of the funniest lines in the movie. I almost felt bad for laughing because I hated him so much. Of all the roles in the movie, Stephen's may have been the most difficult to portray. I cannot imagine how Samuel Jackson was able to get into that character, but he nailed it because I hated him!!!! I recommend this movie. It is a different spin on a love story and its hero is a former slave who becomes a bounty hunter. Peace
After an alumni meeting on Sunday, I had an interesting discussion about the NBA with some of my Fraternity brothers. The topic of discussion was: Who is the best scorer in the NBA. Some might say the question can be answered by checking league statistics and seeing who is the NBA leader in points per game. I do not necessarily agree with that position because I think it assumes that the leading scorer is necessarily the best scorer. The two may not be the same person. That said, let's discuss the candidates' scoring ability. Most people believe the title of best scorer in the NBA belongs to Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, or Kevin Durant. The case can be made for the Black Mamba. After all, he is leading the NBA in scoring at 34 years old. He finished second in the league last year. Also, he recently became the 5th player to score over 30,000 points. The thing that is most impressive this year is his efficiency. In years past, he did not always shoot a respectable percentage from the field. He was a low percentage, volume shooter. I still think that is who he is, but this year, so far, he has been surprisingly efficient. He can score from the post, behind the three point line, mid-range and on drives to the rim. He is an excellent free throw shooter as well. He can and will get him numbers against any defensive opponent. Carmelo Anthony has always been a gifted scorer. This year, however, he has been on a mission. He has elevated his game to an MVP level. Melo has a truly unique package of skills. He is entirely too strong for most small forwards and too quick for power forwards. He has a very effective low post game. His midrange jump shot is also one of the best in the game. He has been shooting the three ball well this year. I still think he is a volume shooter at heart. But, it is hard to argue that he is not the best scorer in the NBA. Kevin Durant scores the ball so effortlessly. I'm not sure I have ever seen a guy score the ball the way he does. For starters, he is nearly seven feet tall, but he has the handle of a wing player. His jump shot is indefensible because he releases it so quickly and his release point is so high. He is just as good coming off a screen as he is pulling up for three on the break. The thing I like most about him is also the thing I like least about him. He is almost too unselfish and he does not shoot the ball as much as he should. Nevertheless, Kevin Durant is the best scorer in the NBA.
I love hip hop music and to a lesser extent, I love r&b as well. I am not sure of the person who first thought of fusing the two genres into one song. I think Diddy's Bad Boy camp may be the first to do it on a mainstream level though. Although a lot of people do not like Diddy, it is hard to deny his impact on the music business.
"I Love You" remix by Smif n Wessun and Mary J Blige. This song is underappreciated because mainstream music listeners have probably never even heard of Smif N Wesson. This song is great.
"Break You Off" by The Roots and Musiq. The title of this song says it all.
"All That I Got Is You" by Ghostface and Mary J. Blige. Ms. Blige has one of the most powerful, unique voices in the history of music. She does her part on this song, but Ghostface really shined because of heartwrenching story he tells about his poverty stricken childhood.
"You Got Me" by the Roots and Erykah Badu. There is also a version out there with Jill Scott, who happens to have one of the most soulful voices.
"Somebody told me that this planet was small, we used to live in same building on the same floor and never met before, until im overseas on tour and met this Ethiopian queen from Philly taking classes abroad . . . "
"Only You" Bad Boy Remix by Biggie, 112, and Mase. This is song is great. Biggie shined, per usual on this song. Definitey a great hip hop and r&b collaboration.
The Los Angeles Lakers, to date, have underachieved at an alarming pace. On paper, this team is suppossed to be able to challenge the Miami Heat for the NBA title. They boast a starting lineup with at least 2 hall of famers and quite possibly, 4. They are suppossed to be the rare example of putting a group of talented players together in a pot and voila, a contender is born. That sounds good in theory, but in realtity, it is not a reasonable assertion.
The Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics were carefully assembled teams. The newly constructed Los Angele Lakers are a clumsy collection of pieces that do not fit. Kobe is a scorer, not a facilitator. Steve Nash is a great passer, but he is also nearly 40 years old. Dwight Howard is a good player, but he is also returning from offseason back surgery. And, this guy simply cannot make a freethrow. Mike D'antoni is an overrated coach in my opinion. Phil Jackson would have been a much better fit for this team.
Mike D'antoni seems focused on implementing the system he used, with a great deal of success, in Phoenix. That decision is not sound becuase his personnel does not fit that system. He does not have a team full of outside shooters. Outside of Kobe, Nash and Jodie Meeks, the team is short on outside shooting. Also, his system has relegated Pau Gasol to the perimiter. This makes him very ineffective. He is positioned far away from the basket and is unable to rebound effectively. He also does not have the chance to score on the block where he is very difficult to stop.
The Lakers are also one of the oldest and slowest teams in the league. If Kobe Bryant, who is 34 years old is maybe your quickest player, you have team speed problems. Metta cannot defend quick perimeter players as he once could. Nash has never been able to keep up with his own shadow. Dwight Howard is not completely healthy and Pau is too busy pouting to play defense. The team is in a state of disarray. I could go on and on about their problems, but I will not. I hope they can figure it out because I hate the thought of Kobe's last years being wasted on a losing team.
I won't even begin to take credit for today's discussion topic. I actually got the idea from a good friend of mine. He posed the question on Facebook. In many circles, there is no question both athletes were the best in their respective fields. But, being an influential athlete entails more than what is done on the court or in the ring. Michael Jordan dominated the game of basketball for many years. His dominance began while playing at UNC-Chapel Hill in the 1980's. His career culminated with a national championship in 1982. The following year, he was drafted by the Chicago Bulls. The rest, as they say, "is history." He dominated on the offensive and defensive end of the court. He was undefeated in championship play (6 NBA Titles). He won five regular season MVP awards, and deserved more. He accomplished everything imaginable on the basketball court. Muhammad Ali might be the only athlete with the same level of name recognition as Michael Jordan. In fact, because of his faith, and his influence in the Middle East, he may have an even more recognizable name. Ali dominated with superior speed, impeccable technique and unquestioned psychological dominance. He won a gold medal in the 1960 Olympic games. He was the first man to knock down the following boxers: Sonny Liston, George Foreman and Chuck Wepner. He participated in one of the most famous bouts in the history of boxing-"The Rumble in The Jungle." He won the fight and reclaimed the heavyweight championship against George Foreman. Without a doubt, Ali dominated the sport of boxing. Michael Jordan never received a lot of criticism about his play on the court. He received some criticism about his gambling in the 1990's, but that never overshadowed his play on the court. However, the elephant in the room has always been his lack of community involvement. What did Jordan do for his community? People believe Jordan was "too safe." He never spoke out about any of the major issues plaguing his community. Many people expected Jordan to use his influence to help influence important social issues. Look at how Magic Johnson has been a spokesperson for the HIV virus. Can you think of any social cause Michael Jordan endorsed? Ali on the other hand has continuously endorsed and fought social battles. During the Vietnam war, he was drafted and made a decision not to fight in the war because of his conscientious objector status. Let's be clear, that was not a popular move. Since being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1984, he has been involved in raising awareness and funds for finding a cure to the debilitating neurological disease. He has also been an avid supporter of the Special Olympics and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. In 2005, he was awarded with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His biggest impact may have been made outside of the ring. That is quite an accomplishment considering his stellar career as a boxer. That is influence. Ali is the most influential athlete in the history of sports. Instagram
The New York Knicks have been irrelevant for quite some time. That said, I am extremely skeptical of their early season success. Let's face it, many teams begin a season on the proverbial "good foot." Then, they nose dive later in the year. I think that is still a very good possibility. Their dismantling of the Miami Heat two times this year is not enough evidence for me to believe in them. I do not think the Knicks will challenge for the Eastern Conference Championship for a number of reasons. The first issue they will have is chemistry. They are playing extremely well at the moment, but their "max" salary player, Amare Stoudemire, will be back in the mix soon. Now, he has publicly stated that he would be willing to play any role Coach Woodson wants him to play. That even includes playing the 6th man role. Amare still believes he is a star in the NBA. That said, star players do not come off the bench. Also, he is a terrible defensive player and the Knicks have actually been playing really great defense without him in the lineup. That will change when he returns. The Knicks are an old team. In fact, they are an extremely old team. Jason Kidd, Rasheed Wallace, Marcus Camby and Kurt Thomas were playing in the NBA when some of the current rookies were not born. Anytime you have a team as old as the Knicks, injuries are a serious consideration. And although they have not had a lot of injuries thus far, it will happen sooner or later. Now, that will not matter much if a non rotation player is injured. But, what if Jason Kidd, or Tyson Chandler, or any other rotation player sustains a serious injury? The ship will sink quickly. Lastly, this year's Knicks team is depending on Carmelo Anthony to lead the way. Melo is obviously a talented player, but I don't know if he has the necessary leadership ability to help him team advance deep into the playoffs. More importantly, this team relies on J.R. Smith. He is talented, but he is also very erratic and undisciplined. I predict that the Knicks will finish the season with the third best record in the Eastern Conference. They will lose in the conference semifinals. Instagram
D. Wade has been the face of the Miami Heat franchise since entering the NBA in 2003. He won the 2006 NBA Finals MVP Award when the Heat beat the Dallas Mavericks. He won a gold medal in 2008 as a part of the United States Olympic team or the Redeem Team. Last year, he played an integral role in helping the Miami Heat win the second NBA championship in franchise history. In short, D. Wade has had a dominant career, to date. This year,however, D. Wade has been a shell of himself. He has earned the nickname "crash" because of his reckless style of play. Maybe it is finally catching up with him. He is only 30 years old, so I do not believe that his age is keeping him from performing at a high level. I believe he is injured. He underwent offseason knee surgery and he struggled with his knees during last season's playoffs. This year, he has not been explosive. He has seemed a step slow and that is never good for an undersized shooting guard who is not a good shooter. I think it is time for Wade to seriously consider changing his game as he prepares for the twilight years of his career. He will have to develop a consistent jumpshot if he plans on playing at a high level well into his 30's like Kobe Bryant. For some diehard Miami Heat fans, it may seem unfathomable to consider parting ways with Wade. However, the NBA is a business and the franchise will always think about the future. The problem with trading Wade is that he is still an all star talent and the Heat would not be able to receive equal value for his services. Also, he and Lebron and good friends and I think he would veto any trade talks. One option would be to relegate him to the third option behind Bron and Bosh. That might allow him to coast through enough games to help the team and then play more minutes in the playoffs. That is a plausible option. Otherwise, I do not see how the Heat can keep him much longer than a year or two because his trade value will continue declining each year.
Kobe Bryant is not one of the more beloved athletes in the world. I think he could care less. He cares about the game of basketball. Playing basketball happens to be one of the things that he does better than almost anyone in the history of the world. On December 5, 2012, he became the fifth player in NBA history to score at least 30,000 points. That list includes Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Kareem Abdul Jabal, and Kobe Bryant. He is also the youngest player to ever accomplish the feat.
Kobe's quest to score 30,000 points did not start like many of the league's top scorers. Kobe was drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats, but ultimately began his career with a playoff team--The Los Angeles Lakers. That team already had Eddie Jones as its starting shooting guard. He eventually won the starting position but he had to share the ball with Shaquille O'Neal. I can only imagine how many points he would have right now if he never teamed with Shaq. But, he would also probably have at least three fewer titles. In fact, he might not have any. He is probably happy with the way things worked out. I have watched Kobe have some incredible scoring games over the course of his career. When he wore number eight, he did it will explosiveness, speed and agility. Since he began wearing number 24, he has become more of a cerebral guy who scores with his superior foot work and knowledge of the game. The transformation has really been incredible to watch because I remember him when he came in the league. Also, his longevity is remarkable. Of all the superstars that were drafted in 1996, he is the only one that is still playing at a super star level. That draft included Allen Iverson (out of the league), Stephon Marbury (playing in China), Steve Nash (old and hurt), Ray Allen (role player for Miami Heat) and Jermaine O'neal (not sure but I know he is NOT making an impact). Check out footage from his 81 point outburst against the Toronto Raptors in 2006.
It's funny how a change of scenery can impact everything. Look at the Brooklyn Nets for a prime example. Just last year, The New Jersey Nets were languishing in New Jersey and looked like a college team. Now, that the team has moved to Brooklyn, they look like an Eastern Conference contender. Honestly, I believe the fans, or at least, some of the fans, no longer believed in the team last year. Also, I think many of the players stopped believing in the team. The move to Brooklyn alone was not enough to turn the pretender into a contender. The move coupled with some shrewd off season maneuvering placed the team in a good position. They added Joe Johnson to the back court with Deron Williams. They also signed Gerald Wallace and Brook Lopez returned from injury. Kris Humphries and Marshon Brooks are still around as well. Avery Johnson is the coach and although I cannot say that he is a great coach, I can say that he cares about winning. I think he will help to instill a strong work ethic into the players. The team also has an owner who is determined to make his team a champion in the near future. He also has thrown a few shots at the other team across the river-The New York Knicks. Two teams cannot truly have a rivalry unless both teams are relevant. For so many years, neither the Nets nor the Knicks were relevant. But, this year, both teams are off to great starts. The Knicks look like the second best team in the Eastern conference and Brooklyn looks like the third best team in the conference. Now, when the two teams play each other, New York City will be electric. Both teams have super star talent. Brooklyn has Deron Williams and New York has Carmelo Anthony. I am hopeful that the two teams square off against each other during the 2012-13 playoffs. I am looking forward to the rivalry between the two New York Teams. The last decade or so just has not felt right. How can the Mecca of the basketball world not produce a winning team? I think those days are gone; they have been replaced with not one, but two relevant contenders. This should be a great year for basketball in New York. Instagram Peace
2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the James Bond series. Of those 50 years, I think my dad has probably seen every movie in the series. As an aside, my co-worker gave me a great idea for a Christmas gift for him. Apparently, you can purchase every movie in the James Bond series from its beginning for less than $100. I think that will be my dad's gift. I am so glad to know what I will get him because I usually wait until the last minute. Although I have not seen every movie in the series like my dad, I know the series has certain staples over the years. Those include: beautiful women, action, fashion and oh yeah, beautiful women. Not a bad list if you ask me. Skyfall certainly delivered all three. This movie was better than I thought. It seems that movie directors are doing a great job providing character development. In Dark Knight Rises, the producer focused on the villain's past, so that movie goers could more easily understand his diabolical nature. The director of Skyfall did the same for James Bond's character.
I do not have a favorite scene from the movie, but that is because there are so many great scenes. This movie was shot in various exotic locations. The action scenes were really good. The fashion displayed by the characters in the movie was on par with the characters in the Ocean Eleven series. I picked up a few ideas for shirt/tie combinations and other more nuanced fashion pointers. The Bond girls did not let me down in this movie.
The villain in this movie was particularly sinister. I won't spoil it for you if you have not seen it, but the villain was an ex-British intelligence agent. He possessed a great deal of aggression and anger because of what he believed to be betrayal by James Bond's boss. Either way, he played a very dangerous, exciting game with James Bond in this movie. This is a must see movie. Check it out. Peace
Last night, I watched the Miami Heat host the San Antonio Spurs, I think. I mean, the Spurs did not quite look like the Spurs. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, nor Tony Parker suited up for the game. If you are wondering if the players were suspended, the answer is no. Their coach, Gregg Popovich, made a strategic decision to rest his players. David Stern, NBA Commissioner, did not appreciate this move. I honestly see both sides of the argument, but I ultimately side with Coach Popovich.
One constant in the world we live in today is the concept of rules. To my knowledge,the NBA does not have a rule stating its coaches jurisdiction for handling personnel matters i.e., when to "rest" players not due to injury. Let's be honest, if the perviously mentioned players were injured, we would not be having this conversation today. Adam Silver, NBA Deputy Commissioner, recently stated that personnel decisions are within the discretion of NBA coaches. That said, there are not any rules specifically governing this practice.
Gregg Popovich let it be known that he would be resting his "core" group of players for the 11/29/12 meeting with the Heat. He noted that his team was in the midst of a long road trip and that his players needed the rest. Not only did he plan to not play these players, he actually sent them home on a private flight.
That was not the first occassion that Popovich rested certain players. He admittedly coaches an older team, with many of his best players being at least 30 years old. Since there is not a rule prohibiting this practice and he has done it in the past, without sanction, I do not see how a suspension or sanction would be proper under the circumstances.
On the other hand, I certainly understand David Stern's position. As the Commissioner, he is responsible for making sure the fans are pleased with the product produced by the NBA. If I was a Floridian who bought tickets to see my favorite player (let's say Tim Duncan) and he did not play because he was "tired" I would be highly upset. Maybe I would want a refund of my money. Who knows? Either way, it is safe to say that many people were upset by this move. Don't get me wrong, I believe many teams sit players because they are "tired," but at least they blame it on the health of the player. I think Popovich was a little too comfortable with his control over his team. That said, Stern believes he has to punish Popovich. It seems to me that he wants to align himself with the fans and make sure they remain happy, ticket purchasing people. I think Stern has a legitimate argument.
However, absent a rule to the contrary, Gregg Popovich appears to have been within his power to rest his players.
Not a bust, but definitely not a star. Lin will have a career much like Howard Eisley. Solid player but no star. Lin-sanity was a great story for the NBA last year. Jeremy Lin's meteoric rise was timely considering that the NBA had recently emerged from an ugly lockout that robbed fans of over 30 regular season games. I am not a conspiracy theorist at all, but it is "funny" how certain things happen at certain times in the NBA. When the Knicks needed a savior in the mid 1980's, they magically received the top pick and drafted Patrick Ewing. When Cleveland needed to draft the best player, who happened to be from Ohio, they magically won the lottery. Of course they drafted Lebron James and the rest is history. I am not saying occurrences in the NBA are pre ordained by the basketball gods, but certain things happen at perfect times. I digress. Jeremy Lin did not emerge from the dark. He was released by a few teams before playing in New York. He was given the opportunity to compete for a spot in Golden State and Houston, but he came up short. Now, when he was provided an opportunity to shine in New York, he did. He posted great numbers during a very small sample size of games (25 I believe). He did much of his work while Carmelo and Amare were out of the lineup. He was given the keys to the team and provided the freedom to take almost any shot. Most NBA players when given that kind of freedom would be capable of posting solid or all star numbers for a limited amount of time. The truly elite players, however, are able to put up outstanding numbers despite game plans designed to stifle them. Jeremy Lin is now a member of the Houston Rockets. He leveraged his moment in the sun with the Knicks into a 25 million dollar contract with the Rockets. That is what a Harvard educated person is supposed to do. In the words of Jay-Z, "I can't knock the hustle . . ." But, as for any notion of him being a super star, or an all star, that should be squashed. He is a very average player. This guy is averaging 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists in about 34 minutes per game. If that is not "average" enough for you, he is also shooting a putrid 34% from the field, and 24% from behind the 3 point line. Meanwhile, his replacement at the point guard position, Raymond Felton, is having a very good year. And, he is getting paid a fraction of the salary. I'd say the Knicks got the better of the deal. Peace
Thanksgiving 2012 was one of the best holidays of my life. I caught up with family members and old friends. I also ate myself into a food coma on Thursday. I had turkey, broccoli and cheese, macaroni and cheese, pinto beans, rolls, sweet potato pie, rice, gravy, and chicken. Great food. During my meal on Thursday, I could not help but think about how thankful I am for what I have. There are so many people who do not have food, or a warm place to enjoy family and friends. I like to reflect often, but Thanksgiving makes me appreciate every aspect of my life just a little more. Interestingly enough, that even includes things that can be annoying.
I visited my old middle school while I was home as well. Cook Middle School is the place where I learned many life lessons and made lifelong friends. It truly is a special place, despite the fact that it was often referred to as the Eastside High of Winston-Salem. I learned to love the game of basketball, and the importance of loyalty. I am grateful for the many lessons learned at Cook. While visiting Cook Thursday morning, I ventured down the street to Paisley Middle School for the annual Turkey Bowl football game between my alma mater, Mount Tabor, and East Forsyth. Mount Tabor lost by one point, but it was good seeing so many old faces. When I return to Winston-Salem in December, I will be participating in an alumni basketball game against RJ Reynolds high school. That said, I know how important it is to keep myself in playing shape. I played basketball at the Central YMCA on Friday morning at 5:00 a.m. and again on Saturday morning at 7:00 a.m. When my friend told me about the game on Friday morning, I really thought he meant 500 p.m. Boy was I wrong. Either way, there was no shortage of talent in the gym both days. I will be ready for the game against RJ Reynolds on December 22, 2012. If you are in town, the game will be played at the old Carver high school gymnasium at 3:00 p.m. It is funny how a trip to a special place can rejuvenate your mind, body and soul. That is definitely how I feel after returning from my parents' home. Peace
Fabolous is one of my favorites emcees. He rarely, if ever, disappoints when he releases a mix tape. His Thanksgiving release of Soul Tape 2 did not disappoint. After listening to it 3 times, I can confidently say that it may be his most complete mixtape to date. I think it has the perfect number of songs, 12. If you have followed Fab's career, you know his word play, and punchlines are on point. Check it out if you have not heard it yet. "Only Life I Know" featuring Troy Ave is one of my favorite tracks. The song is an ode to "the game," which can be applied to any career. However, Fab discusses the life of hustlers and how they are addicted to the game. It incorporates snippets from the movie Heat and Paid In Full. Mitch from Paid in Full said "I love the game, I love to hustle, I be feeling like one of those ball player ni**as ya know, Bird, Magic or something, you know a ni**a got dough, he can lead the league, but if I leave, the fans still gonna love me man?" That line sums up the game for many hustlers. My favorite verse from the song is: "They say a woman cancels dates cause she has to, and a man cancels dates cause he has two, well I got two dates, one with destiny, I need more baby, don't think less of me . . . " "Louis Vuitton" featuring J. Cole is another one of my favorites songs. This song is about the mentality of a gold digger. One of my favorites lines from the song is: You know the ones that will order the lobster, go for the champaigne, don't care what you do, but you better do a damn thing if you wanna win the campaign, cause her company just ain't cheap . . . " "For the Love" is another one of my favorite songs. "These squares can never stop me, you'll try angles to play me, two lines for your fu** boys,pause that now play me, right from where I left off, lets get back to that real ish,that sit back just chill ish, whip packs of that kill ish, I chit chat about trill ish, speak that how I feel ish, I give you four bars it will be a kit kat of some real ish . . . " Fab delivers on this album. Check it out. Peace
This NBA season has provided some early surprises.
The Charlotte Bobcats have actually won some games. With a new, inexperienced coach, I assumed they would be terrible as usual. They currently have a respectable record at 5-4. It is still early, and they are still the Bobcats, but we shall see.
The Lakers started off very slowly. They fired their head coach after 5 games and they hired D'antoni over Phil Jackson. And, they made Phil believe he had the job before they hired a man who has never made it to the NBA Finals. For the record, Phil has 11 NBA Championship rings. Oh yeah, that makes perfect sense (insert sarcasm).
The Brooklyn Nets are gelling much faster than I imagined. They appear to be a top 4 team in the Eastern Conference already. I am interested in seeing if they can keep up their early success.
The Los Angeles Clippers look like an NBA Championship ready team. Blake Griffin is settling into his role. I really don't think he is as skilled as some people previouly thought. Deandre Jordan is slowing, but surely, developing an offensive game. Chris Paul is, well, Chris Paul. Jamal Crawford is playing out of his mind. Their bench mob is clicking on all cylinders and that group will only improve once Chauncey Billups and Grant Hill come back.
The Memphis Grizzlies look great as well. When many teams are going to "small ball" philosophy, they are sticking to their same model. Rudy Gay is healthy and he and Kevin Durant really battled a few weeks ago. Zach Randolph is healthy and is back to his old ways. They are an elite team in the west, but their weak bench is something to monitor.
The New York Knicks have the best record in the NBA. The New York Knicks have the best record in the NBA. It is hard to believe and I keep waiting on them to revert back to selfish basketball. So far, it has not happened. They thoroughly outplayed the Miami Heat. Carmelo is playing well and so is the erratic, but talented J.R. Smith. It will be very interesting to see how this group does when Amare Stoudemire returns.
Injuries have riddled many teams' chances of success. Andrew Bynum looks like he is headed down a career path like Greg Oden. Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio are both out with injuries. Amare Stoudemire is out and his team is flourishing in his absence. Go figure. Steve Nash is hurt and has only played 1 or 2 games.
This past weekend, I saw "Flight" starring Denzel Washington as an alcoholic pilot. I thought the movie would be good, but it exceeded my expectations. Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, John Goodman and a host of other great actors star in the movie. Denzel played Whip Whitaker, an alcoholic pilot. Don Cheadle played Hugh Lang, Whip's attorney. John Goodman played Harling Mays, Whip's drug dealer and good friend. As an aside, Don Cheadle is one of the most gifted actors in Hollywood. But, he does not receive the acclaim that he should for his great talents.
The movie has a compelling story line. It covers heavy topics including alcoholsim, drug dependency, denial, and absent parents. Denzel's role as Whip Whitaker is one of the darker roles I have seen him play. Whip was a gifted, but troubled, alcoholic and somehat drug dependant airplane pilot. He piloted a flight that was doomed from the start due to mechanical error. Becuase of his skill, however, 96 of the 102 passengers survived the crash. But, of course, an investigation into the cause of crash ensued.
The head investigator discovered that Whip had traces of drugs and alcohol in his blood stream at the time of the accident. That finding set the stage for multiple battles. There was the internal battle Whip had with himself. Was he going to admit that he had been drinking and ingesting drugs? Would he finally admit that he was an alcoholic who needed help? There were also legal questions that needed to be answered and battles that needed to be fought. Any time there is a crash of an airplane, people want to point the proverbial finger at somebody. The insurance companies want to limit or eliminate exposure. The plane manufacturer wants to blame the pilot for improper handling of the aircraft, which would absolve it of liability. The airplane company wants to blame the crash on faulty parts and point the finger at the manufacturer. The families of the victims want answers and could bring actions both civilly and criminally against a host of parties. You will have to watch the movie to see how it all plays out.
"Flight" is definitely one of the best movies I have seen all year. I would not be at all surprised if Denzel wins, or at least, receives an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
Once a month, I attend a presentation on emerging legal issues in North Carolina. Yesterday, the discussion was on a very sensiive topic, human trafficking. The presenter asked the group what comes to our minds when "trafficking" is mentioned. I thought about human trafficking as seen in the movie "Taken." I never thought about labor trafficking. I will share a little bit about what I learned from the presentation.
Prior to 2000, there were no federal laws in place to combat trafficking. In 2000, the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act("TVPA") became the law. It provides legal remedies to the victims of these crimes. That said, it is not a perfect system and many victims are still unable to escape their situations. Trafficking is very lucrative and is the second largest criminal enterprise in the world behind drug trafficking. It is a serious problem and many people are unaware becuase it is not heavily covered by the media.
We discussed some of the common misconceptions regarding trafficking. The victims of the crime may be male or female, minor or adult. Movement from one border, be it state, or international, is not necessary for the crime to occur. Physical force is not necessary either. In other words, a victim does not have to have a gun placed to his head in order for the crime to occur. Essentially, if a person has a reasonable,subjective belief that they are not free to leave,trafficking may have occurred.
Trafficking occurs in a myriad of ways. One common method of trafficking involves forced labor. In a typical case, an undocumented immigrant works for someone who exercises control over them. The control may be exercised through indebtedness, addiction to drugs, or physical control. Another method used by traffickers is exercise of control over the undocumented workers' passports. Many of these workers are afraid to turn to the police department becuase they think they will be deported because of their undocumented status. Fortunately, there are specific Visas available to victims of trafficking crimes and they will not necessarily be deported so long as they cooperate with law enforcement against those who victimized them.
When the presenter discussed the specific cities in North Carolina that the crime occurs, I was really surprised. I had always believed that these types of crimes were occurring in large, metropolitan cities. I was definitely uninformed with that belief becuase this crime is happening in cities and towns all across North Carolina. In fact, 25% of all trafficking in the United States, both sex and labor, occurs in the Southeast United States.
What makes North Caorlina ripe for this kind of criminal activity? North Carolina is still very much an agricultural state and that often means that there are large populations of migrant workers. Many of these workers may be undocumented, which presents a quandry for them. If they are victimized, they may be afraid that they will be deported, so they never report the crime. If they do not report the crime, they are victimized over, and over again. Also, the climate is very mild, which makes it attractive to traffickers. And, probably the biggest draw to North Carolina, is its access to major highways. North Carolina has access to Interstates 95, 85 and 40. You can ride I-40 from North Carolina to California and I-95 to New York or Florida.
These crimes are happening all around us. Be safe and be aware.
I cannot lie, before this season, Kyrie Irving was not on my radar. I knew he had a successful rookie season, but he is stuck in utter obscurity in Cleveland, right? I started paying closer attention to Kyrie and the work that he is doing after talking to one of my good friends. He kind of put his rookie season in perspective for me.
Kyrie's goals as a rookie were not to lead the league in scoring, or have the most highlights on sportscenter. This guy wanted to accomplish a feat that is very, very rare. He wanted to shoot 50% from the field, 40% from the three point line, and 90% from the free throw line. In case you are wondering, there is a small, select group of players who have ever accomplished this feat. Dirk and Steve Nash are two that immediately come to mind. Kyrie did not meet his goal, but he came relatively close for a rookie on a terrible team. His stat line was 47% from the field, 40% from the the three point line and 87% from the free throw line. Impressive.
Then, my boy told me about the Olympic tryouts this summer and how Kyrie dominated some of the biggest names in the game. Check out this clip.
Then I saw another clip of Kyrie challenging Kobe Bryant to a game of one-on-one.
This kid is only 20 years old and is focused on being the best. Many believe he is in the class with Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo, Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose.
This year, he has come out the gates with even more firepower. His team is still not great, but that is not stopping him from putting up all star numbers. This year he is averaing 24 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds per game. And, he seems to really elevate his game when he goes against another elite point guard. He played extremely well against CP3 and the Clippers. He had 24 points and 10 assists that game and his team came away with a win. Last night, he went at Deron Williams in a losing effort. He had 34 points and 8 assists. If you have not been paying attention to this kid, you better stop sleeping.
I am not a New York Knicks fan; nor am I Knicks hater. I enjoy the game of basketball and few teams this season have played the game as well as the Knicks. They are playing with a great deal of continuity and confidence. I watched their dismantling of the defending champs, The Miami Heat. That was am impressive win.
A great deal of the team's success has to go to Carmelo Anthony. Carmelo is playing like the player many people thought he could become. He is giving a strong effort on the defensive end. He is making an effort to share the ball and take better quality shots. Now, let's be honest, he will never be a faciliator in the mode of Lebron James. But, he is finding ways to help his team win, and that is commendable in my book. Because Amare Stoudemire is injured, he has been able to essentially play the power forward position. This is a move made popular by James last year. Melo has always been one of the strongest "small" forwards in the game. That said, he is just as strong as many power forwards and much quicker. He is a matchup nightmare. His evolution has been key. Can he keep it up?
Amare Stoudemire used to be the most athletic big man in the game. He was quicker, stronger and more athletic than most forwards in the game. However, his debilitating knees have slowed him considerably. Also, he has had back issues that have slowed his productivity. He was never a good defensive player; nor a very good rebounder for his position. The Knicks signed him to a max contract a few years ago based on a theory that he would be healthy. Well, that simply has not happened. He has been a shell of his former self for the majority of his stay in New York. That is sad. But, the NBA is a business and cutting ties with him is in the team's best interest. While he is still relatively young (29, I believe) the Knicks should trade him for young talent and draft picks. This would enable the team to continue to retool around Melo, while he is still in his prime.
I wish Amare well, but I think his best years are behind him and I do not think he is capable of helping the Knicks.
Today is Veterans' Day and I am so very thankful to the Veterans for defending our Country. I am also pround and thankful for my father who served his country in the Vietnam War.
I woke up around 7:30 am this morning and began cleaning my house. After cleaning for a little while,I made some breakfast and turned on the television. A documentary was just about to start, so I began watching it. The documentary is titled "Battetorn: 1861-2010." It is directed by James Gandolfini or "Tony Soprano." This documentary gives a sincere, realistic view of post traumatic stress disorder ("PTSD") and how the condition impacts soldiers returning from war and their families. It depicts stories of suicides and other tragedies caused by the disorder.
PTSD is a type of anxiety disorder. People experience the disorder after dealing with highly stressful, tramatic events such as: war, rape, assault, domestic abuse and terrorism. The cause of PTSD is unknown but the disorder causes the body to react differently to stress. There is also no definitive evidence as to why it impacts some people and not others. Some of the symptons include "reliving" the incident, avoidance and arousal. The documentary is full of narratives about soldiers reliving horrific incidences in their dreams every night.
During the documentary, family members of soldiers were interviewed about how PTSD impacted their family. One mother discussed that her son served two tours in Iraq and how her son was not the same when he returned. She told the story of his suicide as a result of his struggle with PTSD. Soldiers shared their personal stories as well. One soldier told the story of his PTSD and how it caused him to commit a crime that landed him in prison for 6 years. It also discussed the stance the military has taken with respect to the disorder and its impact on soldiers. The military, as a whole, has recently began acknowledging that PTSD is a real disorder with serious implications. Prior to the Vietnam war,however, soldiers suffering from the disorder were made to feel weak. They were told to "man up" and deal with it. Some people simply could not understand how a person could be "injured" but not see blood or scars. They could not understand that mental injury can be more severe than any physical condition and also that it can lead to physical injury as well. I am glad to hear that the military's stance has softened and people are beginning to understand the severity of the disorder.
This documentary is a "must see." It sheds some light on PTSD and I think it is particularly important considering that the USA has recently ended a war and many soldiers will be returning home. Unfortunately, many of them will suffer from PTSD.
I am not exactly sure why, but this morning I woke up and started listening to J. Cole's "Friday Night Lights" mixtape. It is one of my favorite albums from 2010. I remember listening to it for the first time and thinking that it was worthy of being an actual album instead of a mixtape. I was also very happy to see a fellow North Carolinian put together hip hop music that would garner respect in the state and across the country. That is not to say that other North Carolina artists have not been successful; rather, that J. Cole's success and cross over appeal have elevated him into discussions of being the best new artist. If you have not heard the album, check it out.
