When Michael Jordan for the second (should have been last time) in 1998, the NBA went through a transition period. At some point, Kobe Bryant, Lebron, D Wade, Chris Paul, and other top players will retire. What will the landscape of the NBA look like when these players are gone? Who will pick up the slack and carry the NBA on their backs? Fortunately for the fans of the game, there are many worthy candidates who are all 25 years old or younger. Kevin Durant
The obvious and easy choice is Mr. Durant. At the age of 24, he is already a three time NBA scoring champion. This year alone he is on the cusp of being the first player in NBA history to lead the league is scoring while shooting at least fifty percent from the field, at least ninety percent from the free throw line and at least forty percent from the three point line. He is easily the best player on this list and I think he will eventually be remembered as a top ten all time talent.
Derrick Rose
Derrick Rose is another very talented player under the age of 25. He won the league MVP award in 2011. He has really improved his shooting ability and he is (or at least was before the injury) the most athletic point guard in the league. I hope he is able to return to his MVP form when he returns from his 2012 knee injury. The Chicago Bulls' hopes for winning a championship rest squarely on his shoulders. I think Chi-town's best is prepared for the challenge. James Harden
James Harden played his position as talented sixth man for the OKC Thunder for a number of years. But, when he saw an opportunity to become the franchise player for the Houston Rockets, he took full advantage. He is the fourth leading scorer in the league. He is a better player than Russell Westbrook and more under control. I think the Thunder made a mistake by keeping Westbrook and trading Harden. Either way, Harden will wreak havoc on the rest of the league for the foreseeable future. Kyrie Irving
Kyrie is an incredible talent and a player that many people thought was overrated when he was selected as the 2011 number one overall draft pick for the Cleveland Cavaliers. After all, he only played 11 games for Duke University. That should have been a sign that this kid was special though. He combines the handle of a player like Chris Paul (ask Brandon Knight), with the athleticism of Derrick Rose and the shooting touch of Steve Nash. This guy has a chance to be one of the best point guards in the history of the game. CP3 is still the best point guard in the league, but Kyrie will be challenging his position within the next 3 or 4 years.
It is hard to believe Michael Jordan is 50 years old. I still vividly remember watching him dominate the competition. It does not seem like it was that long ago. In every game I watched him play, it was obvious he wanted to win no matter the cost. As great as some of the newer stars have been, none of them can match Jordan's passion to prove over and over that he was the best. He never became complacent. He still remains the standard upon which all great players are judged. Harold Minor, Grant Hill, Anfernee Hardaway, Vince Carter, and Kobe Bryant. What do these players have in common? They were hailed as the next Michael Jordan. The only player on this list who can even be mentioned in the same breath as M.J. is Kobe Bryant. And even he falls considerably short. Jordan is probably the most competitive basketball player (and maybe athlete) of all time. He refused to lose. He did not take plays off and he never "coasted" through games. Even if he was not scoring 40 points, he was defending (and shutting down) the other team's best perimeter player. I would be remiss if I did not at least mention Lebron James in this post. He is widely considered the greatest basketball player in the world. He recently had a streak where he posted six games in a row where he recorded at least thirty points and shot at least sixty percent from the field. His performance over the streak incited the media and had some members asking if his six game streak was the best streak in the history of the game. It was quite surprising to me that the media would jump to such a quick conclusion. Of course Lebron's streak is not the best. Michael Jordan had a streak of 10 triple doubles in the span of 11 games. If that happened today, the media discussion would be unworldly and never ending. People forget how dominant Jordan was as a player. Fans who never saw Jordan play can easily make this mistake. It is no different than my generation hearing about Wilt Chamberlain's dominance, but never seeing it with our own eyes. Some of Wilt's accomplishments almost become folk lore or urban legend. That really makes it easy to marginalize their accomplishments or to dismiss them as fluff. Jordan played during a time when social media did not exist. If you missed a live telecast of a game, you were unable to go to Youtube or Espn.com to see the highlights. Twitter, Facebook and other internet based sites had not been created. If these devices were available during his time, I do not think there would ever be a question as to who is the greatest of all time. Peace
If you have been following my blog over the past year, you have probably noticed that I am not a big football fan. I have never blogged about any football game or football related issue. However, today is not a normal day. Today is the Superbowl. Before sitting down to watch the game, there were so many story lines that made the game worth watching. Outside of actual game, Ray Lewis has been at the center of media coverage. The media was very interested in whether the 49ers young and relatively inexperienced quarterback would be able to produce on the biggest stage. How would John and Jim Harbaugh prepare their respective teams for the big showdown? Although I am not a huge football fan, I am not oblivious to the sport. That said, I am well aware of Ray Lewis and his many accomplishments. He has been a warrior in the NFL for 17 years and it would be great to see him finish his last season with another Super Bowl ring. Ray is obviously a first-ballot-hall-of-famer. He may very well be remembered as the best defensive player in the history of the NFL. Jim and John Harbaugh are two brothers who have led their respective teams to the top of the NFL mountain. The Harbaugh family must be very proud. Talk about a house divided. As a family member, how do you choose a team to root for? Although I respect Ray Lewis and everything he has done for the NFL, I would not be mad if the 49ers win because Colin Kaepernick is a member of my fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. As the saying goes, "Nupes Win." We shall see. The commercials were a bit of a let down this year. I can usually count on at least three of four hilarious commercials. My favorite of recent history is the Doritos commercial when the little kid slapped the guy who was dating his mother. When the guy tried to take one of his Doritos, he completely lost it. "Keep your hands off my mama; keep your hands off my Doritos." Hilarious.
A few questions. (1) Who is your favorite Wu-Tang Clan member? (2) Who is the best lyricist? (3) Who is the most influential member? (4) Who had the best solo career? A few answers. (1) Raekwon. (2) Ghostface. (3) ODB. (4) Ghostface. Wu-Tang Clan is one the greatest groups ever assembled. Nine rappers from the same neighborhood. Wow. In most groups, there is usually one or two guys who are really good emcees. Think about Tribe Called Quest. Q-Tip and Phife did all the heavy lifting. What about Naughty by Nature? Treach was the catalyst. Even R&B groups are similarly created. Think about the Jackson 5, and New Edition. Each of the nine members of the Wu were good emcees. Rza, Gza, Method Man, ODB (deceased), Raekwon, U-God,Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck and U-God. Yep. My favorite Wu member is Raekwon "the chef." His first album, Only Built for Cuban Linx is arguably the best solo release from any Wu member. He has always combined great lyrical content with an impeccable delivery. He has so many great songs, so it is impossible for me to pick just one. However, C.R.E.A.M. is definitely near the top of my list. Verbal Intercourse and Incarcerated Scarfaces are a few of my other favorite Raekwon songs. Ghostface Killah. Where do I start with this guy? Ghost absolutely has one of the best flows of any member of the Wu. Him and Rae rhyme in codes that are not always so easy to decipher. One of the things I like most about Ghost is his ability to be witty and funny all without compromising his impeccable flow. He has too many classic songs to choose just one. All That I Got is You featuring Mary J Blige is one of Ghost's best songs. Mighty Healthy off his LP, Supreme Clientele, is one of his best songs. Although Rae and Ghost are my favorite Wu Members, many other members have contributed to the lore of the Wu by releasing outstanding solo projects. Liquid Swords (GZA), Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version ODB), and Tical (Method Man)are all excellent albums. The group collaborations are crazy as well- Enter the 36 Chambers and Wu-Tang Forever. Peace
After the big snow/ice storm of 2013 (*C'mon son face*), I sat on my couch watching television when I randomly started thinking about musicians who made the transition to becoming successful actors/actresses. This has always been a source of controversy to some actors in certain Hollywood circles. These individuals collectively believe that musicians should not be cast in movies unless and until they have "paid their dues" or at least attended formal acting lessons. I am not an actor so I do not have an opinion on the matter. However, I do know that some people have natural talent and do not necessarily need professional classes before being ready to appear on the big screen. Will Smith Regardless of how you feel about Will Smith as a hip hop artist, the fact remains that he was extremely successful. He released multiple platinum selling records. He was not one of my favorite hip hop artists, but I respect his hustle. He seamlessly transitioned his career as a hip hop artist into a very successful, and lucrative acting career. At this point, he is one of the most respected actors in Hollywood. He is one of the best actors of the modern era and he still has many years left to make his impression. Some of my favorite Will Smith movies include: Bad Boys, Bad Boys II, Enemy of The State, Independence Day, The Pursuit of Happyness, and Hitch. My favorite Will Smith movie is probably Ali. Tupac Shakur Tupac Shakur is a true hip hop legend. In fact, many consider him the greatest hip hop artist of all time. He released many, multi-platinum albums while alive and has sold many records posthumostly as well. He mastered the genre of hip hop and I believe he was well on his way to a very successful career as an actor. The roles that Tupac played would not garner Oscar nominations, but they were still good movies, in my opinion. Juice, Above The Rim and Poetic Justice are three of my favorite movies starring Tupac. In Juice, he played the role of "Bishop," who was an angry and possibly psychotic teenager living in Harlem, New York. If you have not seen this movie, you should check it out. Many people say his role as "Bishop" signaled the change in his personal life that ultimately led to his demise. I am not sure about that, but I am sure that Tupac was a really talented actor who died too young. Queen Latifah U-N-I-T-Y "who you calling a Bi*ch?" UNITY is one of my favorite Queen Latifah songs. The Queen has always been one of the most respected women in the male dominated hip hop genre. She made the transition from hip hop royalty to Hollywood royalty. And, she seemed to do it on her own terms. For many people, Set It Off, is the role that introduced her to mainstream America. Some believe her role as "Cleo" was not too far out of her personal character and therefore, it was easy to portray. Again, I do not know her personally, and if true, it does not take away from the impact of her role as "Cleo." She also played a starring role in the movie Just Wright, opposite fellow rapper-turned-musician, Common. Common Common is one of my favorite emcees. He has not experienced the kind of mainstream success that some of the others on this list have experienced as a hip hop artist. But, he is undeniably one of the more respected emcees in the hip hop game. His signature performance is probably his role in Just Wright, but he has also had roles in American Gangster, Smokin Aces and Brown Sugar. He released a studio album in 2012, so it seems that he plans to maintain his musical career along with his acting career. Mark Wahlberg Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. I still cannot believe Mark Wahlberg used to be known as "Marky Mark." Marky Mark was NOT a respected figure in the hip hop community. But, he was technically a hip hop artist, and he is unquestionably a great actor. Some of my favorite Mark Wahlberg movies include The Perfect Storm, The Italian Job, Contraband, The Fighter and Four Brothers. He should fight any feeling he may have to return to hip hop. In fact, if he ever picks up a microphone and attempts to kick a verse, he should be forced to forfeit the money he has earned as an actor. Stick to acting, Mark. Honorable Mention: Mos Def, T.I., Andre 3000, Ice Cube, And Ice T. Peace
The fans have spoken and the 2013 NBA All Star Game starters have been selected. The Eastern Conference starters are: (1) Rajon Rondo, (2) Dwyane Wade, (3) Lebron James, (4) Carmelo Anthony, and (5) Kevin Garnett. The Western Conference starters are: (1) Chris Paul, (2) Kobe Bryant, (3) Kevin Durant, (4)Blake Griffin, and (5) Dwight Howard. At least one starter from each team should not be in the starting lineup. But, when the fans decide, the selection process becomes a popularity contest. Either way, tomorrow night the All Star reserves will be announced for each respective conference. Below I will discuss who I think should be included in the 2013 NBA All Star Game. Player: Kyrie Irving Conference: Eastern Team Record: 11-32 (Not in playoff contention)
**Unfortunately for Kyrie, his team's terrible record will keep him out of the NBA All Star game this year.** His individual stat line is ridiculous- 23.3 PPG, 5.6 APG, 3.6 RPG and 1.8 SPG. However, great players on bad teams hardly ever make it into the game. I cannot remember the last great player on a truly bad team that was selected to an all star game.
Player: James Harden Conference: Western Team Record: 22-21(8th seed in West) James Harden is a lock for the game. He has been the best shooting guard in the Western Conference not named Kobe Bryant this year. I also have to give him a lot of credit for arriving in a new city and immediately becoming the franchise player. His stat line is quite impressive-26.3 PPG, 5.3 APG, 4.4 RPG, and 1.9 SPG. Player: Chris Bosh Conference: Eastern Team Record: 26-12 (Best record in East) Chris Bosh's worth is often underestimated because he is the third best player on an outstanding team. When he is in the lineup, he creates space for Lebron and D. Wade because he is a great jump shooter. The opposing team's center has to leave the paint to guard him. In turn, teams are unable to double team LBJ and D.Wade, which creates easy opportunities. His stat line-17.8 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.4 BPG. Player: Russell Westbrook Conference: Western Team Record: 33-9 (Best record in the NBA) Russell Westbrook receives a lot of criticism because his style of play can be erratic and out-of-control. That does not bother me as much as his unwillingness to defer to Kevin Durant during crucial moments of games. If he ever realizes that he is Robin and Kevin Durant is Batman, the Thunder will be an even more dangerous than they already are (scary). Stat line-22.4 PPG, 8.3 APG, 5.3 RPG, 2.0 SPG. And, he is playing on the team with the best record in the NBA. Player: David Lee Conference: Western Team Record: 25-15 (5th seed in West) David Lee is having an outstanding season for the Golden State Warriors. His individual success has translated into wins for his team and he deserves an all star nod. David Lee has been a very consistent player in the NBA, but because he has almost always played on a terrible team, he has never made an all star team. Despite his outstanding season, the best event that could have happened for his all star chances was Kevin Love's injury. His stat line-19.7 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 3.6 APG, 52.9% FG. This year, a lot of players deserve serious consideration for the all star teams. But, as always, some players will fall victim to the infamous "all star game snub." In previous years, Josh Smith, Carmelo Anthony, and other good players were left off the all star team. The NBA is a business and the politics of the business necessitate that certain players must be included (Tim Duncan) while others (Zach Randolph) will probably watch the game from their homes. Peace
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is one of my favorite leaders of all time. His quote "Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that," is as relevant now as it was when he uttered the words over 50 years ago. Because of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, my office was closed today. I enjoyed my day off and a three-day weekend is always appreciated. I find it very ironic that MLK Day and the inauguration of President Barack Obama occurred on the same day. The careers of these two leaders have been compared since President Obama became the 44th President four years ago. For many African Americans who lived during the Civil Rights era, today must have been a remarkable one. Many of them probably never thought they would see a day when the Office of the President was occupied by a minority. I watched CNN from approximately 9:30 a.m. until about 9:00 pm. I saw President Obama deliver his Inaugural speech, which was excellent, as always. He is one of the most gifted orators in the world and today he delivered, per usual. He spoke in terms of "we" and "us" and he concluded his speech in less than twenty minutes. During the speech, I reflected about the United States and how far the country has progressed. Just fifty years ago, Jim Crow was the law of the land that oppressed many citizens. Now, President Obama is in his second term as President of the United States of America. Progress. Sometimes, the media covers side stories that are a part of the bigger picture. Michelle Obama's dress fits that description. Her outfit was nice, but that is really nothing new. Vice President Joe Biden seems to be a natural politician and he obviously loves interacting with the public. As Biden made his way to the White House, he ran and shook hands and generally had a great time interacting with the public. His behavior was funny because the CIA agents assigned to protect him looked frustrated. They looked like they wanted to tell him to stick to the script but it is difficult to tell your employer what to do. Beyonce sang the Star Spangled Banner. It looked like she experienced technical difficulties during singing of the song, but she pulled it off masterfully without a glitch. Some of My Favorite Images from Inauguration 2013:
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.
