D. Rose: It Was All Good Just a Week Ago

This time last week, Derrick Rose was enjoying a stretch of some of the best basketball he had played all year.  Though he was not back to the all-star level of 2011, he was making progress.  He was becoming confident in his ability to move on the court.  The mental injury he suffered in 2012 was moving towards the back of his mind, or so it seemed.  I remember thinking that D. Rose would return to form by March or April 2014.  I was not sure that he would return to MVP level, but I was sure that it would be much better than what we had seen up until his most recent injury.  Then, it happened, again.  

The "it" was yet another horrific knee injury.  This injury was the second time in as many years that he sustained a horrible knee injury while performing a normal basketball move.  I believe it is much easier to deal with an injury when you know exactly what caused it.  For instance, if you sprain or break your ankle because you land awkwardly on someone else's foot, you can logically deduce that an injury would occur.  However, in Rose's case, nothing unusual happened.  He was simply doing what he normally does and was severely injured in the process.  Mentally, that has to be a very tough pill to swallow.

I am not a physician, but I deal with personal injury matters on a daily basis.  I would be willing to bet that Rose's right knee injury was a result of him overcompensating for his  reconstructed left knee.  The human body is very sensitive and sometimes, the slightest change can adversely impact it.  Have you ever sprained your back and then noticed pain in your legs?  If you have, then you know exactly what I mean.  The only way to avoid overcompensating for one body part is to truly be confident that you are healthy.  The slightest thought of doubt can  lead to second guessing which can lead to further injury.  I believe that is what happened to Rose.  

Major injuries have ruined, or at least shorted, the careers of many great players.  Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, Tracey McGrady and Yao Ming come to mind immediately.  Each player, when healthy, was one of the best in the game.  However, because of bad knees, ankles and backs, their careers were shortened.  I hope Rose will be able to make a complete comeback and be the player that he once was, but I must say that I am not convinced.  

What made Derrick Rose a superstar in the NBA?  His athleticism, power, explosiveness and reckless disregard for contact.  He was able to play at 150 miles per hour with no fear of injury.  He was a below average shooter and his court vision was decent, but not great.  You would not say he was a great point guard, but you would say he was a great player.  He played hard at all times and when his basketball intellect failed, his athleticism more than made up for it. If his legs are not healthy, and more importantly, if his mind is not settled, he will likely never be the player many of us enjoyed watching.  

In order for him to become an all-star caliber player once again, and I think he can, he will need to modify his game. If you look at Chris Paul's game before his knee problems, he was a lot more explosive.  However, because he is such an intelligent player, he modified his game so he could be dominant, albeit in a slightly different manner.  If Rose is able to realize that he might not lead the NBA in highlight reel dunks, I think he can still be very productive and reach an all-star level.  He will certainly need to improve his jump shot and his ability to probe defenses during pick-and-roll situations.  He will need to work on his change-of-pace moves as well.  I hope he is able and willing to make the changes necessary to prolong his career.

The Chicago Bulls have to go in a different direction with the franchise.  They can no longer continue to wait for Rose to save them.  The organization needs to look for another "A" level player to compliment Rose.  If that means that Derrick Rose becomes the second best player on his team, so be it.  His knees will not allow him to carry a team for 82 games and into the playoffs like he was once able to do.  They can likely package Deng and maybe Boozer together in a deal for another superstar talent.  Let's be honest, when is the last time you saw a team with one star win an NBA Championship?  It was unrealistic to think that Rose and a bunch of role players would be able to do it.  If Rose is able to get over his mental injury, and if he is able to modify his game, I think he will have a long, successful career ahead of him.  If not, we may be saying the infamous words "it was all good just a week ago" yet again.  

Peace

12 Years a Slave: Just a Few Thoughts

Slavery was an undeniably inhumane, brutal set of events that facilitated death, torture and involuntary servitude of many Africans and African descendants.  As much as it pains me to see the brutality inherent in a movie about slavery, I feel compelled to watch.  It is the same feeling you get when someone says "do not look."  Inevitably, you will look. It is easy to enjoy the fruits of the labor of my ancestors and forget about the sacrifices they made.  This movie serves as an immediate reminder of the hardships endured by my ancestors.  When I have children, there are a few movies that I will insist they see.  "12 Years a Slave" ("12 Years") is on that short list.      

The following words come to mind when I think about this movie: compelling, frightening, nightmare, reality, and history.  In case you did not know, 12 Years is a movie based on the true events of Solomon Northup's life. His story is one of the most compelling, frightening, and triumphant stories ever told.  Solomon was an African-American man born in Saratoga, New York in 1808.  He was born a free man, and he had a wife and two children.  He had a career as a practicing musician and was well educated.  The sequences that led to him being sold in the slave trade are unthinkable.  

One of the most heart wrenching scenes I have ever seen in a movie happened in 12 Years.  The scene I am about to describe happened relatively early in the movie and really set the tone for what was in store for the viewing audience.  This particular scene shows Solomon waking up in a dirty, cold jail cell.  He was bound by chains on his hands and feet.  As he woke up, the look in his eyes was sheer horror and disbelief.  He looked as if he was waking up from a bad dream.  Unfortunately, for him, the chains were real, and he was no longer a free man. He was no longer Solomon Northup; instead, at that moment, he became Platt the slave. That scene still sends chills up and down my spine each time I recall it.    

Over the years, I have seen a good share of slavery movies, including: "Roots," "Amistad," and "Glory."  12 Years is different than each of those movies in a profound way.  This movie showed the horrors of slavery through the eyes of an educated, free, American born, black man. This man was aware that slavery existed, but never thought he would be subjected to it.  Most slavery movies focus on slave transportation from Africa to the United States of America.  This movie, however, is different.    

This movie delved into the psyche of a learned man trying to rationalize how to survive in an oppressive system that was inherently irrational.  Although nothing exists that can be compared to slavery directly, the closest analogy involves the modern day prison system.  Close your eyes. Imagine going out  with your friends one night and having too much to drink.  Imagine them driving you home and putting you to bed. Then, imagine waking up the next morning inside a cold, dirty, jail cell in Russia. Imagine your kidnappers telling you that you would spend the rest of your life working without pay in a prison camp.  Oh and, by the way, imagine that they tell you that you no longer will be referred to by the first and last name your parents gave you.  Now, you will be simply referred to as "Kunta."  As bad as that sounds, slavery was infinitely worse.  

Watching how becoming a slave gradually broke Solomon's will was very difficult.  The process was slow, methodical and somewhat subtle.  At the beginning of 12 Years, Solomon was a proud, intelligent, loving, father and husband.  By the time he had endured multiple years as a slave, he was no longer Solomon; instead, he was "Platt." He had been transformed into a slave.   

Without revealing too many details from the movie, I will briefly discuss a couple subtle points.  At the beginning of his bondage, his owner told Solomon that his name was Platt. Solomon let it be known that his name was Solomon.  This was one of the times he acted in a defiant manner.  Also, in the beginning stages of his bondage, he made eye contact with his master when he talked to him.    

Many of Solomon's struggles were a result of him being a rational man and his inability to understand the relationship between slave owner and slave.  This point resonates with me because I am too an educated man.  I can only imagine trying to rationalize an inherently irrational set of rules that you must abide by when those very rules cut against everything you have ever known to be true.  A quick example would be someone telling you that 2 plus 2 is 5.  You know that is not right, but you have to agree to it over and over and over again.  And, the only rational basis for the belief is because someone told you so.  

It hurt to see him towards the end of his time as a slave.  By that time, he had accepted his name as Platt, he talked with his head down and did not make eye contact when speaking with his master or any other white person.  He even began singing the slave spiritual songs that he had previously not sang.  He was left with a very tough decision.  He had to choose between his dignity and survival.  He chose the latter.  The transformation is subtle, but evident if you pay attention.  

Sometimes, everything about a movie comes together perfectly.  This movie showcased some of the best acting I have ever seen. Three characters in this movie are worthy of Oscar consideration.

Chiwetel Ejiofor's depiction of Soloman Northup was exceptional.  His role as Soloman/Platt is the best depiction of a slave I have ever seen.  You could see the pain in his eyes during critical moments; you could feel the raw emotions through the lines he delivered.  He should win an Oscar award for Best Actor, and he should win by a land slide.  He was that good and his performance was nothing short of exceptional.  

Lupita Nyonongo'o's depiction of Patsy deserves an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.  Her role as a slave and prized field hand was well played.  She was put in a no-win situation because on the one hand, she was the apple of her sadistic owner's eye. However, on the other hand, she was raped and brutalized by her master and hated by her master's wife.  Her role shed some light on the rape culture that was prevalent.  The horror and pure passion she displayed in her depiction as Patsy is Oscar worthy.  

Michael FassBender's role as Platt and Patsy's master, Epps, was well played.  Epps' character displayed sadistic and psychotic behavior that many of the slave masters exhibited during those times.  He used many tactics to keep his slaves in check and was known to be a "nigger breaker" amongst slaves and slave owners.  He used tactics such as violence, fear, degradation and even religion as methods to exercise control over his slaves.  You will hate his character because he was a repulsive man, but if you take a step back, you will probably appreciate the authenticity with which he depicted this character.  His performance is certainly worthy of a Best Supporting Actor role at the Oscar Awards as well.  

This movie is a must see.  It will make you feel a myriad of emotions, but it is worth seeing.

Peace

Derrick Rose: The Return

Derrick Rose has been out of NBA circles for more than one year now.  Before he tore his ACL in April 2012, he was widely considered a top-five player in the NBA.  He was one year removed from a NBA MVP Award.  He was praised as the savior for a Chicago Bulls franchise that had not experienced much success since Michael Jordan retired.  When he went down with an injury, the hopes of the franchise were momentarily lost.  But, now, those hopes are once again shared among the many Chicago Bulls fans.  

Derrick Rose is a special talent for multiple reasons.  He is the most athletic point guard in the NBA.  His ability to dominate basketball games is predicated on his ability to be faster, stronger, and more explosive than the point guards who attempt to guard him.  Without his explosiveness, I am not sure he would be as effective.  I have never heard him described as a particularly “heady” player or someone who is a "true" point guard.  Those compliments are usually reserved for Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo and Deron Williams.  He uses his athleticism effectively on both ends of the court.  Because of his lateral quickness, and ability to anticipate opposing players’ moves, he has become a really good position defender.  In many respects, he anchors the Chicago Bulls’ defense. 

The City of Chicago has experienced a lot of turmoil over the last few years as a result of gang violence and a murder rate that rivals wars in other countries.  Many young, inner city Chicago residents do not have much hope  that they can overcome their unfortunate situations.  Derrick Rose, as Chicago's prodigal son, represents a breath of fresh air for many of these young kids.  Rose is from Chicago and grew up in a gang-infested part of the City.  Despite these seemingly insurmountable odds, he survived and flourished.  He attended college, albeit for only one year.  He has conducted himself as a professional on and off the court and has never had any issues that so many young, professional athletes cannot seem to escape.  He also seems to have a humble spirit and genuinely loves the game.  His latest commercial depicts his love for the game.  At the end of the commercial, and I am paraphrasing, he states: What would be left without the fame and money of the NBA?  His response is “everything.”  For some folks I would dismiss the comment as a marketing ploy, but for Rose, I truly believe he means what he said.  

The NBA regular season is right around the corner.  That said, Rose’s long-awaited return is only a few days away.  As if that were not a big enough occurrence, the Bulls open up their season against the defending NBA Champions, the Miami Heat.  The media will be all over that game.  I have watched Rose play a few games during the preseason, and he looks like he is back to form.  He even stated that he is now more explosive and also that his vertical leap has increased by five inches.  That is a scary thought for opposing point guards.  He is certainly coming for Chris Paul’s title as the best point guard in the game.  I cannot wait to see him square off with Paul, Kyrie Irving, Ty Lawson, Russell Westbrook, and many of the other great point guards in the league.  Rose has acknowledged that he has a bullseye on his back (no pun intended) and that many of the young point guards in the league will attempt to make a name for themselves by dismantling him.  Somehow, I am not convinced they will be successful.  Welcome back D. Rose!

Peace

Jury Trial: Second Chair

Writing is therapeutic for me and I have not written a blogpost in a few weeks.  I apologize for the absence and appreciate your continued support.  I have been extremely busy during the last few weeks, and had not had the opportunity to collect my thoughts until tonight. 

The Wheels of Justice Turn Slowly

I began working on a case in early 2012.  I   never expected the case to proceed to a jury trial.  I figured it would settle at a mediated settlement conference, or shortly thereafter.  As a civil litigator, most of my cases are resolved in a settlement agreement.  There are times when I am able to argue motions before judges, but the majority of my cases are settled.  I do not know the exact date when mandatory mediation became the practice in North Carolina, but I think it was the mid 1990s.  Before North Carolina adopted this procedure, civil litigators were consistently taking cases to trial.  Now, things are a little bit different.

Mandatory Mediation

Before any civil superior court case (any case where damages are alleged in an amount over $10,000.00) can proceed to a jury trial, the parties involved must participate in a mandatory mediation.  A mediation is a proceeding whereby a neutral third party facilitates negotiations between adverse parties.  It is a very useful procedure that usually means the case will settle before proceeding to trial.  During the mediation, each side weighs the risks inherent in proceeding to trial and after careful consideration, the parties usually decide to settle.  This has been the reality I have faced during my short legal career, until now.

Trial Continued

The case I previously mentioned was originally set for trial in August 2013.  However, because of a conflict of interest with the trial judge, the case was continued.  After the continuation, I put the case out of my mind.  I just figured that I should not get my hopes up because I just knew it would settle.  As has been the case many times in my life, I was wrong.

Trial Preparation

Once I realized the case would be tried before a jury, I began feverishly researching issues, drafting pre-trial motions and participating in strategy meetings in preparation for trial.  It was at this point that I realized how a case actually comes together.  As a junior attorney, I often work with senior partners, and despite my best efforts, they seem to be a step or two ahead of me.  I realized at this point why that was the case.  They have the experience that I am gaining, so they see the case differently than I do.  It the equivalent of a good basketball player who is talented but inexperienced being defeated by a more seasoned basketball player (remember when Kobe played against MJ early in his career?)  If you know anything about basketball, it is clear that Kobe gained the necessary experience, and is now a first ballot hall-of-famer.  Experience is the best teacher. 

Competitive Nature

I am competitive by nature and I like to think that I am a pretty intelligent individual.  That said, trial work gives me an opportunity to match wits with much more seasoned attorneys. It is fun and I am thankful to be able to do something that I truly enjoy.  I will talk about the jury trial sometime in the near future.  

Peace

Money Team: 45-0

Floyd Mayweather is one of the most hated and loved athletes of all time.  Some attend his boxing matches because they want him to finally lose a match.  Others attend his matches because they appreciate his skill set.  Some folks could care less about Floyd, but, even these folks take notice when Floyd has a match.

During 2012, Floyd was the highest earning athlete in the world.  He earned 85 million that year, and he only fought two times.  He earned 40 million when he fought Victor Ortiz and 45 million when he fought Miguel Cotto.  To provide some context for how much money he made that year when compared with his contemporaries, let's examine exhibit A, Lebron James.  In 2012, Lebron, who is probably the most recognizable name in all of sports, only earned 53 million.  Let's put that in perspective though.  Lebron earned 13 million in salary/earnings from the Miami Heat.  So what does that mean?  Well, it means that he began training camp in October and played non-stop basketball until June.  Floyd, on the other hand, trained a few months for each fight and earned at least 40 million per fight.  

People are bothered by Mayweather's persona.  However, we have to remember that he is an entertainer.  That said, the "Money Team," and "Money Mayweather" monikers are likely just part of his act.  How many of us know athletes or entertainers on a personal level? If I had a dollar for every time someone said "I like Kobe's game, but I do not like him as a person," I would be a wealthy man.  So, let me get this straight, you actually know the guy and he personally did something to you, right?  I will digress, but I hope this point has been well stated. I do not personally know Mayweather, nor do I care to meet him.  However, I appreciate his prowess inside the ring and understand that he is an entertainer.

Mayweather did not attain a MBA from Wharton Business School.  Despite a lack of formal marketing training, he has mastered the key concepts of marketing.  He completely eliminated the middle man known as the promoter.  He independently promotes his  fights because he realizes that what a promoter could do for him (for a hefty fee), he can do for himself.  He is always careful to give proper respect to his opponent after a fight.  Last night, he thanked the fans from Mexico and all fans for buying his fight on pay per view.  He is a marketing genius.  

If you have ever watched the HBO series titled 24/7, you know how hard Floyd works at his craft.  He has the same work ethic possessed by Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.  He believes he is the best, and it is difficult to argue against his contention.  After all, he has never lost a professional fight.  He has entered the ring against professional fighters, in different weight classes, 45 times, and he has emerged 45 times with a victory.  It may be too early to say that he is the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in the history of the sport, but, if he fights a few more years, and remains undefeated, he would deserve to be in the conversation.  Reasonable minds can differ, so I do not think he would ever be hailed as a consensus GOAT.  

Whether you love Mayweather, or whether you hate him, I would be willing to bet a small sum of money that you will be watching his next fight.  You care.

Peace

Iverson: A Final Curtain Call

Last week, Allen Iverson officially retired from the NBA.  It is hard to believe he will no longer compete in the NBA.  His retirement is a sure sign that nobody is invincible and that father time is undefeated.

I have been a fan of A.I. for as long as I have been a basketball fan.  My first recollection of Iverson came during 1993.  I remember watching SportsCenter and hearing about his unlikely success story.  They discussed how he was raised in poverty by a single parent and how he received a pardon from the Governor of Virginia for a very shaky criminal conviction. They also showed highlights of Iverson on the court, and he was quite frankly the fastest player I had ever seen on the court.  From that point going forward, I followed his career and even patterned my basketball game after his (that did not quite work in my favor).

If you saw Iverson in a room full of strangers, he looked unassuming.  He did not look like a basketball star.  He was not particularly tall.  He was not skinny, but he was not very muscular either.  He looked like a regular guy until you saw him on the court.    

By the time I started high school, Iverson was a legend on a national level.  However, he had long been a legend in my hometown of Winston-Salem, NC.  During his junior year of high school, he came to Winston-Salem for an AAU tournament.  He played for Boo Williams, which was a team from Virginia.  At some point that weekend, his team matched up against the Charlotte Sonics, which featured Jeff McGinnis, Jerry Stackhouse and Jeff Capel.  Legend has it that Iverson destroyed the Sonics to the tune of 40 plus points in the game.  Legend also has it that Iverson was playing up a division because he was a year younger than the other players.   Stackhouse and McGinnis were two of the best players in the Nation and this skinny kid from Virginia destroyed them.  It would not be the last time Iverson played the roll of giant killer.  

I always wondered what made Iverson such a great player.  After watching him play in hundreds of games, I am convinced that his will to win was second to none.  He always believed his team could win as long as he was on the court.  Always.  He believed he was the best player on the court, at all times. He played every game like it would be his last.  He was fearless and it was readily apparent that he really loved the game.  He had that look of sheer joy that all athletes have enjoyed at some point in life.  However, for most of us, the feeling was fleeting.  For Iverson, it was lasting.

I have so many favorite Iverson moments, but my favorite is his performance in the 2001 NBA Finals.  His team that year should not have made it to the Finals.  He truly carried that group.  During game 1 of the Finals, he put on a show.  I believe he scored 41 points that game.  Tyron Lue guarded him during parts of the game.  I think Iverson was tired of people saying Lue was the "Iverson-Stopper."  On one play, Iverson was isolated against Lue in the corner.  He made a quick dribble, then he stepped back and released a long jump shot.  In the process, Lue fell to the ground.  Iverson made the shot and stepped over, no, stomped over Lue for emphasis.  What a great moment.

I could say more, but I won't in the interest of time.  The game has lost a titan and A.I. will be missed on the court.

Peace

Kendrick Lamar: Back to the Basics

It is very befitting that Kendrick Lamar dropped his verse on "Control" this week.  After all, Sunday marked Hip Hop's 40th anniversary.  It took someone of Kendrick's status in the hip hop community to guide the hip hop community back to its origin; it was time to get back to the basics.

Kendrick Lamar is the hottest rapper in the game.  His verse on "Control" went against the grain and either caused two feelings among his contemporaries: (1) Appreciation; or (2) Anger.  Based on the feedback from artists such as Cassidy, and Joel Ortiz, the former feeling represents the status quo thus far. 

K. Dot challenged the industry; he challenged legends; he challenged contenders.  He gave great deference to four great artists.  He essentially said Jay-Z, Nas, Eminem, and Andre 3000 are future hall-of-famers.  Some believe he merely paid homage to the legendary emcees; I disagree, and think his challenge to them is subtle.  A literal translation of what I think he means is "Y'all are dope artists and I respect what you have done for the game, but, I want what you have.  I want to be considered the greatest of all time."

There was nothing subtle or indirect when he addressed the younger artists.  He told J. Cole, Big KRIT, Wale, Pusha T, Meek Mill, ASAP Rocky, Drake, Big Sean, Jay Electronica, Tyler the Creator, and Mac Miller that he wants to be the best.  In fact, he said he wants to make their core fans forget about them and never want to hear another verb or noun from any of them. I think people who understand the true essence of hip hop realize he did not disrespect any of the artists mentioned.  In fact, to the contrary, I think he paid them the utmost respect by mentioning their names.  

Do not be fooled though, he unequivocally declared his supremacy as the best in the game.  This kind of challenge is good for hip hop and I am glad to see a new group of talented artists who prefer quality over quantity.  There was a time not too far in the past when hip hop was watered down.  However, the current group of new artists seem to be focused on bringing back the lyrics and competitive spirit.
    

Kendrick's verse reminds me of the classic battles of the 1990s and early 2000s.  During this time, M.C. Shan battled KRS One; Canibus battled LL Cool J, Common battled Ice Cube, Jay-Z battled Nas, and Biggie battled Tupac.  The battles between these artists sparked some of the best music each artist had ever released.  Before the battle, Nas was fading into inevitable obscurity.  After Jay-Z attacked him on "Takeover," however, Nas responded with "Ether," which was followed by his critically acclaimed album, Stillmatic.  I hope K. Dot's verse has the same impact on today's  promising artists.  I hope his verse makes each of them pause before releasing music to the public.  Hip hop fans deserve and should demand nothing less than the best from our favorite artists.

If you have not heard the song, please check the link below.  To say that he dominated Big Sean's track would be a gross understatement, but check it out for yourself.

Peace