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The Season before the Glory (NBA Preview 2009-2010)

Tonight begins the season before the glorious mission...the King in the Empire State.

Not that this is a throwaway season; just saying 2010 can't come soon enough.

It's a year where there are five teams (Celtics, Lakers, Magic, Spurs, and the Cavs) who are head and shoulders above the competition and a majority of the league doesn't have a chance. Most teams who are like this probably don't care that much because they're in the 2010 sweepstakes.* But what makes this season worth watching are those teams in puberty.

Remember that girl in your high school who had the braces and the acne but became AMAZINGLY good looking during college?

Or how sisters weren't really checking for you until you hit your growth spurt? That's where Atlanta, Portland, Chicago, Oklahoma City, Toronto, and Washington are. The first three are good enough to make the playoffs and the last three are intriguing enough to watch em try.

The table seems set for an epic Finals. Lakers- Cavs. Shaq and Kobe have their final confrontation,** LBJ and Kobe prove who is the best,***and Nike makes enough money to pay their shoemakers fairly.**** If you're a fan of epic showdowns, this has gotta be what you want.

Too bad it won't happen. In fact, I believe that the Cavs won't make it past the second round of the playoffs.

Here is my prediction for the East:

1. Boston

2. Orlando

3. Cleveland

4. Atlanta

5. Chicago

6. Washington

7. Toronto

8. New York

9. Miami

10. Detroit

11. Charlotte

12. Philly

13. Indiana

14. Milwaukee

15. New Jersey

Boston will sweep NY

Orlando takes it to the Raptors

Cleveland over Washington

Chicago over the Hawks

Boston gets the best in a rematch against Chicago from last year's thriller.

Orlando beats Cleveland again and the new Superman will dominate his predecessor.*****

Boston (if everyone is healthy) should thrash Orlando with defense, grit, and that hunger you just can't teach.

While I believe the Celtics will be in the Finals, they won't play the Lakers.

Yes, Kobe is the baddest ting alive, they're the defending champs but it's not the same squad. Honestly, I don't want to see Kobe and Artest play together; I want to see Artest guard Kobe. They had bad blood in the Rockets-Lakers series last year and I can't see them coexisting. Artest is known as a loose cannon and Kobe is known as a reserved, cold, assassin.******

This is how I see the West shaping up:

1. Spurs

2. Lakers

3. Portland

4. Denver

5. Dallas

6. New Orleans

7. Utah

8.Oklahoma City

9. Phoenix

10. Houston

11. Golden State

12. Clippers

13. Memphis

14. Minnesota

15. Sacramento

Spurs take OKC

Lakers brush Utah

Portland takes NO

Dallas disposes of Denver

Lakers over Portland

Spurs over Dallas

Spurs beat the Lakers. It's a mental sport and San Antonio has the best run team in the sport.

And that my friends is why I believe it will be Spurs-Celtics and the Spurs will win the championship.

Let the games begin...

*Obviously the Knicks are in this bunch and I worry for them and their fellow cellar dwellers who I don't think really have a plan B if they don't get a top-tier free agent. Could it be that the LeBrons and DWades of the world are merely flirting with them only to make their current teams jealous(read: pay them more)? I've built up so much anticipation for July 2010, if LBJ signs to another team, he may enter the Jordan-Miller-Mourning zone of hoopers I despise.

**Shaq might not retire but this is his last year in the playoffs unless he joins another contender.

***If you are over the age of 15 you understand that LBJ and Kobe are one of the best to ever do it. If you are under, you prolly think Jordan is overrated and didn't even blink when you heard Magic and Isiah aren't really friends.

****And still won't.

*****Shaq must take it personally that Dwight Howard calls himself Superman right? Seeing them play will probably feel like this.

******I don't care what any Laker fan might say. His teammates don't like him. One day psychologists will use "Kobe Doin' Work" to research Stockholm syndrome.

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Can somebody give Tyson Gay a hug?

How does it feel to put in your all and have it not be enough?/Instead of all full, you're awful and it's so damn tough- Chris B. "Lyrics of Fury 2k5" circa 2004.*

Although I am ecstatic that Usain continues his dominance, my heart goes out to Tyson Gay. He's a great athlete but this rivalry is becoming more and more uneven. He ran a 9.71 in Berlin and no one cares! It's the third best time ever! I probably don't have to tell you who has the top two times...

That brother needs some serious pastoral care.

How was he supposed to know that his career would serve as a footnote in the story of the once in a century phenomenon known as Usain "Lightning" Bolt?!

And I thought lightning wasn't supposed to strike twice, eh? How many times can one man break his own record...and barely look like he's trying.**

Let's just say Tyson was born in 1974 instead of 1982. Still had the same conditioning, resources, and everything that has made him the athlete he is today. Is there any question about his potential stardom then?

He'd be the guy Michael Johnson hands the torch to in 2000. Triumphant enough in 2004 for America to soon forget the doping scandals that were to come. His rivalry with Bolt would be bigger and he might not even play second fiddle.

This would be a "changing of the guard" story rather than what it is now. A tale we've seen so often in sports. A legend decimating the best of the mortals.

Ali did this to Frazier.

Jordan to Barkley, Ewing, Drexler, Malone, and anyone else in his path.

And now Gay must pay the price. He's playing Salieri to Bolt's Mozart.

Yesterday on Twitter I called Tyson the Patrick Ewing of track. This prompted a debate as some felt that it implied Bolt was Jordanesque.***

A friend of mine, obvious Jordan worshiper, offered that the most he could do was compare Bolt to LeBron. I scoffed at this because while I think LeBron will be the G.O.A.T, he isn't yet. Bolt is more than potential. He is now.

But don't let me argue for him, in Bolt's own words:

usainboltI was made for speed - 9.58 - how do you like that - to the world

usainboltWho faster?

*Yeah I quoted myself. Kinda cocky I suppose. But this is a story about Usain Bolt so humility must be scarce. Oh yeah, here's the referenced track.

**No really. Have you seen this?

***Which is exactly what I meant.

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...IS STARBURY "SWEET?"

NBA superstar Stephon Marbury has probably seen it all and done it all growing up in Coney Island. However, we do not know everything he has seen or done; and based off what we perceive, we have to make our own assumptions about celebrities. It is seldom for the public to see what an average day is like for a celebrity (without the help of people who find that out for a living). Yes; celebrities have blogs, reality shows, etc. But can you name a male celebrity who has recorded himself on camera crying (besides Perez Hilton) while having a grown man console him, having a morning routine that requires off-key singing, bad dancing (maybe Spectacular), while a man films you while you're half naked (well I guess you get used to that as a basketball player *no pun intended*), and eating vaseline for having a sore throat? I can't recall any celebrity who has. But my question to you is (after you watch the videos): Is it just me, or is this "sweet" behavior coming from Starbury, and why would he show this to millions of people on his web show? Do they do this in Coney Island? Please voice your opinion.

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New York and the Dream Team of Hip-Hop

On the B train riding from Fordham, two of my students began to argue over which borough was the best. In one corner was a Brooklynite who incited the argument by expressing his disdain for the Bronx the whole walk from Fordham to the station.

"yo, i hate this bum ass borough!"

"what's your problem?"

"I swear this whole borough smells like spaghettios!"

Knowing how much my students stereotype, I was surprised he didn't say arroz con pollo. The second student also lives in Brooklyn but originally is from the Bronx. He quickly came to the defense of his homeland.

"Brooklyn is whack!"

"get outta here Brooklyn is the best borough by far!"

They argued about the attractiveness of each borough's females, which borough had the best style (swag is dead, no?), and which borough is most hardbody.

"you would never in your life say Brooklyn is whack while you were there cuz u know they would wash you!"
"that's their problem! They stay killin each other! I guarantee there will be no one left there by like...2012!"

In due time, the conversation, as I anticipated, went to which borough has the nicest emcees.

Up until this point I only observed; contributing to the atmosphere through laughter and shakin my head in disapproval to their ignorance.

I wanted to hear their answers and be reassured that the rumors were a lie: young people do know their history and had respect for culture.

The young brother from the Bronx did not disappoint:
"The Bronx don't have rappers?! Are you kidding me?! We got krs-1, we got pun, we got fat Joe (I'll give him a pass on this one as Joey crack introduced the world to pun and was a member of D.I.T.C)"

"what?! big pun is whack!"

Absurd.

He also went on to trash boogie down productions; two sins I am willing to forgive on the count of his youthful naivete. His next error, however, is beyond redemption.

"Brooklyn got way better rappers than that! We got fab--"

At this I had to interject.

"of all the emcees you could have mentioned, you choose fab?!"

It's not that Fabolous is whack. Far from it! But in a history that has given Biggie, Jay , Big Daddy Kane, mos def, among others, you choose fab?

This would be like asking a laker fan why their team is so great and them mentioning robert horry. Horry has contributed to the legacy but is no cornerstone.

The debate soon settled and both brothers changed trains. As I continued my ride home I reflected on three things:

If Willie Lynch were here, would he smile as these brothers' discord gave evidence of self hatred's compound interest?

Would those who died in the fight against injustice, echo Aaron Mccgruder's portrayal of Dr. King and ask, "is this what I took all those ass whoopings for?"

And I realized their argument proved many of my southern brothers and sisters right when they talk about why and how New York fell off.

Their argument illustrated the infighting that many southern emcees associate with the New York scene. Instead of reflecting on each borough's distinctions as yet another reason why the city is The City, energy is wasted in a futile debate that is based on who can outshout the other more than the facts.

This isn't unique to NY, fighting over territory occurs all over the world and throughout history. Sadly, we forget how much we need each other and waste time belaboring our inadequacies.

The greatest tragedy is when this happens to a successful group. The focus on the whole, becomes too much for the part (think David Ruffin) and they assume the success will continue just because they are there.

I believe this happened to the USA Olympic basketball team. Winning against other nations came naturally in '92 and '96. You didn't check the score to see if they won but to see how badly they crushed the other team.

The team was lackluster in Sydney and by 04, as the league was at it's lowest point in the post-Jordan era, it's performance was woeful.

Players expected to win the gold medal by birthright and even the best players didn't have what it took to be the best team.

The difference in 08? Jerry Colangelo and Coach K got the best players in the league to buy into their system and prove they were the best team in the world. Rather than relying on their reputation, they built it.

I think the New York sound, and therefore hip hop en masse, has a lot to learn from the dream team. You're only winning until you're not and the motivation should be geared toward sustaining power rather than abusing it.

To borrow language from the world of international relations, NY should maintain hegemony through the liberal concept of restraint instead of the neo-con ideal of conquest. In truth the latter is achieved through the former; run your race, and continue to push yourself to higher heights and no one will doubt your ability. You will destroy your opponents without force, win wars without spilling a drop of blood. (Sun Tzu would be pleased)

This cannot be achieved without a recommitment to love that prioritizes music over the business. If monetary spoils make the music a means to an end then the culture suffers.

Newer emcees should make art that converses with the music that came before them. What would happen if they were in actual dialogue with legends? Are there mentors in hip-hop? (We all see what Jay's relationship has done for Kanye.)

If I could create a dream team of emcees who would mentor up and coming rappers, it would look like this:

KRS-1
LL
Ghostface
Nas
Q tip
Chuck D
Dr. Dre

Rza
Big Daddy Kane
Rakim

Scarface

Rev Run

Big Boi

Who would be on your squad? Let the comments begin...

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My Mind on Shuffle (Premier Twitter Edition)

Art Stars may be familiar with my erratic series known as "My Mind on Shuffle"

Well I got to thinkin' (get your umbrellas out) and have decided to make this a staple of Art Star through using my tweets throughout the week (and you thought Twitter was a waste of time ha!)

If there are tweets worthy of sharing with you all, they shall be posted!

If you tweet something to me that must be shared with fellow Art Stars...they shall be posted!

Enough with my declarations...let's get into some tweets shall we?

Across the nation, June often means election time for city elections, primaries, etc. Upon my return to East Orange, I was overwhelmed with the amount of Obamaisms candidates flagrantly misused. Thus provoking this tweet:

I_AM_CtotheBSMH at local politicians swagger jacking Obama's movement. Unlike the Pres, YOU might not be the change we need

Which led me to think about an article from Glenn Beck (back when he was on CNN and didn't dabble in as much lunacy) and the failure of local governments for most chocolate cities:

I_AM_CtotheBOne argument repubs have I agree with: local officials in our chocolate cities (mostly dems) have their hand in why these cities haven't recovered

My attention soon turned to sports, specifically, the Magic-Lakers series. Phil Jackson is on his way to his tenth championship ring, and though I have resentment toward him going back to his days with the Bulls, I couldn't help but notice how bombed out and depleted he is starting to look. Thus, provoking the question:

I_AM_CtotheBWho is stealing Phil Jackson's essence?

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Mind on Shuffle...(Heroes and Villains Edition)

Just finished watching the ESPYs...definitely a solid award show. Makes you laugh, think, and get hype as you remember your favorite moments in sports.

Have we seen a year in sports like 2008? Definitely the year of the underdog. Every category seemed to have teams or individuals that were in the dumps last year, stuntin serious!

Couldn't stand to see T.O give the Giants an award but it was all love.

Ray Allen definitely had the line of the night. After winning best team on stage at the Nokia Theatre, he cooly proclaims, "Another win in LA"

Michael Strahan is truly winning. Retire a champ, win bout 3 ESPYS, and have the former Mrs. Murphy on your arm. Kudos to you good sir. Please give A-Rod some notes as he is about 25 years late if he thinks it is cool to holla at Madonna.

Biggups to the Pope for apologizing and visiting victims of clergy sex abuse in Australia.

I'm making a list for a full feature article on Art Star about the roughest and toughest villains. But I want your help! Send me your nominees, I'll put an article together showcasing their badness, and we will vote to see who is the "real badman"

Nominees can be villains in film, television, history, music, or literature. Fictional or non-fictional. Dead, living, or undead.

Questions? Hit me up on that comments section. Ya dig?!

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The Boston Celtics Look Hood But Clayton Williams Is A Thug

This is politically incorrect.

This is on that Crash bullshit.

But, son, if you had to pick one team in the NBA to run into in a dark alley, in a bad part of town, with no gas in your car, it would not be the Boston Celtics.

Watchin the game the other day with my lil brother and realized that these cats look straight hood.

Like I see dudes on the streets that look like these cats. Hell I might have cousins that look like them, at least one uncle.

Game 6 check out Posey, Sam Cassell, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and even Doc Rivers - and compare them to Kobe's Lakers. If the Finals is about street cred, Jesus and The Truth will close it out.

And just for kicks: Clayton Williams

I love my city folks.

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