The Art Of Battling

Did you know I could rap? Me either...but guess what...anyone who doesn't believe me needs to check out your boy in action

The first set of videos is from an Official ApolloKidz mixtape where fellow aK memeber (Fluff Daddy) and I had our epic battle. After a clean win (via fan voting on the internet) he was waiting for my arrival back to NY with open arms (pause) and bars for a rematch....peep the result after the jump

Battle #2

"Do What You Do" --blackhercules21

Stuedabakerbrown -- "Couch Sitting Rattlesnake"

FINALLY

Remember when people used to be excited for music videos?










Download Their Latest Album Strangers We'll Become Available on iTunes

"Do What You Do" --blackhercules21

March Madness

March Madness is underway...so get your brackets out and prepare for what is sure to be an unpredictable 3 weeks

Read my latest article on Dime Magazine profiling my March Madness' from the past


http://dimemag.com/2011/03/the-ripples-of-march-madness-reach-europe-more-than-you-think/

"Do What You Do" --blackhercules21

Thoughts and Prayers

CNN.com is my homepage. And it will forever remain my homepage because it gives me constant updates of breaking news going on all around the world. In less than 2 minutes I can skim over every headline from all different parts of the world. When I hear about Gadhafi and Libya I'm concerned but it doesn't directly affect me. When I read about the 21 oil workers rescued in Columbia I'm happy but again it doesn't directly affect me. But then I'm following this Japanese Tsunami story and I realize that I know/have played basketball with two people in the last year, who are now there. One, a teammate of mine last season, and former Stanford standout Taj Finger, who I learned today was safe. And another Japanese player who came to our team last season to work out with us who we simply called Ishi. I learned today that his city was the one that got hit directly and our coach, who communicates directly with his team, has not been able to get in touch with him. Although he was only here for a few months and his English needed work, there was still that "I'm away from home playing basketball and you are away from home playing basketball" sort of connection. We'd eat together and attempt conversations after practice and even though that was the extent of it, he's still someone I feel concerned about. And that is why, in this case, a simple tweet saying "My thoughts and prayers are with #Japan"didn't seem like enough.

Life is not promised and I don't think we should forget that. When I was in Elementary school at PS 153 (The Helen Keller School) I remember learning this quote "although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it" -Helen Keller. So that's where my prayers are at. That Japan can overcome this disaster. And my thoughts today are with trying to build upon relationships I've made in the past and present so that I don't have this "what if" feeling in the future.

"Do What You Do" --blackhercules21

What's With All This Flopping?

It's been awhile..yes I know...but all of my efforts now go into ApolloKidz.com. If that name doesn't ring a bell to you or you don't know what that is...go play in on-coming traffic...seriously...get a Santa Claus suit and go to the Running Of The Bulls. ApolloKidz is the movement of all movements...so get on-board.

I had to divulge back to my blog to post these two videos though because they both came to me today via John Little and Dime Magazine and anyone that knows me knows how I feel about flopping. These just take it to the extreme

First we have Chris Bosh, who is not known for his "masculinity" or "toughness" but rather his "finesse" and "touch"...not saying he's not a good player, or even that I'm not a fan...but big boys don't flop like this...smh

Secondly we have some soccer player (you can insert any name, probably doesn't matter)...and this just sums up why I could never participate is a sport like this...

Referees are human and may not always see everything...but seriously...you play at the highest level of your professional sport...stop flopping!! This has been a public service announcement brought to you by the good people at my "real life" can wait

"Do What You Do" 

follow your boy on Twitter at @blackhercules21

EuroCup Final 16 Preview

Tomorrow we begin the Top 16 of the EuroCup. The first round was a good one for the boys in Purple. 
Besides getting a chance to play against Iverson...

read the lead up to our first matchup --

http://dimemag.com/2010/11/world-game-eurocup-vet-on-playing-against-allen-iverson/#more-61935

read the follow up to our first matchup --

http://dimemag.com/2010/11/letters-from-the-eurocup-the-allen-iverson-experience/#more-62490

...we had an opportunity to play against Tony Parker's team in France and one of the best young teams in Europe out in Serbia. The next round is no different, except for the fact I'll be going up against a good friend in Bryant Dunston (former ESPN NIT All Star Teammates) and Aris Baskets. This round will definitely be tougher than the last but we're patiently awaiting the challenge...

 (from left to right: Stephen Danley, Donnie McGrath, Bryant Dunston, Matt Vitale, Jason Wingate, Lamont Hamilton, Leon Williams, Ben Jacobson, Steve Novak, Jason Boone)

EuroCupBasketball did a pretty good writeup about our group...check below for the full article 

Last 16 Group J features a mix of new and old blood, all with equal chances to rise up and fight for Eurocup glory. Two teams - BG Goettingen and Budivelnik – are in the competition for the first time. The other two – Aris and Le Mans – are not far removed from playing in the Euroleague. Assuming Goettingen and Budivelnik are inexperienced would be a mistake. Goettingen won the FIBA EuroChallenge last season and has many of the same players back. Budivelnik has an experienced roster headed by coach Josep Maria Berrocal, an assistant on Regal FC Barcelona’s Euroleague-winning squad last year. Le Mans still carries four players from its last Euroleague season in 2008-09 and boasts eight players with experience at Europe’s elite level. And Aris tops that with a air of former Euroleague champs on its roster. On paper Group J appears to be even, with no clear favorites and lots of exciting basketball to be played out as all four teams come in with real hopes of making deep runs into the Eurocup. 

Read The Full Preview Here -- http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/ulebcup/home/news/i/81241/3735

 "Do What You Do" --blackhercules21