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
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.
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...
...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.
Redlight Greenlight 1-2-3!! It seemed like every night growing up I would ask my parents if I could go outside and play that game with the kids on down the street. Bronxwood Avenue between Adee and Arnow was where I spent the first 14 yrs of my life. Across from PS 76 and on the direct path of the BX8 bus. I remember it like it was yesterday, just like I remember my parents telling me "you aren't allowed to leave the block." When that happens you let your childhood imagination run wild with games to play in a confined space. And that's why my four neighbors Cherrye Davis, Jasmine and Charleen Jacobs and Dwayne Gilroy will forever have a spot in my heart.
But just as I was accomplishing one of the greatest feats of my basketball career, in beating a future NBA Hall of Famer, it seems that another kid from that little block in the BX is doing her thing as well. I just saw a trailer for a film coming out called For Flow and there she is...Cherrye Davis...doing it big. She was also an NYU alum (just throwing that out there) who let everyone know from Day 1 (of those Christmas Sing-A-Longs) that she was going to be a star. Check my girl out in the trailer for her short film debut...
I came across this article a while back in the New York Times and it's so fitting to the trip I'm preparing to take...back to the Deutschland. This will have to hold you over until I kick off the new season of Meet The Team because I'm going to spend the next few weeks getting ready to win games...until then, as always...do what you do...
Could it work out any better that on the day where I spent 12 hours in my house doing last minute stuff (which meant frequent TV/Internet breaks) people on TV and online were talking about this new video? Some people love Drake and some people hate on Drake but for a 23 year old he's in a league all his own. I respect the work he puts out and want to know the same thing he does...
As I count down my last 48 hours in America, I can only think about these three questions.
The first one being, did I do everything I wanted to do this summer? Looking back, it's been a great one. I rehabbed this bum ankle and finger. I went to Las Vegas, I attended my first bachelor party and my first wedding. I got to figure out which friendships were worth holding onto and which ones it was time to let go of. But most importantly, I finally made the effort to spend quality time with my family. In years past I was in such a rush to get back to America and see college friends, girlfriends, high school friends etc etc that I always returned to Europe thinking I should have spent more time with my FAMILY. As much as I never wanted to be, I was always that guy who went back to visit High School teachers and college coaches because, well sh*t Life Was Good and I needed to be reassured that what I was doing...they knew about. But I finally got over that. Although a European Challenge Championship is more than enough to brag about it wasn't something I really found myself doing. (Probably because my father had it done by the time I got home but whatever the case may be) I think I enjoyed this summer more than anyone thus far because I finally wasn't worried about rushing and doing a ton of things for other people but more about just doing whatever it was I wanted. I understand my situation is unique but I was telling my brother that if there is something out there you want to do, at the end of the day, you are the only one that stands between you and doing it. And I feel good knowing I took that advice to heart this summer. So I can honestly say, I did everything I wanted to do this summer...and some.
The next question I keep asking myself is Am I ready to go back? I've been very fortunate in my career to not have to deal with serious injuries, and maybe that's why I couldn't deal with being injured this past season. After all the work I put in, all the sprints I ran, all the laps I swam, part of me feels like I'm right back where I was last season. And for guys that have been injured, they know how it is to rehab...you're working harder than you ever worked just to get back where you WERE. The whole concept is crazy. But if it taught me anything it's that I need to keep up this work ethic all season long. I would NEVER, and let me repeat this...NEVER say any of the guys I played with last year took the easy route out by leaving...there are a ton of reasons why some players didn't come back...but for me, personally, there was no other choice. I'm the kind of player that needs to be pushed everyday and I know winning that title last year has now become a standard. I'm not going to go online and make any guarantees but the truth of the matter is that the people of Gottingen have now gotten used to winning. And when people come to expect something of you, it's the perfect "pressure" to perform. I obviously look forward to getting back out there, seeing my friends from the city, eating great food, but most importantly get to work with the new TEAM. So although this was my best summer, I'd have to say I am ready to get back.
The last question that's rattling around in this brain of mine is what am I going to do to escape from basketball this year. Because let's be honest...even if you are like me, and have the best job in the world, there is a negative outcome associted with making your job = your life. Everyone needs to get away from what they do fulltime for a little. My first year in Gottingen I really tried to travel every chance I got, last year I dedicated myself to blogging everyday but this year I was thinking about picking up another skill. Anyone that knows me knows that I'm on a few business ventures right now (which will be blogged about on a later date) but "other work" shouldn't be a release from "work." They also know that music is the only other thing I'm as passionate about as basketball. And that's why this year, I want to learn how to play the piano. So now my mission becomes finding someone in Gottingen to give piano lessons, probably no more than once a week, for a reasonable price. Escapes can often change but that's what it is right now.
So I just took myself (and you, the reader) on a journey of my past (summer) present (season) and future (new skill). Stay tuned to how it turns out. I'll be launching a new blog theme this year and although I won't be blogging as much, I'm hoping you'll still enjoy the content.
I've been going back and forth the past couple of days trying to decide whether or not I wanted this new iPad but as is normally the case with Apple (and it's not a bad thing if you are a "mac-person") they keep everything proprietary. So being a PC guy I've decided to take my business to Archos and get that new Tablet # 9...it's a little more condusive to what I need it for. Lightweight, portable, wi-fi, touchscreen, windows already installed etc etc etc...I'm looking forward to when it gets here and I can play with it.
And I'm only blogging about this because for $500 it's going to be attached at the hip at all times
Quick Background: There was an attempted rape in Alabama and once the Internet got hold of the story...the Internet did what the Internet does...I love the Internet
When you are out of the country as long as I am you need to make your time as memorable as possible...that's why when I come back I like to get roles in Movies (see Just Wright) and TV Commercials (see Rajon Rondo 2on2 Tournament). I'm currently in the process of learning how to play an instrument so I can take the musical world by storm and that's why my Talk Show appearance this summer was a great transition. It was half-serious half-joking but full-fun...and it was with some friends of mine from back in the day. The group is called Stuedabakerbrown and if you haven't heard of them...GET FAMILIAR...
If you like the Gin Blossoms and/or Kings of Leon you should have their CD Strangers We'll Become ...it's available on iTunes. Anyway, since the interview I've gotten the chance to catch up with my boys at a free show they put on at a NYC Best Buy.It was mainly for some exposure during their cross country tour that ends with the singing of the National Anthem at the LA Dodgers-San Diego Padres Game on August 5th...Keep Doing Your Thing Fellas...usually I'm the one getting recognized for something and so it feels nice being able to say I'm truly proud of how hard these guys worked to get where they are at...it's inspiring
So I just attended my first wedding ever this past weekend and it made me recall this webpage I saw that explained the 8 stages of dating...this will have to do because the stories from the wedding were neither appropriate or good publicity for any of my friends who attended...haha
Let's just say that "Hennessey On The Rocks" for five hours doesn't end well when you are 5'10 175lbs...
So when I was younger I used to always play Carmen Sandiego...and not to brag but I was pretty good...the problem solving part of my brain always worked better than the creative side but that was probably the last time I had to do some detective work. Picking up on non-verbal cues has never been my forte (see all past relationships) but when a problem lies in plain sight I can usually get it figured out...
So first off let me back track a tad... when I'm out in Germany (6 hours ahead of NY) and I wake up to Crooked I's (LA rapper 3 hours behind NY) late night tweets like "glad we had such a good turnout at the impromptu show tonight" I started to learn that people will really give no word to where they're going to be except on Twitter...I never paid it any mind until the European Slaughterhouse Dates online conflicted to what these dudes had on their Twitter accounts...so after that, I started to base my knowledge of where they perform on their Twitter accounts.
So now all week they were being "Shady" Royce Da 59 was out in LA with Crooked I at the Lakers Game...Joell Ortiz was getting shows in Boston canceled...and Joe Buddens was just being Joe Buddens. But I started to hear the innanets buzzing about a show in NYC...so now I'm locked in to every tweet they make because the first time I saw them perform at Rock The Bells they killed it...but it was a small stage out back (because Wu-Tang was there...some of you may remember that). Anyway all I see is Slaughterhouse x Eminem NYC June 21st...so now I'm on Eminems Twitter, NYC shows' Twitter blah blah blah and no one is giving me a solid answer.
So I go online and find out about this Road to 8 Mile rap battle...but it's at the Bowery Ballroom (200 people maximum)...he can't be doing a show there...and then I see it...Eminem writes online that the first 50 people that email emonletterman@gmail.com get to see his performance live in NYC...album dropping the same day...the whole works...so I'm like that has to be it...but I can't get tickets for Letterman...I emailed anyway though. Ended up getting on the standby list for Letterman but also copped two tickets for this RedBull Road To 8 Mile show...just incase...
So now my best friend and I drive down to New York City and catch up...it's been awhile since we kicked it and he's working full time...finally got some time off and I told him about this Lupe styled Fiasco that was going on. He has not ventured off into the Twitter world and seemed lost when I tried explaining to him that I bought tickets because of rumors...but he's the kind of guy who respects real Hip-Hop and would've been fine with just seeing the Freestyle Battles.
So (yes I'm going to start every paragraph with "so") now we're down there at this quaint quiet little ballroom that can barely hold 300 people. Any more than that is a guaranteed fire hazard, but we're there early and we're standing right down by the stage and the DJ is on stage playing a ton of NY rappers keeping the crowd entertained (unlike the Drake concert a week back) and we're having a few drinks waiting for everything to get started. Then I see The Alchemist who is a judge later that night and I'm telling my boy that him and I used to go to the same barber back when I was in college so as he's walking by, I go "yo do you still get your haircut by Steve?" and he looked at me and said "I was just there" and from his crooked line up I figured he wasn't lying. But he was just on WorldStarHipHop with Eminem and Royce Da 59 drinking RedBulls wasn't he? We'll come back to that later..
So now the MC battle is about to begin...there are four white guys and four black guys and it just so happened, randomly of course, that in each of the first round battles a white guy was battling a black guy...now we all know black people can rap better (Vanilla Ice and Eminem cancel each other out) but of the four rappers that advanced...3 were black...and I'm just saying that to say that the judges were wrong...the one white guy that advanced shouldn't have and the two that didn't should have (the other guy got cooked pretty bad). Now I'm internalizing this like Eminem in 8 Mile...because rumors have it that he's showing up tonight...Bunny Rabbit...gotta beat the 3 black guys to advance...it's working out perfect...that was until round two where he choked and got booed off the stage.
So now we're waiting for the Final round and Bun-B rolls thru, Royce Da 59 is kicking it with the judges and I see Joell Ortiz walk in. I immediately shout YAOWA (ya'll actually one world away) which is his individual little ad-lib catchphrase and he immediately looked up and dapped me up...so now Royce and Joell are in the building...Joe BuddenEminem but I would have been FINE with just them...Finals are over...DNA wins over the crowd with a shoutout to the judges (something about my homies just blaze...) and then finished with a shoutout to the XM radio station (like Shade 45 I'm Dead Sirius...then something about being over for this Maxi Pad...Period) and with that...DNA took the title
So we're waiting for the DJ to make an announcement after the finals because now all four members of Slaughterhouse are present and accounted for. They finally come out one by one and kill their song Sound Off...they then pay a tribute to Hip Hop with their song Woodstock Hood Hop...have us all hold our one's up in the air and The One and finally finish with my favorite Slaughterhouse song... Microphone
So...I'm all set...my favorite Hip Hop group did 2 of my favorite songs and I got to see a very good rap battle all for $20 (4 Jim Beam & Cokes cost more than two tickets)...then Slaughterhouse exits stage left and no one moves...the "Shady" chant starts and the DJ walks off the stage...hmmmm??? Come to find out the Alchemist is going to be on the 1's and 2's for this "special performance." If it wasn't obvious before it just became clear to everyone there that Eminem was going to be performing. But we were nervous all night because we were hearing that he was on a rooftop performing Renegade with Jay-Z and I know he was supposed to be on Letterman tonight...but who the hell else could upstage Slaughterhouse at this concert???
So I'm getting the vibe all night...especially looking at the crowd that most people weren't there to see the rap battle...you could just get that sense...they were there because of the fact that Eminem was rumored to show...so all of a sudden the Over beat by Drake comes on and people are looking around like...wtf??? Is Drake here? No way, he was just in LA pulling Kobe on stage wasn't he? Well his concert did get shut down? Wait a minute...then this big ass black dude runs out on stage and I'm like no way is that Ving Rhames? Turned out it was Mr. Porter (from D12) and Eminem came out spitting his Despicable Freestyle
He then goes into On Fire and Won't Back Down...I didn't expect him to give us a 10-song set for $20 so I was cool with the 3 he decided to do...he then got a little emotional thanking the fans from Day One...telling us that he wouldn't be where he was today if he didn't start out battling...gave a tribute to his boy Proof and then walked off stage...people started cheering Encore and part of me thought that that he was going to bring Slaughterhouse out and perform Session One aka My New Favorite Song with a mystery verse from Joe Budden...but that would have just been asking too much. Night was over and I went home...but definitely the highlight of my summer to date
You probably won't hear from me again until AFTER Vegas...things are bound to get a little craaaaazy but whatever I can remember/am allowed to blog about I will...
now homie who's your favorite pain in the ass? who claims to be spitting the same flames as me?
Im Kanye when he crashed, in other words, I got the hood on smash, like I stepped on the gas
destroyed the front and deployed the damn air bags on the dash, went thru em and laughed
came back an hour after the accident and bit a goddamn jawbreaker in half
Royce Said
I got a Posse of Insane Clowns blow your brains on your opposite ear then ask you how ya brains sound?
Bad? Evil? We go..Alfred E...Newman Mad Cerebral you on your last burrito. What that mean Nickel?
It's a wrap if you eating...get a beat then terrorize that bitch like I'm Middle Eastern.
Slaughterhouse on fire nobody touching that good day and good night Ortiz yo where the f*ck you at?...
Joell Said
and this joint...no exception, so just point...a direction, and record the pigs oink when I rip his intestines
this isnt' just an infection, this won't go away with penicillin injections, millions of questions arose after they did an inspection, what I exhibit seems to be non-contagious yet anybody can get it...awww shit I done did it again, when I li(f)t up this pen I emitted this phlegm and this time it's alongside Eminem so tell a friend to tell a friend...
Crooked I Said
I'll take ya life to the ninth inning, a knife in a gun fight I love it me and my knife winning
I laugh when you fall the shit'll be funny, I'll buy my bitch a new ass and watch her sit on my money man
all the bitches holla they wanna (drop my bridges)? then jaw my d*ck to swallow, leave drawers in this impala I ball like Iguodala...
With the new look of the blog you are well aware that I've "chucked the deuces" to the old format...I've also chucked em to blogging everyday...but there are other things in my life that also need the deuces chucked in their direction...
Because I have no vehicle and am not set to move into NYC until July I've had some time up here in the suburbs to think about a lot of stuff (as well as greatly expand my music collection but that's a blog for another day) and I just realized that I'm a person that has trouble moving on...I never thought I was but I really am. Whether it's personal relationships, professional relationships or sitting at the computer playing Spider Solitare...I can't remove myself from a situation unless I'm satisfied in the way it concluded...
Saying all of that to say that if I can show that kind of resilience in a lot of the stuff I do then I shouldn't have a problem chucking deuces to these three things this summer...first off...fast food and restaurant chains...I had a craving for the Outback Bloomin' Onion and some Buffalo Wild Wings but there are so many good (healthier) restaurants in NYC that for me to pay more money to eat bad food would just be pointless...so at no point this summer will you see me back in one of those fast-food/chain restaurants...
Second off...I'm chuckin the deuces to these NYC public transportation (minus emergencies) because every year...right around April or May I'm wishing that I could be enjoying nice weather walking around New York City...then I get here for two weeks and I'm underground on the Subway all the time or in a cab...this city has so many places to see for me to be flying past...let's also not act like I don't have a ton of new music and a new iPod to help keep me company on my NYC walks
And last but certainly not least...DRAMA...I'm home not even a week and I get the unfortunate reminder that life is short and anything can happen at any time and it's just not worth it to be stressed out over anything...so I"m gonna try to get through the whole summer with the same smile that Ron Artest had on his face when he was thanking his phychiatrist because that's the joy I want to feel everyday I get up at 10am...workout...and have the luxury to do whatever the hell else I want to do for the rest of the day...in short...I got the life...
It's been a while since I touched up my blog and like most things in my life...I get bored of it after some time...so check the new template and let me know if you like it...the picture is of one of my heroes...Malcolm X and the quote is from Royce Da 5'9's The Bar Exam 3...
So I finally saw the film Just Wright...and I wanted to let you all know what I thought about it. Finding out most of the plot on set I was never surprised at anything that happened in the movie but I have to say that Common's acting and basketball skills are on about the same level...in person he was as cool as can be...genuinely a nice guy and seemed to be extremely coachable...but that didn't come across on the screen did it? I didn't particularly think he acted well in this movie...but that didn't stop Paula Patton from looking absolutely phenomenal throughout the film. I mean from start to finish everytime she popped on screen I wished I could sing like Robin Thicke. Common's mother aka Mrs. Cosby aka Phylicia Rashad was my favorite actress in the movie and Common's agent aka Michael Landes aka that cop from Final Destination 2 was my favorite actor...my favorite scene...by far...was my dunk late in the game and the little "I Got Swag" (cuz I just scored the go ahead bucket in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals) trot back down court...just to be "faced up" moments later for the game...but anyway if you haven't seen the film yet it's probably time to queue it up in your NetFlix because it's out of the theaters...
But speaking of Cameos....has anyone seen this one?
It's me DC the Brain Supreme and my man Steve Roll'n...now I never knew what they were saying but the DC line made me think they were from Washington DC not Atlanta Georgia...and had they been from Chicago I'd believe this cameo a little more...but tell me that guy at 1:00 doesn't look like President Obama...here check the freeze frame
White House officials have come out and said it's not him...but...what do you guys think? I'm hoping to never be in a position where I'd have to hide cameos I've made in the past but don't you think if that's not him, whoever the hell it is would have said something by now? Anyway, look out for Jason Boone cameos throughout NYC for the next 8 weeks...I'll be all over the place
Do What You Do ...blackhercules21... Hallelujah Hollaback
Go ahead and say it...Whatchutalmbout Willis? Actually, this blog begins with the death of Gary Coleman but between the Golden Girl and John Wooden it's getting crazy. Last year when I got home it was Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and Steve McNair...back to back to back...and so this year I thought I was done with death after Arnold Jackson aka Gary Coleman, Blanche Devereaux aka Sex and the City's Samantha before Samantha aka Rue McClanahan and The Wizard of Westwood aka John Wooden had all passed away...but then I got some pretty devastating news.
Not devastating in terms of someone close to me died...actually I'd never met him but I knew his wife. Her name is Grace and she's one of the sweetest people I've ever met. She worked at the gym I've been going to since I was in highschool and she's one of the people that my father, who has a bit of problem bragging about his sons, keeps updated on how things are going. So when I get to the gym today and I ask her co-worker "where's Grace?" and she tells me "her husband died" it was tough to hear. Especially when I found out how tragically it happened.
Greg, her husband, who worked for the NJ Transit, a train line that I'm very used to taking into New York City, was struck and killed by a train. It happened in a maintenance yard outside of Kearny. To my knowledge it's still under investigation and I don't want assume anything until I get all the facts but I do know that the officials said that the "brakes weren't engaged at the time of the accident." I hope the authorities investigating the case can figure out whatever they need to figure out as fast as possible for Grace's sake.
My condolences go out to Grace and the entire Kastner family...I feel for your loss...
On a more humorous note, I walked into the pool area today at the gym in just a towel and it took me almost 20 seconds to realize that I was not at the Badeparadies Eiswiese in Germany...where walking around naked is totally acceptable...luckily for all the small children out there the towel stayed on... #truestory
Do What You Do ...blackhercules21... Hallelujah Hollaback
