Thursday Morning Starting Five: The Those Who Were Left Behind Edition
Yesterday I was a part of a great conversation on the state of Hip Hop Journalism with my man NYOIL on his blog talk radio show. The brotha is concerned how Hip Hop is being portrayed and reported in the press so he brought together some experts (Ashahed M. Muhammad, Davey D and Bruno Gaston) on the subject and we had a solution based discussion. You all know what I do. I’ll report and dive into any arena that’s good for all of us so I was honored to be a part of something despite my lack of qualifications in the field. I offered what I could and tried to compare what I do with sports to what is going on in the Hip Hop world. The spot (2 hours long) follows the links and a very disturbing video. Check it when you get a chance.
The Holocaust museum shooter was gangster with his hate. (USA Today)
Yanks hope Carsten Charles stops this Red Sox skid. (NY Daily News)
Kareem: Magic’s Howard ‘kind of predictable’. (Miami Herald)
Lakers assistants Jim Cleamons and Brian Shaw are interested in coaching position at USC. (LA Times)
Mexican national arrested trying to smuggle marijuana ashore on surfboard. Creative. (LA Times)
Take Another Look: Ashahed M. Muhammad’s blog. (Final Call)
Hip Hop is a universal language. (Final Call)
What is Hip Hop? (Davey D’s Hip Hop Corner)
Those Who Were Left Behind 2. (Brother Jesse)
Here’s the archived show:
June 11th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Mizzo:
I have to say that I really liked Dwight Howard’s response to Kareem’s assessment. He took it the right way. He contextualized it and made an affirmative declaration about his own intentions to improve. You couldn’t ask for a better response. Well done.
June 11th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
I definitely agree. Crazy how we talked about this earlier in the week. When you get home, check out the video.
Man…
June 11th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Anyone else hear about this?
Former NBA ref Tim Donaghy beat up in prison by inmate claiming ties to the New York mob
Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy will be released from prison on June 17, 2009. Donaghy, convicted for betting on professional basketball is serving a 15-month sentence at the federal prison camp in Pensacola, Florida. Donaghy’s release date has recently been in question due to concerns about his medical condition. Donaghy was injured during an assault in November of 2008. During the assault, another inmate claiming ties to the New York mob beat Donaghy with a heavy object. Donaghy suffered severe knee and leg injuries that will require surgery. Donaghy will complete his prison term at a halfway house in Tampa Florida. His future plans include re-uniting with his four daughters, obtaining employment, participating in treatment for his addiction to gambling, and finishing a memoir of his 13 years in the NBA. — Press Release Point
June 11th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Interesting…
June 11th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
I’m certain there is no way to demonstrate the brutality of that beating in writing. It’s all very interesting.
Imagine if the US had a free press and David Stern actually got pressed up about these issues?
June 11th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
What’s even more insulting is that the media accepts the idea that the Commissioner is a valid representative on matters like this. He is a GD employee. If you want to know the deal, put the owners on blast — not their lackey.
June 11th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Mizzo,
Have you heard about Mike Brown possibly losing his job because some in the front office think he was badly out coached by Stan Van? This was news to me when I saw it.
http://www.probasketballnews.com/story/?storyid=554
June 11th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Miranda,
Wow! I didn’t hear about that. I’m sure that entire NBA fix thing is bigger then we will ever know. Took my boys ring I know that.
Mizzo,
We need the big lefty to hold it down tonight. Can’t have the Red Sox thinking they are in the heads of the Yanks players.
June 11th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
I had this conversation with a friend last week. His position was that Cleveland needed to put their best offensive players on the floor and move the ball around. That meant LBJ, Joe Smith (as the only big on the roster capable of scoring on the block), Moe, DeLonte and probably Varejao for purposes of rebounding and blocking shots. Sometimes just sit Varejao, even go with Gibson — spread the floor and make people really work to defend.
When teams played Cleveland, they could really, really rest on defense. The only cat who ever had to work against their team was the guy who drew LeBron. Otherwise, it was smooth sailing.
If the guys in Cleveland think they have a championship roster, they’re delusional. Brown needs to step his game, but so does Ferry.
June 11th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
I think CC’s got this. I hope so anyway.
There absolutely is no truth in that report. Trust. If Dan Gilbert wants to keep LeBron James in Cleveland, he will not fire Mike Brown.
This is it in a nutshell.
June 11th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Why is so much money and time spent on Divide and Conquer?
Only a foooool would let a pure Black voice speak to the world. So, no wonder “artists” who talk about non-political things are considered the GOAT. Frankly, the idea is simply preposterous — even if you’re a millionaire dating a millionaire watching other millionaires play games at courtside.
How Black is YOUR “Black Album”? Kinda grey?
June 11th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Mizzo,
Yeah, but Danny Ferry better upgrade that roster. I was wondering why his butt isn’t on the line. He’s the one that put the other players around LeBron. He bares just as much responsibility for the rest of the team being impotent on offense.
I’m not a big fan of Mike Brown, but I don’t think he needs to be fired because of the team losing to Stan Van and the Magic.
June 11th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
The name of the security guard that was killed by this 88 year-old gangster of hate was Stephen Tyrone Johns… and on MSNBC they had reported that the security guard (Mr. Johns) was attempting to help the 88 year old, and then was shot in the chest…
……>>>”Authorities have confirmed that the security guard who was wounded in the shooting at the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., earlier today has died. He is identified as Stephen Tyrone Johns, an African-American man who has worked at the museum for the last six years, according to the WashingtonPost.com….”>>>>
June 11th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Kareem wasn’t offering friendly advice to Howard, but trying to play mind games with him through the press… Kareem knows Game 4 is a very pivotal game for both teams. I think Howard took Kareem’s comments very well, and Dwight knows for himself that he has a lot to work on as a player and really doesn’t need Kareem’s unnecessary critique…(Kareem needs to worry about Bynum !)
June 11th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Patrick:
This shooting at the European Holocaust Museum is absolutely bizarre. The trend of white nationalist terrorism is spiking up — and this is just a fringe incident. What I found interesting was that he had a silver gun. Mamelukes? Silver swords? Any thoughts?
June 12th, 2009 at 12:08 am
One memorable thing I will take from our conversation over dinner is that Cap was vehemently pissed about one of his former proteges who didn’t pan out.
I actually reached in my inside jacket pocket at this moment but changed my mind and Kareem noticed…as if to telepathically say, “Good move.”
He couldn’t figure out how he knew my face beforehand until I reminded him it was at Webber’s event in Vegas the previous two years…which offered him a modicum of comfort.
He spoke highly and was very protective of Bynum, his position with the Lakers and continued on about this dumbass “pupil”.
He couldn’t believe this cat was so disinterested in learning from one of the best. Respectful of his legacy…not arrogant by any means.
Also was disturbed he hadn’t received a head coaching position but at that point of his life was resolute.
As mad as he seemed I was stoic but on the edge of my seat.
Kareem then shouted out really loud: “Talk about stepping on his d!ck!”
We cracked up! He laughed like a kid. One of the best moments I’ve had doing what I do. Suddenly, all these reporters came out of the woodwork asking of our conversation and also about his problems getting past security in the Garden that day.
He then looked at me with this boo look complete with the twisted lip face we all do.
I just continued on with my meal…honored he sat next to me.
Anyone who says he doesn’t have a personality hasn’t really spent any time with dude.
And they wonder why he’s bitter…
June 12th, 2009 at 12:16 am
Temple, researching hate groups extensively in the late 90’s for an anti-racist clothing line a couple of cats and I had at the time, I would definitively say the movement is not at all proud of this lone wolf because he belittles their cause. Unfortunately, they would rather mourn a true martyr.
June 12th, 2009 at 12:22 am
Crew chief suspended for using racial slur
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The crew chief for Nationwide Series driver Brendan Gaughan has been suspended indefinitely for using a racial slur about rival driver Marc Davis, who is black.
Bryan Berry was angry with Davis during Saturday night’s race at Nashville Superspeedway because of a pit-road collision with Gaughan. Davis was headed to the garage during and turned into Gaughan’s car as Gaughan attempted to pit.
Berry got off the pit box to confront Davis, and apparently uttered a racial slur on his way to the garage. A NASCAR official says at least two people heard the slur.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20090611/car-nascar-crew-chief-suspended/
June 12th, 2009 at 1:09 am
D!ckhead!
June 12th, 2009 at 2:54 am
Temple:
There is a hyper-sensitive, hyper-racist fringe element that are more prone to some of these spontaneous, violent acts. The election of President Obama has pushed some people close to the edge or clearly over the edge…
Among ’some’ conservative older whites (65+) who probably never though they would see a Black president may be freaking out and this isolated incident gives an example of someone who felt they had nothing to lose….I don’t know if this may be a growing trend, but it is definitely disturbing.
BEFORE Obama got elected, many retirees lost money through their 401K and many may have filed bankruptcies due to health care costs, but now transfer their hate/contempt/underline racist feelings to President Obama after being in office for less than five months.
This elderly gunman apparently had some of his Social security benefits cut, but this guy had already been in jail for attempting to kidnap members of the Federal Reserve Board nearly twenty years ago…
Additionally, James Von Brunn was apparently part Of Obama “Birther” Movement… The word birther is a new conservative catch phrase that refers to Obama as an illegitimate president.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0209/19450.html
…” a flourishing culture of advocates, theorists and lawyers, all devoted to proving that Barack Obama isn’t eligible to be president of the United States. The subculture still thrives from the conservative website WorldNetDaily, which claims that some 300,000 people have signed a petition demanding more information on Obama’s birth, to Cullman, Alabama, where Sen. Richard Shelby (Alabama) took a question on the subject at a town hall meeting….”
June 12th, 2009 at 3:48 am
If I were a white nationalist and this was the nation-state that my ancestors seized by the gun — and I’d sworn a blood oath to keep faith with their work, I wouldn’t have a problem with rollin strong on Federal Reservers. They’re private individuals who gangstered everyone’s money.
As for Obama’s birth — that smacks of desperation and its a bit absurd. If “white” people wanted to win that election, they should have run someone other than John McCain. They didn’t really want to win. So, shit happens.
June 12th, 2009 at 4:58 am
Temple:
The Republican Party is in turmoil and are desperate. John McCain wasn’t the best candidate, but the economy was so bad under Bush (maybe the embarrassed, humbled conservatives really didn’t want to win) , the conservatives see it as an opportunity to take back the White House in 2012 with the hope Obama won’t have enough time to be able to completely clean up Bush’s mess from 2001-2008.
June 12th, 2009 at 5:08 am
Orlando gave away another game. It’s likely over. Jameer’s defense against Derek Fisher (at the end) was terrible. And Rashard Lewis played 46 minutes, and had only six points. Lewis isn’t the main reason they lost, but he was really a ghost out there (at home in Orlando) at a time the Magic needed his offensive skillset to have an impact on the game.
That game should not have gone into overtime.
June 12th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Patrick,
The reason the Magic lost is that they only made 22 of 37 free throws. Make a couple more of those, and they win. Hedo missed five, it’s a reverse of what happened to the Lakers in Game 3, when Kobe missed five. Both of them rarely miss that many free throws in a week, much less a game!
June 12th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Kos,
You’re right…
The Magic should really be kicking themselves right now…hard !!!
Hedu started the domino effect in the fourth quarter (it seems he had a Sacramento Kings flashback– circa 2001/2002), and Dwight (unfortunately) choked with those last two FTs in regulation…