The Starting Five

20 turnovers. Courtney Lee’s miss at the buzzer is irrelevant. A mere afterthought considering Magic spotty play. Don’t hang ya head young fella because you and your team knows it shouldn’t have come down to that.

Yeah, they almost played well. Almost, but are still down 0-2.

Hear me out here. Any of you who have played sports should be able to understand what I’m about to say. As a writer, I have to see the game differently. You read defenses and see movement beyond the pick and roll at the top of the key. You notice the mannerisms of coaches and bench players. You even pick up when a ref is gonna T somebody up by how quick he puts the whistle in his mouth.

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Black scrutiny is a bitch. I was on Twitter this morning after getting off work and saw a disturbing story that Jazzy Jeff was kicked off stage 20 minutes into his set for spinning Hip Hop. KC Live was the club where this went down in KC’s Power and Light District. The Cordish Co. developed, owns and operates P&L and just this past year released a statement about meeting and even exceeding standards regarding the number of women and minorities involved in construction: “The Cordish Company hosted a community meeting on Tuesday, February 20, 2007, at its downtown Kansas City office to announce that the Power & Light District has met and exceeded the minority and women business enterprise (MBE/WBE) goals set in the construction of the District.” I guess minorities and women can build the establishment, but ya dare not patronize the joint huh?

My mans Damon Smith over at TMCY was there in the flesh and saw the whole thing go down. Make sure you check out his extensive letter detailing the events. Please comment.

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Yeah this is just one game so don’t get crazy, but dude came out and put a 40 spot on the Magic. Amazingly, he’s never put up 40 in a NBA Finals game. The wins mean more to Kobe. He has at least six to get right? 4 rings mean nothing to him. Mere obstacle in the path to greatness. Usually the Lakers win more games when he shoots 20 shots or less, but throw that all out the window after last night.

He’s coming for you Mike.

Whose your NBA top ten? Kobe wins this and he enters the discussion of the greatest of all time. Somebody bad like Doc and Elgin have to step aside right? Would you take him over Magic and Bird right now?

He ain’t Mike, but he’s definitely Mike’s son. Oh yeah, squash all that LeBron James talk for a couple of years OK? Thank you.

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Don’t touch him! Hot like a little kid putting a steaming tater tot in his mouth way too soon. Making the poor little fella blow teary eyed steam that comes out like Three Stooges ears and nostrils. Hot like that. Kobe Bryant wanted this and took it. As a result, the Lakers are three games away from becoming the 2008-2009 NBA Champs after kicking the mess out of the Magic…in the face…100-75.

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Ahhh the possibilities. Just heard a stat that was oh so New York Yankees like. This is the 63rd NBA Finals and the Los Angeles Lakers have played in a staggering 30 of them (14-15). The Orlando Magic on the other hand are playing in their second NBA Finals and have yet to win the title. Just not so long ago, this was an expansion team, so to win a chip this early in the game would obviously be outstanding. We all know the cornerstones of that ’95 team (swept by Dream and the Rockets) was Shaquille O’Neal and also Anfernee Hardaway. Now another raw big fella, Dwight Howard, looks to thunder his name alongside past big men greats when he and the Magic go up against one of the most celebrated franchises in sports.

Need to see the flick as it happened?

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Damn, before you know it, we’ll be watching the Super Bowl. Seems like the season blew by like a Derrick Rose crossover or a Ray Allen jumper in your eye. As the Finals begin, what will be the moment we all remember? Will it be Kobe with a Mike like golden mirror kiss or a Dwight Howard portrait on a tearful rebounding portrait?

Finals Preview later on.

Cynthia McKinney announces Formation of DIGNITY (Black Agenda Report)

Eliminating the NBA 19 yr. old age limit rule (CBS Sports)

What do you expect of Black students? (CNN)

Coach quits after University tells him to not recruit Black players.  (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Kobe is still searching for a rival. (CBS sports)

My Pops banged the Stylistics. Fell asleep to this track many a night.

Imagine coming into league and playing on the same team Shaq took to the NBA Finals. Then, after a couple of seasons, mentored by one of the best centers of all time in Patrick Ewing and are now in the Finals yourself.  Not to belabor the point, but this is why I expect a lot out of Dwight. He has a Hall of Fame mind talking and working with him every day. One who has been thrown Chicago and Miami wars…Dream escapes and John Thompson ESPN Classic tapes. All of that wisdom and knowledge is at Dwight’s disposal. As young and bright as Dwight is, he is definitely going to have the opportunity to thrive. Coach Ewing is cool and always has time for me before games. We’ve had some deep chats about basketball history and he was cool to give me 5 minutes of his time here:

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Just a couple of links before I post our NBA Finals preview. The preview will include an interview with Patrick Ewing…assistant coach of the Orlando Magic that was conducted during the playoffs. I hope you enjoy. Now to the links:

Rodney Harrison says Be Peace. (Hartford Courant)

Is Jameer going to play? What you think? (USA Today)

Eddie Jordan is up for the Sixers challenge. Will Andre Miller stay? (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Mos and Talib did the reunion thing Saturday night at the Nokia. Just across the street from where the Prez and Mrs. Obama were out on a date. (Rolling Stone)

Here’s video of the show. (Nah Right)

Hank Aaron part of a group that is buying the Florida Panthers of the NHL. (Reuters)

Why Go Go never made it out of D.C. Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers boomin‘ while I pulling up to Hampton for Labor Day? Ooooh! (Ebony/Jet)

The Philadelphia Tribune notes its 125th anniversary. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

This video is something I play when someone says no.  Always a pick me up because I’ve heard it a thousand times. No worries. Can’t stop, won’t stop!

NYOIl is working on a new project as we speak. I can’t wait for that.

In sports these days, athletes rarely live up to the hype. When they do, we expect them to go yard three times quick from the on deck circle. We are hopeful of the jaw drop every single play. Everyday, like legends of NBA yesterday. Some come into the league as men, some just very talented boys who rather spend all their time buying up a bunch of unnecessary toys…killin’ their legacies…their rock from age nine pride and joy.

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Who?

When you talk about best player in the NBA, there are a few guys in the conversation. But there’s nobody better than Kobe Bryant.

No current player has been through what Kobe has. Walk a mile in his low top Nikes and it will destroy your feet.

Who has the talent to play for one of the league’s most storied franchises and relish the spotlight? Who played for a title contender before 21, had the zeal to launch game altering shots, AIR BALL THEM, and come back for more?

Who had the skills and the drive to emerge from the shadow of “His Airness” only to dominate in a similar fashion? Who comes with the ability to improve year in and year out, holding off all comers to his throne. Kobe Bean Bryant has dominated the post Jordan era and this just may be the time for him to seal his legacy.

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There are things about a new place that stick with you. Perhaps you despise it because of what you left behind. Maybe you love it for the same reason. The possibilities of resting your head in a fresh location are endless. For me, moving to Atlanta introduced me to the practice of following a sports team through the eyes of beat writer. Reading his words and sharing in his carefully crafted experiences allowed me to visualize a team in a way I hadn’t before. His knowledge has allowed me to extend the dreams of what I could do and be. I can tell stories, I can give insight and I can make an impact. I know this because I’ve witnessed it firsthand. I know this because I read Sekou Smith.

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Sorry for the sad post, but make sure you keep the families in your thoughts and prayers. Don’t take your loved ones for granted EVER. Finals preview tomorrow. I guess most of you know who I’m picking.

A Constant Mourning written by a talented writer over at SV. She lost her son in 2004. Please read. This story hit me hard and not just because I consider her a friend. (Sable Verity)

The author of They Came Before Columbus: The African Presence in Ancient America, Dr. Ivan Van Sertima, passed on May 29th. Here’s his site. (The Journal of African Civilizations)

Top blacks in NYPD demand changes following Omar Edwards shooting. (NY Daily News)

Yankees are rolling. 18 straight games without an error is Major League record. (MLB.com)

Elena Delle Donne, who was the 2008 High School player of the year and abruptly quit basketball after signing with UConn because she was tired of the sport, is returning to the court to play for the University Delaware. In a crazy way, this may affect my daughter. (Delaware online)

Both are these cats are my peoples but yet and still, Ron Artest calls out Chris Webber and TNT. (Ball Don’t Lie)

Remember the complaint where three members of the New Black Panther party were accused of intimidating voters on election day in Philly? Case dropped. (Washington Times)

Was Jimi Hendrix murdered by his manager? (Guardian)

Sade to record first album in 9 years. Welcome back baby girl! We missed you. (Reuters)

Search continues for Air France jet. 228 were on board. (NY Times)

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Yeah, I called his actions…or lack thereof…after Game 6 foul. Thinking about it early this morning after doing Chuck D’s show, I’ve come to the conclusion who the hell am I to judge?

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