Shoutout to Youtube for making this all possible. I know I’m not the only one who’s Facebook blew up around 9pm last night when the dunk of the year (so far) went viral. The announcer on NBA.com said Kendrick Perkins life just changed and I wouldn’t disagree. I wonder if anyone said anything to him in the locker room? Did his teammates console him, or did they try not to make eye contact? Did his ears get hot when he saw the highlight again? Did his nose itch? Did his Mom watch the game?
When you’re doing your thing people always say, “Keep up the good work.” It’s like they see you going hard and they’re like, “Damn if they just keep doing this, they’re gonna get somewhere.” I mean look at Lebron. How many times do you think he’s heard the phrase, “Keep up the good work,” or better yet, “good game?” Yeah, he has no jewelry but can you deny how far he’s taken it already? He went from a high school phenom to a global icon in less than a decade, and with no signs of slowing down. We’re seven days into the 2012, so let’s not forget how far we’ve come, and just as importantly, let’s not forget how far we’re going.
With the demise of the Jordan brand upon us, the faithful Jordan heads must hold onto the mere morsels of fresh that still remain. In my humble, the last few years have seen the brand scrambling for an identity, amongst too many retros and uninspired design. Not to mention, within the past five years, many of us also grew up, and realized we can’t wear basketball shoes to every occasion anymore.
Nonetheless, 2012 will see the release of one of the brand’s most celebrated designs in the form of the Air Jordan IV. Originally released in 1989 the Jordan IV introduced Nike’s iconic “Flight” logo to the world, while also providing MJ with the footwear to hit “The Shot“. Designed by the formidable Tinker Hattfield, rumor has it that the IV’s are set to drop on February 18th. I know someone’s juiced.
Bill Russell is recognized by many as the greatest basketball player of all time. Of course Michael Jordan fans will rebuke, as will any others who view scoring as the number one measure of a player’s prowess, but no player dominated the game to the degree which Russell did, or made the impact that he did. Among a laundry list of accomplishments, Bill Russell won an unprecedented 11 championship rings in 13 seasons and was the first African-American coach of any major sport.
Cliche though it may be, I think it’s worth restating every once in a while. The destination is cool, but the journey is really what it’s about. Everybody wants to blow up, particularly if they’re doing their thing exceptionally well. But once you’re there, you’re there, and there’s no turning back. As far as Mike goes, I think a lot of us are pretty well acquainted with his journey.
I remember sitting in Ms. Kennedy’s classroom, rifling through sports biographies as fast as I could, absorbing any and all information that might help me become a little more, well, like Mike. Stories about Michael — how baseball was his first love, or how he rocked the number 23 because he just wanted to be half as good as his brother, who rocked 45 — I learned the mythology like Bible-belt kids learn the gospels. Like any good story though, Michael’s is as inspiring today as it is was when I was ten. Just another reminder that sometimes, where you come from is just as important as where you take it to.
Case was always up on the hoop prodigies first. “You heard of Derrick Character?” he’d ask me. “You heard of Qyntel Woods?” he’d say. I haven’t found myself too juiced off many high school prodigies since Lebron. I mean Louis Williams on Philly because he graduated ’05, and Derrick Rose had those two bashes in high school. But since then, there really haven’t been too many hoopers that have truly dominated. Maybe John Wall…
But have you heard of Austin Rivers? I’m sure some folks have. He’s actually Doc’s son. Born in California, he graduated high school in Florida, acquiring two state championships in the process. He’s going to Duke next year, where he’ll probably stay for a year if the NBA ever comes back. A nasty jab step and a vicious crossover characterize his game as of now, but who knows where he’ll take it to. Take this with a grain of salt, remember this is a mixtape and not a game. But don’t forget where you first heard the name Austin Rivers.
For hoop fans, a lockout has to be the most hurt idea imaginable. In short, declining profits for some teams means raising the question of whether players deserve less money. More specifically, it’s a bunch of exorbitantly rich folks asking considerably less rich, but still very rich athletes to take a pay cut. For many of us, the notion that a dispute like this one could put a stop to something as dope as NBA basketball seems questionable, to say the least.
For those of us who find the idea of the lockout, or say Kobe or Lebron taking their talents to Beijing more than a little ridiculous, Malcolm Gladwell might serve as a voice of reason on the subject. In a recent piece for Grantland, Gladwell outlines what he sees as the problem, making the case that a basketball team isn’t exactly a business in the traditional sense of the word. Read on for a brief history lesson, and some insight on race, culture and the business of professional sports.
I’ve really gotta pat myself on the back for keeping these Kobe posts to a minimum on the Bowties. You know how much of a fan I am. And I also know how much some of you hate him. But polarizing figures can be compelling, hence why we choose to celebrate them. Conducted during his junior year of high school, this short interview captures Bryant in the midst of his teenage years. Captured five years before he touched his first championship ring, and eight years before the incident in Eagle County, this video now serves as a relic of the past. Gaining significance through hindsight, it’s crazy to see where he started, but even crazier to see what he’s become.
On assignment to shoot homeless people fashioned in tailored suits for his friend’s clothing line, London based photographer Dylan Don happened upon Ron Harris one day in April. A former Harlem Globetrotter, Ron traveled the world in the 60′s as a member of the traveling team. Frequenting the Venice Beach courts daily following his career, many consider him to be a legend of the storied playground. Bringing a couple suits to the beach with him, Dylan found Ron in his element and was pleased when Ron agreed to take some shots. “The only reason he shot with me was in order for his daughter to get these photos.” Recalled Dylan. Fortunately, she did, and now they’re here for you.
“We figured out what kids wanted. We didn’t want pretty. We wanted super heroes,†John Costacos says of the iconic posters he and his brother designed in the ’80s and early ’90s. The Costacos Brothers, Tock and John were responsible for over 700 different posters, depicting star athletes as larger-than-life, superhuman personas, which soared in popularity two decades ago, finding their way to the walls of millions of youngsters nationwide. Now, these classic pieces of kid-friendly memorabilia have found their way into the realm of high art, as Salon 94 in New York will feature a collection of lithographs from the Costacos Brothers’ glory years, appropriately titled For the Kids. For the folks out in New York, enjoy this one. For the rest of us, peep the gallery for a little nostalgia.
They called him “White Chocolate”. Watching him come down the court was exciting. It was like the ball was on a yo-yo in his hands. He was only really shining for three years, but in those three years he built a legacy. The cross on Gary Payton, the elbow pass in Oakland, the highlights go on. Some might call him a showman first, and a point guard second resembling the on court flare of Pete Maravich in his prime. But can you deny his impact? He made assists cool. But before it had begun it was over. Traded to the Grizzlies in 2001, it seemed as though White Chocolate turned back into Jason Williams, never to return. But thanks to Youtube we have the memories and the highlights. So hit the MORE if you’re so inclined and take a moment to remember White Chocolate.
“Phil knew how to get the best out of everyone. He decided early in the 1991 season that he would never have the starters play together in practice. Everyday he took Jordan and stuck him with the worst players. Then took the other 4 starters and played them against Jordan. He pitted Jordan against Pippen every day, and that’s ultimately what made them both so fantastic. On the flight home from New York after the bulls had lost games 1 and 2 in 1993. Phil showed the Bulls a Pink Floyd video, while Riley was showing his team General Patton stuff. During the video, Jordan got up and said, ‘Phil, you must’ve smoked some crazy shit back in your day.’ The Bulls won the next 4 games.”
I gotta admit, Steve Nash is pretty cool, and apparently quite introspective. As the leader of the Suns for the past seven years, (and those three years back in the 90′s) Steve Nash has risen to the pinnacle of professional sports on more than one occasion. Honestly, I was a little salty when Nash’s name was brought up in conversation during those MVP years, mainly because Kobe was doing his thing too. But with time comes perspective, and Steve Nash is pretty dope. Co-directing Into The Wind last year alongside filmmaker Ezra Holland, Nash helped tell the tale of Terry Fox, a cancer patient turned marathon runner who inspired people through sheer will. More recently, Nash has turned the cameras on himself to capture his life at the moment. Soon to be released in a theater near you, I bet we’ll all appreciate him a little bit more after the credits roll.
The NBA Playoffs are my favorite postseason in professional sports. Sure, March Madness has its frenetic upsets and Cinderella stories, and National Football returns us to America’s postindustrial wastelands in the midst of winter and treats us to a type of violent beauty that culminate into one of the great spectacles of Modern American capitalism.
But pro basketball treats us to something altogether different. It’s the tragicomic sublimity found at the end of a winner-takes-all system. Having been part of the amateur athletic underworld, I have visceral memories of the high school seasons that turned into spring exhibition tournaments that culminated into the endless summer of hoops tournaments. Four and five games a day against hundreds of other black boys who spent hundreds of hours mastering their games so that their own style would shine bright enough to earn the admiring approval of one of the scouts in the audience.
