STAY HOME | Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos

"Black is back, all in, we're gonna win..." - @MrChuckD

Everyone has a story, and professional athletes have narratives that some people know better than their own family history. Nonetheless, the only constant in this world is change, and while that might seem far-fetched, the reality is, change is as necessary as it is evident.

The end of the way things used to be

Earl "The Pearl" Monroe is one of the NBA's 50 greatest players, and he, like a lot of players from his era, attended HBCU's prior to establishing themselves in the league. Monroe (Winston-Salem State University) was one of three players, along with Willis Reed (Grambling State University), and Dick Barnett (Tennessee State University), on the '73 championship team that had starred on teams at black universities.

Two decades later New York was back in the Finals and there were two members on the Knicks, whose background was rooted in an HBCU. Charles Oakley (Virginia Union University), and Anthony Mason (Tennessee State University) were key pieces to that '94 Eastern Conference championship team.

Currently only Robert Covington (Tennessee State University), and Kyle O'Quinn (Norfolk State University) share the distinction of HBCU graduate turned NBA player. The legacy does not have to stop there. If a highly touted player takes their talent to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, the paradigm will shift, potentially opening the door for others to follow suit. 

The argument has been that the HBCU's do not have the facilities, TV exposure, or funding, to attract the caliber of players who attend the bigger programs. However, if the students from the Jordan Brand Classic declared for Maryland Eastern Shore, there would be an influx of money, and the networks would out bid each other for the broadcast rights.

Kevin Durant, stayed home, and his year at Howard University was one to remember:

• Naismith College Player of the Year
• MEAC Player of the Year
• First Team All-MEAC
• 2007 USA Today Sports national player of the year
• HBCU Athlete of the Year
• 32 points per game, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, & 3 blocks
• 34-3 for the best record in school history
• Final Four appearance (lost to #1 seed Hampton University)

Stay home.

Shake up the world.

Words: @axgilbert

Photo: @8eyemedia

Top Gun

"I got more power than the New York Yanks..."

Chuck D - Miuzi Weighs a Ton

The New York Yankees lost two mainstays recently, as public address announcer Bob Sheppard and owner George Steinbrenner died a few days apart from one another.

Business

I grew up a Yankees fan, and throughout the years I could always count on a few things once I got off the 4 Train at 161st Street. For starters Yankee Stadium would greet me with all her glory, and once inside...Sheppard's voice would boom with poetic grace, Derek Jeter would play in his spectacular All-Star fashion, and The Boss was at the helm.

Today, the old Yankee Stadium is gone, and Sheppard and The Boss have passed...however Jeter is there as the Captain...steering the team toward a new chapter.

In 2001, I wanted nothing more than a World Series victory due to the tragic events in September, and while the Yankees fell to the Diamond Backs in 7-games...it was just what New York City needed to assist with the healing process. Now with the loss of some very important persons...another run at the title would do both the organization and city some good.

I'll see you in October.

Photo: Mike Albans/New York Daily News

2nd Childhood

"I'll throw it down your throat like Barkley..."

Chuck D - Rebel Without A Pause

Last Saturday I stayed in for a quiet night at home, and once the Eagles vs. Cowboys game was over...the real fun began...

Laugh out Loud

I grew up chasing after my older brother...as I would watching him react to the likes of the Philadelphia, New York, and DC sports teams. The first sport I learned to play was soccer, however once I was introduced to basketball, everything changed.

As I learned the game, I started listening to the Sixers on the radio because my family didn't have cable television...and when I got a little older I would catch them on the local network and cheer my heart out. One player stood out from the rest...as he would play, and speak with such conviction that it started a love for the game that I continue to quench now as a sportswriter.

Charles Wade Barkley will forever be one of my favorite sports figures and when I heard that he and Alicia Keys were going to be on SNL, not only did I tune in...I laughed like I was a 10-year old kid in elementary school...sans the trip to the principle's office.

Twenty-10

Sky high

"I'll throw it down your throat like Barkley..."

Chuck-D - Rebel Without a Pause

The NBA Sprite Rising Stars Dunk Contest hasn't been the same since the best of the best dunkers, don't participate anymore...and while Dwight Howard is very deserving to vie for the trophy, things would be a lot more interesting if Vince Carter came out of retirement to challenge him.

Change

I always believe in the adage that the more things change the more they stay the same. First things first, Allen Iverson finally cut his braids off, and he now has a regular low-styled haircut like the rest of us over 25 crowd.

In other news out of Phoenix, last night during All-Star Saturday night TNT analyst Kenny "The Jet" Smith reported that LeBron James would enter the dunk contest next year, and if that wasn't good enough, fellow analyst Reggie Miller just about begged for Andre Iguodala to join him in what would be an epic battle of great high flyers.

Smith and Miller mentioned how the NBA greats have not only played a part in the dunk contest, but they have also won, so for King James to preliminarily put his name into the ring, he could very well walk the path that Dr. J, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant have done before him.

2010, is going to be one of the most watched and interesting NBA seasons since MJ retired.

Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

i/denti/tee

History

Style

"It's cool, never slippin', when it's moves to make..."

Black Thought - Stay Cool

When I write, I usually start an article with either some poetry from Langston Hughes, or a line from a song that's relevant to the story and or how I feel.

Say word

T-shirts have been a way of self expression for decades, as I can recall doing my best to be different in wearing t-shirts and sneakers that no one else had. Exclusivity is what drove me to search for the shirts and kicks off the beaten path. 

There is a new line of shirts built on a love of music. The brand, i/denti/tee, allows people to create personalized apparel using lyrics that begin with the letter "i". It is packaged in a 12" vinyl album cover, and has a coupon redeemable for 10 songs on iTunes. 

I've come up with a few lyrics that I'd like to see on a tee:

"I've got so much trouble on my mind..." - Chuck D - Welcome to the Terrordome

"I got a mojo too..." - Muddy Waters - (I'm Your) Hoochie Coohie Man

"I got soul, and I'm superbad..." - James Brown - Superbad parts 1&2

"I can't deny how the mami's feel..." - Peedi Crakk - Flipside

Master and Commander

adidas Commander for Dwight Howard

adidas Commander for KG

"Make you all jump along to the education...brother's gonna work it out, so stop chasing..."

Chuck D - Brothers Gonna Work It Out

adidas is the official sponsor of the NBA, so it only makes sense that they make shoes for some of the league's marquee players. It's no secret that I write about shoes regularly for various publications, as well as I have worked on a few sneaker commercials...so I've written all that to say, it's fitting for me to take the time to write about footwear here on GAME TIME.

Anything is Possible

adidas has long been a leader within the footwear and apparel industry, and the same has been true in basketball. From Oscar Robertson, Earl Monroe, and Pistol Pete, to Tracy McGrady, Dwight Howard, and Kevin Garnett, the tradition has been established and passed down. 

At the beginning of the season the brand with the three stripes released the Team Signature Commander and Creator series with two footwear designs to meet the specific needs of players and their unique roles on the court. 

Starting today adidas continues the evolution of the line with the TS Bounce Commander, which will be worn by Dwight Howard, KG, Tim Duncan, Josh Smith, and Michael Beasley. 

I interviewed Dwight Howard for BET News in June prior to his training for the Olympics, and since then he and I have decided to work on a few things during the second half of the season, so stay tuned...in the meantime you can check out the adidas website to see exclusive videos featuring Howard as well as a few surprises.

Watch the latest videos below:

By Any Means Necessary...

Black thoughts

Admiration

Scoop and AG. in Beaverton, OR

"Simple and plain, give me the lane...I'll throw it down your throat like Barkley..."

Chuck D - Rebel Without a Pause

I grew up off of 60th and Arch Streets in West Philadelphia, and I always wanted to be someone greater than my environment would ever allow. The Wild West as it is known, is a place where dreams do not necessarily come true. The problem is that everything is stacked against you from the dilapidated living conditions, crime, and violence, not too mention the poor school system. It is a problem that has plagued the city for decades. The more things change, the more they stay the same. However, I have been fortunate to have a role model of a mother that provided for my siblings and I, and because of her sacrifices, I am a success today.

SOUL to SOLE

In an African proverb, it is explained that it takes an entire village to raise a child. I believe this as it holds true to my very existence. As a youth, I always had people like my neighbors Mr. Keith, and Mr. Skip to take me to basketball practice and games, not too mention feed me and care for me like one of their own sons. In my professional career, I have Scoop Jackson the master to my apprentice, Ray Butts, and Isaac Perry, all of whom have walked along with me, and sometimes carried me in times of need. There are others such as Coach John Chaney, Coach Dawn Staley, Sonny Hill, Bobbito Garcia, Kris Aman, Dr. Angelia Nelson, Oronde Garrett, Eric Elston, and Ian Callender and his family, as no one person ever makes it in life alone.

I had to make my words in this column short, because to have Scoop as my guest, I wanted to give him space to write in his voice, on MJ, and his mark in American history. Scoop Jackson is a national columnist for ESPN.com and he contributes to ESPN The Magazine. He is best known in the sneaker community for writing a book on Nike Basketball entitled Sole Provider.

In his own words proudly present to you Robert “Scoop” Jackson:

What is it about the Jordan sneaker that has made it what it is today?

"I think it’s been a combination of several things, all coming together at the same time. The analogy I love to use is one about Michael Jackson because of how similar the situations played themselves out. With Jackson you had (beginning with Off the Wall album) the best singer/entertainer working with maybe the greatest producer ever in Quincy Jones who had the combination of greatness in Rod Temperton and Greg Philligines in studio while at the same time you had an outlet that was just beginning to find itself called MTV and a choreographer that was the greatest even in Michael Peters, all working together at the same time. It’s like all of the planets came into alignment at once for this one period of time and look what we got in return: arguably the most successful music run in history. Something that will never happen again.
The same thing I believe happened with Jordan. Here you had the best player in the game, who happened to connect with the greatest (although unknown at that time) designer in the history of the game, Tinker Hatfield. Combine that with the fact that Nike was in a relationship with and ad agency, Weiden + Kennedy, that (just like MTV at the time of Michael Jackson’s era) was trying to find itself and a filmmaker that was one of the greatest ever in Spike Lee (Just like Michael Peters, Spike was relatively unknown at the time) all working together at the same time. It’s the same story all over again. It’s like lightening happening twice. So the reason the Jordan sneaker is what it is today is because it had a foundation that was far greater than any other shoe has ever had. The same way 20 years later we can listen to anything from Off the Wall or THRILLER and say, that was brilliant and still listen to it with the same reverence that we did when it dropped. We are able to do and have those same feelings about the kicks that come from Jordan."

What is your favorite Jordan sneaker and why?

"The III. To me, that’s the Air Force 1 of the Jordan legacy. Why? It’s just everything about the shoe is flawless to me. I mean, historically it’s the first ¾ sneak and it’s the first shoe tinker did for Jordan and it’s the shoe that stopped MJ from going to adidas. But outside of that, I just “feel” that shoe. Unlike any other design, execution, longevity, style, all that, and I ain’t even going to speak on the performance of the shoe. Check MJ’s stats fro the year he wore that shoe. 1988. Check. Then there’s the whole Best on Earth, Best on Mars moment (poster). C’mon. It’s just, to me, I love that sneak. All time and here’s the funny thing: I refuse to own a pair. The II is so god-like to me that there’s a part of me that feels I haven’t earned the right to have a pair yet. That sneak is on some Holy Grail level with me. Maybe n about 10 more years, when I put in 10 more years of serious work, when I reach my Spike Lee stage and do Inside Man and When the Levees Broke in the same year, if I ever reach that kind of greatness, then maybe I’ll get a pair of III’s."

Is there a legit comparison to Kobe and MJ?

"Yeah, easy…like tracing paper. Xerox machine. KINKOS. As much as the replication looks, seems and feels like the original, its not. There’s always some resolution that gets lost in the process. But that’s just in basketball. As much as Jack Bauer (Kobe) and $ (MJ) are alike, they are totally different as people. And that affects the outcome of their games. Kobe is not as personable and charming as Mike. It’s not in his nature, that’s just not who he is. Part of MJ’s greatness was his ability to be cool with everyone, teammates, and victims. Dudes that played with $ would kill for him, he was able to draw that much love from others. Kobe’s never been able to do that and because of that I think he hasn’t been able to reach MJ’s level of brilliance. He has too many people around him that will never love him, which translates to how open the game is to him. It’s like, imagine how differently Barry Sanders career would have been if his offensive line hated him? Or better yet LaDainian Tomlinson? Those holes year after year would not open up. They would not block or fight as hard as they could for them to get those yards, which in the long run effects Barry’s and LT’s greatness."

How was the Jordan sneaker game back in the late 80's/early 90's in Chicago?

"Crazy. Every time a sneak dropped it was bananas! Stores would get broken into, schools would close (seriously), and kids would get jacked on bus stops and at malls. Straight madness, but it was all passion. That’s what drove it. I’ve been around a lot of cities and I’ve never seen the passion for Jordan kicks the way I’ve seen it in the Chi. It’s a different level. The history is different. No disrespect to Nike, but they lost a lot of money, not paying attention to what was really going on in Chicago, as far as footwear was concerned in Chicago during that time. They could have easily doubled their market share. From a financial standpoint, they missed an era. But to this day there’s nothing like it. There’s a special, and I mean very special, almost unconditional love that this city has with Jordan and every sneaker the brand decides to release I wish I could write a book about it, but that wouldn’t do it justice."

I am blessed to have mentors like Scoop, Ray, and Isaac, as they continue to show me the ropes, lifting me higher than I ever thought I could go. Each one, teach one!

For more on Scoop Jackson watch the video below: