Requiem

"My story...self explanatory..."

Jadakiss - Money, Power, & Respect

The Lakers were off on Thursday after their 118-96 victory over Indiana...and while their stay in Philadelphia may sound routine...for one player its far from mundane.

Carpe Diem

Upon touching down at Philadelphia International airport yesterday...the Lake Show ventured to 9th and Passyunk Avenue for a taste of that cheesesteak goodness from Geno's, before calling it a night at the team hotel.

This a special place for Kobe Bryant...its the city where his father, sisters, cousins, and uncle cemented their athletic prowess against the opposition. If New York is the mecca of basketball, then Philly is heaven on Earth...birthing and nurturing the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Walt Hazzard, Wali Jones, Paul Arizin, Tom Gola, Earl Monroe, Dawn Staley, Hank Gathers, Pooh Richardson, Jerome Allen, Aaron McKie, Cuttino Mobley, Rasheed Wallace, Mardy Collins, Kyle Lowry, and thousands of others.

I always knew that basketball in the city of brotherly love was a big deal, however it wasn't until January 22, 2006 when Bryant scored 81-points against Toronto that made me think on a higher plane about this town. I'll never forget that night as I was writing a story...I sat with my back to the television...and with an official news bulletin, ESPN announced that they were going to a live feed, as Kobe had 70+ points in the 4th quarter. I was beside myself...and immediately looked at the time remaining to see if he could score 100.

It was one of those moments when you walk into the history book, witnessing one of the best performances in the spectrum of the game. After making 2 free-throws for 80 and 81, he took a seat on the bench...it was then when I thought about how the two highest individual scoring binges in the NBA were set by Wilt and Kobe...from West Philadelphia.

Basketball is an intricate game, teaching those who coach and play, facets of life on the court and off. For Kobe Bean, a lot of his great performances are behind him, however I trust that he will continue to show and prove...as the best is yet to happen.

Photo: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

Standing Tall

Power

Strength

Courage

"Shooting air balls at the basket...what you call money, I pay more in taxes..."

Jay-Z - Oh My God

Pennsylvania is a well known football state, much like Florida, Texas, and Ohio, however the Keystone state is also home to some of the best basketball athletes to play the game. Names like Dawn Staley, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kobe Bryant come to mind, but one of the most known unknown great basketball players is none other than Richard Hamilton.

Native Son

I interviewed Rip Hamilton last summer for GAME TIME, during his annual Rip City community event in his hometown Coatesville, PA. Prior to that trip to the small coal mining city, I had only been there once. My friend and fraternity brother Jordan "JJ" Jackson lived there and attended Coatesville High School, and as I drove through the town, I was surprised at how different it was than I thought. I expected rural farm land, with a quaint boondocks feel, but what I saw was a town ravaged by the collapse of the industrial revolution. 

I am not a fan of Coatesville, Pennsylvania. I am however appreciative of the people that have lived there, that have navigated their way out, and have made a better life for themselves. This is no suburb of Philadelphia, this town is unlike anything I've seen, and I travel a lot. In essence, people grow up tough there, and if you see toughness and strength in Rip Hamilton's game, then you can only guess where he got it from.

The other day, Jordan Jackson visited the site, and posed the question about Hamilton playing less minutes with the Pistons, while coming off the bench. He made a point that Iverson's days are numbered in the Motor City, and that Rip is a proven scorer and winner within the NBA. He wanted my opinion, so here it is:

Rip is one of my favorite players within the spectrum of all sports and competition. He is a leader, and I believe that leaders are born, not made, therefore he is a legit athlete that has done nothing but win, and lead by example. I first noticed him during one of his many classic high school battles against his best friend Kobe Bryant. At 6'7", and approximately 190lbs, the lithe guard plays with an easy Sunday morning flow, almost lulling the defense to sleep as he creates baskets for himself and teammates. He's a shooter, but unlike most players of his caliber, Rip can put the ball on the floor, further putting the defense on the alter, at his mercy. 

For his size and ability, he is a special player. Imagine if he were never traded from the Wizards? That team could have been built around him, with Caron Butler, and Jamison? He has the basketball version of the Midas touch, because he has won, and proven himself on every level. He was the #2 high school player in Pennsylvania behind Kobe...won the NCAA Championship with UCONN, and earned a ring in Detroit. 

At 29...30 next month, he is still in his prime, so the Pistons need to figure out what they want to do. I believe the curse of Carmelo Anthony is haunting this team, and for those who need me to spell it out...the Pistons didn't draft Anthony in 2003 because they felt they were a team coming into their own with a championship on the horizon...that didn't need an established player like 'Melo...instead they choose Darko Milicic with the 2nd overall pick and the rest is history...and while the Pistons won it all in 2004, things haven't been the same since. 

This team is in such a state of discord that will not be fixed anytime soon. Things will get worse, before they get better, and that is so unfortunate for Richard Hamilton. However his saving grace is that he was born and raised in Coatesville, and because of that fact, he can handle this and a lot more.

Photos:  Doug Pensinger/Allsport

They Reminisce Over You

Life after death

25th and Diamond - North Philly

The final season

"I reminisce for a spell, or shall I say think back, 22 years ago to keep it on track. The birth of a child on the 8th of October, a toast...when my granddaddy became sober...count all the fingers and toes, now I suppose you hope the little black boy grows..."

CL Smooth - T.R.O.Y.

I tape segments for BET News once a week in DC. This past Thursday, I extended an invitation to my friend from Temple University to tag along with me. He had never been to the nation’s capital before so I figured it would be a good experience for him. On our trip back to Philadelphia (after a trip to Chick-fil-A), we were talking about basketball, and I mentioned Hank Gathers. His face was expressionless, so I then asked if he knew who Len Bias was. This time was no different, his disposition stayed the same. I then took a moment to drive from 19th and Norris Streets, over to 25th and Diamond, to teach him about two of the greatest basketball players to ever play the game. I remember my brother dedicating a reverse lay-up to Len Bias in 1986, and when Gathers died four years later, I can recall watching one of my middle school classmates cry during roll call. I’ll never forget that moment, as I didn’t know either of these men personally, but through what they have achieved with a basketball, I was able to have a connection with them. Hank was from North Philly, and even though he played collegially on the west coast, we knew who he was, and what he meant not only to the sport, but also to our community.

Eric “Hank” Gathers is and forever will be the game of basketball, the game that he helped to make great. He was born in North Philadelphia and raised along the long shadows cast down by the Ramon Rozen Housing Projects; he learned the nuances of life from his mother Lucille. However it was at 25th and Diamond streets where he would experience the lessons of sports. Be it outside or within the legendary confines the Moreland Recreation Center, games were played and a young Eric Gathers became the man-child everyone knew and loved named HANK.

Many players have honed their skills at the Moreland Rec. Essentially its basketball holy ground having hosted the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Guy Rogers, Hal Lear, Sonny Hill, Gathers, and his childhood friend Dawn Staley. He gave his all to his family and to his craft. Ultimately he gave his life, as the 94-foot court was not only his sanctuary but also as his final resting place.

We were blessed to have him for 22-years, and the titles of father, son, brother, cousin, uncle, high school champion, high school MVP, and Collegiate Player of the Year, cannot even begin to describe him. Hank is remembered for love, ambition, and numerous amounts of very great things that he had and accomplished. A 50-foot mural of him, now adorns the former Moreland Rec. Center, as it was renamed the Hank Gathers Center. He is survived by his family, friends, the entire North Philadelphia, and all those who play the game.

Photos:  Sports Illustrated

                 AXG

Flight of the Bumblebee

Staley - the best that ever did it

Teacher, and friend

Coach and AG - Philly's finest

"My name is J-I-L-L-S-C-O-T-T-eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhheeeeee...Jill Scott...representin' North Philly y'all!"

Jill Scott - The Roots (Interlude) 

The summer Olympics are in full swing, and I have been switching channels like crazy to observe as many different contests as possible. This morning I watched the USA women's basketball team, as they matched up against Mali, the west African nation. It wasn't much of a contest as their star player Hamchetou Maiga-Ba, also of the WNBA Houston Comets, was forced out of the action with an ankle injury, from Monday. 

The score was 51-28 by the half, and Mali only managed to score 5 points in the 3rd quarter, so instead of focusing on the game, I decided to check my email, and listen to the action rather than watch it. There are two things that had my ear long enough for me to look at the television...the first was an interview with Carlos Boozer of the men's team as he and his squad were there to show their support. A few minutes later, Craig Sager, the sideline reporter made a mention of assistant coach Dawn Staley and how she encouraged the team not to let up because the competition will only get stronger. From there the camera panned right to left and there was a stoic coach Staley giving instructions and guidance to her former Olympic teammates. 

I first met her in July, 1992, as she was my coach at the John Chaney/Sonny Hill Camp. She had such a positive impact on me, as years later in 2002 she would hire me to work under her as the film coordinator and office intern for the Temple women's basketball program. 

It was a pleasure to learn from Staley, who was a legendary North Philadelphia point guard having grown up playing with the late great Hank Gathers on Diamond Street. Coach is a true friend, and mentor, and her departure from Temple University to the University of South Carolina is bittersweet. She changed the atmosphere at TU, and turned a notorious losing team into a nationally ranked program, while sending two players, Candice Dupree, and Kamesha Hairston to the WNBA. (Both were first round lottery picks)

As a high school and collegiate star and All-American, she wore the number 24. After my first encounter with her at camp, I went to school that September and begged my coach for that specific jersey. I wanted to be just like her, and I figured I would start with the number, and I've been wearing it ever since, and when Kobe Bryant changed from 8 to 24, it most certainly bought a smile to my face. 

Coach is an American icon as she proved that with hard work and dedication, anything could be possible. The three-time Olympian is on the verge for her first gold as a coach, but most certainly not her last. 

Photos:   Pat Staub Photography

                  Temple University

                  AXG

Leaders of the New School

Candace Parker - youth, style and grace

Sue Bird - leadership and poise 

Cappie Pondexter - tenacity and intelligence

Diana Taurasi - aggressive and smooth

"Brothers front, they say the tribe can't flow, but we've been known to do the impossible like Broadway Joe...so, sleep if you want, my crew will help you get your Z's troop, but here's the real scoop..."

Phife Dog - Scenario 

The media will have you to believe that there is only one Team USA, which is unfair to the 1200 athletes that are in Beijing vying for medals and glory. These games are the ultimate array of all sports, as the United States have teams throughout the entire competition. What matters most to some, may not carry as much meaning to another. So with that said, I'd be remiss if I didn't write about the Sr. Women's Basketball Team. They are, with their win this morning 26-0 in Olympic competition since their semifinal loss against Brazil in 1992.  

They are led by the familiar touch of Dawn Staley and Lisa Leslie, as Staley has a new role of assistant coach, and Leslie, ever the ambassador is leading by example for the young members on the team. With Coach Anne Donovan at the helm, Team USA continues to prove their dominance over the world. The catalyst for their prowess is a mixture of moxie, superior talent, and unity. Heading the charge are guards Cappie Pondexter, Diana Taurasi, Kara Lawson, and Sue Bird who was molded by Staley. The front court is just as difficult to match-up against with Tamika Catchings, Tina Thompson (wears red lipstick for good luck), Leslie, Katie Smith, DeLisha Milton-Jones, Seimone Augustus, and new comers Candace Parker, and Sylvia Fowles.

What makes this group so formidable is their experience of playing with and against each other. The men showed what talent without togetherness looks like, and this women's team is togetherness personified. Lisa Leslie and Dawn Staley are BEST friends. Leslie also plays with the LA Sparks along side Parker, and Milton-Jones. Pondexter, and Taurasi play for the Phoenix Mercury, Lawson and Catchings starred for the Lady Vols together, and the other college connection is that of Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi with UCONN. 

Mystery solved...and while they got off to a slow start against the Czech Republic, they accomplished the mission winning by 40-points, 97-57. Kara Lawson was the spark plug, as Sylvia Fowles in her first Olympic match helped to pace the team with 16 points,  and 14 rebounds to go along with 2 blocks. (yes it was block party in Beijing and the Czech Republic were the special invited guest) The men's team showed their support by attending and cheering the women on to victory. 

The men's and women's teams are on the road for the gold, and three weeks from now, the games will be over. However the saga will continue in London for the 2012 Games, as the women's team, won't stop working to remain second to none. 

Photos: Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE/Getty Images 

                Garrett Elwood/Getty Images

Acclaimed Comedian and Actor Bernie Mac passed away this morning as reported by the Chicago Sun Times. He is gone, but not forgotten. 

Crazy 8's

Florence Griffith-Joyner - Seoul Gold

Sir Charles - precision and power

Redeem Team

West Philadelphia versus the world

Allyson Felix - God's gift

"You go ooh and ahh when I jump in my car...people treat me like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar...no matter who you are, when I'm up to par..."

Chuck D - Yo! Bumrush The Show

08.08.08 is upon us and in the tradition of the Olympics...let the games begin. I couldn’t resist naming this crazy 8’s, not as a reference to the 1993 Philadelphia Flyers line of Eric Lindros, Mark Recchi, Brent Fedyk and their jersey numbers (88, 8, and 18), but because this date is a historic, once in a lifetime occurrence...unless of course you feel like Teena Marie and have been here before?

The Games of the XXIX Olympiad hold the dreams, fears, ups, and downs of athletes and countries from all walks of life. When I think about the games, my first memory comes from a sweat shirt that my father used to wear when I was a child. It was a navy-blue hoodie that said USA ’84 across the front. I didn’t realize what that meant, but I do remember it well. It’s interesting what we recall from childhood, nevertheless my recollection of this world event begins with Florence Griffith-Joyner in Seoul, Korea during the '88 games. She was as talented and graceful as she was beautiful. She provided black children across the globe with hope, as I too was inspired and captivated by her medals (3 gold, 1 silver) that year.

Four years later Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and the Dream Team would take Barcelona by storm, thus changing me and the global aspect of basketball forever.

In 1996, it was Barkley and my favorite sharp-shooter Reggie Miller that led the charge in Atlanta for the gold, as Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Kristine Lilly and company ushered in gold for a new era in women’s soccer.

There are two things from 2000 in Sydney that I enjoyed...the first was the fact that Allan Houston of the New York Knicks (I was working as an intern for the Knickerbockers) was on that gold medal team, and last but not least, it was Vince Carter who jumped and dunked over the 7-foot Frederick Weiss, which has to be one of the best moves in basketball I have ever seen.

2004 in Athens was bittersweet. Dawn Staley of North Philadelphia (Ramon Rozen Housing Projects) carried the flag for the USA during the opening ceremonies which was AMAZING, and the Men’s basketball team didn’t playing too well, as they earned the bronze medal. I did however enjoy watching women’s beach volleyball...with Kerri Walsh and Misty May, as well as the Brazilian team, but that is another story.

What I anticipate this year is the opportunity for Kobe Bryant* and the United States to redeem*

USA basketball*, Allyson Felix and Lopez Lomong in track, Jessica Mendoza and Cat Osterman in softball, and Michael Phelps as he tries to swim into history. I love playing and watching sports, so I always look forward to Games.

Stars and Stripes forever!

* - Click on Kobe Bryant or USA basketball for a Nike video...and click the word redeem above, and if you watch the video until the end...you will see a moment with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and I.