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

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