By Any Means Necessary...

West Coast offense

Brian and AG

"Handle my biz...I scramble like Randall with his...Cunningham, but the only thing runnin' is numbers fam...Jigga held you down six summers..."

Jay-Z - Heart of the City (Ain't no Love)

I'm in the midst of a very long, summer. The term hard work does not give justice…and for those of you that know me, you should remember how much I dislike the summer months. The good news is that we are getting further away from the sticky July days and nights, and closer to the cold wintry season were I can feel what seems like frigid air flowing in my veins.

Nevertheless, I am thankful for my hectic summers, because every year I try to work harder than the last, so that eventually my mother will not have to work as hard as she did when my siblings and I were younger and still does today. Hard work makes people appreciate the fruits of their labor, and in turn the labor is often times rewarded.

In October 2003 I landed a job with the Philadelphia Eagles as a volunteer for the Media Relations game staff. I had been out of work since July 2002, so I was very grateful to work for free. It was a start, and in most instances that's all you need.

My first game was mid-season on October 26; as the team would go on to win 7 more games in a row for a 9 game win streak. That win streak changed the season, as the team would win the NFC East Division for the third time in consecutive seasons. The wins began, on October 19th in the Meadowlands where the 2-3 team was fueled by the strong play of Brian Westbrook, to the note of a game winning 84-yard punt return, for a touchdown. The Eagles were down 3 (10-7) to their rival the New York Football Giants, and with 1:34 remaining on the clock and no timeouts, Westbrook did what he has been doing since he was a kid growing up in Fort Washington, Maryland. 

Westbrook was the first person on the team that I made friends with. We both loved sneakers...so everything clicked.

Any Given Sunday

Five years, Campbell’s Chunky Soup commercials, Super Bowl and Pro Bowl appearances later…Brian Westbrook hasn’t changed, or skipped a beat.

Here is the instant replay on our conversation:

What is your favorite sneaker of all-time and why?
“Jordan. You know it’s so many of them that I really like, but if I had to pick one...it would pick the Jordan XI, white/black.”

What shoes do you play in?
“When I play on grass I’ll wear a 7-stud [cleat], and when I’m on turf I’ll wear a molded cleat, but most of the time I play in the [Nike Zoom] Michael Vick.”

What are the major differences between the sneakers and styles in Philadelphia as opposed to PG County Maryland?
“In Philly the style is a lot more flamboyant. You will see wild, bright colors in Philly, but in PG [county] we have the ability to be wear those colors but we are a lot more relaxed with our style.”

What was it like playing in the Super Bowl?
“The thing about the Super Bowl is that it defines your professional career. The fact that we [Philadelphia Eagles] got there was very exciting, now we didn’t win it, but being there was something that I will appreciative forever.”


Ambition and determination are qualities that cannot be taught, purchased, or sold. Either you have it or you don’t. Brian Westbrook is ambition, and he embodies determination, every day on and off the field.

Peace.

AG.

Photos: Jamie Squire/Getty Images, AXG

By Any Means Necessary...

RG and AG courtside in Philly

Sports and sports culture are often a metaphor for our daily lives. You win some, you lose some…basketball, as the game pertains to me, and how I view things, are one in the same, as the game has provided joy, pain, wisdom, and life experiences far beyond my childhood dreams.

Along my journey, I have encountered my fair share of ups and downs, making decisions, right and wrong. The saying of, “you live and learn”, rings so true, and with new ventures on the horizon, I know that I have a lot more learning to do. Sometimes you figure things out later than you would like, nevertheless it is better to learn at any moment, than not at all. The point I would like to make revolves around something that is both black and proud.

“I’m dark like the side of the moon you don’t see…” – Mos Def, Astronomy (8th Light)

The Bold and the Beautiful

A few years ago, I received a gift that I didn’t quite comprehend and or appreciate. Right in front of me was something that I needed, and always longed for, however I believe that I didn’t understand what I had because it was given to me, and I didn’t work hard enough for it. Now that I have your attention I’m talking about my first pair of Nike ACG boots. A good friend had sent them in the mail at the beginning of the winter months, and instead of putting them on right out of the box, I waited until I was ready to wear a boot that Nike had made. Having grown up in Philadelphia, a Nike boot was one of the last things I was going to wear, let alone purchase.

One day on my way to work on a snowy, frigid day, I decided to adorn my feet with the boots I had cast aside like Robinson Crusoe. The first thing I noticed was how comfortable they felt, as if I was wearing a product from Nike Basketball. Once I stood up, I immediately noticed that I was taller, from there nothing was ever the same again, as I have met my match.

There is a region on the eastern seaboard, affectionately called the DMV (DC/Maryland/Virginia) by those who live there, and if style and swagger is what you are looking for, then you will not have to go far around these parts, because the DMV is home to everything from GO-GO music (Chuck Brown, UCB, Wale) to some of the best athletes in the world. (Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley, Shawne Merriman)

A few miles north in between this area and my hometown of Philly rests Baltimore, home of Carmelo Anthony, Rudy Gay, and no doubt the Nike ACG Boot. I recently sat down with Rudy one day after a game to catch up on things.
Here is the score on our courtside conversation:

Can you shed some light on the Nike ACG Boots?
“Man I was in middle-school when I had my first pair of Nike boots! I wear them the same as I did then. Nike boots go with anything. I used to wear them to church, you can wear them to the club, wear them to school…and we wore uniforms. Nike boots can go with your uniform! I think that people are just learning about Nike boots outside of Maryland, but we never receive the credit. I remember the first time I wore them in college (UCONN) and everybody was asking me what are they? They look like space boots, and now everyone is trying to get a pair. I had the Goadome, and I just got another pair.”

How did you get into sneakers?
“Well I started late because growing up I always had the hand-me-downs, and stuff like that, and I think that is what gave me a love for sneakers. Growing up I had 2 pair of shoes…I had my play shoes, and my old good shoes. My play shoes were sometimes too small and everything, but that’s how it was. Having grown up that way, I appreciate things much more now.”

What is your favorite sneaker of all-time?
“Favorite shoe of all-time…I would say the Jordan XI, they’re crazy, white/black! Oh and how could I forget about the Nike Foamposite shoe, the Duncan’s, I would say those too.”

Talk about your relationship with Nike?
“My relationship is good. I went to their camp when I was younger. Actually they accepted me…I didn’t expect to be in any camps. I wasn’t on the radar at all. They gave me a chance and I took advantage of it, that’s how I see it. When no other camps were looking at me…I really thought I was going to a JUCO, (Junior College) but Nike gave me a chance and there were a lot of coaches out there watching and I made the best of it!”



I sometimes marvel at how things happen…one minute, I figured boots by Nike were irrelevant and now, they have been a staple in my wardrobe for quite a few years now. They are so good, that I’m crazy without them.

I’m so thankful for second chances…luckily for me, it was a matter of comfort, style, and height…and not anything more serious like lost relationships and love.

Peace.


AG.