Undisputed

"Let's get down to business, metal, self-defense, or fitness..."


Chuck D - Fight the Power

Floyd Mayweather entered the ring with a perfect record last night...and when everything was said and done, he left the arena in a flurry of controversy.


Fight Night


Wilt Chamberlain once said 'nobody loves goliath...and when it comes to a certain wealthy, brash, undefeated boxer...I'd say that statement holds true. Money Mayweather will easily enter the boxing hall of fame, however, for as many people that love him...there are twice as many that despise him.


To prove my point, there have been more stories and reports in the aftermath about a sucker punch and verbal battle with Larry Merchant, than recap on how Floyd Mayweather dominated Ortiz from the opening round.


My favorite pugilists of all-time are Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Bernard Hopkins, and Floyd Mayweather. Two of the aforementioned names I've seen, and I think it's important to celebrate an athlete's brilliance before they retire.


Money speaks his mind, and he backs it up...what I admire most about him is his business acumen. His payment from the event yesterday comes from numerous sides, including pay-per-view, and the concession stands. 


The man is a boxing genius, and the longer he waits to fight Manny Pacquiao...the more money and fanfare he will command.


Stay tuned.




Words: @axgilbert


Picture: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Swan Song

Grand finale

3rd base line

The last dance

The Bronx Zoo

AG. and the Captain

"I'm a public enemy but I don't rob banks, I don't shoot bullets, and I don't shoot blanks...my style is supreme, number 1 is my rank...and I got more power than the New York Yanks..."

Chuck D - Miuzi Weighs a Ton

The best baseball park on planet closed its hallowed doors yesterday, and while I shudder at the fact that I missed the closing ceremony both in person and on television, I revel in the memories from the cathedral. From Lou Gehrig's speech, Larson's perfect game, Reggie's 3 homeruns in the '77 World Series, Charlie Hayes catching the final out in '96, Boomer and Coney on the mound, Bernie Williams and Paul O'Neill patrolling the out field, Jeter's dive into the stands against Boston, and millions more, the games and hours that I spent in that building will stay with me forever. 

I'm from Philadelphia so the question is how did I become such an avid fan of the New York Yankees? Well to best answer that, my family on my father's side is from Brooklyn and Queens so naturally/unnaturally they are fans of the New York Mets. At the time of my arrival to the city that never sleeps the Mets were the top dog, and their cross town rival the Yanks were less than stellar. My hometown team the Philadelphia Phillies, are the arch enemy of the Mets so I became a Yankees fan. 

I love baseball (some would say that I'm fanatical) and I have since become quite fond of both the Yankees and Phillies, but if I had to pick one team to root for...it would be the Bronx Bombers. My mother coincidentally is a Chicago Cubs fan, but that's another story. My favorite players are Willie Mays, Reggie Jackson, Ken Griffey Jr. and Derek Jeter. Of course there are others, from the past and present, but I don't want to turn this into a baseball who's who, so I'll stop while I'm ahead. 

I have been going to Yankee Stadium every year since they won their first World Series in the modern era back in 1996. I missed 2007 because I lived too far from New York to travel comfortably in one day by car or train (I did however catch them against the Orioles in Baltimore on the cusp of A-Rod's 500th HR), and this year I've missed seeing them altogether, as I've been working like a madman to pick up the pieces in this crazy economy. If Sunday night was the last Yankees game to ever be played in the "House that Ruth built", then my final memory would forever be from the last game I attended there on September 29, 2006. 

I would often attend games alone, because very few of my friends like the Yankees or baseball for that matter. On that night I not only had two tickets, but a willing taker...my friend from school, Patricia. I don't remember much from that game aside from the hot dogs, souvenir cup, and cold autumn night, but I was excited for no reason other than I was at a baseball game in the Bronx, cheering for my team, with a good friend, and in those moments...life can be as the Wu-Tang Clan once echoed, so simple. 

I'll miss the old stadium already, however I look forward to fresh memories in the new place. I drove by the old and new parks last week when I was driving south from the George Washington Bridge on the Harlem River Drive, and I could hardly keep my eyes on the road ahead of me because those buildings were a sight for my baseball weary eyes. One day I hope to pass the Yankees pride and tradition on to my family, but until that day (when I grow up) I'll continue to support the team wherever they play...near and far. 

And I'd like to thank my friend Danielle who not only started watching baseball and the Yankees because of me...but she attended last night's game with some friends from her job...and while she didn't take any pictures...she thought of me and called from within the halls of the best place in sports. So what did I do...I missed her call because I was in a meeting. 

Can't win 'em all!

Rebel Without a Pause

West Philadelphia style - AG. and Ahmir

Nike Air Force 1 - ?uesto golden ticket edition

"I got so much trouble on my mind...refuse to lose. Here's your ticket...hear the drummer get wicked!"

Chuck D - Welcome to the Terrordome

I was born, not raised in West Philadelphia. I have always claimed West Philly even though I didn't grow up there. When The Fresh Prince of Bel Air debuted on NBC in 1990, the main thing that mesmerized me was the song in the opening credits, as Will Smith would proclaim his West Philadelphia roots. Aside from the theme music, Will and Jazz provided me with hope, and the aspiration to make it in the entertainment industry. I didn't want to rap, DJ or anything like that, the only thing that mattered was becoming an actor, or an analyst for ABC's Wide World of Sports.

My mother attended West Philadelphia High School and I wanted to go there as well. My father and his siblings were and are still very well known there, so when we moved, I didn't realize that we had left the neighborhood...having settled in the somewhat friendlier surroundings of East Oak Lane. We were still in the city, but it was a stark contrast to the Wild West.

To make this anecdote a little more interesting I also call Brooklyn, NY home, however that is another story. All in all, its a matter of pride, and in my professional career, I look forward to taking my place among the great people of my hometown...from Wilt Chamberlain, Patti LaBelle, Kobe Bryant, and Tammy Montgomery, to Guion S. Bluford Jr., as well as Ahmir Thompson.

Yesterday I began things as I normally would...brushing my teeth, checking facebook, and watching ESPN. Somewhere within the 9 o'clock hour, I received two phones from friends saying that I was quoted in the newspaper about the new ?uestlove Nike Air Force 1. By midday the text messages started to pour in asking if I could secure a few pairs of the shoe. A little while later, I decided to make a trip to UBIQ, where the sneaker would release, not only to see what the fuss was about, but to more importantly support ?uestlove, and interview him.

I arrived around 5:30pm and I made my way through the traffic of people to the DJ table. I leaned over and asked ?uesto if I could get a few minutes in between sets, and he agreed. During my wait, I enjoyed the scene, and caught up with friends. As the night began to cover the sky, like red wine seeps into the soul..I noticed Marsha Ambrosius, and that's when my gears starting turning. Not only could I get my one interview, but I could also speak extemporaneously with Marsha. It's moments like these that remind me why I choose a path in journalism and mass media.

Here is the score on my conversation with ?uestlove:

Talk about Hip-Hop as your first love:

"I love all music, however things changed when Public Enemy dropped It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us Back. I walked from 52nd and Osage [avenue] to 52nd and Market, to the local Mom and Pop record store. I got the cassette at 9:30 AM, and I walked 25 blocks to work. I was utterly obsessed with all the tracks, but it was Show’em what you got that really did it for me. And then I went on the biggest decision of my life…I went on my lunch break and I never came back.”

This question is from DJ Dai*Light in Japan...with CD mixers and computer programs replacing turntables, as well as Internet radio, mixtape sites, and personal music pages helping artists break their own music, what standards do new DJ's set?

"It [new technology] helps me. No one ever asks the question of my authenticity because the whole world knows that I have a large record collection, and whenever I go on tour...I take my records with me, and one of them always manages to break. So for me, its like I always dreamed of carrying 20,000 records in my pocket, you know what I'm sayin'? So pretty much for me, I see it as a new evolution. Some people are afraid of change, some people view the serato and are more terrified of it, than they are of a black man running the country."

Talk about the art of collecting records and sneakers:

"Pretty much, I'm on another level with record collecting. I have brokers. I don't do the normal...now I dig...I usually go to the Salvation Army, but my time is limited, so I just cut to the chase. I have brokers, and they call and say 'a widow wants to sell her husband's jazz collection, or 'a mother needs to raise money for her son in jail, so I have the brokers that handle all that for me. But yeah, anything goes, I'll collect anything. I like going to new countries and seeing things that they have to offer. This is the information age, and people can reach you on myspace and they'll say, 'yo when you come to Brazil, I'm going to take you diggin'. So I'm on a different level with my diggin' game. With sneakers...I'm pretty much in with Nike so all I have to do is call the company, and say 'I'll take 8 of those. But I still buy sneakers, even when I have 'em coming to me, I still get extra pair to keep on ice. I purchased 10 pair of my own sneakers, and I would have actually bought every pair."

Watch the video below for more on ?uestlove: