Three-Thousand

"I apologize if this message gets you down..."

Andre 3000 - Int'l Players Anthem

Within the wide spectrum of teams in all sports...there is one that stands alone.

Excellence

Earlier this week the Los Angeles Lakers reached new heights within their franchise. Last night they cleaned the Staples Center floor with the visiting Clippers 126-86, and on Wednesday with a late 4th quarter basket by Kobe, the Lake Show defeated Dallas 100-95, earning them victory number 3,000 in their illustrious timeline. (This was the Lakers’ 2,543rd victory since moving to Los Angeles)

I respect history, and when speaking with Sonny Hill a Philadelphia basketball legend in his own right, I asked him...if he could pick one person to represent the Lakers, who would it be? I was expecting him to immediately reflect about Wilt Chamberlain, however to my surprise he said without hesitation Elgin Baylor.

From there he began to school me on how Baylor revolutionized the game with his ball handling, and jumping ability. In fact he took the league in a new direction...playing above the rim like no other at his time.

There are other names that could make a claim for the best ever....as for now I'm going to trust the opinion of Sonny Hill. The team will make their yearly east coast trip soon, so I'll be sure to ask some of the current players and coaches their thoughts on the subject.

Stay tuned sports fans.

Legendary

Rage against the machine

"In reality, I'm going to be who I be...and I don't feel no faults...for all the lies that you bought..."

Jill Scott - Hate On Me

Kobe Bryant is in my mind, and opinion the best basketball player of this time and era. The things he can do, and has done within the borders of the game is mind-boggling.

I’m in the midst of my yearly east coast Kobe trek as I always follow the Lakers whenever they play in Philadelphia, DC, Newark, and NYC. Last night I covered the game against the 76ers in which Kobe had a very nice homecoming, scoring 32 points, while assisting his team toward a win. He was interviewed directly afterward by KCAL 9…I proceeded to make my way onto the court, to get Kobe’s attention, as I needed to speak with him about the story I’m writing…once he was finished with the KCAL 9 anchor, I said, “what up Kolb?” He turned and shook my hand and pulled me in for a bear hug. After catching up for a minute, he commented on how nice my suit was, and walked into the locker room.

After about 10 minutes I made my way to the visitor’s locker and who did I see…none other than Sonny Hill, and Earl “The Pearl” Monroe. To simplify that, they are what are known as Philadelphia basketball royalty, and they came to show their respect for Kobe. That in itself is an amazing thing to witness.

Tonight I’m headed “home” to DC to catch up with Kobe and the Lake Show on Friday, and it’s moments when I cover the Lakers games that make my job not only worth while, it makes it priceless.

P.S. - If you click on this KCAL 9 link and watch the post game interview with Kobe Bryant...you will see he and I at the end of the clip. And last but not least, I had some Spanish rice after the game, and everyone knows how much I love comida latina, well at least you do now.

Peace.

The Most Known Unknown.

Native Son

People's Champ

Wisdom from Chamberlain and Sonny Hill

Desire

'Sheed and AG. in North Philadelphia

Iconic

"You ain't ballin', you pump fakin'..."

Beanie Sigel - One Shot Deal (Feat. Redman)

Last night while driving home from my workout, I turned on 610AM WIP...the Philadelphia all-sports talk radio station. Ike at Night was on and the topic was the players only meeting called by Donovan McNabb. After a good 20 minutes, Ike changed gears to the NBA, and how Rasheed Wallace although slightly off center, is one of the best basketball talents the league has seen. I thought it was sort of a backhanded comment, so I think I'll tune in tonight and call in.

The talk of 'Sheed, and the upcoming NBA season, made me think back to when I started taking journalism seriously, and my first interview with Wallace. I attended his free basketball camp back in '02, and not only was I accepted as a member of the family, I learned a lot about the oft misunderstood gentle giant.

The following story never ran as I wrote it to sharpen my journalistic knives:

Like him or dislike him, Rasheed Wallace is a man on a mission. The two-time NBA All-Star (2000, 2001), whom enjoyed a stellar career at the University of North Carolina, and was a High School All-America (National Player of the Year 1993) he often stands misunderstood. However Rasheed Wallace is all about his family, basketball, and the community, which he best serves through the Rasheed A. Wallace Foundation. With the foundation he is able to provide the community with a positive outlet, basketball, knowledge, and an example of a hard worker, and devoted family man.

Philadelphia, PA, Simon Gratz H.S., 17th & Hunting Park Avenue – Summer time in North Philadelphia means a lot of things, but to Rasheed Wallace it means giving back to the community. During the week of July 2 – July 6 (excluding July 4th) Rasheed Wallace presented his annual free basketball camp to the masses that was North Philly. “Giving back to the community is very important. I see it as a reaction, a necessity if you will to give back to the community. Everybody isn’t going to make it to the NBA, so I try to provide various speakers at my camp. For instance my cousin is a police officer, and he came to speak to the campers. I also bring in lawyers, coaches, players, and people from all professions.” Says Wallace as people of ages cling to him like the sweat drenched camp T-shirt on the backs of everyone present. Jacqueline Wallace thinks the world of her son, as she takes a break from camp director/camp mother to reflect upon him. “I think that it’s fantastic that he is community oriented. The camp was his idea and it is funded for and sponsored by various outlets including him. He is a good guy, I love him and being an NBA player with the funds that he has, he has not changed. He is the same person that he has always been. I like the camaraderie that he has with his brothers (Muhammed Wallace, Malcolm Wallace, Ryan Tabb, and Michael Tabb) and he is a genuine family man.” You can take the man out of the ‘hood but you can’t take the ‘hood out of the man. Not to say that is a bad thing but Rasheed Wallace is as real as any NBA superstar can get. People drive by and beep the horn as he waves back while sitting on the steps of his former high school, signing autographs as he once did as an adolescent. Surrounded by family, former coaches (Bill Ellerbee, and Roland Wharton), friends and the neighborhood that he dearly loves, he stands tall at 6’11” 225 lbs, he stands taller as one of Philadelphia’s favorite sons. The Rasheed A. Wallace Foundation was established in 1997 to promote programs that enhance the quality of life for everyone, and helps to assist in the recreational and educational development of youth in Philadelphia, PA, Portland, OR, Durham, NC, and other selected communities where he has resided.

When asked about the benefits of the basketball camp Rasheed replied, “I try to give the campers the knowledge that they can be successful in other things than basketball. If I can reach out to one person then I can reach out to others. Besides that I want to teach basketball and give people the opportunity to become better players.” Former high school teammate and Temple University standout, Lynard Stewart came by for a fun filled week of basketball and life skills as he exclaimed, “We played high school basketball together. I figured that I should get involved it’s like a family thing. Besides I live up the street so I wanted to get involved and work with the kids.”

Friday, July 5, 2002 - last day of the camp, and the campers were delighted to be entertained by a camp counselor game versus various wanabees. The campers, parents, and fans alike were privy not only to the game in which Rasheed Wallace’s team won, but a post-game slam-dunk contest. Rasheed Wallace was forced to bring out the best dunks as he was challenged ferociously by 20 year-old Mike Keys, 1999 graduate of De La Salle H.S., also in Philadelphia, PA. “It was just for fun. Basketball is everything. It is my life, and it comes before mostly everything”, says Keys as the crowd cheered him on as if it was the slam-dunk contest sponsored by the NBA.

Saturday, July 6, 2002 - brought an end to the festivities for the week as the campers and their family members were invited to a barbeque in near by Hunting Park with Rasheed Wallace and his family. Everything was free of charge of course, as Rasheed would not have it any other way. “I try to give an uplifting spirit to the community. I have a few business ventures and I want to provide for the people of North Philadelphia”, Wallace expressed and when asked about his future and the community he spoke very candidly and said, “Preferably good things are in store for the future. I’m the type of person to live day by day. I may want to put up a few buildings or create jobs in North Philly. When people think of North Philly they think of burned down buildings and drugs, but if we build it up then we can make things better for living.” This is Rasheed’s mission and he is ready and set like North Philadelphia is depending on him. Rasheed Wallace has not let Philadelphia down in anything that he has done and at this rate he never will.

Watch these videos for more on Rasheed Wallace:

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