Great Adventure

"Get the point...good...let's dance"

Janet Jackson - Interlude: Let's Dance

As a collegian one of the things I always looked forward to outside my broadcast television classes...was the NCAA tournament.

Madness

Temple University always had great basketball teams...in fact it was the leadership of Coach Chaney...and play of the Eddie Jones/Aaron McKie tandem that attracted me to enroll. Well...that is after my dream of attending UCLA didn't come to fruition, however that's another story...nevertheless I'm happy to say that things haven't changed much on North Broad Street, as the Owls have been ranked throughout the season, and well on their way back to the tournament.

My allegiance is to TU, and then everyone else...one of my favorites outside the alma mater is Villanova, and even though they have struggled recently, I know they will be just fine because the Big East is by far the best conference in the nation.

Everyone talks of the SEC with Kentucky, the Big 12 and Kansas, or the ACC with Duke...however the Big East has several schools that have superior teams with experience, and talent at numerous positions. With their victory over Georgetown, hopefully the world will understand how good West Virginia is, and the Pitt Panthers are another team that plays exceptionally well without the recognition.

I'm not going to make any predictions, however when you are filling out your brackets, remember the Temple Owls, and their neighbors in the Big East.

You can thank me later.

Photo: AXG

Second Semester

Basketball IQ

"I wish for you 100-years of success, but it's my time..."

Jay-Z - Roc Boys

Whenever ACC oppents matchup, it's usually a great contest, so last night when #9 Clemson visited Tobacco Road, and the #6 Tar Heels, Wayne Ellington and company didn't disappoint crowd, or the national ESPN audience.

Student Athlete

This time last year I was living in Oregon, and while the PAC-10 is a great college basketball conference with the likes of UCLA, Arizona, and Arizona State...there is no place like home. I would catch the Big East, ACC, and Atlantic-10 sparringly, but one game stood out, and that was UNC vs. Clemson, as the 'Heels traveled to South Carolina for an important conference battle. That game went down to the wire, as sophomore Wayne Ellington made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to seal the victory.

Ellington's heroics against the Tigers remained in tact as he led his team on Wednesday to an impressive win 94-70. He played a team high 32 minutes, scoring 25 points, while handing out 7 assists, and grabbing 6 rebounds. His only mistake was leading both teams in turnovers with 4...but I'll take that at this stage in his career now, because it means two things. First and foremost, he was being aggressive, and next, this is how he will learn the valuable lessons for the next level.

The Philadelphia native is a big Kobe Bryant fan, so in KB24, he has one of the best to look up to. It's only a matter of time before he joins him on the big stage.

Tonight I'm headed to Temple University for some more college basketball action, as I'm sure Dionte Christmas will leave me with something to write about tomorrow.

Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Politics as Usual

Pride

Strength

"Down to Maryland...all the way over there at Morgan State..."

RZA - Ain't Nothin' Ta F--- Wit

I love sports, because like our lives...anything can happen without a moment's notice. On Wednesday, January 7th, the Morgan State University Bears, traveled south on the beltway to College Park, MD to play against the University of Maryland. What would eventually happen is something that brings joy, and pain.

unBEARable

During the days of racial tension and Jim Crow laws, black people in this country worked together to provide services, and opportunities for one another. For example, there were black business (hotels, laundry mats, newspapers, restaurants, mom & pop stores, etc.) that thrived in this country because of segregation...as this relates to institutions of higher learning and intercollegiate sports, they also enjoyed the success of high enrollment, and winning programs.

Once the integration doctrine was accepted, things changed within the black communities, as there was no longer a specific need to support one another...because a new integrated world had opened up. Traditionally Historically Black Colleges and Universities had the best of the best athletic programs...with Coach Gaines, and Earl Monroe at Winston-Salem State, Coach John McLendon at North Carolina College for Negroes, Coach Ben Jobe, Avery Johnson, and Bobby Phills at Southern University, and John Chaney at Bethune Cookman University, to name a few. Nowadays playing for an HBCU is second to the likes of the University of Florida, Duke University, and the University of Kentucky...so when the Morgan State Bears "upset" the Maryland Terps 66-65, it became BIG news. 

I was watching ESPN as always on Wednesday night, when I saw the highlights from the game. I didn't know what to think? Should I be happy because the Bears are getting some national recognition, or should I be upset because they don't get enough attention? As of this morning, I still haven't decided, so I wrote this rather spirited piece. Last season MSU, under coach Todd Bozeman, won 22 games, good for 2nd best in the school's history, if you didn't already know that fact. I say that to say...MSU has a good men's basketball program. 

Last but not least, I went to Temple University...passing on Howard University...which makes me stop and think...was I apart of the problem that I'm writing about now...or did I stay home in Philadelphia because it was best for my family? The answer is...I wanted to attend UCLA because of the prominent black athletes that received their education there in the past...from Jackie Robinson, and Arthur Ashe, to Lew Alcindor, Flo Jo, Reggie Miller, and Pooh Richardson, so between that, and I really didn't have a choice other than Temple and Howard.

As the University of Maryland can attest...things don't always go accordingly to plan, and that's why the games are played. 

Congrats to the Morgan State University Bears, all the best this season.

Photo: Carol Smith

The Wizard

Pauley Pavilion

A beautiful mind

Life lessons

I've been scared and battered.

My hopes the wind done scattered.

Snow has friz me,

Sun has baked me,

Looks like between 'em they done

Tried to make me

Stop laughin', stop lovin', stop livin' -

But I don't care!

I'm still here!

Langston Hughes - Still Here

I graduated from Temple University. However the cherry and white wasn't my first, or second choice for school. Its a bit of a long story, so in short, I was 16 entering my senior year of high school, so when I began to apply for college, I needed my mother's stamp of approval because I was a minor.

The only school that mattered to me was UCLA. I'm a big sports fan and no school has a tradition and history like the Bruins. My problem wasn't picking a school, or grades for that matter, it was convincing mom to let me go 3,000 miles away from home. Without much discussion the decision was made, as the happy medium between UCLA and Howard was none other than Temple.

Now don't get me wrong...I LOVE TU, and I have had the opportunity to live my dream of being on television because of my education, friends, and college family. So while I cheer for the Owls, I have kept a special place in my heart for Yook-LA!

Like my alma mater the University of California Los Angeles has a legendary basketball coach, and I have learned a great deal from them both. For obvious reasons the personal friendship/relationship that I have with Coach John Chaney is something that I could never put a price on or explain. He is a father to all those that have played and worked under him. Coach John Wooden has impacted my life as well, even though I didn't play for him. In fact, I've never met the man, but his teachings and example have helped me in basketball and life.

Coach Wooden has several principles for the game of life, called the pyramid of success. The following are the ones that mean the most to me:

• You must have faith; faith is believing that things will turn out as they should
• Be quick, but don't hurry
• Failing to prepare...is preparing to fail
• There is no substitute for hard work
• There is nothing stronger than gentleness
• You must maintain self-control
• Be loyal to yourself, and all who are depending upon you...keep your self respect
• You must have patience; good things take time
  

The first time I visited the city of angels, I wanted to see all the sights from the HOLLYWOOD sign to Rodeo Drive. However the one place I wanted to go more than anything was UCLA, and the famed Pauley Pavilion where the greatest college basketball program in the world has played for over 40 years.

The school is in Westwood, right next to Bel Air, and Beverly Hills. Walking on that campus was surreal. Not because I always wanted to go there, but because compared to the east coast, THIS is what college life is all about. In a word, WOW, the campus is beautiful, as are the people, and weather. Maybe someday I can attend grad school or film school at the school that for me, never was. In the meantime, its a dream and a fantasy.

The Fresh Prince

Straight outta Compton

Tayshaun Prince is not one for the spotlight

"As I leave, believe I'm stompin', but when I come back boy...I'm coming straight outta Compton..."

Ice Cube - Straight Outta Compton

I began playing basketball when I was about 10 years of age. It was the third of many sports that I learned, however it was exactly what I needed, as the game has enabled my dreams to come true, both on the court and off. There were two things that I wanted to change in my youth...for starters, I was really short, and I'm sure it was worse in my mind, but I measured at a miniscule 5'5" my freshman year of high school. The other thing that I wrestled with was that I was really skinny, a major problem when suiting up in my JV basketball uniform. I'll never forget what Mimi Crespo said in her boricqua accent, after one of my home games..."good game Ant...DAG you're skinny!"

Everything as I knew it in my world had crash landed. Not only did she and I attend the same school, but she also lived around the corner from my house, which meant I had someone attractive to walk home everyday. Needless to say, nothing but a good friendship ever blossomed from that, so I turned the negative of my resemblance to a stick figure, into a positive by looking up to the skinny ball players of the NBA and NCAA. Naturally I emulated Eddie Jones, as he was the most electrifying and scrawny guy on the Temple Owls, and my other hero was Reggie Miller because he was just as frail as I was, and he had an awkward form on his jump shot...to say I could relate is an understatement.

I went to Temple University because of Eddie Jones, as my mother wouldn't let me apply for the school that Miller attended...UCLA. (I was 17 and still a minor) Fast forward to 2000, as I was a college junior with my sights set on the corporate world...that is after the season was over. My team went to the Elite 8 losing to the eventual champion Michigan State, but it was the play of Kentucky sophomore Tayshaun Prince that had my radar turning. His height, natural ability to score, and really good defense gave me an inkling that he would become a good to decent pro. At a lithe 6'9" (206 centimeters), he reminded me that the smallest guy on the court can not only win, but also excel.

In the midst of the recent Detroit Pistons playoff run, we had a brief minute to talk. I saw him as he just walked out of the locker room...so I asked if I could interview him on the walk to the team bus? He hesitated for a minute, and then said it was cool. He is not the most loquacious, yet when he does speak, its good to listen. The similarities between he and I didn't stop at our weight or lack thereof...he too was raised in a Christian home, doesn't like to go out much, has a college degree, and and is very close with his family.

Here is the final score on our court side conversation:

Talk about your collegiate experience playing under Tubby Smith:

"Its crazy because 4 years of college has a lot to do with being more prepared, being mature about not playing that much, when your name is called...being ready, you know those types of things. More experienced guys are going to be ready for those types of situations. For me it was a great achievement on my part for the simple fact that, I went from not playing that much throughout my whole rookie year and then being able to respond like I did, shows a lot of maturity and patience."

What stands out about last summer with Team USA?

"I just wanted to contribute in any way that I could. I know I'm a versatile guy that can play several positions and I know that intrigues them, [USA coaches] and by having me on the team...I'm a smart player that can recognize different situations, so when the summer comes, those are the things I can help the team with. Last summer I sat out that one game [with an injury] just for the simple fact that...I could have played, but we didn't want to take any risks. The guys were playing great, so I just took a game off to heal, so it wasn't a situation where I was out a really long time."

Who did you look up to when you were younger?

"I looked up to Magic you know...growing up in LA watching the Lakers. It was his versatility. He played the point guard position, directing and getting his teammates into certain spots, and I evaluated how he played. And that gave me understanding when I started to play the game. I started to realize how the game was played and it helped me to mature. I''m 6'9" and can handle the basketball, and do different things, and just watching him helped to show me my value as a player and what I can bring to a basketball team. By watching Magic and experiencing that, gave me an opportunity to see what I could do when I went out to play with my team."

Watch the video below for more on Tayshaun Prince: