Stern's Worst Nightmare

Throughout the puppet commercials, the Vitamin Water campaign, the countless specials, articles, barbershop debates and so on, I've been repeating one sentence like it was my mantra: "The Fix Is In." I enjoyed the intensity of the playoffs all the while believing that the script was already written, like the other teams playing were mere opening acts to an awe-inspiring grand finale. My brother claimed Garnett and Yao Ming were paid to fake injuries(he was kidding right?) while I studied the game spreads on gambling websites just knowing it had a bearing on the outcome. Suddenly the conference finals came along and things didn't look as they appeared. It was like reading a book while assuming you knew the ending; all the clues pointed to the two heroes dueling it out in the final scene; the only surprise would be which one would be left standing. Now? Doesn't look like there will be a storybook ending.

Historically the NBA has capitalized off rivalries. The fiery competition between teams and individuals captivated spectators nation wide and brought attention to a league some thought wouldn't make it in its early years. There was Russel and Chamberlin, with Wilt playing the role of gargantuan antagonist. He was a brash giant who towered over opposing players at 7'1" when there were about 2 or 3 other players in the league who barely hit 6'10". Then there was Russel, the much smaller player who played the team game to perfection and was as devout to defense as Beanie Sigel is to Islam.

The great Celtic/Laker feud brought fans into a war as intense as the Israeli/Muslim conflict. Their contention took precedent in the 60's with the Jerry West led Lakers suffering the heartbreak for the decade losing all five meeting against the team with the cigar smoking Auerbach and the trademark parquet floors. The "Rivalry" would be revitalized in the 80s headed by Magic Johnson and Larry Bird whose fierce battle in the NCAA championship drew on of the highest ratings in history. The competition was fierce and generated by intense hatred. Basically if the current refs of this pussy league we call the NBA officiated just one of these games, every player would've been suspended and sitting at home watching the ball boys decide their fate. These battles electrified the league and ushered in the reign of Michael Jordan, a man entertaining enough to need no rival.

When Jordan left the game with his hand frozen in the air and Bryon Russel trying to regain his stability, there was a void in the league. The next "Heir Jordan" was touted in every draft. Rather it was Vince Carter(no heart), Penny Hardaway(injuries), Harold Minor(ugh), or Grant Hill(injuries). Years later it would be Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade and Lebron James. None of the earlier players lived up to their billing, but these next three are duking it out for supremacy and it's happening right before our eyes. Kobe and Lebron have emerged as the darlings to carry the torch. The media has orchestrated a debate that could only be ignored if you were in one of those rare tribes being studied by anthropologists. Their highlights are played back to back on Sportscenter nightly, they are questioned about one another at their press conference. Opposing players are harassed about their opinions on the matter. I'm just waiting for one of them to make a diss track to set this thing off.

Now the subject of the so called 'Great Debate" could be over before one of the chosen approaches the podium. The Lebrons are being exposed for their lack of offensive imagination and their inability to guard the three point line. Teams have come back from 3-1 before and closing a team out is something different all together. But it's really starting to look the Cavs don't have enough help to keep King James in power. Then there's the Lakers, the team that lacks the passion of their leader, the team that plays defense for quarters instead of entire games. Kobe has a much better supporting cast, but they tend not to show up. Now they're in a dog fight with Denver with the series is tied 2-2.

So now we're turning the pages approaching the final chapter of a great story. The main characters look like their names might not show up on the last few pages while the supporting cast looks to take on a bigger role that didn't look possible earlier on. Good story tellers never commit to a predictable finale, but then again I might not want to finish the book if the my favorite characters get killed before it ends. I can just imagine David Stern sitting in his office like the warden at the end of "Shawshank Redemption." Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard just finished crawling through shit and ruined his master plan. Stern sits in his chair with a gun pointed at his office door while the media and angry NBA fans bang against it determined to make him pay for his crimes. Now that's an ending

Conference Finals:The Shot! and The Closer

I was in the gym taking way too much time in between sets to watch the ongoing Cleveland/Orlando epic battle. The Magic had climbed all the way back from another large Cavs lead to tie the game. On a major possession Lebron drove to the basket while powering through Magic defenders that the resembled more a of full back than anything else. But this is basketball, and you do have to dribble the ball.(It seemed like the "King" took 8 steps) The right call was made which left the Magic with the ball with 13.7 second left. At this time someone could've walked by that gym, looked inside and might've thought they were viewing a mannequin display for sporting ware. There was no movement, all eyes were transfixed on the monitors scattered around the gym. The silence in a spot that is usually rampant with noise was eerie. "This is going to OT", someone had blurted out. No one responded nor took their eyes from the action. Tukoglu dribbled down the clock as much as he felt he could and made his move while hitting what would've been the biggest shot of his career. The problem was, there was one second left on the clock.

Before we get to the obvious conclusion of my experience as a "witness" I would like to apologize to the Magic and their fans. My lack of respect for this team has been well documented in this blog. Reasons for my dearth of confidence for this team is based on their instinct to chuck up three pointers and their strange reluctance to get Dwight Howard the ball. "Superman 2"(I gotta respect Shaq as the original Man of Steel" is a question that the Cavs nor the rest of the league has no answer for. The scary thing is that he is still playing on pure raw talent. The rest of the world was so captivated by Lebron's incredible season along with the debate over him and Kobe that Howard's season was just a foot note. Although I'm still not a fan of their style of play, they have definitely earned my respect. The Magic are playing with passion and fury equivocal to Pac over the "Hit em Up" track. Rashard Lewis and Turkoglu are confident in Van Gundy's style of execution and the Cavs don't have anyone to stop them; Lebron can't guard them both.

Now back to the gym, 1.0 seconds on the clock, and Lebron taking the court with Mo Williams assuring him that he is going to get him the ball. We all know what happened next, Lebron did an excellent fake cut to the basket that fooled Turkoglu just enough for Lebron to run to the top of the three point line with Hedo a step behind. Mo Williams made a great pass, Lebron catches, shoots, and forever etches his name in history. The silence evaporates, one cat runs around screaming "I told yall, I told yall," and Lebron revived the highly anticipated battle with Kobe that was as good as dead only one second before.

Meanwhile, back in the other conference, the Lakers had suffered a loss to Denver at home that most people were predicting they wouldn't recover one. Most analyst had concluded that Denver's game 1 loss would deflate them using the previous Nuggets teams as an example, but this isn't the team from last year. Chauncey Billups is continuing to show court savvy making incredible decisions on the floor in crunch time. In game 2 he recognized the refs' love affair with the whistles and attacked the basket. The team overall is being physical. They are getting every loose ball, getting in the passing lane and grabbing every key offensive rebound. Those are the reasons why we all question the Lakers' toughness. Above all, Melo is finally playing up to the potential that everyone expects from him. But While everyone was ready to crown Lebron and put him in the same class with Kobe as a closer, Kobe showed why he isn't ready to relinquish the torch yet.

Kobe once again did a little bit of everything in game three. When Denver looked like they would go on a run in the third, Kobe had successive drives to the basket through the heart of their defense. He made a key pass to Trever Ariza in the last few minutes of the game for a huge three that reclaimed the Laker lead. When that lead was lost, Kobe made another three in the face J.R. Smith that gave them the lead for good. When Kobe plays smart and allows the game to come to him, there isn't a better player on the planet. Before this series started, I felt that Kobe would have to do everything with the exception of shooting Carmelo Anthony to win this series. There are no more excuses for him. Yes, the lakers can be soft and weak mentally at times, but that's when Kobe has to be the "Mamba". Lebron made an incredible shot, one that will solidify his place among the greats of the game. The debate between he and Kobe is great for argument's sake and entertainment, but let's not forget how long Kobe has been doing this.

Who That Is? That's Just My Baby Mama.

There was a report released by ESPN yesterday regarding a woman recently arrested at the home of Mavs German Über star Dirk Nowitzki. Apparently this mystery woman turned out to be a former girlfriend of Dallas' marquee player. Her name is Crystal Taylor, a young lady with a rap sheet that aspiring rappers dream about (arrested for forgery, felony and theft) who claims to have known Dirk for 7 years. Now for the big news, Ms. Taylor supposedly had a pregnancy test at the Dallas County Jail. To quote Nas..."What's the result? Not Positive." Well, not if your name is Dirk. I'm sure while he was getting roasted by the committee at TNT for basically admitting that he could be bitched by Denver's Trio of big men that being Daddy Dirk was the last news he wanted to hear. Especially when the wonderful announcement is coming from a woman behind bars whose past might just get you thrown in the can right along with her.

My girl's aunt was talking about this two weeks ago before the story even broke. I was watching Denver punk Dallas down to another victory while my chick was laughing with her aunt and step mom in the background. I heard Dirk's name a couple of times, but it had nothing to do with his skills on the court, or at least not the basketball court. They kept talking about this crazy girl that had Dirk stressing out and had his teammates questioning their star's taste in women. When it comes to this side of the game, women know their shit. Keep in mind this was weeks ago, Dallas was still trying not to get completely embarrassed and Mark Cuban was oddly trying to get jumped by Kenyon Martin's momma and Da Baddest Bitch. Funny how the name Crystal Taylor never made it beyond the walls of that house until yesterday. I've always wished I can change certain tings in history just to see how things would've been different. What if O.J. was white? What if Robert Blake was black? What if P.J. Carlissimo would've attacked Latrell Sprewell? Jadakisss had a good one in his song "What If" asking " What if Peyton was fighting dogs instead of Mike Vick?"

There is glaring evidence of the double standard that exists in America when it comes to African Americans, especially in the main stream media. Imagine if this same scenario took place at Carmelo's crib? That story would've broke faster than a Twista verse. Melo would've had 30 microphones in his face after every game asking questions about his personal life instead of his stellar play in the playoffs. ESPN analyst would've had articles about Anthony's past troubles that had to do with everything except basketball. But this wasn't Carmelo Anthony now was it? Instead, Dirk was able to concentrate on basketball and his personal life was left outside of it as it should have been. He didn't have to answer uncomfortable questions about issues that are no body's business but his. ESPN was nice enough to sit on this story until Dirk took his customary flight home to Germany after Dallas is ousted of the playoffs every year. The same ESPN that rushed to the Dallas Cowboys with a Pacman Jones story last year that got him suspended before the jury was out. Must be nice.

Looking Ahead:Western/Eastern Conference Finals

Ok, so maybe I was wrong about the excitement of the second round. Not all of us are blessed with psychic ability of a Nostradamus. (Or is it Nastradamus?) So in spite of my wealth of basketball knowledge, my predictions might've been a little off. (Boston in 5?) What we learned in the second round was that the Lakers can pounce on an opponent with the relentlessness of Lil Wayne over a mixtape, or completely disappear like Killa Cam after the 50 cent beef. We attained that Denver and Cleveland are playing with a ferociousness as a unit that I believed until recently was only possessed by Kobe Bryant. It's true that Dallas and Atlanta were both inferior teams, yet they were still professional athletes. They were thoroughly outplayed in every asset of the game and were never given a chance to counter. The Orlando and Boston series caught me off guard; I didn't expect the Magic to have a shot. Not even against a Celtic team missing their heart, soul, spirit, and very identity. Its like watching Run DMC perform without Jam Master Jay, just ain't the same.(I completely understand why they refused to perform at Rock&Roll Hall of Fame) But even without Garnett patrolling the paint, or Leon Powe coming of the bench trying his best to be the Big Ticket's understudy, I still couldn't give it to the Magic. I can't put my finger on it, but they are missing something, or some things. Well I was wrong, and that's why they play the game and I sit bent over my laptop writing about it.

Now we've arrived at the conference finals with two very intriguing match ups, well, maybe just one. I still don't respect the Magic even after their convincing victory. I'm not sold on Turkoglu being their primary weapon when the game is on the line. Rashard Lewis is one dimensional and the Cavs' defense is just too good to allow him to get into his comfort zone launching threes. Howard is a beast, a monster, freak of nature, but is a he really the go to guy he claims to be? He still gets most of his points on put backs, alley oops, and passes right at the basket. Yeah, his post moves have improved, but he isn't there yet. I'm predicting Cavs in 5, maybe 6 if they get overconfident.

The Denver/Laker series on the other hand can be compelling, but if the Lakers play to their ability the series won't be as close as people think. Denver is a great team, they are one of the most balanced squads in the league. They have a abundance of talent and a great mix of offensive and defensive players. But the match up is still in the Lakers favor. The Nuggets' defense has improved, but its not at the level of Houston's. So although they are very active, offense is still their driving force. Before the game tonight I already felt that the Lakers would have a much easier time getting into their offense and establishing themselves. Until Melo started guarding him, Kobe was matched up against smaller players all night. He will punish those players in the post. The Lakers overall have too many options in the triangle to attack Denver. They were able to squeak a win out tonight without even playing their best ball. There wasn't too much to learn from game one and both teams will make necessary adjustments, but Kobe and the Lakers have more advantages. Obviously both teams can play better, but Denver was a whole lot closer to their ceiling than the Lake Show. Look for the Lakers to try to establish Bynum and Gasol early next game while trying to put the clamps on Melo to stop him from killing them early(He played excellent by the way.)

The G.O.A.T. (Hip Hop Edition)

The argument over who or what is the "Greatest" in any genre is one that is as old as mount Mutumbo. There are posted lists splattered all over the mainstream media over what is the greatest movie of all time, album, artist or whatever insignificant rubbish big brother wants us to bicker over like C-Webb and Kenny Smith over the all-star team selections(Anyone remember Webber being that passionate during a game?) What people often fail to realize is that its all subjective. There are some exceptions; in sports you can drudge up some random stats that most people won't even bother to verify to make a case for your favorite player being the second coming of Jesus Shuttlesworth. There's a New York Times article out there on Shane Battier being better than Jordan. (Ok, I'm exaggerating, but it does make a case for Battier being the best winner in the game). Yet even when you can include stats in the equation, it all comes down to your opinion and preference. My grandfather will argue with you until you're his age about how Magic is the greatest player ever. When everyone else in the world counters with Jordan, he holds his position and brings up stats that sound more unbelievable than Akon's criminal record. But that was his era, he watched Wilt average 37 points and 27 rebounds (Wow) to justify him being better than Shaq. He's watched Bill Russell shut down that same player and win 11 rings to advocate Russell as the best center ever. I didn't watch those players play, (they were embarrassing athletically challenged white players well before I was born), but you can convince me that Currency writes for Lil Wayne before I'm persuaded into thinking that Shaq wouldn't Ether both of those players. But that's just my opinion.

In regard to Hip Hop, the argument is solely based on opinion and nothing more. Some cite record sales, lyrics, production, content, and swagga to back their claims for the G.O.A.T. But these attributes are all based on what one feels is most important. Remember when Nellie was number 1 in album sales? Was he the best in the game? (if you answered yes to that question, click here). Yet there were people out there who would swear on Hip Hop's shallow grave that he was the greatest. (No wonder why they called them the St. Lunatics).

Go to an art show or visit a musuem; experience the contrasting cultures, styles and aesthetics of human creativity. You'll probably notice someone entranced while starring at a painting, while another spectator passes the same piece without a second glance like Bow Wow's "New Jack City II" was on display(Was he even born when the first one came out?) Yeah, I think its a blast to explain with conviction why an MC might make you rewind his every line, or how a producer might make you wish that no one was spittin over his track, but beware of that passion. I know cats who are ready to pull a Kermit Washington on anyone who thinks that B.I.G. is better than Pac. I've seen altercations worse than the Pistons/Pacers '04 brawl(Think Artest running into the stands swinging at women and children) over the Jay Z vs. Nas war. Pac, Biggie, Nas, Jay, Weezy, KRS-1, Rakim, Chuck D, L.L., Cube, T.I., Andre 3000, the list can go on forever. A case for the crown can be made for any one of them. You can continue to bicker and debate this until "Detox" is released, but the bottom line is that there "Aint no best." -Nas (Ether)

Face It:The Lakers are Soft

I've been following hoop during my entire existence to the point where it has become a religion. I study the game like a science and my emotional ties to the teams I root for are well documented. I admit that I have some skeletons in the closet when it comes to pulling for my home team, the Lakers. In my early years as a die hard fan of the game, my excessive cheering were aimed mostly at the Chicago Bulls. I mean, I liked the Lakers, but Jordan made it very difficult to root for anyone else. As time progressed, my questionable allegiance moved to the team of my favorite player at the time, Gary Payton. I've always liked tall point guards and looking up to my older brother I valued what he valued. He liked the defensive grind it out types of players. Players that would knock people on the floor and give hard fouls. I eventually decided not to continually defy my family and now claim my squad as the Lakers; they will be my favorite team until I'm buried

My point in bringing this all up is that I like a certain brand of basketball. I like players that get technicals for screaming at the refs. I respect the players that give their all on defense and will rather die than to let a player on the opposing team even think about going in for an easy bucket. Teams that have showed this will over the years have been the old Piston teams for the late 80s, the championship Bulls who have had some of the best defensive players in history(Pippen, Jordan, Harper, Cartwright, Grant, Rodman just to name a few). There were the other 90s squads exemplified this style of play like the Knicks, Pacers, Heat and more recently we have the Spurs, Rockets, Celtics and the Cavs. On the other side of the coin there are the high scoring fast paced, cant get a stop when they need one teams like the Suns, Mavs and sadly to say, my Lakers.

Watching the Lakers play on a nightly basis gives me mixed emotions of both joy and pain. The joy is seeing one of the greatest players to ever lace them up in his prime. The pain on the other hand is seeing a team full of soft players who continue to give up easy baskets and have multiple mental lapses on defense. When the announcement of Yao Ming being out for the remainder of the playoffs broke yesterday I was disappointed(sorry Schoop). I'm one of those people who likes to beat a team at full strength. With that being said, I expected the Lakers to come out with the intensity of a champion today. I expected to see a team with the killer instinct of a lion seeing its prey wounded after a long pursuit. What I witnessed instead was a team play with no heart, emotion or toughness. Their opponent on the other hand played like a team possessed. The Rockets came out the gate with passion and fury; they just flat out played harder than the Lakers, a team that has been expected all year to represent the city of Los Angeles in the NBA finals.

I wonder now if I can seriously expect this team to compete for a championship, to get out of the West, or even win this series. Houston was able to do whatever they wanted today; they were constantly left unguarded for wide open threes. I saw them battling for every loose ball and every rebound. That's what I respect about the game and appreciate. Now the Lakers can sit around and talk about the motivation from last years disappointment in the finals, or promise to play better defense and make declarations of increased fortitude, but the fact of the matter is that their actions have to back up their claims. I won't jump ship, one of my mantras will continue to be "Lakers For Life." But it is very difficult to continue to support a team that goes against the very thing that I value about hoop.

Buy or Bootleg:Jada Kiss - The Last Kiss

I remember back in the day when I couldn't wait for a CD from one of my favorite rappers to to hit the shelves. I would mob to the local record store with the homies,(Tower Records or the Warehouse) and grab my favorite packaged silver disc the day it came out. I would go back to the house, close my room door, throw it in my disc man and turn up the volume in my head phones to the point where I wouldn't hear someone shouting directly in my face. Man, things surly have changed.

My homeboy recently bought the Jada Kiss album through ITunes and transferred it directly to my computer. Sadly, the nostalgia of ripping off the explicit lyrics package was missing from this recent purchase, and I settled for an immediate listen on my way to work. Now before I give you my personal take on the album I should warn you that I've never been a huge fan of Jada. I mean, I think he's talented, but he throws out a one too many punch lines for my taste and I'm a little more content driven. With that being said, the album overall is pretty average. My expectations were already fairly low to begin with so it didn't take much to succeed them.

The first two songs on the album are pretty much typical Jada, and that's a good thing. Track one has some clean production that was made for someone to attack it and he does it justice. It's a well versed song to start the album with. The second track follows up almost seamless with a more smooth approach as Kiss talks about his presence in the game.

After the the first two cuts, the album was filled with peaks and valleys. Jada is pretty consistent on the album with his flows, but it's his choice of guest appearances and specific track selections that fall short. For one, the Swizz Beat produced "Who's Real" is terrible. It sounds like something that was just thrown on the album before its release because the two artist are homeboys. "Stress Ya" featuring Pharrell isn't too much better. When a hip hop artist tries too hard to score that hit its very noticeable, and this one is no exception. Kiss does his job on the track, it just doesn't sound like it belongs on the album.

The album is not with out a couple of bangers. "Something Else" is a hardcore track that reminded me of why I actually took the time to listen to this album. Jada and Jeezy both do their thing and this one is definitely something for the streets that you'll hear in passing car speakers for the next couple of months. "What If" featuring my boy Nas is a keeper. The only problem is that it reminds me a little too much of "Why" and I keep waiting for Anthony Hamilton to sing the hook, but its a another good concept that shows that Kiss has a little more range than the average rapper.

Overall I would say the album is what I thought it was, average. I would buy the album if I was fan of Jada Kiss and I don't think you will be disappointed. One of my main issues was that there were way to many R&B hooks on the album and that's not what I expect from Kiss. So if you're already lukewarm on Jada, I would bootleg it from your boy who picked it up. Hey, that's what I did and the fact that I'm not gonna delete it from my Ipod says a lot.