tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346175796952618882024-03-12T20:51:04.051-07:00BASKETBALL 24/48/82Basketball News & Articles, 24 Seconds, 48 Minutes & 82 Games By Tim David Harvey, Writer For BLEACHER REPORT, SLAM Magazines Online Site www.slamonline.com, DIME MAGAZINE 'LAKER NATION' Blog, BASKETBALL BUZZ. & 'LAKE SHOW VIEW' Contact: tdharvey@hotmail.co.uk. Or Follow on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest @TimDavidHarveyTim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.comBlogger649125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-92232261869491871052024-01-22T18:40:00.000-08:002024-01-23T05:38:44.753-08:00#BasketballDiaries - EXCELLENT BASKETBALL IN YOKOHAMA <p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfea7TI-AeIt8tSq7JnB9japX7KuF7FgKhjTT52CftYD5la6itWKaS1uvGZWIWnxB_QBToIKYBpLpql_rRUmM55v9ftkflCck3vgi9UnHDY-WTkQK9S-YDdS-SJQMgKB7N8iwgyINQB9ywRoi4hRIrvFJ7GFTZiVRhcBbSGtoBLWUdqohd-qTm-hejVY/s2048/IMG_20240123_105304.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="2048" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfea7TI-AeIt8tSq7JnB9japX7KuF7FgKhjTT52CftYD5la6itWKaS1uvGZWIWnxB_QBToIKYBpLpql_rRUmM55v9ftkflCck3vgi9UnHDY-WTkQK9S-YDdS-SJQMgKB7N8iwgyINQB9ywRoi4hRIrvFJ7GFTZiVRhcBbSGtoBLWUdqohd-qTm-hejVY/w400-h226/IMG_20240123_105304.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></div><i><br />The #BasketballDiaries is a new feature inspired by the Leonardo DiCaprio film of the same name, offering a more personal approach to the game. </i><p></p><div>Japanese basketball is more than just the great Rui Hachimura and Yuta Watanabe raising the flag and making their names in downtown Los Angeles and Phoenix, respectively. You only had to watch last summer's FIBA World Cup, partly held on the island of Okinawa, to see that. The Japanese national team booked their place to this year's Paris Olympics. And they did so without Rui. Yuta was there, but a lot of it had to do with a guy from Yokohama called Yuki, too. </div><div><br /></div><div>That pocket dynamo by the last name of Kawamura plays for Kanagawa's Yokohama B-Corsairs. A B-League team (previously named the BJ League, until, well...you know). A great side rivalling neighbouring Tokyo's Alvark and the Shibuya Sun Rockers (featuring former Los Angeles Laker Ryan Kelly), who bring their water wet jumpers to a swimming pool they play in.</div><div><br /></div><div>Down in the B3 League and playing a few blocks away from baseball's BayStars' Yokohama Stadium, in the Yokohama Budokan (a gymnasium like Tokyo's Nippon Budokan who we caught jazz icon Norah Jones in, in concert a year and change ago), is the Yokohama Excellence (like the name? Then you should check out the Tokyo Earth Friends for your environmentally friendly pick). A team that plays in green like the Boston Celtics and sells merchandise like a storied side.</div><div><br /></div><div>Featuring two kawaiiiiiii mascots named Pick (who lightly touched my shoulder as he passed, it was a nice moment) and Roll like Stockton and Malone, the Excellence bring it. Whether it's from their infectious chants on both sides of the court, or the cool player introductions that begin amongst the fans in the stands.</div><div><br /></div><div>Just a fraction of the price I paid to see the Knicks earlier this month in New York (you win a few more games and suddenly your cheapest ticket is a couple of hundred dollars?!). For just under 5000 yen (around 25 dollars or pounds) you can practically sit courtside. In practically touching distance of not just the mascot, but the player's bench too (don't get any ideas, guy who ran up on LeBron). Hearing plays called and fouls. Not to mention the sound of a smack on hardwood, a scream, and then a cry of, "I barely touched him".</div><div><br /></div><div>The blood on several of the players, who walked off at numerous times, said different. As did the stitches that you get so close to being applied you can almost hold the thread. Sure, the so-called Excellence got rinsed by the visiting Kagoshima Rebnise, as they tried to keep it under 40 like guys my age to no avail. But this scrappy affair was as passionate as it comes on court. Basketball is brutal and beautiful, and this is my pick for you to roll with the next time you're in town. Excellent. <b><i>TIM DAVID HARVEY</i></b>. </div>Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-35215645571864205592022-11-04T06:40:00.004-07:002022-11-04T15:23:55.808-07:00TV REVIEW: BIG SHOT - Season 2<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MZo7yNHDfp-Q4yViktTrwIUknWAx6d0eE8desjM-36qyhz-0G7Ka1ggO4iKttrNp7dGX5YyYQqwllV3D4olLJBDKSVPuafZ1uKfNE2RvAZYphoiXhw_vh85Vhpz6M9rA8OBTtE5qrR0mGuCaFoSR1yTUlcn0qrzOq_yIAA2gB5ZJlEZmC2_L1DiU/s1300/g_disneyplusoriginals_bigshot_season2_724_26_a53a34dd.jpeg" style="clear: left; display: inline; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1300" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MZo7yNHDfp-Q4yViktTrwIUknWAx6d0eE8desjM-36qyhz-0G7Ka1ggO4iKttrNp7dGX5YyYQqwllV3D4olLJBDKSVPuafZ1uKfNE2RvAZYphoiXhw_vh85Vhpz6M9rA8OBTtE5qrR0mGuCaFoSR1yTUlcn0qrzOq_yIAA2gB5ZJlEZmC2_L1DiU/w400-h225/g_disneyplusoriginals_bigshot_season2_724_26_a53a34dd.jpeg" width="400" /></a></p><b><br />3.5/5</b><p></p><p><i>A Second Shot. </i></p><p><i><b>10 Episodes. Starring: John Stamos, Jessalyn Gilsig, Sophia Mitri Schloss, Nell Verlaque, Tiana Le, Tisha Eve Custodio, Cricket Wampler, Sara Echeagaray & Yvette Nicole Brown. Created By: David E. Kelley, Dean Lorey & Brad Garrett. </b></i></p><p>Hey, Mr. 'Big Shot'! How about another season? 80's sitcom All-star John Stamos took his biggest and best shot yet when he saved his new Disney + basketball show from the elimination rounds of streaming service cancellation. So says his interview with the LA Times. And now, betting the full house on it, 'Big Shot' is back in what feels like a shorter off-season than the NBA's return to regular programming after the Bubble. Built for this position of a coach climbing out of controversy like Pacino was born to play worn out cops, Stamos' Coach Korn (no relation to the band, but definitely playing with heavy metal when he throws chairs at referees like errant passes) has seemingly been on the floor more than King LeBron James, taking his courtside throne. But here, he's playing with a different Westbrook in California, as this second half of Disney's basketball team is good enough for a big season 3. </p><p>Ring the sirens, Mickey. Because this is another great Hollywood take on a tale of hoops hoopla in a year of 'Hustle' and more documentaries that show Netflix's 'Last Dance' was anything but. Disney + getting in on the throwbacks 'Like Mike' (and 'Like Mike 2'), all whilst bringing their own original content that like the steps of NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brothers 'Rise' to the NBA, from being young God's in Greece, to champions in their own coliseum. This, though, is inspiring like their classic, true story of the 'Glory Road' to the first all-black college starting-five taking on and beating the legendary University of Kentucky, with Pat Riley. Stamos, promising another year like the legacy of Riles at a Showtime victory parade, is bound to rile up the sexist haters, but it's winning time for those who run the world now. She got game and in a battle of the sexes with the boys to see who will become Billie Jean King, like the WNBA, it's here to play and stay.</p><p>DNP-CD, even with Disney + 'Prom Pact' star Monique Green missing in action off the roster and many more graduating before this season is out, this team is still deeper than the Pacific Ocean that surrounds it like Palisades. Especially with rookie of the year and actual real YouTube star Sara Echeagaray as a volleyball prodigy set to spike the team like it was prom punch. How's the great game of Nell Verlaque going to deal with this now her Shaq has a Kobe and love interests spark more potential feuds than Madonna did the Mavericks, Kidd? The family drama continues with standout Sophia Mitri Schloss, who reveals even more talent in her school bag and Girl Dad dynamics. But it's the assistance of the great Jessalyn Gilsig moving from the shadows of the sidelines to a prime position which seasons this second series getting series like clutching at crunch time in the fourth. </p><p>The 'Community' of David E. Kelley, Dean Lorey and Brad Garrett's show headed in principal by the legendary Yvette Nicole Brown and her classic comebacks is 1 through 15. From Tisha Eve Custodio's mighty mouse to Cricket Wampler's wonderful sweet soul. But the heart of this show like an unsung hero of an x-factor has always been Tiana Le. Last year she took us to the hill of her one family tree. This adds even more branches as the team of sisters makes their way through the brackets like the madness of the third month of the calendar. Parent traps and episodes dubbed '17 Candles' keep the flame lit on a season, Stamos says this takes inspiration from the great Bob Saget. Think of this like a love play-book to him like a 'Fuller House' that reminds you of the golden age of inoffensive, but inspiring great American sitcoms. But it's the tackling of the wildfires and that constant crisis in California that will steal your heart and tears before the last drawn up play. Saved by the buzzer, this shot is the biggest score yet. Count it. <b><i>TIM DAVID HARVEY. </i></b></p><p><i><b>Further Filming: </b>'Rise', 'Hustle', 'Hang Time'. </i></p>Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-46006157951876324392021-07-18T09:33:00.009-07:002021-07-26T22:42:52.262-07:00MOVIE REVIEW: SPACE JAM-A NEW LEGACY<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSaUB0Keab6QCpAJiv3EIbMSeLBJfbX17ijAXMs5f_iHJiZfe9MChepAakYkULsCyMzW_Ggx04ePO6qljMWZFF7ZxmswfSnjWgw-CE-Go-QqOpJqr3Xgg8GZB4l-6zturPj5ao3-GNg/s681/images+%25283%2529.jpeg" style="clear: left; display: inline; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="681" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSaUB0Keab6QCpAJiv3EIbMSeLBJfbX17ijAXMs5f_iHJiZfe9MChepAakYkULsCyMzW_Ggx04ePO6qljMWZFF7ZxmswfSnjWgw-CE-Go-QqOpJqr3Xgg8GZB4l-6zturPj5ao3-GNg/w400-h225/images+%25283%2529.jpeg" width="400" /></a></p><p><b><br />4/5</b></p><p></p><p><i>Welcome Back To The Space Jam</i>.</p><p><b><i>115 Mins. Starring: LeBron James, Bugs Bunny, Don Cheadle, Khris Davis, Sonequa Martin-Green, Cedric Joe, Jeff Bergman, Eric Bauza, Nneka Ogwumike, Diana Taurasi, Damian Lillard, Anthony Davis & Zendaya. Director: Malcolm D. Lee. </i></b></p><p>Fly like an eagle once again, but this time on the wings of a King. You don't have to believe anymore. 'Space Jam's' 'New Legacy' hits 'em high for your Basketball Jones. Even if critics are calling this like Skip Bayless. Trust me, they hated the first cult classic and when it comes to kid movies and fun for the whole family, you don't have to go off the opinions of old, balding white men. So ladies and gentlemen, here's my review. 'Space Jam-A New Legacy' is a slam dunk of funk and fun. Passing 'Black Widow' in the box office top ten like James does NBA greats in the record books on a weekly basis. Or one better, even like a signature alley from Dwayne with a wink to the way of Wade. Haters will scoff at the meta line about basketball stars playing around with acting. But they really don't get it. And did they forget about Los Angeles Lakers, Hollywood royalty stealing the show from his two A-list teammates, comedy gold greats Amy Schumer and Bill Hader (who couldn't back him down) like Alex Caruso (had to get the GOAT in here somehow)? This sophomore sour pusses want to slump is far from a 'Trainwreck'. Now sure, if you put this 'New Legacy' up against the outstanding original 'Space Jam' then just like the GOAT debate between LeBron James and Michael Jordan (when it comes to a Larry Bird like big God disguised cameo you'll be screaming, "is this your King", or MJ), there really is no contest in this 'Last Dance'. Although one thing 'Bron does beat MJ at is the ace acting (although we can't get over Mike's, "baldy" reaction). This is our jam. No matter who claims it as space junk. They say it's a commercial cash grab flaunting Warner Bros works. I say this 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' franchise updated with a 3D, CG digital 'Ready Player One' upgrade for the livestream age is a celebration of cinema. Just like when from board to video game, the 'Jumanji' reboot took it to the next level. If that aforementioned adaptation was a epic Easter Egg hunt, then why isn't this? The only crime here is that they didn't ask for Bill Murray's assistance (or Wayne Knight...he can take a charge like he can Dilophosaurus spit). Or perhaps he turned them down in order of another 'Garfield'. </p><p>This cat can ball man like the King playing Prince. Word to the late, great Charlie Murphy for this Hollywood story as funny as Chappelle (and how about that "game...blouses" reference?). Flipping the script, this time the basketball star needs Bugs' help to win a high-stakes game against the Al G algorithm of War Machine Avenger Don Cheadle with a digitized voice box (think Jamie Foxx as Electro in 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2') who is a real Marvel. The player who once played 'The GOAT', Earl Manigault, having fabulous fun with HBO, taking it to the Max this month after 'No Sudden Move' with Benicio del Toro and Steven Soderbergh for the best 'Traffic' of his thespian and blockbuster career. Side-kicked by the cute Microsoft pop-up paper-clip like assistant (remember how annoying that was my King aged millennials?) that looks like it took a wrong turn down the rabbit hole from Foxx's Pixar 'Soul'. Those hulking Monstars are gone. The powers given back to NBA legends Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Larry 'Grandmama' Johnson, Muggsy Bogues and...erm...Shawn Bradley (I didn't see him touch that ball again). This time the Goon Squad that faces off against the tuned up Tune Squad in a vibrant vibe of a new jersey like the Basquiat Brooklyn Nets down the Subway features some of basketballs best in a fantasy league of their own fits. Sister Spark from Los Angeles Nneka Ogwumike makes the team, even if they want to criminally leave her off the Olympic or All Star one. GOAT Diana Taurasi as the 'White Mamba' like the late, great Kobe dubbed her. The Splash Brother Klay Thompson a literal Human Torch with added fireman buckets. The Dame Time of Damian Lillard as actual clockwork. And even LeBron's Laker champion teammate Anthony Davis flying like an eagle with the seal of his trademark unibrow. Add the motion capture of Harlem Globetrotter Tammy Brawner as Bugs Bunny for all the carrots and this tells you all you need to know. Get her Globies a seat at the NBA table, for this iconic team like the Looney Tunes that has the world on a string like the ball. I thought I even saw a Jared Dudley, but it turned out to be Elmer Fudd in a headband. </p><p>"What in 'The Matrix' hell" is this? LeBron dodging bullets like balls. Donning a Rodman like hairstyle as a 'Mad Max' mohawk. Playing it again Sam like an instant replay in a 'Casablanca' suit. Classic! From the Night King's of 'Game Of Thrones' to the wizarding world of Harry Potter (yes, the King is a Hufflepuff) all of Warners brothers and sisters get to come out to play with the Iron Giant and King Kong watching courtside (put them in, coach). From Flinstones to Gremlins. Mystery Machines and Batmobiles. Even 'The Mandalorian' star Rosario Dawson gets to reprise her vocal 'Wonder Woman' role for the eden of this amazon. One amazing animated moment sees the carrot and the crown, Bugs and 'Bron play Batman and Robin like Dr. Dre and Eminem in a "holy above the rim like NBA Jam, 'Bronman" moment in a DC Universe. We could roll call more, but then we would spoil all this show has in store from all Bugs boys have in their draw in rival relation to Mickey's Disney that used to play like SEGA vs Nintendo. All before the Magic Kingdom left the Roadrunner in their dust like Super Mario did Sonic in a classic hare vs the tortoise fable. No need to clutch your lucky rabbits foot however as the gangs all here, back in action. Many voiced by the legendary Jeff Bergman or Eric Bauza. From Daffy Duck's playing coach with enough lisping sideline saliva to slick back Miami Heat legendary leader Pat Riley's signature styled Brylcreem Barnet, to the plays he calls to shoot the ball for the films funniest moment. To a more real and relevant Lola Bunny stealing the show once again like an errant pass. This time with more meaning played by MJ (Spider-Man's MJ) and 'The Greatest Showman' Zendaya. This is her. And this is how Lola Bunny should be. Add Sylvester spitting out a Tweetie Pie that's with you when you get dunked on and this team is complete like Porky Pig's last line. Or the lyrics to go that he has here. Stuttering and notoriously mic dropping a rap battle that turns this hardwood 8 miles long. Chickens, martians and things hairier than bears (oh my) join the lion King. And let's not forget a speedy mouse running the break, or a Grandma that could even dunk on the legend of Larry Johnson ("Whoa!"), even if she does like a Bond martini at halftime before she shakes things up. You'll have a devil of a time watching this like Taz. Like all the humans joining in on this suitable for all gathering that even makes 'The Wizard Of Oz's' Dorothy feel at home. Tap your red sneakers together. Amongst so many classic cameos from real TNT to 'Uncle Drew' teammates that we won't halftime report we have a star of the future like Bronny James in Cedric Joe giving us a preview of history in the making of parent and son holding court together in a beautiful fathertime moment. I'm not crying, 'Bron's crying. Add a childhood best friend in Khris Davis like a hilarious Maverick Carter for this shop and the 'Discovery' of this next gen 'Star Trek' star Sonequa Martin-Green as Mrs. James offering more motivation courtside than a coach and this family connection calls plays 'Fast and Furious' like Vin Diesel, Dom. All so all in all, hands in, 'The Best Man', 'Girls Trip' and 'Night School' director Malcolm D. Lee can run a picket fence with 'Black Panther' and 'Creed' producer Ryan Coogler that goes old school on everyone's butt for this standalone sequel that stands on its own two Nikes. And what a signature set fit for a King. After all these years and rumoured Tiger Woods or Tony Hawk ('Skate Jam'?) sport 'Space' sequels we know who the throne belongs to. The Chosen One posterizes this stunning sequel. Crowning it in 23 carrot gold. Jordan to James. This 'Space Jam' 'Legacy' is legend. Th-th-th-that's all folks! <b><i>TIM DAVID HARVEY. </i></b></p><p><i><b>Further Filming: </b>'Space Jam (1996)', 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?', 'Ready Player One.' </i></p>Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-88618300419503918192021-05-21T23:50:00.002-07:002021-05-21T23:50:18.176-07:00#CourtsideColumn KING SURVIVES WARRIORS IN THE PLAY-IN<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfGfqB_NffmkWsHQWNJmIXCptjGlhaY1NBEQjDWrPrDn6kP5fcJW76jrwm1oEDHppQ5gL1dWqjTuhKoKebDH4Tvd0zmIoFAKniK_ue3HRznhbHlxz-hYoyykiIr5xNNv73wk-L8z2wcQ/s1024/king-survives-warriors-in-the-play-in-1024x576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfGfqB_NffmkWsHQWNJmIXCptjGlhaY1NBEQjDWrPrDn6kP5fcJW76jrwm1oEDHppQ5gL1dWqjTuhKoKebDH4Tvd0zmIoFAKniK_ue3HRznhbHlxz-hYoyykiIr5xNNv73wk-L8z2wcQ/w400-h225/king-survives-warriors-in-the-play-in-1024x576.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><i></i></p><i><br />King's Ransom.</i><p></p><p>Let's be clear.</p><p>The skin of their behinds.</p><p>That's what the Lakers escaped the play-in in LA by.</p><p>From now on they just have to do better if the defending champions want to at least look like they could go back-to-back like Magic delivering on a Pat Riley promise ("yeah...YEAH!").</p><p>The seventh seed in the 2021 Playoffs faced off like Cage did Travolta against the eighth, Golden State in this classic California clash of champs. There was no chumps in this contest which really does make for a perfect Playoff precursor. Hate the play-in, or love it. But down 13, the Lakers first-half statistics for one of many of their big-three combinations (James, Davis and Dennis Schröder) looked like the percentage of a jock who didn't swot for his test.</p><p>14.3%</p><p>Meanwhile everyone's favorite for MVP not playing in Philly, New York or Colorado was putting on a clinic.</p><p>Forget "Steph Curry with the shot" boy. It was almost more like the forthcoming free agent the Lakers would love with the upset.</p><p>Splashing everything like he was back on his side of the Pacific across the Golden Gate, number 30 had everyone believing again in this former dynasty. Rocking those Oakland jerseys like his rookie year and the time Baron Davis dunked on Dirk and gave Oak Town a Playoff preview of the hope to come in contention.</p><p>This team knows all about upsets. You could see it on Anthony Davis' enraged face as Draymond Green had the clamps on him. Putting one of Hollywood's Supermen in the phone booth.</p><p>If the Warriors had Klay today they would have dubbed this "over". In a Chick Hearn refrigerator. They didn't even need Durant, but when (more like if) this Hollywood team meets a super one of KD, Kyrie, James Harden and more it could all be a closed door.</p><p>With 37 points the leagues scoring champion Curry was scorching hot with the shot, but it was Canadian Andrew Wiggins who really stepped up on this big stage with 21 points off many hard fought plays. Even though the Warriors are now going home after Ja Morant and Memphis said "thank you very much" , Stephen is still your MVP and Wig is no one to write off anymore.</p><p>This Warriors team is still nice. Even this Laker fan is thinking Steph stays this Summer. Despite hoping for the opposite.</p><p>No matter. The King did his best Chef impression in the waning seconds for those who say he isn't clutch. Hitting a rainbow beautiful, 34 foot three over the greatest of all-time from downtown himself to ice the game with 58.2 to go. Squeezing past as 103 to 100 was all she wrote, following a botched inbounds pass from former Laker Kent Bazemore which Bradley Beal we're sure loved to see.</p><p>LB with the clutch 3 J from the 'e' of the STAPLES Center logo may have started colder than the ice around Montrezl Harrell's neck (so much hustle and energy. The heart of this team), but he ended up with a triple-double like Westbrook with, 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his sixth of the season.</p><p>Never underestimate the heart of a champion.</p><p>Even AD was on the way in the end. The big-man scoring 13 of his 24 in the fourth and final quarter.</p><p>Unlucky for Dray and the Dubs.</p><p>Against the Warriors the Lake Show was the walking wounded. Especially 'Bron with a bum ankle and a poked eye. But he out all that to the sky with his dagger that even plunged the clouds for rain.</p><p>The bear was poked in the eye and a regal lion roared in return.</p><p>This will be in the highlight package of one of the GOAT's greatest moments.</p><p>“After the finger to the eye, I was seeing three rims and shot at the middle one. By grace, I was able to knock it down,” the Chosen One told all the Zoomed press microphones post game. That sounds like some Larry Bird stuff. Look it up. This long sword from the King like Arthur was his longest make of the season and any go ahead shot in the final 3 minutes of any game he's ever played.</p><p>Not bad for a man that along with his dynamic duo partner Davis went 3 for 19 in the first half.</p><p>Three lead changes and five ties marked a thriller of a fourth as Alex Caruso had 14 and Schröder stepped up in the end with 12. With the Lakers now booked into the Western Conference Playoffs they must ensure they are firing on all cylinders in The Valley. They face a scorching hot Phoenix Suns led by Devin Booker, who's Florida Bubble still hasn't burst, big Deandre Ayton and James' old friend Chris Paul.</p><p>If the Lakers want to stand this heat they better throw the kitchen sink at them. <b><i>TIM DAVID HARVEY. </i></b></p>Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-17238915404136958542020-10-05T07:42:00.006-07:002020-10-06T17:56:43.129-07:00#TheLeBronSeries KING JAMES VERSION<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAe_NqDQqeNOKW5ZVuJfb-aUfDV3IlhFj1XNr94mgA-S3Nl7My5VYiCNnu6NPjGISs3dLLarKvN3q2K6IvoKzygJQXQSuu72VP8uhfpS1iluALlRP5jdM0geuMQ-eCPog_L7BLVFKwlHs/s715/images.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="715" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAe_NqDQqeNOKW5ZVuJfb-aUfDV3IlhFj1XNr94mgA-S3Nl7My5VYiCNnu6NPjGISs3dLLarKvN3q2K6IvoKzygJQXQSuu72VP8uhfpS1iluALlRP5jdM0geuMQ-eCPog_L7BLVFKwlHs/w400-h240/images.jpeg" width="400" /></a></i></div><i><br />The Basketball Bible.</i><p></p><p><b>By TIM DAVID HARVEY </b></p><p><b><i>"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth". Genesis 1:1.</i></b></p><p>August 23rd, 1978. Kobe Bryant is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the rest is hallowed, hardwood, hoops history. January 26, 2020. He tragically dies along with his daughter Gianna and several other friends and their family, and the rest of this year is just misery. December 30th, 1984. LeBron James is born in The Land. Monday the 5th October. Today. Tonight. Right now as we speak. Up 2-1 in the NBA Finals. Now let's see if they can be all about the 4-1 like Glen Rice, or every other series in their Western Conference reign. The kid from Akron has the chance to win the Lakers 17th championship in his 17th year all for Kobe. 23 for 24.</p><p><b><i>"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." Peter 5:8.</i></b></p><p>"Lakers sweep Heat". The headlines of the Los Angeles Times won't read that no more, but that doesn't mean it's over. "You're in trouble", LeBron told Jimmy Butler in the first quarter. Buckets told the King the same thing in the fourth once the Heat cooled off the talents of a man who used to take it to South Beach. Just like when playground GOAT, Earl Manigualt responded to Wilt Chamberlain's, "welcome to the big leagues schoolboy" dunk taunt at the Rucker (as played by NBA legend and 'Uncut Gems' star Kevin Garnett in 'Rebound' starring Don Cheadle as 'Gault) by saying after hitting the big shot that iced the game in New York, "welcome to Harlem...motherf#####!" Now we have a series! Now we have a Finals. But still, I wouldn't bet against the LeBron James, like I said I wouldn't bet against Kobe Bryant. Especially when the King is doing it for the Black Mamba in the snakeskin he designed for the city with GiGi's number 2. All in for L.A. Doing it for what the graffiti reads on the highway like all those magnificent murals. </p><p><i><b>"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.</b></i></p><p>"Chosen One" carried on his back in everlasting ink. "What we do in life" and "echoes in eternity" bared on each arm where he carries the word he throws up to the heavens like chalk. Chosen like the Sports Illustrated cover (the first of libraries worth) back in high school where he was given the biblical nickname by royal appointment. 17 years and change ago. When this 35 year old like me was just a kid. When he had a 'fro like Kobe, before he started to lose it all like yours truly. But look at what he's kept. The will and skill of the greatest of all-time. Not even M.J. had it like this at 35. His 'Last Dance' was already swan sung years ago. And as we read his and Kobe's former coach Phil Jackson's 'Sacred Hoops' memoir for the NBA Finals like 'The Last Season' autobiography from the man who won 'Eleven Rings' searching for a soul. During the finals, LeBron (who constantly reads 'The Godfather' to stay motivated as The Don) continues to "chop wood and carry water" like an ancient Indian proverb as he dances with wolves (or former ones) like Kevin Costner in his hardwood field of dreams. Its all about the work. If you build it they will come. And if you work it will be done. </p><p><b><i>"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Proverbs 3:5. </i></b></p><p>Bulldozer bullying his way to the rim like a sledgehammer. He won't be denied like a wrecking ball or someone taking your lunch money. Running through defenders like it was open season on the floor of a fast break. Twisting the night away like Sam Cooke. Bobbing, weaving and duking it out before dunking like an Ali pugilist in turning out the light and getting in bed before the bulb goes off. All before pumping and flexing under the basket like an Air Canada chopper. Goodnight! Now how's that for a flashbulb moment? Appreciate it whilst the divine light is still upon you. It won't be here forever as we are caught up in his hoops rapture, as basketball beautiful as a halo he enters like heaven. Spin cycle rinsing you and repeating until the uniforms are washed in the blood. Jesus is King and he walks with LeBron like Kanye. The red hat just reads different on the players entrance in Florida's Bubble like the tunnel. Make America...arrest the cops that killed Breonna Taylor. Say her name. Say her name. SAY HER NAME! </p><p><b><i>"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." James 1:22.</i></b></p><p>So why all the God damned hate?! No wonder he treats his press conferences with the Mamba Mentality mood Kobe did. Like Kevin Durant once said, "Erykah Badu is thicker than a Kindergarten Cray..." ah wait, wrong quote. "I don't trust none of y'all." What's with all these Twitter takes from sofa athletes who only share a hairline with LeBron...and not like the real GOAT, Alex Caruso? We are witnessing like it was all written in scripture one of the greatest this game or world has ever seen and we're throwing stones at something so divine? Is that really are intervention or intention? Is that really inspiration? What about his influence? Building schools and hopefully learning from his Hong Kong error. But we want to throw rocks at the throne like a Witness billboard because after losing one game we say he's done and coming down even after all he's won? You seen the amount of Finals he's been in since the last decade? And now you want to talk about the number he's won? This man has been making milestones every night like a Miles Davis album in this game that went from jazz to the boom bap of hip-hop in all its free flow. Just like this young King went from the Statue of Liberty dunks he held like the book of Basketball, to the castle building downtown shots he puts up like a quarterback. Throwing the big pass to his big man as LeBron James and Anthony Davis become the next Wilt and West, Magic and Kareem, Shaq and Kobe. The new Big Game James worthy of a cigar and clap. Banner and retired jersey. Put 'em up! </p><p dir="ltr"><b><i>"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Matthew 7:7. </i></b></p><p dir="ltr">The time is now. To do what's right and to do what under the light seems like destiny. It's been a truly terrible calendar like LeBron tells us when we lose the Black Mamba and the Black Panther in the same year. And it aint over yet. COVID-19 is still infecting 2020 when we were supposed to roar back like a DiCaprio Gatsby, once upon a time in Hollywood. But still we shout Black Lives Matter through the streets through masks, because there's something that matters more than our lives...the lives of others being persecuted by police brutality with the only finality being there mortality. No sentence for the ones who pulled the trigger or dug a knee. Just death for their victims. And they had a problem with Kap taking a knee?! Well this captain linking arms with his team is about to take it all back and win it all for his friend. Like a Hollywood ending, but one down south against his former Miami Heat in the Florida he took his talents to. Homecourt advantage to South Beach? Nah this is Kings court now. And Disney couldn't come up with a better avenger, star wars story in their world (word to the Warner Brothers 'Space Jam' too like Mike. That's all folks like an AD tee), even if they hold all the superheroes and iconic characters to marvel at. Not this one. Not 23. All for 24, infinite like 8. Wrapped around the ball and Spalding spinning world watching like a coiled snake. It's all meant to be and you're all about to see. Witness. Chapter and verse. Because right now we can't get closer to God than this. </p><p dir="ltr"><b><i>"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13.</i></b></p><b><i></i></b><p></p>Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-36619719239189697272020-10-04T11:21:00.007-07:002020-10-05T01:38:54.320-07:00SUE BIRD Feature - IS IT A BIRD? <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BFCQCXWyu9MH64WuvnlRjMGAo3Us5-9AIRh7vkypSlg7VqYSKG-YiLOegmbSjTvXy0XCQer0r8hgoZm_sKZzfq08jelohLbOyzWY9QH8e-vWVvsNJed8avslLlCXbKkML4YfSO1HzF0/s678/images.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="678" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BFCQCXWyu9MH64WuvnlRjMGAo3Us5-9AIRh7vkypSlg7VqYSKG-YiLOegmbSjTvXy0XCQer0r8hgoZm_sKZzfq08jelohLbOyzWY9QH8e-vWVvsNJed8avslLlCXbKkML4YfSO1HzF0/w400-h266/images.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><i>Like A Bird.</i><p></p><p><b>By TIM DAVID HARVEY</b></p><p>Glove fitting to Seattle as fellow Point God, Gary Payton was to the (save our) Sonics. As legendary as Larry when it comes to the name on the back of her jersey (and say the name of the other one under her number, until they arrest the cops). Better GOAT. Better GOAT. Right now, right now like Haim you are witnessing two greatest of all times in the Finals at the same time for the Bubbling WNBA and NBA champion deciders. The King and this Queen against the chips of the Las Vegas Aces, playing for all the cards. How lucky we are. What a time to be alive even in the worst year of our lives that took Kobe and GiGi and then gave us COVID-19 and even more cruel police brutality. But still Black Lives Matter like they always will beyond a trend or this year end. Just like the worth of womens work that is never "get back in the kitchen" like those told to "shut up and dribble" will never just stick to sports. And why should they Donald? Now when it comes to this woman in hoops after her ring part three album, looking to go fourth with the force, her legend is already certified. Engraved in the history books. All under the name, Sue Bird. Read all about it like a game changing SLAM cover. In Style as the new generation, power couple of this new world with World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe in celebration like a Statue of Liberty. Like justice for all. Better GOAT. Better GOAT. Part of the two best players this game has ever seen...regardless of gender. From the days of Lisa Leslie to the new Spark of Hollywood Defensive Player Of The Year, Candace Parker. Still at an all elite, All Star level pushing 40 with the Mercury rising of MVP Diana Taurasi with that screaming Mamba Mentality. All for what could have been with GiGi. But the Most Valuable Player isn't here right now trying to knock down Las Vegas' house of cards in the Florida Bubble. Instead it's the legend and the legacy making superstar Breanna Stewart doing it for Breonna Taylor. Say her name.</p><p>Stewie and Suey. The best dynamic duo in basketball, inside and out not called LeBron James and Anthony Davis. A legendary one, two punch like Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton. You see that picture of the pair of them looking bored during a Bubble blowout. They are just that good at making you look bad. And they could Ace Las Vegas like Venus or Serena serve. Now how about this for a backhand? They say the women's game is not the same. They're right. It's something else. Now head-to-head for a double header with the NBA like brother and sister you can see for yourself. It's no sibling rivalry. They're doing this together. Side-by-side, just as well. And just as good. The talent levels the same. The Florida project for a league that lead the world in corona response and the sisterhood that started the sports march for social justice like Maya Moore walking away from the game she loved like we all do. The Bubble hasn't burst. Stick a fork in it all you like but it'll never be done. Don't wait until Thanksgiving to be thankful. The season will be over then, but the parade maybe not. It will run this town, round and round like their son Macklemore pulling that camel 'Downtown'. The city of Seattle deserves this last dance this weekend. Joe Budden and others think this place needs a Basketball team again. Stewie will tweet and tell you they already have one. The best one. Sure the Sonics have a championship banner in their old Key Arena from 1979. But the Storm have reigned with two more recent ones. It's their house now. And guess whose holding the keys? Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it's Sue Bird. Who needs Superman when you have Wonder Woman?</p><p>Tossing salads and scrambling eggs like 'Frasier', Sue Bird has been stirring the pot since the days of Cafe Nervosa. But "it's all for the playoffs, not the payoffs" like Niles Crane said after Dame time draining from half court like WAP (put this guy on your celebrity Dream Team with Bill Murray and Michael Scott, 30 For 30). The state of Washington is still in a good one when it comes to Basketball...even if the White House in D.C. disagrees. Needling like the Space tower one, illuminated in electric bleeding, neon green for this team with her pocket passes, Bird flys like Nelly Furtado. Like the man that once played with the Space Needle on his chest fitting like a glove. Or the green day of a Celtic that shares that same surname and downtown game in Beantown. For all the grinds. From the UCONN college days with Taurasi, to winning gold medals for Team USA like her partner and then going against each other, GOAT for GOAT. Better for better. From 1st overall in 2002, to still number one in 2020. Wikipedia tells us the Israeli-American with a pure point prototype frame of reference has played for three teams in Russia, during the Summer WNBA players usually can't take off anyway (until the CBA had something to say about their salaries. Changing the game again), not just in corona cancelling games. Not to mention held a front office position for the Denver Nuggets with her best in the association basketball IQ. But right now like Jamal Murray she's mining more. The record books she keeps ripping and rewriting read into that way. You have to hand it to her for becoming second all-time in assists too. Now how's that for some Bird feed? Wait for the gold stonecutter. It's coming like the Storm. I hope you've got your umbrellas handy like the academy, because it's about to reign. </p>Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-7113483425415405112020-09-06T05:17:00.001-07:002020-09-06T05:17:09.200-07:00#TheKobeSeries KOBE BRYANT & PAU GASOL Feature-BETTER FRIEND <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>16/8</i><br />
<i><br /></i><b>By TIM DAVID HARVEY.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>"<i>Kobe taught us to be better. Better dreamer. Better waker. Better stretcher. Better walker. Better talker. Better walking the walk and talking the talk. Better blocker (what's up my DPOY?). Better sprinter. Better loser. Better winner. Just. Be. Better (GiGi...throat lump). Better form. Better focus. Better friend." </i><i><b>Kendrick Lamar, Nike </b>'<b>Better' #MambaForever commercial spot.</b></i><br />
<i><br /></i>Perfect. Pau Gasol probably the most underrated Los Angeles Laker of all-time, especially in their legendary lineage of big men is also one of the NBA's nicest legends. The former second best European player ever until Luka came along (kid is just that good) was recently seen with his fiancée Catherine McDonnell on a boat like T-Pain with Vanessa Bryant and her children. His late teammate and best friend, Laker and NBA legend Kobe Bryant's three daughters. GiGi's three sisters. Striking a pose with his youngest like when the little one who looks so like Bean was lifted up by Pau a few weeks prior like 'The Lion King' for the Black Mamba's cub. Back when he visited the Bryant home like when Sabrina Ionescu's Tik Tok at the house of Mamba was adorably crashed, Pau even got a seat at the table. The doll tea party table like the man who needs to be brought back for one last go round with the Lakers before his 16 gets raised to the rafters next to 24 and 8 was about to lead the league in back trouble. Pau visiting the Bryant family on Kobe's 40th. Tears. It's the kind of sweet solidarity like support to the grieving Bryant's that we all need in this truly terrible and horrible and heartbreaking year were we've lost everyone from the Black Mamba to the Black Panther, whilst screaming Black Lives Matter in this coronavirus crippled calendar that began with the Kobe, GiGi and their friends family tragedy. Can you imagine a Basketball brotherhood and a bond more beautiful than the Spaniard and the kid from Italy?<br />
<br />
Summer league, class of '96. Point role playing God, Los Angeles Sparks coach and clutch King, Derek Fisher from 0.4 told SLAM magazine that in their co-rookie year of 1996 he and Kob' balled out on everyone, rolling in Vegas. D-Fish and Bean Bryant went on to be one of the best backcourts from the Forum's of purple to gold in STAPLES. Three-peating together with Horry, Fox and the big fella, before reuniting half a decade after the death of a dynasty for a couple more. But when it came to big dynamic duos, friend or foe, nothing touched the greatest Laker and NBA one/two punch partnership of all-time in Shaq and Kobe. No L.B.J and A.D. or even Magic and Kareem, Wilt or West comes close like Common and Mary J. Blige. Even if the King can spike Westbrook with a dunk and then chase him down for a volleyball block, there's no Laker like the late, dearly departed, two fingers kissed in the air, "Mamba Out" Kobe. Besides H-Town still stomped the Lake Show in the Bubbling Game 1 of the West semis like a blazing first round almost knockout Portland. A team Shaq and Kobe used to throw alley oops on until Shaq pointed at Kobe and his son Shareef with two raised arms and wide eyes. Bryant and O'Neal dominated over twin towers of David Robinson and Tim Duncan like the storied Celtics to be the Lord Of The Rings. Jumping into each others arms before winning a Holy Trinity with Coach Phil Jackson like the G.O.A.T. M.J. with legendary back-ups like Horace Grant and Kobe's "mentor" Ron Harper. But Shaq and Kobe fell out like loose change in torn pockets and this Hollywood divorce lead to a script flip to the talents of South Beach and a Corvette meeting a brick wall like a purple Prince did a girl with a second hand raspberry beret. Still these two fond friends with as many similarities as differences (that's kind of why we all clash sometimes) got back together like 'Hotel California'. First as make friends, never ever break friends and then co-All Star Game MVP's in where else but the STAPLES of Los Angeles as everyone hoped for a Laker reunion which would of been the most compelling, closing chapter, but sadly like answering a Shakeapeare question was this time not meant to be.<br />
<br />
So Kobe had a big hole to fill in the center of his Hollywood attention and even rolling with a magic versatile seven foot 'Six Man Of The Year' in Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum (for long) and Dwight Howard (yet) weren't going to quite cut it. Kobe needed more with all due respect to Brian Grant (the former blazing Portland Shaq battling dreaded rival, who was battling more on his way to retirement before his biggest and bravest fight against Parkinson's disease) and Chris Mihm (who smoothly down low we will always love). He found it when the Lakers traded a few spare parts and what would have been a big addition in drafted brother Marc Gasol for his bigger sibling from Spain, the power of Pau Gasol. "I'm not going to war with butter knives anymore", Kobe told press as he took through the tunnel with even more meaning following him and the gasoline of Gasol clicking quicker than switching on the gas. These two were cooking and to think the Lakers almost traded number 16 for the nixed, what would have been the best backcourt in future Los Angeles (Clipper) and maybe 'Bron banana boat teammate like 'Melo should have been, CP3. "WoW"! Kobe and Pau communicating in whatever language lost the opponent in translation as they went in transition even had their own Shaq sized Portland move at STAPLES in the pain for the canvas of their court artwork. Although this one was more subtle in its sympatico synchronicity. Pau's eyes as wide as Shaq but with animalistic animation as the man with the wild hair went crazy with those eyes that vision and those pupils that kind of look like the student of a certain way of thinking as these two on their way to two of their own took everyone to school (like Jordan said about Pippen in 'The Last Dance' Kobe, "doesn't win those rings without Pau"). Mamba Mentality. That's what it looked like and these two arm in arm from down court to downtown Toronto for their last meeting on the spotlight of the floor for Canada's All Star game appeared to be so much more. Better friend? No, Derek and Shaquille need their all due respect. Best friend? Forever.<br />
<br />
<i><b>#TheKobeSeries</b></i>Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-12000205281660035802020-06-24T22:29:00.002-07:002020-06-24T22:53:02.122-07:00RUI HACHIMURA Feature - BIG IN JAPAN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Rui In Translation. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>By TIM DAVID HARVEY </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
2020 was supposed to be the one like Vanessa Bryant for Bean. The roaring return of the 20's like Gatsby a century later, old sport. Tokyo, Japan itself was set to host the 2020 Olympic Games this Summer and this Englishman in Yokohama, lost in translation came here this year after calenders of dreams about it. Especially to teach and write about Basketball under the cauldron which had also introduced a 3x3 tournament to the streets. But then January happened and we lost Kobe, GiGi and so many more to that truly tragic helicopter crash and cruelly it still doesn't seem real months later. Just like masks still on the Coronavirus that has not only crippled things on court, in cinemas and businesses beyond entertainment, door-to-door, struggling to survive, but taken the lives of so many loved ones from us around the world. And it's still not gone. Although worth the risk many of us have taken to the streets and risked our lives, because Black Lives STILL Matter and we must protest in peace before we finally have justice. Justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor (arrest the cops) and so many more. Countless casualties of callous cruelness. Some caught on camera, others lynched in the shadows of America's dark history, hidden under a white hood. Basketball is about to return as players are about to literally be in a bubble for a winners take all tournament at Disney World, but the time to play Mickey Mouse games is done. There's bigger things at stake like Kyrie Irving and the Los Angeles Lakers' Dwight Howard and Avery Bradley know...and we're willing to risk everything we have to prove it. Basketball may be back from lockdown like it never stops came back from the lockout, but nothing can bring back the lives of those we lost to police brutality and COVID-19. Just like we can't bring back Kobe and GiGi, as much as we would give anything to do so in the worst year of our lives since the towers dropped like our hearts. We must go forward in their honour. In love over the worst disease of hate. In peace. Practicing what the real King preached.<br />
<br />
Under the MLK monument memorial of Martin Luther King Jr. in the United States of America's nation capital of Washington D.C. just a mall's walk from the Capitol Building or the Lincoln Memorial were this man had a promised land dream, another young man, face mask hanging has his fist raised next to the Washington Wizards best backcourt in the association of John Wall and Bradley Beal like the black gloved power and history of an Olympic podium. Like the change Sam saw coming after Marvin hollered, 'What's Goin' On' like "war is not the answer". For why? In a rookie year that sees the most hyped since the first name terms of LeBron, Zion comeback in the stunted second half to show he could still take home the R.O.Y. award other big names to be have gone relatively unnoticed. Even though jumping over everything from Love to even the rafters, Ja Morant's ruling name that seems destined for there like the Hall has been putting it down. You may not know top ten rook Rui Hachimura's name yet. But you will. It's big in Japan like a James or Harden after the Rockets and the Raptors did their thing in a Tokyo double-header last fall gone. And this Small Forward may just spell a big-three for the Wall and Beal street, House of Guards, Washington Wizards who could use a rise like Phoenix with their new rising son from the land of precisely that. The Toayama born Japanese sensation is about to take to the American streets like Toyota and foot on the gas you can't stop him pedal to metal now. Faster than a speeding you know what in a David Stern and Jerry Sloan sadly passing year were Washington have lost a legend of their own in the late, great Wes Unseld, this kid with a similar afro could be the next, great legacy maker. Before taking the Harry Potter like name, the Washington Wizards used to be called the Bullets like that iconic candy striped throwback, before the city wanted to distance itself from the plauge of gun violence. But like the New Orleans Pelicans we've always thought they could use a new name. Like turning their previously dodgy looking logo into a beautiful Black Power salute which should stay raised even when people's Twitter timeliness move on to something else, because this is more than trend, but a way of life that should always be and always matter. Rui could be so big for this team before his final swan song (that is a decade at least away) like a Houston Rocket Yao Ming that you could rename this team the Washington Shinkansen's for what one day could be this future franchise famous face. And this is a team that played G.O.A.T. Michael Jordan's real last dance. Don't miss this train.<br />
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Yokohama, Japan. The Memphis Grizzlies already made Japanese history a year prior. Yuta Watanabe is his name. And his game?Worthy more of a G-League hustle. But when these two met on court last December, swapping jerseys at the end of the game like a way of Wade and holding them to the camera for their first dance, real history was made. It's a match up set for ages, everytime Tennessee is in town. But when it comes to Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto or even Kobe, the place Bryant was named after when Joe 'Jellybean' was so impressed with the beef, it's Hachimura's jersey that fits the sales like a Durant in the B.K., or Curry in California. Rui's name is in neon now. A great in Gonzaga. That wasn't the only time he was set to tear down nets like New Jersey to Brooklyn. This kids looks like a walking and dribbling 20 and 10 per threat already. The number 8, ninth pick, 6 foot 8, 230 pound for pound 'Zag's game is just that tall. All in all this young man could be everything to Washington and the watching world belong the rising sun as he ascends like Fuji, ready to blow. Bank on this SMBC sponsored stud to be that good...Watanabe a big name like Ken too. But this Bulldog that can power to the other forward position and in the salad of his college days won the Julius Erving Award is just the prescription the good doctor ordered with his J. The name Rui means "base" or "fortress". And although this former catcher and pitcher played a different time of ball in the end he's still going to build a foundation as traditional in its strength and permanence as a temple as he swings for the fences...or rafters. His name already carries that much weight. Now just you wait. Just read the logo behind the Tokyo of his tee in the Nike commercial with the playground of the whole city behind the second Japanese player in history to be drafted into the NBA after Yasutaka Okayama of the Golden State Warriors (and the first in the first round...ever). He's Jordan Brand. G.O.A.T. certified. Now take off the headphones and take the tablet. You want to write him off? That's fine. No problem. One day in about a year Rui Hachimura will no longer be a rookie, but an Olympian carrying the torch for his country and maybe even taking home the gold (he has the mettle for at least a medal, deserving of his podium place) as like BTS in neighbouring South Korea he will finally be big not just in the Far East of Japan...but the whole wide watching world like Osaka, Naomi. And unlike Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, that will be lost in no translation.Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-13930124119470321762020-05-21T07:17:00.002-07:002020-05-21T21:54:57.061-07:00MALIK SEALY Feature-SEALY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>21 Jersey Salute. </i><br />
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<b>By TIM DAVID HARVEY </b><br />
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<b><i>“Feel me, I’m loved like the great late Malik Sealy.” - AZ (Nas-The Flyest). </i></b><br />
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"Just give me a second man", Kevin Garnett says softly, holding his index finger up like Deke. "Damn." His gigantic seven foot frame leaning forward on his couch as he crouches, head between knees brace like he's getting his wind back after a big play that just takes it out of you. 'The Last Dance' of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls on ESPN and Netflix may be over now, as the tablet passed memes and timelines have tweeted so much like former teammates Horace Grant and Scottie Pippen expressing their disdain about to lock horns, that the G.O.A.T 23 emoji has fallen off the hash-tag trend. But from all the 30 For 30's to 'The Carter Effect' on Netflix like 'Basketball Is Nothing', there's still plenty of hoop documentaries to play in your home hoop cinema like all the X and O movies there actually are. Like one of the best and biggest shots in Boston's own Ben Affleck's career for 'The Way Back' to redemption. One of the best docus simply being 'KG'. The story of Kevin Garnett. Filmed when the Big Ticket punched himself a Beantown stub to the Celtic pride of the NBA's most storied franchise in Boston, en route to a classic career as a champion on court, Garnett wore his new green number 5 on the polo at home with all cameras on him like there were eyes on 'Pac. But the backstory of this life and times knew that just like where he would finish his Hall of Fame career, Kevin's heart belonged in Minnesota with the Timberwolves like the number 21 raised to the retired rafters. But why he wore that number 21 forever means so much more. Stephon Marbury may have been the star like Starbury remade in China, but when everyone was talking about Showbiz and K.G. in the early days of Da Kid, Kevin Garnett's best teammate was also his greatest inspiration. And we aren't talking about one of the big three in Latrell Sprewell or Sam Cassell. No when it comes to Garnett's greatest teammate. The flyest of them all is the star of Whoopi Goldberg's Basketball movie 'Eddie' as a New York Knick. The great Malik Sealy.<br />
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"Ah well this is the Bronx. This is where I grew up. Um right here is Valentine Avenue. Basically where everything started for me," Malik tells cameras back in 1995 for his own documentary. Rocking the foundation of his own t-shirt, as he takes us on a playground tour like showing off your new friends to your mom. A place where he honed his skills like Jay-Z the kitchen table. The blueprint of his Basketball career were he would make K.G. believe this s### was real like Jaz-O. St. John's was were this kid would be a pre-NBA star like the late Len Bias, or the last member of that '92 Olympic Dream Team in Barcelona worthy of his own 30 For 30. If you want to talk about Wolves, there's a reason 'I Hate Christian Laettner'. Finishing his time as an alumni with a second all-time point total of 2,401 for John's, Malik named after Malik Shabazz, none other than political Malcolm X would follow in his footsteps of inspiration by any means necessary. Being good enough to be drafted by the Indiana Pacers with the 14th pick in the 1992 NBA Draft and inspire a young kid by the name of Kevin to wear the 21 in his honor, all the way until the day this biggest fan would meet his best friend. A 6 foot, 8 inch, 200 poung, Shooting Guard/Small Forward tweener who would play with the Clippers in Los Angeles and the Detroit Pistons in Motown. Malik rose to the occasion like a San Antonio Spur. But Sealy would truly find his home for his game and number 2 jersey in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis as a Minnesota Timberwolf. Throwing up a downtown prayer against the Indy team that drafted him, like he was pushing everything out his body for an epic experience the same as he clutched like Reggie Miller and hit the biggest ticket of a buzzer beating shot next to K.G. Right on target in the Target Center. Falling to the floor and lying on the court under the trees and pointing to the rafters he'd one day reside like Dikeme Mutombo Simba lifting the Spalding like 'The Lion King' to the ceiling in smiling, eighth wonder Nuggets knocking the top seeded Supersonics out of the first round of the playoffs with a sweep. Better get your brooms as Sealy shimmied like Antoine Walker. A pre-Paul Pierce teammate Kevin Garnett jumping on top of him with the game called on account of hugs.<br />
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"Malik had me wanting to go to St. John's", Garnett tells it. As in a news report a decade ago on the ten year anniversary, the late, great anchor Stuart Scott continues that in 1999 these two men bonded forever would become teammates. It started with dinner and then blossomed into a big brother mentorship to confide in and open up to. Idol to ally. Inseparable. Inspirational. "Malik and Kevin were brothers. Best friends," former teammate, future coach and always friend Sam Mitchell concurred. Adding a shy Kevin didn't want to go out much, until Malik coaxed him like, "screw that man let's go." Similar to what Steve Nash did for Dirk in Dallas, fresh off the flight from Frankfurt. Bringing him out of his shell, Mitchell believes Malik "taught Kevin how to be a superstar", giving him the seal of approval. In the new millennium 2000 night of number 21's 24th birthday Da Kid, Kevin Garnett felt on top of the world. SURPRISE! A party for the young star had everyone in attendance as Kevin, Malik and Sam snapped a beautiful photograph to mark the night. When Kevin got home and to bed he just thanked God for this beautiful day and night. But then what seemed like an incredible night would be marked for life in another way we would all never forget, even though we wish we could go back to before all that. Kevin's aunt almost kicked his door down. What's the matter? "You've got to get up!" Something happened to Malik. Sealy's SUV was hit by a pick-up truck going the other way on Malik's journey home. The driver drunk. Who years later would be arrested for another DUI. Sealy perfectly sober passed away that night as his life was cruelly taken by the fickle twist of tragic fate. "I just seen him" Kevin told his aunt in disbelief as time stopped for the man. Innocence gone with his friend. "That's what that was" he tells the documentary camera crew in the same disbelief as the weight of his arm gives out like the one that doesn't leave his shoulders. Shortly after Garnett's 24th, he and Sealy were meant to leave for vacation together, instead Kevin was a pallbearer for Malik's funeral. Carrying his best friends name and number above his locker for life. Like a Jerry West jersey we celebrated Da Kid, Kevin Garnett's 44th (WHAT?!) birthday yesterday. But one that is always bittersweet because of what he woke up to the next day. As today we mark the 20th anniversary of Malik Sealy's passing with a piece we should have wrote more than 10 ago. "I think everybody goes through something in their life that makes them who they are in the present. And that's what Malik was for me." Sealy like Charlotte Hornet Bobby Phills and the New Jersey Net superstar who started the European revolution before Dirk and Doncic and could have even given M.J. a run for his money (yeah I said it Mike...and you know it), Drazen Petrovic all lost their lives tragically to automobile accidents. And over the last year we have lost even more of our NBA family from Commissioner David Stern to and it's still so hard to believe and write this, Kobe Bryant. This year in Springfield when Kevin Garnett puts on that Naismith orange jacket like Tiger Woods does August's green one with Tim Duncan in the Hall of Fame, his friend Kobe Bryant should be with him like throwing it off the glass in the All Star game for the West. And as Kevin takes to the podium to make a speech as stirring as his play was passionate like no other. Like his late, great coach Flip Saunders, the man who wore number 2 for Sealy in Brooklyn like he does inked always in his arm only wishes his best friend Mailk could be there to introduce, or at least watch over him. But don't you know...he will be. Tragedy touches us all, but friendship is forever. Pick up the phone. Two decades gone and if they still wrote a book on his life, do you think anyone would read it? No f###### doubt! 20 years ago we lost Malik Sealy. Two decades later he's still the flyest. Stillmatic.Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-87716794141331581952020-05-14T08:16:00.006-07:002020-05-20T19:16:36.890-07:00DOCUMENTARY REVIEW: THE LAST DANCE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>5/5</b><br />
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<span style="font-size: 1em;"><i>The Last Waltz. </i></span><br />
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</i></span><span style="font-size: 1em;"><i><b>10 Episodes. Starring: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Phil Jackson & Chicago Bulls. </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1em;">Come fly with he. Let's fly, let's fly away. He being the G.O.A.T. The greatest of all-time like Sinatra. The chairman of the board. Sorry King and with all due respect to the late, great (what is this fate?) Kobe. But they all wanted to be like Mike. Hear it from forever 24 himself in one of the most sobering, emotionally blindsiding moments of this whole series (so thankful I was coincidentally cutting onions at the time) when talking about the original 23. M.J. a thriller like the other Mike, Jackson. Now who's bad? At its purest you best believe Basketball is an art form and Michael Jordan made the Spalding (whoops. Wilson now like Tom Hanks' best friend. WoW!) his instrument. 'The Last Dance' his symphony. All in a shrugs work (and wait until you see the real master of this). And now you can play it in every household he became a name in like the game in your backyard, throwing up shots like you believed you could fly, now shouting, "KOBE" in tribute. You better make it. Mamba mentality remember. Never out like the rumoured documentary footage from his last waltz we can't wait, or would love to see. As ESPN's latest top ten, 30 For 30 has been made available everywhere (i.e. Netflix) as chilling at home in lock down we no longer have to scroll through the streaming service for a show or movie to watch with cinemas closed. We have our top pick now...and we aint talking about Sam Bowie. Top ten across the world as our days go round in circles like the globe, or the spinning Spald...Wilson this guy owned and honed like he was from Harlem...close. This New Yorker made Madison Square Garden the World's Most Famous Arena like the Delta Centre or Byron Russell, (that push off move on the headline intro, 'Dark Knight' scored that we will never skip Netflix like the 'Stranger Things' one straight looking like a Bruce Lee move. After I wrote this news of his 39 For 30 'Be Water' came). When Money had the ball it was more than cash and profits for the post Bird and Magic golden era of hoop dreams which Netflix are about to see why and just how much for a show that even people that don't like Basketball are finding compelling due to this man's court creations. Remember those Converse you wear...Basketball shoes. Everytime you post a "Throwback Thursday"...that's a hoops reference. If you want to get better at something you should always study the greats. Jordan, Kobe, Ali, Prince, Springsteen, Scorsese, De Niro, Pacino and so on. The Beatles. The Chicago Bulls. And the most sought after, greatest thing on Netflix since 'The Irishman' is one of the only saving graces of this quarantine, like the BBC bringing forward their signature series, 'Killing Eve' starring Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh. But forget Eve. This is all about Mike and his last Bull run out the Bullpen. Because nobody had a killer instinct like Mike. The ultimate Villanelle like Jerry Krause the villain of this. This is history for our generations like world wars. But no one had a fight like this. You can see it in his eyes when he cries. No meme. "Break!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1em;">Let's dance! The Bowie (not Sam) sampling</span><span style="font-size: 1em;"> classic 'Been Around The World' by Diddy ("if this is our last dance we need to practice our steps." Guess the song with Brandy) when he was the Puff Daddy and the Ma$e, Notorious B.I.G. Family plays like you just know this show is going to be a classic like the soundtrack that needs to be a Spotify playlist if it isn't already a number one, one. All to lay the Chicago town scene and introduce us to all the untouchable characters like Capone or Elliott Ness. Just like introducing Scottie Pippen and that iconic dunk over Patrick Ewing to the subwoofer of your speakers with all that bass in his voice. A man who was more than a Robin sidekick to Jordan's Batman, but maybe one of the most underrated and greatest ever. Even of at the time he was the 122nd highest player in the league. Do you know who the 122nd highest paid player in the association is today...exactly! And how about Dennis Rodman..."wassup!" Need we say anymore? The introduction takes care of all that. Is it because he's different? More entertaining than trying to find your best friend in Vegas after 'The Hangover'. BOOM...he's here. And then BOOM! He's back there. He's everywhere. And then of course there's the man who orchestrated this all in this last season for a team in search of it's soul, the Zen master Coach Phil Jackson. But is it bad that this Laker fan wanted a Ron Harper and Horace Grant episode in a laundry list of famous and not so teammates (but I'll settle for Harp's "f### this bull####" when as a Cav he couldn't get M.J. for the shot and Horace's Cosby like reaction to Magic teammate Nick "Choke" Anderson saying "45 isn't the same as 23" for that jersey change. Or how about Mike's friendly joking banter with Grant and a referee during the playoffs that he doesn't see Horace that much at this time of the year. Straight savage)? Or his interaction with the Hollywood G.O.A.T. A young Leonardo DiCaprio (</span>I want to see a M.J. so petty that when DiCaprio corrects his "The Man With The Iron Face" comment he hops in a DeLorean, takes it back to '95 and hangs 63 on Leo's character from 'The Basketball Diaries'. "Okay, you want to correct me. That's fine, no problem." Imagine building a DeLorean just to go back 3 years. Hash-tag, "petty"). Fr<span style="font-size: 1em;">om big shot guards like Paxson and B.J. Armstrong. To some of the best courtside contributors in this documentary that has everyone from Nas comparing copping Jordan's to having a lightsaber off 'Star Wars' and some former Chicago resident called, Barack Obama (not to mention Bull, Bad Boy and our man John Salley amongst all the Ahmad Rashad's and David Stern's (Rest Peacefully) in Bill Wennington and Jud Buechler (who if they ever do a 'Last Dance' movie needs to be played by Ryan Reynolds himself). And who could forget Warriors coach Steve Kerr (but when they get to his episode and past, prepare yourselves. This guy really is the bravest beyond the game on the line. Which makes his trademark humour and heart that much more in the face of tragedy inspired) and his hilarious response to the reason why the Bulls are so good and maybe the big-three's real third man Toni Kukoc? One of the first and groundbreaking Euro players that have made the game what it is today. Word to the name on the back of Kevin Durant's black Bulls jersey. Seeing the forgotten outcome to when he was given the last shot instead of Pip has the nail biting excitement of watching a real live game during this lockdown were there's a chain on the gym like 'Coach Carter'. And then there's the love story that started in Paris without a hug and ended as the G.O.A.T. of friendships in Scott Burrell. But back to the music in this dance like the shifting time lines. Forget Oreo's, there's LL Cool J's 'Bad' whilst crushing the Celtics like a building on pink plastic for 63 like it was God disguised as Michael Jordan. 'Partyman' by the purple one like The Joker, Prince off his 'Batman' soundtrack for the King before the purple one. There's so many more classics like Chicago's own Alan Parsons project introduction dance that we don't want to spoil for this scoring soundtrack of a series like KRS-One and Eric B. and Rakim paid in full for a show that ain't no joke. But we know whose going to have the last laugh on 'The Last Dance' like handing an iPad to the greatest and showing him that the glove of Gary Payton (and how about David Aldridge talking about how we should save the Sonics (don't skip this. Or Breanna Stewart of the Storm's teacup reaction to Joe Budden saying Seattle needs a Basketball team...and that's the tea) thought he could fit when it came to his trash talking, Hall of Fame defence. It was all O.J. for M.J. No doubt about it. No one did it like Mike. The only one who really had a hold on him was his mother...and of course his father, James Jordan. One of the best and most beautiful moments of 'The Last Dance' (especially for this writer a thousand miles away from home in Japan) is where Michael lovingly watches his Mum read a letter he sent from college, apologising for the phone bill and asking her for money and stamps...you know typical student stuff from a man who could retire off one Jordan shoe alone (left or right). There won't be a dry eye in the house as it's all smiles. But then it becomes all too tragically heartbreaking. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1em;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 1em;">"Starts off with hard work, ends in champagne," says the man who was back like two words and how much that all means like reading more into this philosophical quote that should belong in his history like the rings and the book of Basketball accolades as more than a footnote for a documentary that's the perfect partner to Roland Lazenby's biography on 'The Life' of this man. Here comes the ball towards Michael Jordan. Its travelling faster than usual. Like a Magic past from a man he went to the Olympics with, making jazz like Bird in Barcelona '92 for something that was all a dream like B.I.G. said it was. But Pop! Mike still catches it...with a glove. And we ain't talking about Gary Payton. The ball comes back to Mike and this time he SLAMS! He slams it with a bat. Knocking it out the park like Wrigley Field. Wait...what?! Before 'The Last Dance' a Michael had one or his own a few calenders before as he walked away from the game and rightfully so after his father, James Jordan went missing and was later found brutally murdered. And whilst in mourning and trying to grieve in private the media were out trying to pin the murder on Michael's gambling addiction and false claimed debts. Now imagine what that would be like today in the cruel world of Twitter trolls and keyboard "warriors" who are about as brave as Trump. Mike took his ball home and picked up sticks, trying out for Baseball as that was what his father always wanted to see his son do. Now how beautiful is that? Changing his body Jordan earned his 45 and time on the diamond, asking for no special favours (the ESPN '30 For 30') goes into much greater detail. But still critics chose to hate like the time he came back for one last swan song as a Washington Wizard because this still scientist of the X and O lost a step of fresh air. Little did they consider that the man who said he was 99.9999% sure he wasn't coming back in 2001 played for free and donated his whole playing salary to the 9/11 relief fund (it's about time we mention he's not getting paid for this either. Donating his money made of this series (4 mill after just Episode I) to the Coronavirus relief fund) and you still want to talk about his "republicans buy sneakers too" quote. Michael could have made the majors with his baseball swing, going for the fences. But the only reason he "came back wearing the 4-5" like Jay-Z was because baseball was trying to exploit his name whilst he was standing up for the little men of the league going on strike. That was number 3 and M.J. was out of there (again little is made of that whilst a lot is made out of why Basketball's G.O.A.T. wasn't the greatest of all time trading the roundball for rounders). Not because he had a game to play with Bugs Bunny. But after 'Space Jam' Jordan came back and won it all again...on father's day. But face down crying on the floor, cradling the ball like a newborn child wasn't the last indelible, inspirational image of influence we'd have for the man with the gold necklace and cut cigar in a coffee cup as he swung a bat in a Bulls warm up. How about when "sidekick" Scottie really had his back in the "flu" game? Which we now know was 'The Food Poisoning Game'. When Michael sliced everyone up for 38 after some bad pizza. Or Slam Dunk Contest taking off from the free throw line and the human highlight film of Dominique Wilkins to all the air of Nike up there as he came and flew. No Michael would save us one last dance like you shouldn't in your Netflix list. Continue watching right now like all those treasure trove, golden age YouTube highlight videos that show you we can still wait for one of the best NBA seasons in recent memory to return...and this is a Lakers fan saying this. And it ain't over. Even if the dynasty was (their death coming premature. Imagine if the NBA never came back from COVID-19. No LeBron. Or Giannis. It was kind of like that would be). On the 20th of May ESPN will treat you to the curtain call of 'Game 6: The Movie', filmed on 'Last Dance' documentary cameras, to be seen for the first time. 'The Last Dance' represents the good ole 90's, pre-Trump cynicism of the American Dream that everyone wanted like Obama coming back wearing the 4-5. This is the greatest basketball documentary of all-time about to take home Oscar like Larry O'Brien. Dear Basketball. It doesn't get much better than this. Dance with me. <b><i>TIM DAVID HARVEY. </i></b></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 1em;"><i><b>Further Filming: </b>'Come Fly With Me', 'Jordan Rides The Bus', 'Celtics/Lakers: Best Of Enemies'. </i></span></div>
Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-61104962184080240902020-04-27T22:37:00.000-07:002020-04-28T02:02:08.153-07:00#90sBlockbusters DENNIS RODMAN Feature-DEMOLITION MAN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Hot Rod. </i><br />
<i><br /></i><b>By TIM DAVID HARVEY. </b><br />
<b><br /></b><i>(In the first of our #90sBlockbusters theme series of features on the best characters of the golden era of the NBA we look at Dennis Rodman's turning point time with the San Antonio Spurs for our episode, 'Demolition Man' (thanks for the name inspiration John Salley), featuring italicised quotes by Wesley Snipes' Simon Phoenix character from the movie. For Rodman's career retrospective from the Detroit Pistons to the Chicago Bulls, check out our 2011 Hall of Fame celebratory piece, <a href="https://basketball244882.blogspot.com/2011/08/in-rod-we-trust.html">'In Rod We Trust'</a>.)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>"I could have been a bomb. I could have been in jail. I could have been dead. But I worked my ass off to get HERE". - Dennis Rodman (<i>'The Last Dance') </i><br />
<i><br /></i><i>"Greetings, what's your bogle."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>007. 69. These were the numbers Rodman wanted on the back of his jersey if Dennis was going to continue doing Dallas like Debbie. What a Maverick like Mel Gibson! At that point you just knew his 72 wasn't going to get raised to the rafters like the wonderfully strange like him fact that his Lakers jersey of the same number became a Mitchell and Ness sought after throwback. Even if he didn't play more than a M.J. 23 games with the Lakers...let alone a seventy or 82 (still glad you'll always be a Laker for life though Dennis. Here's to the purple and gold hair). We all know however that 91 deserves its place in the rafters with all the banners he helped number 23 and 33 put up there in United Center for the Chicago Bulls. It's not a reach like that amazing, absolutely iconic image of him reaching for that rebound, as vertical as if he was on a table, or the Dion Waiters edible just hit. And maybe this ESPN and Netflix 'Last Dance' that is saving us all right now stuck at home alone like Culkin in social isolation, will finally be the first steps to all that for the man who gave the most brutally honest and emotionally heartfelt Hall of Fame speech we've ever seen...although Michael Jordan still has the crying meme. Some folks get all the credit. But others they'll never forget it. Like the purists know. This game is as much about X as it is about O. And here's one man who could change the game without even taking a single shot like Magic. The rebounding machine. No not the round mound of Chuck, but Dennis Rodman baby!<br />
<br />
<i>"Blast from the past!"</i><br />
<br />
Daly's Detroit Pistons really were the Bad Boys before Martin Lawrence and when Will Smith was still a Fresh Prince. And Dennis was a menace before the black and red stripes. You only have to see this defensive dog waltzing with Magic Johnson in Episode III of 'The Last Dance' closer than the Zeke cheek of an Isiah Thomas kiss for proof. "He's a pest" Supersonic legend Gary Payton (a trash talking one himself) says over the footage about the "f### up person". "He changed the game just by his presence". Look at the frustration on Earvin's face as Rodman stopped Showtime like Jordan would to end the 80's the original M.J. and Larry Bird, redefined, changing the face of the sport and how the game was seen worldwide in popularity before the no one like Mike took the golden era of the 90's to new air as we came and flew with him like Sinatra as Money touched the sky like leaving a dollar up on the backboard for street G.O.A.T, Earl Manigualt to pluck in Rucker Park. But as crazy as this play was for a young hit Rod, where were the tattoos? What colour was his hair? The natural look. You're kidding right? Nope! Thomas. Joe Dumars. Rick Mahorn. Bill Laimbeer. Our man John 'The Spider' Salley, star of 'Bad Boys' I and II, but not 'For Life'. The Detroit Pistons were all about hard nosed, hard work. Basketball may have been beautiful, but like the Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed Wallace and BIG Ben Wallace (DUUUUMMM!) Bad Boys sequel that dethroned the death of a dynamic duo dynasty of Phil Jackson's Shaq and Kobe, second three-peat-ing Lakers (that also had Hall of Famers, The Mailman, Karl Malone and The Glove, Gary Payton) the assembly line of Piston players made ugly plays just that good looking. Beating you up on the floor they weren't here for the slicked, Dapper Dan of a GQ Pat Riley's Showtime a Lakers. They showed Bird and the classic Celtics that their green with envy hard work was nothing like the nosed down grind of blue collars. But still, "when (Dennis) first came to Detroit, he was an innocent, beautiful person. But a little naive about like the world", as Isiah said. Or "he was simple at that time" as Salley added to the documentary, before talking about a beautiful camping story Dennis told, getting away and "looking at the stars". So what the hell happened?!<br />
<br />
<i>"Play ball."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>San Antonio happened. That's what happened to the guy Pistons late, great coach Chuck Daly couldn't have been "more proud" to be "associated with" as he called the young Dennis Rodman a, "coaches dream." He may have built the troublemaker reputation in Detroit as he tell us in 'The Last Dance' but he finessed it like an M.J. fadeaway in The Alamo with pink hair under all that pink and turquoise. At The Admiral's port even with the professional, Naval inspirational of David Robinson who probably still had his own Basketball uniform cleaned, ironed and folded at the bottom of his bed after games, even though they had someone else to do that for him. But before the Twin Towers of D-Rob and some big Hall of Fundamental called Tim Duncan in Texas there was some guy who told the fans on appreciation night, "you can like me, or you can hate me, all I know is one thing; when I step on this floor I'm gonna get things popping." And oh did he. And off it too. As soon as he took his baseball cap off and revealed the Wesley Snipes, Simon Phoenix blonde dyed mohawk (the first of more hairstyles than all those dog-eared piled stacks of magazines in hair salons can carry), the 'Demolition Man' was born for the Van Damme 'Double Team' (see what they did there?) actor. From East to West. The Pistons to Phoenix, or whoever. "Simon says, bleed". "Simon says...die". Rodman's time with the Spurs (7.6 points and 16.8 rebounds per), Robinson, Dale Ellis and Del Negro wasn't as legendary as his time in the Bull-pen, running with Chicago, or his Bad Boy birth in Motown. But it was much more than his Hollywood days or his last shot in the Wild West like J.R. (Rider) with Dallas. And more importantly it was probably the most pivotal moment of his career catalyst for a post player who pre-championship was about to blow up in a colour as effervescent as the ones he'd spray in his hair before each game from a can like he was sticking his hand up a vending machines a##. Like the time he 33 gave it up for Scottie Pippen's injury return in subtle solidarity and symbolism <a href="https://whatfilmsareoutthisweekend.blogspot.com/2020/04/scenestealing-focus-2015.html">like Will Smith's 'Focus' conman putting the number 55 everywhere for B.D. Wong to bet on it, whilst the 124 "woo, woo's" (that is the Mandarin for the number 5) of the Rolling Stone's 'Sympathy For The Devil' plays.</a> Rainbow scalp like the old San An colours. Nice day for a white wedding with him in the dress. Dating Madonna, 'Like A Virgin' as she told him to be whoever the f### he wanted to be (all whilst she "done broke (his) d###"). All whilst born again Christian David Robinson tried to convert a man that used to take mid-season vacations in Vegas with Jordan looking for him like Bradley Cooper and them in 'The Hangover'. No dice! "I can't live that life". Headbutting John Stockton. Intoxicated on a chopper like a son of anarchy. Riding shotgun with a shotgun like this was literally 'The Alamo' in Texas soon that would be Rodman's last shot with San Antonio. Holding up a towel with a Sharpie that read, "I'm sorry. Please let me play", soon he would. But like after a bad breakup all for someone else. As The Worm wormed his way to Chicago for the original big three with Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan that fit as Scottie said, "like a hand in a glove". And the rest they say for this Beastie Boy 'Maestro' like a Prince 'Partyman' in this LL Cool J 'Bad' documentary that's 'Been All Around The World' like a Diddy and Ma$e sampling Bowie dance is history. Six times over. Now how's that for being spurred on?<br />
<br />
<i>"Look, you can't take away people right to be a##holes". </i><br />
<i><br /></i>But you best believe he ain't one.<br />
<br />
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"I created this monster"!-Dennis Rodman <i>('The Last Dance') </i>Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-15557294226788771882020-04-24T20:45:00.001-07:002020-05-03T06:01:24.024-07:00#TheKobeSeries KOBE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Dear Hollywood. </i><br />
<i><br /></i><b>By TIM DAVID HARVEY</b><br />
<b><br /></b>Dear Basketball,<br />
<br />
We all know what the late, great Kobe Bryant (it still tragically doesn't feel true) could do on the court. Treating the dear basketball like a rolled up tube sock. From the coliseum of the Great Western Forum (how you going to sell that to the Clippers? It's bad enough they cover our banners with their selfies), to being a Los Angeles STAPLE. Everyday of his 82 plus, 365 day yeas a Laker. From 'fro dunks, to Caruso bald, Black Mamba fades. 8 to 24 in the rafters like the 2 of GiGi should be. Like Quinn Cook trading for the 28. Sorry D-Fish we will just put 0.4 up in the rafters for you. Basketball man. He fell in love with you. Like you did him. Mutual even if some times were hard like any marriage or Diesel dynamic duo like Shaq. Mind and body. Spirit and soul. We gave him all our time. He gave us all his all. Up and down the court. Every loose ball. Hustle. Heart. Asked. Gave. From rocking the cradle to what we can't believe now in a 2020 so grave. Sweat. Hurt. The calling. The good. The bad. He made US feel so alive. From the pounding to the grind. Our hearts wish it wasn't time to say goodbye. We're not ready to let you go. Like everytime we roll up a ball of paper towards the wastebasket letting it fly and saying your name like Destiny's Child or Jay-Z on Timbaland's, 'Lobster and Shrimp'.<br />
<br />
"KOBE!"<br />
<br />
California dreaming courtside however you only need to see that this La La Land city of angels is one of stars. From the bleachers to mopping the floor, just check the seats like an Usher (8701...he's been here too like Diddy and the Family Ma$e's, Bowie 'Let's Dance' sampling 'Been Around The World', featuring The Notorious B.I.G beginning Netflix and ESPN's 30 For 30 Michael Jordan and Chicago Bulls documentary 'The Last Dance' now streaming). From Dyan Cannon to Sly Stallone and the number one die hard fan (no not Bruce Willis), Jack Nicholson who treats the Lakers house as his second home. Let's hear it for Jack on the week of his birthday in that opening 'Been Around The World' scene of 'The Last Dance' congratulating Chicago coach Phil Jackson the moment his team beats superfan Jack's Lakers on their Forum floor in the '91 Finals. Little did he know a decade later Jax would be starting the same thing in STAPLES with someone like Mike. Life is beautiful. And how about the recent report that Kobe filmed footage for a potential documentary too? Like if we see him in 'The Last Dance' like the late commissioner, also lost this year, David Stern, there will be tears. Lakers.com the day before yesterday shared a video of Kobe's first All Star Game in New York at Madison Square Garden in honor of Nicholson's birthday. Whilst Kobe is being interviewed by the legend Jim Gray pregame Jack appears out of nowhere like "Heeeere's Kobe" with a just brought basketball still in its box and a Sharpie, jokingly (and probably somewhat seriously) asking a young 8 bean for his John Hancock. As Kobe autographs the Spalding, Nicholson praises his dignity saying he's not like these other stars like "Jack Nicholson who won't even go on T.V." as he tongue in cheek looks at the camera in his trademark wrap-around shades, letting the haters have it. Laughing, Gray asks Nicholson if he has any advice for the kid. "For Kobe?" Jack replies. He looks up to the 6,6 Kobe and pats his arm, "HEAT UP" he repeats...and then knowing grin and wink flashes that signature smile that was so sinister in 'The Shining' and as The Joker, but feels real friendly in real life..."and get loose".<br />
<br />
Hotter than July before all the leaves were brown like grey skies. Little did a watching Hollywood know that the sign of this wonders times would point to a post career that mirrored their reflection as they watched the reflecting waxed wood floor like their swimming pools in the hills, behind their celebrity shades (you guys are indoors...you know this right? Not you Jack. You get a free pass). Little did they know that the next star of their Tinsletown own would be the one they were gawping at from their seats like he was the celebrity and they the fans, gifted from the basketball Gods like these hoop dreams in what was once Magic's town after Wilt and West's were scripted. But who could write it better than Kobe? Even before the King of LeBron James took his G.O.A.T. debate like talents to Lakerland for his last waltz and a 'Space Jam' sequel too like he was the next one after 23, not 24. And when he was backing up his 'Bron brother (remember that courtside image of Kobe and LeBron laughing and embracing from last December, before the tragedy, before COVID? Oh to go back to that time) and hitting out on politicians like Trump. Making speeches for other award shows about how he should probably just "shut up and dribble", the same kid who used to stay in his hotel room and watch 'Star Wars' as a rookie when his teammates would hit the next town and party was receiving Oscars off Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill. Kobe Wan Kenobi. We all know the beautiful 'Dear Basketball' penned Players Tribune poem turned into an artistic animation sketch, scored by the legendary composer of classics, John Williams. This has gold all over it like Kobe at home for his Kodak Theatre moment from a purple heart to the red carpet in what he hope were rolled up tube socks under that tux. But how about what else Kobe was writing for his Wizenard series like a Harry Potter meets sports like Quidditch series of books from the man who once dressed up as Voldernort for Halloween and used to cold call legends like J.K. Rowling for inspiration and that advice? Under his Granity platform and like the Detail he brought to his ESPN analysis videos from Taurasi to Sabrina like the WNBA ambassador he was, Kobe knew how to write all his dreams into reality. From hoops to Hollywood. This town got this kid. Just like the one writing this now somewhere in Japan. Coming to America by way of Hollywood for the first time at 21 in '06. From a small seaside town in England near Liverpool, to all these beaches. Seeing his beloved Kobe and Lakers he's supported since age 11 live. Just amazed that he even got the chance to see him whilst he still could...even back then or in his last dance a decade later in 2016. It was like something out a movie. Leaving Los Angeles with La La Land, city of star studded dreams...and a pad and pen. Writing rhymes as a rapper during his 'fro young playing days Kob' had 'Visions' of a hit single with Tyra Banks like taking Brandy to the prom (after his appearance on 'Moesha' Like 90's sitcom staples, 'Sister, Sister' and the "hustling is wrong" revenge of 'Hang Time'). Before K.O.B.E. jumped on Shaq tracks, a Brian McKnight remix ('Hold Me'. Remember him suited and booted in the iconic video clip?) and Destiny's Child (Can you guess which one? That's right. 'Say My Name'), doin' work like a Spike Lee joint.<br />
<br />
When Kobe was going through one of his worst times, he got cold called. By M.J. No not Mike, but someone like him in Michael. Jackson not Jordan. Inviting him to his Neverland ranch and giving him some advice on dealing with adversity and the alienation. As the moonwalking King of Pop showed and gave Kobe all the Fred Astaire videos that influenced those legendary dances that took the world's stage by a thriller like storm. In turn inspiring the footwalk in Kobe's ever evolving game (this is a court scientist who used to study nature documentaries and mimick how a cheetahs tail moved when it struck its prey with his leg when he took off for a shot, adjusting mid-air for the clutch. Talk about perfecting your craft) and probably his life's storytelling after he hung up the sneakers like tap dancing shoes too. Just another Hollywood moment in the life and Los Angeles times of legendary Laker, Kobe Bryant. Now even if he was one of the greatest to ever play this game, top five, dead (he really can't be. Tell me it's not true) or alive, it looked like Kobe Bryant's post basketball career that really looked to be something was still being written. Hollywood's not ready to say goodbye. As the author of the Andrew D. Bernstein photo assisted book, 'The Mamba Mentality: How I Play' for your coffee table inspiration posthumously released 'The Wizenard Series: Season One' volume in March, two months after his passing, with more to come. What was and what could have been. Still if only we could read the children's book aimed at underprivileged youth he was working on with Brazilian author Paul Coelho, which Coelho deleted in draft form after Kobe's death with respect. "It didn't make sense to publish it without him", Paul beautifully said in tribute for a book that will always remain out there...in spirit. But more tragically then what could of been in the Mamba's world of entertainment from bookshelves to in cinemas. Or the fact that the Mambacita of his Gianna would have one day carried on his basket torching legacy in the WNBA, probably of fate would have fittingly had it with the Los Angeles Sparks for this child's destiny. What's most tragic is on that cruel twist of fate day like all the lives that were lost, a father and a daughter lost theirs like the rest of their family heartbreakingly did. That's the real tragedy here. But just like we know that up in the hoop heavens GiGi will be beating daddy with all of the tricks of the trade he taught her. Once they call game and she takes a rest, Kobe will be right there beside her with a pad and a pen. Writing their next chapter.<br />
<br />
Heat up Kobe...and get loose.<br />
<br />
"And we both know, no matter what I do next. I’ll always be that kid. With the rolled up socks. Garbage can in the corner. 5 seconds on the clock. Ball in my hands. 5 … 4 … 3 … 2 … 1."<br />
<br />
Love you always Kobe.<br />
<br />
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<b><i>#TheKobeSeries</i></b>Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-40140087814752246622020-03-28T22:07:00.001-07:002020-03-29T03:09:03.967-07:00MOVIE REVIEW: THE WAY BACK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>4/5</b><br />
<b><br /></b><i>Ben Is Back.</i><br />
<i><br /></i><i><b>108 Mins. Starring: Ben Affleck, Janina Gavankar, Al Madrigal, Michaela Watkins & Glynn Turman. Director: Gavin O'Connor. </b></i><br />
<i><br /></i>Under construction. Straight pouring vodka into his thermos like a hip flask under his hard hat disguise. Ben Affleck's character not only feels too close for comfort to home, but also like a bearded version of his young, Flinstone rock hitting worker from 'Good Will Hunting'. The same one who told fellow Oscar winning young writer Matt Damon that the best part of his day was the few minutes on his porch were he knocks on the door and he thinks his friend won't show because he's off taking his talents elsewhere, or even "seeing about a girl" (son of a bitch did we just steal his line?). An alone version with his friend re-Bourne and long gone, that didn't make it out himself, like he always said he wouldn't anyway. A version crossed over with the hockey hero of Charlestown that never made it pro, as this Boston boy keeps this Californian small setting in the aesthetic of 'The Town'. The hometown hero Celtics would be proud of this parquet courtship. As Ben plays a high school Basketball legend who never made it to the big leagues of the NBA, called back to coach his alma mater who haven't had success like that since he was in the gym for 'The Way Back'. Looking like something he directed himself, but actually from the 'Warrior' (the best sports film and best movie of 2011) mind of his 'Accountant' director Gavin O'Connor reunited. The big-three of 'Gone Baby Gone', 'The Town' and 'Argo' was supposed to be this 'Daredevil' actor, long from the days of taking movies just for a 'Paycheck', after the success of 'Chasing Amy's' big comeback from career 'Armageddon'. Just like his battered and broken version of Batman and his haunted and lonely best Bruce Wayne yet in the 'Dawn Of Justice' in 'Batman vs Superman' was. And despite this being criminally and critically underrated like his 'Live By Night' direction, 'Justice League' (aside from what we're sure is the deserving Snyder cut that deserves to be released, especially now) wasn't as it grappling hook misfired from the high-rises. Then after 'The Batman' solo movie Ben was set to do everything on, except the craft services (and we still wish to see one day...the direction, not the catering) went in a new direction with the 'Twilight' of Robert Pattinson (which you'll love to see), Affleck whose alcoholism was no longer anonymous thanks (but actually no thanks) to the press needed another return and his restrained and clearly lived in, down and out on his luck character on Netflix's 'Triple Frontier', albeit an epic ensemble, all too telling wasn't it. But now with Affleck almost on the back of a retired jersey for the rafters, he's found his banner return, personally fitting to him in the comeback of 'The Way Back'. His certification for the Academy Hall of Fame. Rising like the sun from the ashes of the phoenix tattoo he carries on his back with the weight of a watching world, don't call it a comeback...you can do that more than once.<br />
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King James of the Los Angeles Lakers is about to star in a 'Space Jam' sequel next season. And we all know the "secret stuff" of Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny's 90's original too...Bill Murray. But much more than this or the legend of Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson's 'White Men Can't Jump', many more Basketball movies have taken to the floor like a 'Groundhog Day' script cliché. And like Kyrie Irving's 'Uncle Drew' commercial success they're actually all good like 'Love and Basketball'. We all know the 'Blue Chip' classics like Knick superfan Spike Lee's, 'He Got Game' with Denzel Washington and Ray Allen as the Jesus Shuttlesworth originally meant for the late, great Kobe Bryant before Spike filmed, 'Kobe Doin' Work'. Running the picket fence with 'Hoosiers'. All the way to a 'Glory Road' with Samuel L. Jackson's classic 'Coach Carter'. We have the serious (2Pac's 'Above The Rim' and Leo DiCaprio's 'Basketball Diaries') and the silly (Will Ferrell's 'Semi-Pro' and Bow Wow's 'Like Mike'). Cult heroes, like 80's icon Michael J. Fox's 'Teen Wolf'. And underrated gems like Sean Connery's 'Finding Forrester'. Queen Latifah and Common's New Jersey Net 'Just Wright'. The Wayans brother 'Celtic Pride' kidnap. The Shakespearean 'O' with Mekhi Phifer and Josh Hartnett high-school stars. Don Cheadle's streetball legend of 'The Earl Manigault Story'. Whoopi's 'Eddie'. Billy Crystal forgetting Paris with some awesome real player comedy interactions, tripping as a referee. And who could forget the Shaq sized 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' episode, or 'The Office' party pick-up game of legend for the T.V. instant replay comedy Canon? Or...erm...Kevin Durant's 'Thunderstruck'. Even Netflix have made the team with their game changing 'High Flying Bird' and the amazing 'Amateur' that is anything but that name. But nothing is more professional than this powerhouse picture, sharing pages of the gym playbook with the action got in 'Carter', or the sober truth behind the history of 'Hoosiers'. Not to mention the young, against the odds spirit of 'Glory Road' in this squads goals, as Affleck looks to lead his team to the promised land and keys in the ignition drive and take himself away from temptation for this Bishop high-school, where he has to watch that swear jar mouth like he does the opposing teams Point Guard.<br />
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Bon Iver's beautiful 'Heavenly Father' like the howling wind (check the choral choir response somewhere in Paris for a L'Blogtheque 'Takeaway' show stopping performance personally for one of the most inspired Iver) plays on the perfect trailer for a man with the plastic coil of two tapped cans away from calling that his home. And "oh my goodness" you just know this is going to be good. Ben brings his best yet, deconstructing his character and its muse like personal life influence before our glazed eyes with humbling honest and bruised heart that still beats as he breaths heavily through a weary and substance soaked soul. He's in control now, even when it looks like he's relapsing away from recovery and remission here in character. From staying dry like January, to trying to keep his marker on the dry erase permanently. From intervention like concern that gets cans thrown across the room. And tins in a rusting shower that are drained along with the sins of this character circling in a steady spiral. As he staggeres to the sofa like he's dancing, sways, punch drunk in heartbreak. But just wait until you see the truly harrowing and haunting reason this character drinks to dull the pain to an ebbing ache. That's just too much to take and Affleck is just too good at this. Forget the Scorsese scorched caped crusades. How can the Academy ignore the 'Argo' acclaimed actor/director now? Ar-go f### yourself! Comedian, 'Night School' and forthcoming Marvel 'Morbius' actor Al Madrigal makes for the assistant coach everyone wants for a classic, coming of age team of talent in acting and playing we will remember for years like Coach, "wait is that Channing Tatum" Carter. Whilst 'Saturday Night Live's' fellow funny Michaela Watkins plays sisters keeper with hearts and smarts. And how about 'Cooley High' legend Glynn Turman as a guardian angel with one drink at the end of the bar, waiting to pick-up and carry coach home, always making sure he gets back safe? Beautiful. But nothing beats 'Blindspotting' star Janina Gavankar on her big-screen breakout as Ben's ex-wife, still in the picture like true lovers still bonded by the intamacy of friendship will always be. Like the love he's garnered from Jennifer Garner. Affleck may be the back of the jersey, big name and franchise face, but this play is all about the whole team, 1 through 15. Role players to who steps up for the last shot. With this warrior, no one does sports drama like O'Connor. Whilst a sobering ending to the drunk and dark drama as such, rather than one drenched in sentimental sap, seems like the right play to make. Sometimes real winning doesn't show on the score sheet. The heart of a true champion is not measured in the gold weight of the trophy cabinet. Basketball may serve as a backdrop to the boozed and broken man trying to put the pieces like a play all together, but this isn't only quite possibly the best Basketball movie of all time (and as you can see there's plenty on the roster to make the cut). It's also maybe one of the best sports movies or dramas ever between the Holy Trinity of a 'Field Of Dreams' and 'Friday Night Lights' on any given Sunday. And not just that, it's finally perhaps in performance, Ben Affleck's greatest of all time too. Hey now, that's an all star. What a way back Coach Affleck. <b><i>TIM DAVID HARVEY.</i></b><br />
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<b><i><br /></i></b><b><i>Further Filming:</i></b><i> 'Coach Carter', 'Glory Road', 'Hoosiers'. </i>Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-29395175733707982042020-03-26T23:02:00.002-07:002020-03-28T07:11:27.516-07:00#TheKobeSeries GOOD CHARLOTTE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Charlotte's Web.</i><br />
<i><br /></i><b>By TIM DAVID HARVEY.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>Some schedule in 2002, Foxy as Chick Hearn affectionately called him looks to inbound the ball in North Carolina against the Charlotte Hornets with clutch king Derek Fisher in prime 0.4 position and less time left than future Buzz City owner Michael Jordan had to decide which hand to lay it up off the glass with for that infamous, iconic play back against the 80's Lakers that was true Showtime.<br />
<b><br /></b>2016 was supposed to be the best year. I met a wonderful woman and that was truly beautiful and we got to see LeBron win it for The Land. But in that same year we lost Prince, Ali, Bowie and a whole heroic host of other G.O.A.T., out of this world talents. And all we got back was Trump and Brexit. Even Kobe retired from the NBA as a Laker for life, 24 and 8 to be in the rafters. 20 years. 81 points amongst more. Two jerseys. One team. At least we had each other.<br />
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Fox finds Shaq downtown in a position the most dominant ever has no business being like the free throw line or players in clubs the night before a big game, gone three ("what it do bay-bee"). He looks for Robert Horry whose had more big shots than anyone without Air before their name in the logo.<br />
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2020 was supposed to be that year of redemption finally recovered from the depression. Finally lost in translation in Japan for a teaching gig on my way to writing for the Tokyo, 2020 Olympics in any way I could. This was supposed to be the new roaring twenties in a new Fitzgerald, Gatsby age of decadence. But then the morning I got here, somewhere in Yokohama my phone was buzzing in the middle of what was my night from back home like someone I cared about died. Turns out they did. To begin this year we lost Kobe and GiGi and all those people that tragically lost their lives in that horrific helicopter crash. Rest peacefully. And all we got back was Corona. Turns out in the end it's the worst year. Stay safe.<br />
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Big shot Bob gracefully gives it off to the young 'fro of Kob who on the ball at the same center court Charlotte logo he could have owned (and still did as he was about to) is aggressively marked by former '96 Laker teammate George Lynch, who is on him like 41 on Glen Rice whose three throwing left the Lakers last season.<br />
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Rocking the same teal and turquoise Kobe cleats I copped the same year I fell in love with someone of the same name in tribute, now I walk in them to honour the man who joined the team I started supporting a year earlier and began a beautiful twenty year fanship that felt like a friend too. And the rest was hallowed hoops history I hope haunts every night for the rest of my life. The 'Charlotte' Kobe's imagine in imagery what it would have been like if Kobe took to the floor in Larry Johnson pinstripes too.<br />
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Kobe drives like Ryan Gosling in LA. Straight for the perimeter like a Raptor towards a weakness on the fence. Then on the world's smallest dime he stops on what looks like the smoothest, slipperiest when Bon Jovi, classic Hornet honeycomb court in all the association as he bobs and pump fake weaves. Turns out it is for the ankle breaking defender he's just lynched and the G.O.A.T like M.J. as the future number 24 fades away like 23 and falls to the floor.<br />
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With the unlucky for them and all the other teams who passed up before like a Sam Bowie (or Todd Fuller(?)! Who? I know right!), 13th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft the Charlotte Hornets selected Kobe Bryant, a 6 foot 6, 215 pound guard out of Lower Merion high school. As fellow twenty/twenty gone before his time, late, great legend David Stern shook his hand. Even future teammate Samaki Walker-with all due respect-was selected before him.<br />
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As 8 watched his wonder of a clutch shot like an Oscar winning 'Dear Basketball' scrawled and rolled up tube sock, it would have been a prayer if it was from any other player. But Hail Mary this is Kobe who the Basketball Gods called to their hoop heavens with the Mambacita Mentality of the first name Gianna, who would have grown up to be the greatest WNBA player of all-time like her father Hollywood's greatest storyteller like a Harry Potter wizard, Wizenard with Voldemort Halloween fancy dress killer instinct.<br />
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But then as the draft day deal goes down, the logo Jerry West redefined the NBA once again as he shipped centre Vlade Divac (who came aboard from abroad post-Showtime as part of Basketball's new European evolution and revolution and ended up actually playing with the man he was traded for, Kobe back on the Lakers before he retired) to the Hornets nest for Charlotte's new basketball buzz. The kid called Kobe with sunglasses uptop his Jordan dome, "taking his talents" to the NBA like future Laker LeBron to South Beach as the King. Add a Shaq sized center and the rest is hoops history engraved in the legend of Larry...O'Brien like a storied Bird and Magic, Celtics rivalry.<br />
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As Kobe falls and slides across the same teal that could have been his in Laker purple on his bum, the ball falls through the twine right at the perfect timing, second moment of 0.00 without a tenth to spare. The city of Charlotte can you tell me how his a## tastes? Word to Shaq's raps. Kobe has barely stopped sliding when he's pumping his fists in celebration like that was helping him move along the floor like a western handcar across the tracks.<br />
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What could have been seems these days more of a heartbreaking question, than a Twitter timeline debate one, as our feeds are full of tributes in testimony. If Kobe as a Hornet ruled the world (imagine that). Imagine one G.O.A.T. under another with Kobe and Jordan, 23 and 24. Imagine a backcourt with Baron. David Wesley in reserve. In the 24's of his later career Kobe and Kemba. 2K like a video game. Imagine him in that classic, iconic white with teal and purple pins (and those switching colour alternates) instead of purple and gold. Imagine the Buzz City Jersey purple. Laker fans would shudder. Charlotte would shiver. Kobe would have brought trophies. Put North Carolina on the NBA map as well as UNC college like Jumpman, Jumpman, Jumpman. If he moved to New Orleans with the team after Katrina via an Oklahoma home it would have been Mardi Gras. This guys no Bobcat. They would have never given up the name to the future Pelicans, only to take it back years and deals later. Let's not even get started with the Hornets six degrees of separation. Still we think Bryant would have ended up in Hollywood one way or another. It just seemed scripted by the Basketball God's. So much so. Meant to be. Just like Kobe trolled the Hornets on Instagram on his draft day anniversary. Yet Kobe almost ended up with Charlotte for life and sometimes it's just as heartbreakingly close as that. Or the final, life changing seconds before he cock, loaded, adjusted his sight and sniper pulled the trigger. That's a bullseye.<br />
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"THE DAGGER! THE DAAAAGGER," the commentator keeps crying as Kobe pumping his fist like this, drives the knife through the heart of the city that could have been his if they had him. We are far from the playoffs for the defending double champions in 2002, but the master of those ceremonies Robert Horry runs to pick him up in an embrace like he just D'Angelo vein iced Game 7. A suited, screaming Samaki Walker celebrating at the camera leads the bench off the pine on to the hardwood. There's muted, humbled boos as Kobe raises his hand in iconic, jawing celebration for the first of many infamous Laker Jersey thumps. Hugging Shaq like when he leapt into his arms after just another game in the year 2000. Keeping his arm up, reaching for the sky like the Wild West, Kobe is the first to run off the floor like the wrong sort of fans were about to hit it. But the Hornets have to give it up. That sting in his tail was one of young Kobe's best. So much so my 17 like Rick Fox year old self wore out the tape on my VHS like it was something I shouldn't watch gone four o'clock in the morning across the pond. I still remember the joy of the shot that I knew was good the second it left Kobe's hand, like it was yesterday. Not almost 20 years ago. I still remember him like he's here. It still doesn't seem real.<br />
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Now like Joel and Benji or 'Lifestyles Of The Rich Famous', that was good Charlotte.<br />
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#TheKobeSeries<br />
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#Forever24Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-23268781363827024442020-03-14T08:39:00.000-07:002020-03-15T14:59:48.450-07:00GLEN RICE Feature-RICE THROWING<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Right On Rice. </i><br />
<i><br /></i><b>By TIM DAVID HARVEY. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>"Good shot. Rice. I got a feeling about him tonight Stu", legendary play-by-play Lakers anchor Chick Hearn said from the water of the first bucket. Like the man who invented the term "Slam Dunk" knew it was all jello cooling in the refrigerator coming true. 41 for 40. On the last "party like its 1999" night between the coliseum like pearl pillars and carpet red of the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, CA, someone showed out for the Los Angeles Lakers one last time on that hallowed hardwood like history. Before the remnants of the 80's Showtime and those old trim throwback uniforms gave way to the STAPLES of a new millennium. But it wasn't Shaq or Kobe. A Robert Horry, Rick Fox or even a Derek Fisher. Instead it was the one man that was meant to turn this dynamic duo into a big-three like LeBron James before he teamed up with Anthony Davis, Glen Rice. But we all know with the Shaq and Kobe beef there was no room at the table for another star in this classic team of legendary role players. Just ask former All Star big names like Isaiah 'J.R' Rider and Mitch 'The Rock' Richmond. But Glen was still a big three, from being a three time All Star (and shooting his way to MVP one weekend like the 3 Point Contest) to making 1,559 three-pointers in his 15 year career. Throwing rice like weddings in matrimony with any team he was engaged with good fortune. The prosperity and symbolism of making it rain like Lil' Wayne. Umbrellas up. You can't stop the reign like the rap of former three-peat teammate Shaq.<br />
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MMA marks this sportsman's post Basketball career. Taking his Don King fight promotion talents to G Force Fights and the South Beach that was the sand of the prime of his career like LeBron James for the 6,8 guard/forward who won both NCAA and NBA titles before he swapped courts for canvas like a sports artist. Born in Jacksonville, Arkansas, the Flint Northwestern high schooler graduated to the maize of Michigan like a Chris Webber, Juwan Howard or Jalen Rose Fab Five with his terrific three. Glen's college alumnus raised his iconic 41 to the rafters as he helped fill the trophy cabinets and write records like leading Michigan in all-time points (2,442) and also still holding the record for a total 184 points in tourney play off 25.6 points per game and averages of 58% from the filed and 52 from three. As this consensus All-American and Big 10 player of the year also became the 1989 Final Four Most Oustanding Player. No wonder he made the iconic cover of Sports Illustrated like a Wheaties box. Clawing twine with the Wolverines like Logan was enough for this cat to go forth as the 4th pick in the 1989 draft, were he was born into the 90's golden era of the NBA with the Florida franchise and a Fresh Prince fade. Welcome to Miami, it was summer, summer, summertime everyday for the spark of nostalgia. Basketball courts in the Summer had girls there and they all saw Rice rain like a rainbow.<br />
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Expanding in the league into the 90's the Heat went straight to Rice like Curry. And like Steph Curry with the shot Rice had that splash. Today you could imagine him as a brother across the Golden Gate from Golden State to San Francisco. He averaged 13.6 points per as a rookie, but the unlucky number belonged to the Heat's 18 wins. Still, this was a young team and "give it a few years", and Rice was joined by Miami Heat legend Steve Smith and future Laker teammate no stranger to the perimeter himself Brian Shaw. This team had the makings of a young big-three, but Rice now far from a rookie or even a sophomore (no slump) was the one. Averaging 22.3 leading the pre-Wade and LeBron, even pre-Mourning and Hardaway Heat to their first playoffs before a certain number 23 gave them as quick an exit as their entrance. In the mid-90's like a Jonah Hill movie he won the Long Distance Shootout at the All Star Weekend like a moneyball and was straight cash for his 56 point career high against the big future he would have with Shaq. But Miami didn't make the playoffs this time around. And this would be his last year bringing the Heat with South Beach.<br />
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Good Charlotte would be where Rice would find his grain next from the seams of the Spalding to the hardwood he bounced the ball off as he set up downtown were the high-rises found him open. One of those sky scrapers wouldn't be Mount Zo however as Mourning made it to where he was always meant to be...Miami. Rice was the trade piece that made Zo so. But he was also the buzz in the downtown city of Charlotte that put up numbers in North Carolina like 2 and 3. With the grandmama of Hornets legend Larry Johnson, Glen Rice lead the teal to 41 wins...which seems as fitting as his classic Charlotte pinstripe throwback. The following season however with the shortlived but successful one/two gone like that (L.J. left for N.Y.C. and that perfect four point play), Rice threw in 26.8 teaming up with a new big three in late, great point forward Anthony 'Mase' Mason and Vlade Divac who was traded from the Lakers for the draft rights of none other but Kobe Bryant. It seemed like Glen would be forever subtly linked with his future with the Lakers where he would finally, one-time become a champion for the three-peat, new millennium beginnings of the year 2000. But not before becoming the 1997 All Star Game MVP off 26 points with a record 20 points in the third and 24 points in the second half. Breaking records from Philly legends Hal Greer and also Laker Wilt Chamberlain. You see the number? When Jerry West made the Laker move for Rice he traded fan favourites Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell. But with the combo wings of Eddie and Kobe and the twin peaks of Elden and Shaq for a four All Star year that also saw Nick 'The Quick' Van Exel with the fan vote, it was clear there wasn't room in Hollywood for the two of them...in both partnerships as Rice made a better three fit for at least a couple of years before the Lakers tried to ride with Rider or Richmond. Leaving Rice bobbing for Big Apples in New York with the Knicks as a Sixth Man, before journeyman-to Houston and finishing his career back in Los Angeles with the Clippers. But, still like pure water Rice was the thread pass wet jumper that was as integral to the Lakers first post Showtime, new millennium championship to the dynasty just like the vets of Ron Harper and A.C. Green (no stranger to the M.J.s of Magic and Michael) or former teammates and Miami men B. Shaw and Bad Boys own John Salley for life. But with the rival Clippers he would become only the 48th player in NBA history to amass 18,000 career points...against the Lakers of all teams. All before a career crippling knee injury called it a career after just 18 games. But forget a Sarah Palin rumor, Glen Rice's legendary legacy lives on in hoops-despite the mixed martial arts left turn like Darko Milicic-in his son Glen Rice Jr. The former Philadelphia 76ers draft choice and Washington Wizards player now balling in Saudi with Al-Fateh. And somewhere throwing rice, you know this kid shares more than a name, but the game with his dad. They say a look like that is hereditary junior.Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-68102734043422565202019-11-18T06:08:00.000-08:002019-11-25T21:21:40.953-08:00#TheLeBronSeries-THE CROWN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>King Back.</i><br />
<i><br /></i><b>By TIM DAVID HARVEY.</b><br />
<br />
"They can't keep a good man down/Always keep a smile when they want me to frown/Keep the vibes and they stood my grounds/They will never ever take my crown."-<b>Sizzla: </b><i>Solid As A Rock.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>Courtside-holding it down as a sight even more rare these days than the star shining, other previous every game mainstay and Hollywood legend, Jack Nicholson-Kobe Bryant is in the STAPLES house. Dapping Dwight like it's all Shaq squashed beef alright. Hugging Anthony Davis like every other Laker fan knowing that Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart and even the ballin' Brandon Ingram was all worth it (providing he stays on the floor this season...and next. Kobe knows all about Chicago rumours blowing in the wind of a Bulls snout breath blow). And then there was 'Bron. All Magic smiles. As the two greatest players of all time, outside of M.J. showed each other the same love they both have for the game. Number 23 and 24. A former 8 and future 6. You could clearly see it in the crown jewels of the five rings on Kobe Bryant's hand. Like a waiter being handed a not so subtlety folded bill for a tip, like something out of LeBron's favourite book 'The Godfather' ("just a little something for you and the family. Ya know. To tide you over."). You could see the Black Mamba handing King James something. Passing him the torch. Handing him...The Crown.<br />
<br />
By royal appointment, the coronation of LeBron James' young Land and South Beach, Claire Foy years saw him walk the moon like a 'First Man' with his record breaking numbers that Armstrong sky rocketed like his Lady Liberty statuesque dunks. Just as if he had the U.S. Deceleration of Independence under his right arm. This constitution, this national monument. An icon. A decision rewriting free agent revolutionary. A superstar in the age of the superteam who created the later and still keeps the former late into his career. Now 35 like this writer...and Alex Caruso-ing some of his hair too...like this writer. But that all doesn't matter. That's just for the trolls who should stop brushing theirs up (that's how you lose it too ya know...trust me). In his Olivia Coleman season, LeBron is still the favourite and like another Oscar winner worthy of gold with his own 'Dear Basketball'. No not 'Space Jam 2' like M.J. But like Mike a sequel with Larry O'Brien too. Sure he really made the wrong decision with his careless Twitter on the Hong Kong problem, instead of voicing his protest with the people. But he's seen his jersey burnt before. This is a man who is still one of the people. He built a school for crying out for the needs of education loud. Before you Trump up your troll rhetoric realise a mistake for the misunderstood...and how we all make them on an everyday basis. All just not as public as this...not even on our own social medias, were we are famous among our audience of friends and family following. Sure he needs to give that taco cry a rest-not just on Tuesday-but appropriating this isn't all he's done. He also provided a taco truck to first responder firefighters who needed food-something-whilst battling the Getty fires in Los Angeles, California. LeBron has lasting intentions no matter the impression. He's still an Ali or Kap like icon for America. M.J. refused to be...as did Kobe. They shut up and dribbled, but 'Bron is bigger than Basketball. Yet still giving every ounce of the formidable frame and the heart of his soul to this game. Like playing through the pain last year when he should have sat out to only be met with critics and hate. Well it's all crickets and love now in La La LeBron and Lakerland. The city of stars are shining just for he...and A.D.<br />
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Year 17. Our 10th episode of 'The LeBron Series' to crown a decade in this writing game, LeBron James is the one like another number 23. Or one more. Because what's a one/two punch without another one like B.I.G. or what Pat Riley in the 80's promised again before Kareem could towel off his mouth? It's Showtime again now as LeBron isn't only the next Mikan, Baylor, West, Wilt, Abdul-Jabbar, Earvin Johnson, Big Game James Worthy, O'Neal, Bryant and Gasol Laker legend in legacy making line. He's also already has the perfect partnership next definitive dynamic duo already dominating in storied purple and gold AND red, white and blue NBA history. With Davis, 'Bron and the 'Brow, L.B.J. and A.D. stand next to the fire and ice of Elgin and Jerry, Wilt and West, Magic and Kareem and Shaq and Kobe, or Mamba and Pau as one of the greatest double acts in league legend. There's not enough double teams you can throw at the two offensive powerhouses in defence of their own fates. Anthony Davis clutch blocking his way to being the 'Defensive Player Of The Year' conversation and LeBron locking it down like a bruising bully with every sack. When he's not quarterbacking the offence (like when he plays with that pass in the pregame practice) from the pure point position he wants to bring back like carrying the 6, rocking the headband, or throwing the chalk. Or running back the break. Bulldozing the lane. Leaving defenders like Stormtroopers. He on the hunt like 'The Mandalorian', Skywalking in these Star Wars. Built like a linebacker. Before touching down with one of those Run-DMC 'You Be Illin'' jams like that one against Sacramento the last game. That King on Kings may be his greatest crowning of all time yet for the All Star running the lane like a runaway freight train. And the Jay-Z Carter Administration President's basketball blueprint is breathe easy, filling up every statistical category right now like a lyrical exercise too. At press time today he Kareem-ed 33 points, old Dwight Howard rebounded the ball 12 times and dished out an Odom or McGee 7 assists to his dime diamonds of teammates. And let's talk about all the kings men too even if that is another sequel edition of our article series this season. There's the Heat hot like big-three of the Lakers three-headed Ghidorah blocking monster machine of A.D., the emphatic energy of JaVale McGee and the redemption reunion of star Dwight Howard (and just wait until D.C. Boogie Cousins comes back). The big three finisher of a smooth like Jaamal Wilkes silk, or Worthy of big cigar smoke like Red Auerbach lighting game next to James in Kyle Kuzma (the one core young member they wouldn't trade). A legend at the point in Rondo. A reigning champion from downtown Toronto in Danny Green. The Bruce Bowen D of Avery Bradley. The ace in the hole clutch guards changing in Quinn Cook and Troy Daniels. The unfairly underrated and undeniably always unquestionable in his worth for praise, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (although that Tyrese "KEEP IT THAT WAY" meme reaction to KCP playing just 8 minutes was hilarious...even if inaccurate). The fan first heart and jersey/ticket giveaway of Jared Dudley. The next Antetokounmpo. And the one and only Alex Caruso. And who knows maybe even Iggy once he's bought out now 'Melo with a new Blazer is no longer on the table for the rookie rival and banana boat brother, an Anthony coveted for even longer than Davis. Still even if we are talking teams like Toronto Raptors superfan owner Drake, this one man wrecking crew is doing it all this season shot to lay-up like the one, true King now Kobe is walking off the floor with the WNBA's future like Bronny Jr. this association. Off to inspire the next with his Harry Potter magic meets sports world Granity books, as the man he pounds his heart and points to, 'LeBron writes his next chapter with this King James version verse for his Basketball Bible. <b><i>TIM DAVID HARVEY.</i></b>Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-73191635320346792192019-04-21T04:11:00.000-07:002019-04-21T04:11:31.713-07:00#PoetsCorner IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It’s the most Wonderful time of the year! No not Christmas, I'm talking about the NBA Playoffs. The first round like Tiger Woods is in full swing, however I don’t think this year will be golden for the soon to be San Francisco Warriors. With rumours about key players like Klay Thomson and Kevin the snake...I mean Durant on the move in free agency this summer, the team has a very big rival to face to make the finals. But Who?<br />
<dstocker91 outlook.com="">
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LAUNCH in 5 ….4…3….2….1 Lift off!! That right James Harden's Houston Rockets are the team who could go all the way this year. The way they are dominating the first round and with James Harden having an MVP season and CP3 running the plays alongside him, I think they are sure to crash land themselves in the finals this year. But which beast from the east will they face?<br />
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The east is a lot closer than to just pick one, with the Raptors having one of the best season runs in the regular season. And then on top of that the Greek Freak has the Bucks getting W after W. It really is too close to call and with the Boston scum (oops did I type that out loud that’s not like a diehard Laker fan to say), lead by Uncle Drew being on their way to a sweep in the first round, you really can't rule them out in sneaking their way to the finals. But when all is said and done the titan from the east Raptors and Bucks will be the ones clashing and fighting for survival for the eastern team bringing home that trophy this year.<br />
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But basketball is a sport where impossible happens and you never know. What if the Thunder and Philly meet in the final what will that mean then? A long overdue championship earned, or the start of a new era. Either way I can’t wait to see who's going to the finals and I'm not stupid to put money on it this year. Let's see how it all unfolds. <b><i>DAN STOCKER.</i></b></dstocker91>Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-90124315076900921942019-03-17T15:43:00.000-07:002019-03-17T15:43:38.532-07:00#SuperheroSeason ZION WILLIAMSON Feature-ZANOS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Devil In A Blue Jersey.</i><br />
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<b>By DAN STOCKER.</b></div>
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It has been said that with a slam of a dunk he can erase any NCAA teams dream of the championship. This weekend I have seen him live up to that with out any infinity stones and some new shoes from Uncle Drew. I'm sorry Thanos who? It’s all about the young record eraser Zanos, AKA Zion Williamson who came back from injury to help lead his team to an other NCAA title. It mustn't be the shoes.<br />
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What a March Madness it was for the Blue Devils and their shoe breaking dunk artist. But soles weren't the only thing Zanos was breaking this weekend as he became the first player ever in NCAA history to be crowned ACC Rookie of the Year, Player of the Year and last but not least tournament MVP. I'm sorry it would take a lot more than The Avengers to stop this young marvel. <br />
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Zion started playing Basketball at Spartanburg Day School were he was ranked in the top five players in the country hailing from North Carolina....WAIT! STOP! Where have I heard that before....not sure maybe another announcer used to say it at a Bulls game for a player whose number was 23. Anyway where was I? Ahh yes after high school ZION chose the Duke Blue Devils as the collage team he wanted to play for. The season has come to an end but even thought Duke has birthed some great NBA players such as Kyrie Irving, J.J. Reddick, Elton Brand and the Lakers very own Brandon Ingram just to name a few, I would go as far as to say he is the best play Duke has ever had and you can quote me on that Tim. <br />
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Zion is predicted to be the number one draft pick in the NBA Draft this year and I think it’s safe to say he will have a bright future in the NBA ahead of him. One that I personally can’t wait to watch. As for every team in the NBA, they're in the endgame now. But who will Zanos click with?<br />
</dstocker91>Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-73035152317663880512018-09-26T11:44:00.001-07:002018-09-28T16:14:31.287-07:00#TheLeBronSeries L.A. KING<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>King Of The Hollywood Hills.</i><br />
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<b>By TIM DAVID HARVEY</b><br />
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"Make sure he doesn't get Zydrunas Ilgauskas"! No disrespect Zee. You're one of the greatest bigs of our generation. But I got to touch the hem of the garment of the chosen one. It's 15 years ago and my dad whose away on business in New York has put me on the phone with a customer in the NBA Store. He's running the floors trying to get a number 23 jersey in Cleveland wine and gold. You see some kid called LeBron has just become a Cavalier and this sought after James jersey may be the most wanted since...well another 23, Jordan. Or at least a 24 Kobe. Who knows what this teenager will do. The champagne he will drink. The decisions he will make. The schools he'll build. How valuable he'll really be. He's just a kid from Akron, Ohio. But I'm just one the same age from a small seaside town in England, a train ride away from where The Beatles were born. I got to have a piece of history. Fast forward a decade and a half later to this summer and this writer is on vacation in Hong Kong, pre-ordering a number 23 purple and gold jersey, trimmed like Showtime in sunday white. Waiting for me when I come home. I don't need to youtube the unboxing. Like Tom Hanks talking about his wife in 'Saving Private Ryan', this moments just for me. Wish came true like the right lapel. He's just done it like Nike and left. The seams finally make it seem real. And on the other side of his beloved since age 11, '96 class of Eddie Jones and Nick Van-Exel pre-Shaq and Kobe Lakers, the name reads James.<br />
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Block. Missed shot. Buzzer. Love embraces. Red eyes. Hit the deck. You did it. Vows are vows. Two Summers ago. It's gone past half-three in the morning but on the other side of the water "Believeland", Cleveland is awake. Have you seen Ohio rise? As this writer is up all night in his living room with a special someone watching LeBron James bring the championship back home just like he said he would. Reversing decisions and all the hate that comes with this type of wrote off talent. But you can't erase engraving, no matter how Leonardo long it takes. Everyone gets their chance for 'Revenant' revenge. You just got to claw that bear. A lion would. That, or more likely the beautiful girl is why I'm up this late, or early with work the next day. Because you only get this type of moment once in your life. And I aint even Cavalier. But tonight I'm all in for Cleveland. All for one and one for all. And not just because my Lakers are never getting past those Steph Curry with the shot Golden State Warriors, who in just a few weeks in second place is the first loser, runner up reaction will add the second best player in the league, Kevin Durant to spell dynasty. And don't scoff but I aint one for League Pass. We're like six or seven hours ahead of the U.S. over here in the U.K. So your evenings don't even get started for us until way after the mid-nite hour. And I work minimum wage...what else did you expect I'm a writer?! And I'm not going to pay hundreds of dollars for something I can't even watch without the outcome being either spoiled on Twitter the next day like 'Game Of Thrones'. Or resulting in me being fired for being a no show like the only other Laker fan I know in this town (Just playing. You're still the man Stock. Just checking you're reading). Besides I got Netflix. But still I'll pay for this one. There I was lying on the floor, she got the couch. Running around in circles wooping like Homer Simpson when Mr. Burns told him he could have free health care or something of that nature. You don't want to miss your "where were you when" place in history. That's why I booked tickets for two games this November for the King's debut in La La Lebronland for what was the Lonzo Angeles Lakers even before I booked my flights that didn't even cost half as much. Much like the steal deal I got on a room at the iconic Hotel Figueroa looking over STAPLES across the way, whose three pillars I'm sure by then will be a monument to the King. The last time I saw him play live was as a rookie in Toronto. Heck, I did the same for Kobe's retirement tour. Number 23, number 24. Seven days a week, three hundred and sixty five times a year. At the risk of 'Kamikaze' sounding like an Eminem revival, this opportunity comes once in a lifetime. Lose yourself in this game. Like Pistons in Detroit it'll take you further than 8 miles Bad Boy.<br />
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2012, year of the Olympic Games in London. Both Team USA's are in the Giant city of Manchester about to play a tune up against the British home representative and my sister is on the phone from a bar in the Spinningfields area. "Get your a## over here now! You just missed two basketball players"! "Who"?! I replied a quarter in disbelief, three in hope they're still there. "LeRoy Jones and Karl Bryan"! She was a little worse for wear. A lot taking the p###! "LEBRON JAMES AND KOBE BRYANT" I replied like Monica off 'Friends' correcting Phoebe's French pronunciation of Nestle...the secret to her Grandma's cake recepie. "Your idols"! Well little does she know that's actually her. But still I can't believe it. You won't believe how much I was kicking myself like this was football. I missed Kobe and LeBron. By a couple of drinks. I wish I did. I'll say it again. I can't believe I missed them. Just like I can't believe there now both part of the same family franchise and fraternity. Los Angeles Lakers legends and hopefully banner worthy ring bearers and champions. Bleeding purple and living gold. The number 23 on media day that will likely meet the rafters like he did the press yesterday makes it more believable, but still. The King in the same club as Big Game James. You know he's worthy. All the bigs like Shaq, Wilt, Mikan and Kareem. Not to mention the logo, the player he most resembles in Elgin and the actual Magic man who pulled a lion out the crown and brought him here for the President Johnson and Rob Lowe, Hollywood dream of Jeannie off the bus administration himself. Number 32 gives us the 33 year old leader of the best young Warrior like death line-up core. A nucleus that's only missing the cleared cap space of new Cavs, Jordan and junior. Who were switched in return for little running mate Isaiah Thomas who you know wasn't going to make the final cut like Michael K. Williams down the wire in 'Solo'. And sadly of course the power of Randle (but who knows maybe another Kentucky big from New Orleans will Pelican fly over next summer. Now a dub migrating Cousins can't relate). But this is us. LeBron's number 2, number 2 jersey and draft pick Lonzo Ball, who is set to blow aswell as set the table. The real rookie of the Lakers last year in the Kyle Kuzma steal who has bodied up this summer like Beyonce's 'Ape####' raps body beau Jay-Z in Paris' Louvre. And the Durant skinny on Brandon Ingram who LeBron simply tells us to "watch out" for because he's got next. Who better to take these kids to the promised land of the basketball bible than King? And then there's the misunderstood mob on the bench. Warrior champ McGee following former friend of the Miami Heat parade Michael Beasley. The cerebral Rajon Rondo whose vision will help guide Lonzo and whose a###hole competitivness matches only Kobe (who he sadly even after a Boston breakfast never got to get down with) and 'Bron who is starting to mirror the Mamba muse in the frank microphones of his press conferences. And who could forget the huff and puff of wildcard Lance Stephenson as your and one?! This "dog" is about to blow the house down. Lend us your ears.<br />
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Why I love this game. I could count the ways like I was going to for a 'Why I Love' feature that would stretch across all my movie, music, travel and book blogs which I still may do one day when I get the time. I could tell you I loved it because of the greatest. My M.J. I'm sorry Mr. Jackson. Or because of the Lakers who I supported since 11 because my big sis did (told you she was my idol). As besides I couldn't just glory Jordan's Bulls and who knows who my closest geographical team was back then (Boston! Can you believe that?). Or because Shaq was the most entertaining man in all of Hollywood. Or number 24 was my 23 before this one. Or how I was dazzled by Earvin's true magic behind the back, Rabbit out the hat like no Blaine card could pull, play, cut or ace in the hole be my king of hearts. Or how Kareem now inspires me at the same age as his jersey more as a journalist and autobiography writer than he did as an all-time points leading player. And I think nothing sinks like the line of the sky-hook. Thank you for your 'Becoming' and 'Coach Wooden and Me' audio description Kindle company during the toughest times of my life away in China. Or Wilt's 100. Not to mention Bean's 81. Or how the symbol himself Jerry West showed me you could still fight for victory, despite being a victim of depression. Or the last lines of Elgin Baylor's signed autobiography I hold on to, sitting next to an autographed photo framed by defensive specialist, Michael Cooper. Who I cut a rug with before one of Kobe's last dances. Or any of the jerseys hung in my room like rafter tributes. The good doctor. The Jordan Bullet repping how much his Washington term meant for the families of victims of 9/11 (look it up. If you don't know. Now you know. Now that was B.I.G. from the G.O.A.T.). Or anything to do with him and his game. The shot. The shrug. The crossover...on him. The answer. The step over. That I shouldn't love like how much I do the Boston Celtics. What's up Walt McCarty! So glad I met you in LAX. Big shot Bob. Rick Fox. John Salley. Brian Grant. Shake it 'till you make it champ. Or just about anything to do with the ball and basket. From here to overseas. Jordan to Drazen (Rest Peacefully). From the squeak of the sneakers, to the swish of the net, the only thing better is sex. I could go on. And I promise I will in longform one day. But the real reason I love this game belongs to a kid in France whose name I'll never know. But he was rocking the basketball Jones number 6 purple and gold (that's how good a Laker he was before Kobe). So lets call him Eddie. Anyway my school trip classes coach is passing the tarmac of a local court near our hotel and I sitting on the one seat on its own not 'Forrest Gump' taken (bullying is a b####) look out the window to see Eddie trying to hang with this group of older kids scrimmaging. Only for him to be pushed away and mocked as he takes his ball home. A sorry sight. He's just a kid. He just wants to play. Until later that night I look out the hotel window at the end of the dining table eating alone to see this same kid, same jersey back on his own. Under the last lights of the court, bullies gone home, they can't hang, playing with the love for this game glee. And you know what? He makes every shot! Every. Shot! And THAT'S why I love this game. Not because of number 23 or number 23. But Eddie. Here's to ya. He's all of us. He's the game. Which can be played one on one. Or just one. As a matter of fact he's the chosen one too. He's LeBron. The one who did it all kingdom come. Put the game on his back and broad shoulders like the Carter. "Take off the blazer, loosen the tie. Superman is alive!" No matter who witnessed the burning of his robes, or those who tried to throw rocks at the throne like he tossed up chalk. Can you believe there is even Los Angelinos wanting to mark the King's regal mural dedication? No matter what they said. Remember how they all wanted to hang Tiger for something that just maybe all his peers do when no ones watching even before this toxic Twitter trend of a cancel culture? A master of history. A great of his game like Mike, or Ali who like all of us are human and have made mistakes and paid the price. Well now Woods was back on the fairway for 80 this Sunday gone, killing everyone after he put on that red shirt like 'Star Trek' it's all cheers. The ultimate victory. Like L.B.J. carrying his home to the throne after South Beach decisions (or how about how his choice redefined player power and rights that need to extend to the WNBA in this locked out league of collective bargaining over chips?) when they say he never could go home. And when did he hear that...when he was back home. And now going West like Kanye or a Pet Shop Boy, Hollywood is home now and another 23 can ball with Bugs and make another 'Space Jam' too. This ones for all the credits. Warrior Monstar's beware. You better get some more powers in that ball you all share. And this mogul like Magic has got more than money (or movies like Kobe) on his mind when he gets down to business. Shut up Trump and the cabinet like! He's going to do more than just dribble out the locker room. This trophy like Oscar is for the real walk of fame. All the way to the hall call. And in leading the next generation with a forever 21, Ronaldo like durability as a thirtysomething he can do this and more all on his own. Because he's the one like the kid from a small seaside town a train ticket from John, Paul, George and Ringo. The kid from France balling until the floodlights fade. Or just the kid from Akron. Just witness. Like we all will.Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-77702303353678332512017-11-03T15:46:00.001-07:002017-11-03T15:46:51.039-07:00#RoleReversal KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE Feature-THE YOUNG POPE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>K.C.Plenty.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>By TIM DAVID HARVEY</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>Our series feature <b>#RoleReversal </b>flips the switched up script and gives it up for the unsung role players of this great game. After all you don't have to be a superstar to become a champion.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Vegas baby! That's how it's rolling in the Hollywood City of Angeles for the Los Angeles Lakers right now. You know what they did this Summer League. And now this fall like a gift from the Basketball God's, all hoop heads and purple purists looking for gold are following the Ball boy like he was the second coming in this post-Kobe, young Showtime generation. The 'Lonzo Angeles Lakers' look to be the real deal. And the lost angels are pinning this kid as a Christ like figure of the hardwood so much so that if he doesn't measure up they'll likely nail him to a cross. That's what number 2, Lonzo Ball has to bear.<br />
<br />
But even Jesus had his disciples. And in this storied hoop heaven that's not for a Celtic. The Chick appealing franchise that found greats like Mikan, Wilt, West, Baylor, Goodrich, Magic, Kareem, Big Game, Shaq and Kobe is more than just Ball too. Look at all those he can pass the Spalding too. Top ten picks like Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle, but not the exiled D'Angelo Russell who looks to give the Lakers no sleep as he loads up the ice in his veins for their set-to with Brooklyn. Late round steals like Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr., Ivica Zubac and even two this rookie season in the form of the surprise of Kyle Kumza and the defensive doberman Josh Hart. The youthful revolution televised Lakers have even more heart in their hardwood collection of veterans like big-man with the big-shot Brook Lopez. But even this seven footer wasn't the Lake Show's biggest signing this Summer.<br />
<br />
Praise to the lord always comes from those holding court in a church or cathedral. And it doesn't get much higher than Kentavious Caldwell-Pope when the holy ghost is running through this one. The Young Pope K.C.P. is made for Hollywood like Jude Law. And this young veteran backcourt brother of Ball is somewhere between a role player and an All-Star when he scores at will from downtown and on the perimeter fence opposing end makes sure the opposition doesn't do so, so easily. The number one former eighth pick of the draft is a wonder to behold and like a spark plug off the bench just on the court from the start, K.P. is nuts when he's worth his salt, making you sit up from breaking your shells courtside.<br />
<br />
Once Pope gets mobile like bulletproof glass there's no stopping him. K.C.P. has plenty in the chamber when it comes to his lethal three when he's open. And when it's open range on the open court, this speedy shooting guard will leave you in the polished parquet dust as he races down the court like a dragster, before lifting his back wheels for a smooth chicane and hand changing lay-up to the cup. That's what happens when you come off the Motor City assembly line like a Piston that this former Ford Detroit star did and just fill it up from green means GO! He found his place next to Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson, but now with these kids it's time to take all that learned and mentor and teach like a bad boy too.<br />
<br />
Kentavious clutch enthusiasm is contagious. Caldwell could probably well get a pretty good smile from Larry David sitting Jack Nicholson courtside. The man that came to this seasons Halloween's game dressed as Urkle is a basketball X and O geek who knows defence matters like his new family does. And just aswell as this microwave can score he can go nuclear on D too. He's the type of dry-erase dream that's a nightmare for the man he's marking. So purist passionate about his coached craft that he slaps the hardwood floor with both hands in anticipation for the other teams best player coming down the floor (which tonight may be the former number one for the Los Angeles Lakers). It's the kind of play that has fans rubbing their hands together with glee. And Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is the kind of hoop heaven sent player from the Basketball Gods that no longer has this city putting their hands together to the sky every night.Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-40915010381721278962017-11-03T05:06:00.001-07:002017-11-03T05:06:38.499-07:00GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO Feature ALPHABETICAL SLAUGHTER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Alphabet Streak.</i><br />
<br />
<b>By TIM DAVID HARVEY</b><br />
<br />
Giannis Antetokounmpo. You know the name, but it's time to spell it right as we take you down Alphabet Street and give you all the letters that make this NBA player what he really is.<br />
<br />
A-Amazing. Aerial acrobatic assaults again and again.<br />
<br />
B-Beautiful. Borderless basketball. Buck battle born.<br />
<br />
C-Captivating. Camera catching court creativity.<br />
<br />
D-Dominating. Defiantly, definitively different. DUNKS! Dear deer.<br />
<br />
E-Epic. Effortlessly exciting. Effervescently engaging. Enthusiasm engrossing.<br />
<br />
F-Formidable. Fantasticaly flawless. Fabulous force. Freak founder. Fear. F###!<br />
<br />
G-Greek God. Greece great. Gentle giant Greatest?<br />
<br />
H-Happy. Hysterically hyper. Honourable. Hands holding hearts.<br />
<br />
I-Inspirational. Influential. Incredible.<br />
<br />
J-Joyful. Jovial. Just J's. Juxtaposition.<br />
<br />
K-Kalidescope. Kinetic. Kamikaze killer. K?<br />
<br />
L-Legend. Legacy. Long lasting. Levitating lineage. Lateral. Lion. Love.<br />
<br />
M-Mesmerizing. Man-made. Maddeningly magical. Majestically massive. Meaningful. Milwaukee moment. Most...<br />
<br />
N-Natural. Nice. Narcasistic? Never!<br />
<br />
O-Outstanding. Openly outgoing. Opaque. Obliterating opposition. O.M.G.!<br />
<br />
P-Power. Pine predator. Prototype player personified. Personable. Pretty.<br />
<br />
Q-Quintessential. Quirky. Quarter qualified. Quotable. Questions?<br />
<br />
R-Real. Raw. Reality. Ravishing. Rolling rock. Ready?<br />
<br />
S-Superhero. Superb. Sensationally so. Sweetest saccharine. Scintillating. So, so soulful.<br />
<br />
T-Titan. Terrific. Tantalisingly tireless. Tenderly taught. THE...<br />
<br />
U-Unbelievable. Uniquely undeniable. Unaminous! U Understand.<br />
<br />
V-Versatility. Velvet veneer. Viking. Valiant. V for Vendettas. Valuable...<br />
<br />
W-WOW! Wonder. Wonderful. W.T.F. Wowza! Wait...<br />
<br />
X-XXX. X(citing). X(traorinary). X(pectations).<br />
<br />
Y-You. Youth. Youngest yet. Yet...<br />
<br />
Z-ZZZ...just kidding!<br />
<br />
Most of those letters come together to form the name Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the only three that matters to he and the NBA right now are M-V-P.Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-79106890631810014292017-07-31T06:52:00.000-07:002017-08-08T04:03:07.103-07:00LONZO BALL Feature-BALL'S GAME<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Lonzo Angeles Lakers.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i> <b>By TIM DAVID HARVEY</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b><i>BIG</i></b><br />
<b><i><br />
</i></b> "With the second pick in the 2017 NBA Draft the Los Angeles Lakers select...Lonzo Ball from the University of Southern California". This is it. Pandemonium to the podium. You know what it is. It's everything father Lavar guaranteed it would be as he bragged about his big three family of LaMelo, LiAngelo and Lonzo Ball being the greatest like some sort of Ali. But hows this for a first round knockout? In a draft watched by everyone from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers on tour (with Flea armed with a purple and gold Lakers bass), to Jack Nicholson in his Hollywood home, the Lakers selected Los Angeles native Lonzo with their number 2 lottery ball pick from U.C.L.A. Just like everyone with a B.B.B. on their shirt and tie wanted. K.O. Now the only way the Lakers could top this is if they nabbed top L.A. born free agents Paul George (who wants to play in purple and gold) and Russell Westbrook (also a U.C.L.A. alumnus) from the Oklahoma City Thunder next summer for their new Purple reign. Or even the King for some 'BronBall' top trending for the new superstar team generation. Big Baller and Laker nation stand up. This is just like it was all meant to be. Or just like he told you so. Sure Lonzo might not have gone first. Or have the same jersey number as Brooklyn traded D'Angelo Russell, but he is the one. And just like the last Laker to wear number 2 on his chest, this number 2 pick, but first choice is looking for numbers that carry more weight. As just like Derek Fisher, Lonzo Ball knows it's all about the name above the number...on the front of his jersey. Not the back. Sure this kids second name may be Ball but he knows the most important one is the one he passes to his teammates en route to the basket. This is what Basketball is all about. And this is what the pass first, win MVP later Lonzo Ball is all about too. No wonder Magic wanted the tricks and trades of this Jason Kidd like Point Guard. The purest this draft has blown in in recent memory. Sure he looks like Drake but he plays like last name Ever. First name Greatest. This new Lake Show may be the youngest and best core of a future franchise, from Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson to Larry Nance Jr. and Brandon Ingram. And let's not forget Ivica Zubac or Kyle Kumza too. But Hollywood's new leading man wants a statue like Shaq. Magic, Kareem, the logo and all of them. The new icon of new Showtime will pick up where Kobe left off until they put his jersey next to Big Game James Worthy and the 100 point dominance of Wilt Chamberlain in the retired rafters with all those banners he hopes to put up there. This is real, no Kardashian reality show with all due respect to the Sixth Man great Lamar Odom. This is the Ball generation. Welcome to the 'Lonzo Angeles Lakers'.<br />
<b><i><br />
</i></b> <b><i>BALLER</i></b><br />
<b><i><br />
</i></b> But the proof of a player is in the playing. And in the words of the late, comedy great Charlie Murphy talking about the purple king Prince, "this cat can ball man"! Haters will try and photoshop his debut numbers all over his big chip Las Vegas tournament like Twitter troll torment. But the Most Valuable Player of Sin City lead his new Lakers to their first Summer League Championship. After his 11/11/11 triple/double proved on this date that B.B.B.'s flagship athlete really was the one, no matter whos shoes he was wearing (the Mamba even serving as a muse), Ball really hit the jackpot. With casino numbers of 36 points, 11 assists, 8 rebounds, 5 blocks and 2 steals, the legend of Zo cut his way into the lane and Hollywood star Walk of Fame frame like Zorro. Marking his spot like X, but with a big 'B' from Z. And if numbers better than LeBron and Steph Curry when they were in their Summer days wasn't enough, then L.B. also tore up Vegas with Kyle Kumza like Kobe and D-Fish's class of '96 for their self-dubbed "lightskin connection". Summer League Championship MVP in Lonzo's stead, Kumza showing the luck of the late first round Lakers extends further than their Jordan, Nance and Zupac choice picks. Looks like there is more to this young core than a few top tens. These kids are off the charts. And it all correlates from Lonzo setting the ball and table floor so all the Lakers can eat as he passes the peach. Those Lonzo laser, precision perfect to the point passers are more accurate than that camping sniper you just wish would respawn on another game in 'Call Of Duty'. This guys dimes are the bomb. Throwing assists like grenades with the J-Will, 'White Chocolate', freewheeling pin out and when they hit their target off the glass...BOOM! You know Randle, Ingram and especially Larry are going to love this. And if the double teams come you know an open 2K, K.C.P and Jordan on the wing can just do it from downtown. Looks like these Sports Centre bound highlights of the week are about to be the young team of the year...and decade to come. If you liked how Ball balled this Summer...just wait for the fall.<br />
<b><i><br />
</i></b> <b><i>BRAND</i></b><br />
<b><i><br />
</i></b>Ball big all you like but this kid is more than a brand. Adidas, Nike and Under Armor know that. Even Lavar knows this, as B.B.B. is about his three boys before it's about his name brand. Say what you will about Lavar Ball, but he cut his slice of the American Dream and he did it all for his kids. As a matter of fact for someone who has stirred up so much controversy surrounding himself he actually has always made it about his sons and not number one. He wants LiAngelo and LaMelo to play for the Lonzo/Lake Show too. It seems like an impossible dream. But it's a California one in the La La Land city of stars that could only happen in Hollywood. The impossible has already happened once. Mission accomplished. Time to do it twice like Jay-Z's 'Blueprint'. Because this purple tape is all about legacy, family integrity and not gold brand strategy. No matter how expensive the shoes must be. If all three L.A. raised boys want to be King in their own city why not shine together for college and club association? Because U.C.L.A. is more than a name across a campus t-shirt or institution. It's a way of life. And the Los Angeles Lakers are more than just the National Basketball Association's most famous and flashiest franchise. They are the most storied one second to the Boston Celtics like in this years draft. From way before the seventies to 2017 and with all the Irish pride in Beantown, these L.A. lost boys could make Lakerland legacy legend. So long as in this lottery like league the Balls bounce the right way. But right now it's about Lonzo and all the places he and his Ingram and Randle big-three plus more team of the future, lead by this franchise face can go. Potential? The playoffs? The promised land? Let it all spin on Lonzo Ball's fingertips. This team and their collective future is in the palm of his hands. Now come opening night once the Spalding goes up, you know what's going down.<br />
<br />
Let the Ball games begin...Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-60550430030926626372017-05-14T07:06:00.003-07:002017-05-14T08:46:36.283-07:00#RoleReversal Kerry Kittles & Lucious Harris-NET GAINS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Safety Nets.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>By TIM DAVID HARVEY.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>Our new series feature <b>#RoleReversal </b>flips the switched up script and gives it up for the unsung role players of this great game. After all you don't have to be a superstar to become a champion.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Before Brooklyn the Nets were found sleeping in the Meadowland of New Jersey. That was until a Jason Kidd trade with the blazing Phoenix Suns for the freewheelin' Stephon Marbury released them from a freehold night and made them the beast of a once weak East in the new milleniuum early 2000's. As the 'bring your team back' Kidd (one of the greatest prototype points of all-time, now coaching the 6 foot 11 position and game changer, Greek freak, Giannis Antetokounmpo out in Milwaukee for the Bucks), changed the guard. Passing first to his twin wing, dunking forwards current Cavalier champion Richard Jefferson and Kenyon Martin/Vince Carter and even the revolving pivot of centres in Todd Maculloch and then Georgetown Hoyas in Net grey Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo.<br />
<br />
Unlike going up against a Zeke block, these red, white and blue fast neck-break Nets where unstoppable in the United State Of America's National Basketball Association. But that was until they met the brooms of the Shaq and Kobe era in the Lakerland's new dynasty of the new milleniuum lead by the Zen of Phil Jackson. Shaq treated the Nets revolving door of 7 footers and whichever fouled out, Power Forward body they could throw at him like garbage bags over your gate late at night. Whilst a young Kobe, Air apparant glided through like a comb through his afro to complete the sweep. And if that wasn't enough L.A's champion role playing big-three of Derek Fisher, Rick Fox and big shot Robert Horry dusted it all off.<br />
<br />
But even if Hollywood's Los Angeles Lakers had Jack Nicholson shining courtside, New Jersey is the bootcut jean home of 'The Boss', Bruce Springsteen. And these blue-collar N.J. Nets had their own "star" role players in the post-Petrovic era too. And they were both 6 foot 5 Shooting Guards, subbing in for each other and weighing under a buck 90 and starring in the back to back NBA Finals of 2002 and 03 for the two-time Eastern Conference Champions. Both now in their forties their playing days don't seem like around a decade and a half ago. But either way these super-subs belong in Nets history like the good Doctor J or Jay-Z.<br />
<br />
28th picks in the NBA Draft are usually sleepers...or at least long lasting veterans of value. Just Google it. Or check out these predictions this July. Lucious Harris was no exception to this rule of NBA family. We aint lyin' like 'Empire'. Harris was drafted out of Long Island by the Dallas Mavericks in 1993. And even though between stints with Iverson's Sixers and King James first reign in the Cavalier land he was somewhat of a journeyman (albeit one that travels light), Harris really made his mark in New Jersey like Devin. Making the most of the double-team outlets on Kidd when the rest of the opposition were trying to play catch-up with V.C., R.J. and K-Mart, Lucious could lick the open three or mid-range J all day. But get in his face and it was a different story. Because following a facial fracture, Harris strapped on the Kobe, LeBron and Russ Westbrook Opera face-mask and became a Rip Hamilton focussed Phantom Menace.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile after making moves at Villanova, college superstar Kerry Kittles was expected to cut down Nets in the pre-era of Jason and his Agronauts, until knee injuries riddled his career and cut it down to substitution size. You may remember the 8th pick in the legendary '96 draft was featured on that fold-out, now duplicated iconic, SLAM rookie brick-wall magazine cover alongside greats like Kobe Bryant. But thanks (no thanks) to injury his career was more like one of John Wallace or Samaki Walker than Ray Allen and Steve Nash. Yet still before becoming a head-banded Clipper in Los Angeles NJN-2K was with the Nets through dry erase pen thick and slight of frame thin. The now Ivy League Princeton Tigers assistant was an animal when coach put him in. When Kittles burst back into the game, off the bench and on to the floor it was like rip-opening a packet of Skittles on your kitchen counter. Just numbers everywhere like colour you couldn't catch or handle in time. Kidd's backcourt partner was also a court crime assassin with the rock dealing the pill and putting it up to the glass shattering, box-score defying stats. Remember this guy once went for 40. That's something your average player just doesn't do. Forget the 14.1 ppg, 2.6 apg and 1.6 steals career pers. Or even his peers. What K did on the floor when had the ball was more than A-OK.<br />
<br />
When it came to these two Jersey boys, Kerry Kittles and Lucious Harris were bombers before B.K. You can't talk about the Nets without two who used to go right through them. As our last President would say...WAP!Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-12385283464589685362017-05-05T06:28:00.000-07:002017-05-05T06:28:31.006-07:00PAUL PIERCE Feature-'THE TRUTH' OR FALSE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Truthfully Speaking.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>By TIM DAVID HARVEY.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Real talk. One of this generations greats and one of the NBA's most storied Boston Celtics franchises greatest and most famous legends Paul Pierce has called it a career after his last game with his hometown Los Angeles Clippers in their First Round exit in this years Playoffs. But now that 'The Truth' has been set free, before we hang his number 34 let's seperate the real from the fake and fact from fiction when it comes to one of the most genuine talents to ever play this game. 34 times to be exact.<br />
<br />
TRUTH-Paul Pierce was born on October 13th, 1977 in Oakland, California and went to high school in Ingelwood, Los Angeles.<br />
<br />
FALSE-He was a Laker for life.<br />
<br />
TRUTH-A long way from the Golden State, Paul Pierce went to college in Kansas.<br />
<br />
FALSE-The university did not retire his iconic number 34 jersey.<br />
<br />
TRUTH-The 6 foot 7 inch, 235 pound Small Forward was selected by the Boston Celtics with the 10th pick in the 1998 draft.<br />
<br />
FALSE-He was a bust!<br />
<br />
TRUTH-He will always be known as one of the greatest Celtic players of all-time.<br />
<br />
FALSE-He spent the rest of his career in Beantown.<br />
<br />
TRUTH-In a way he may aswell have.<br />
<br />
FALSE-He won championships with the shimmy of partner Antoine Walker.<br />
<br />
TRUTH-The pair where one of the leading dynamic duos in the Shaq and Kobe era.<br />
<br />
FALSE-P-Double gave Shaquille O'Neal his "Diesel" nickname.<br />
<br />
TRUTH-Shaq gave Paul Pierce the nickname 'The Truth'.<br />
<br />
FALSE-Paul never lived up to the monkier.<br />
<br />
TRUTH-Paul Pierce survived being stabbed 11 times on a night out in Boston after bravely trying to break up a fight in a club. He came back to play for the C's the same season after. THE TRUTH.<br />
<br />
FALSE-He came back the same player...he was even better.<br />
<br />
TRUTH-In his early days he could dunk like you could never believe to remember.<br />
<br />
FALSE-But he was James Harden on D.<br />
<br />
TRUTH-Before Rajon Rondo with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen he started the big-three revolution. Yas King!<br />
<br />
FALSE-Pierce, Larry Bird and John Havlicek aren't the only Celtic legends to amass 20,000 career points with the Irish green alone.<br />
<br />
TRUTH-An injured Paul Pierce needed to be carried off court during the 2008 Finals series with legendary Los Angeles rivals the Lakers before dramatically returning to the game and winning big.<br />
<br />
FALSE-An injured Paul Pierce didn't need to be carried off court during the 2008 Finals series with legendary Los Angeles rivals the Lakers before dramatically returning to the game and winning big. (According to Laker fans).<br />
<br />
TRUTH-The 10 time All-Star 10th pick became a champion in said 2008 Finals series.<br />
<br />
FALSE-But he wasn't the Finals Most Valuable Player.<br />
<br />
TRUTH-He hit an incredible, now iconic clutch three against the Atlantic rival Knicks at New York's Madison Square Garden.<br />
<br />
FALSE-That was the last time he'd ever hit a shot of that magnitude.<br />
<br />
TRUTH-Upon leaving the Boston Celtics, Pierce headed to Brooklyn for the Nets.<br />
<br />
FALSE-Teammate Kevin Garnett did not join him.<br />
<br />
TRUTH-After the B.K. number 34 had a significant spell with the Wizards in Washington.<br />
<br />
FALSE-He called it a career after that.<br />
<br />
TRUTH-He returned home to L.A. for some times with the Clippers.<br />
<br />
FALSE-But his home is really in Boston.<br />
<br />
THE TRUTH-Or is it?<br />
<br />
FALSE-Nothing else. And that's 'The Truth'.Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34617579695261888.post-49540089594071411042017-04-10T06:37:00.002-07:002017-04-10T06:37:26.189-07:00#TheJordanSeries AIR SPACE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Chicago Bugs.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>By TIM DAVID HARVEY.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Hare Jordan. I believe a rabbit can fly like an eagle! And if you see it, then you can be it...there's nothing to it. Believe it! And like a kiss from the rose of Seal, Chicago's greatest like R. Kelly is about to take him there.<br />
<br />
The year is 1996 and it's time to warn a brother. Because this ones for all the carrots. Little green men have invaded, or maybe it's just Danny DeVito? But these aliens haven't come to get our landmarks like Jeff Goldblum's 'Independence Day' that year. But more like the special set of skills from the golden era NBA's best and brightest. New York Knick legend Patrick Ewing. The mound round of rebound, Chuck, Charles Barkley, Charlotte Hornet Grandmama Larry Johnson, the biggest little man to ever step up to this game Tyrone 'Muggsey' Bogues. And...erm Shawn Bradley. Well he is 7 foot 6 afterall.<br />
<br />
All so these little spacemen can grow and bulk like Blake Griffin to become the 'Monstars' (the worst team since the Sixers before The Process when they ran out of answers), and challenge the Looney Tunes of Daffy Duck, Tweetie Pie and Porky the Pig to a game of basketball like Prince and his revolution of pancakes to Dave Chappelle and Charlie Murphy. Hitting them em' up high like B-Real, Busta Rhymes, Method Man, Coolio and LL Cool J. The forefit? A life of slavery in the name of entertainment on Moron Mountain for our favourite cartoon rabbit hole characters that only Walt Disney would love to see.<br />
<br />
So what's a Marvin the Martian to do? How can they beat these hustlers at their own game. They need to get themselves a real player like Kobe Bryant in 'Hang Time', no matter how good Lola Bunny's handle is. Who else they got? Wayne Nedry?! You see what happened to him in 'Jurassic Park'? Bill Murray lost in 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' like animated translation? They need to crown a player fit for King. But LeBron's just a baby. How about the greatest? Six time champ Michael Jordan. The best sportsman of all-time next to the greatest Muhammed Ali. Besides he's just retired from the Chicago Bulls to play minor league baseball in the name of his father. Inbetween hitting the links of the retirement rounds with Boston Celtic legend Larry Bird who legend has it once thought M.J. was God in disguise. And boy was he right on the dollar with Money.<br />
<br />
So here's the plan. Wait until they're playing a round of golf. Give it some time. Maybe wait 'till around the back nine. Wait for the greatest competitor of all-time to hit a hole in one and pose for a picture as he retrieves his ball from the cup and GRAB him!<br />
<br />
Simple!<br />
<br />
What the hell was in that camera flash?! Pure entertainment as Mike is whisked to another dimension and you gotta like that. All so he can join a team a couple of blue chips away from running the picket fence like Hoosiers. But never fear M.J. is here. To run alongside his new Pippen, Bugs Bunny and win the game and the day. Saving all our childhood heroes and giving all the NBA legends their powers back. Let Shawn have his too ball...please! Hey, even Barkley promised he'd never date Madonna again.<br />
<br />
So all those with a Basketball Jones like Chris Rock and Barry White get ready for the most out of this world game you've ever seen. From the time the most dominant of all-time Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a single contest, to last night when Jordan Brand's own Russell Westbrook broke legend Oscar Robertson's half century record for triple-doubles in a season. If you didn't get a ticket for this ESPN Classic. Don't worry there's always the '30 For 30' documentary. And a Tune Squad throwback for your number 23 collection to go between all your red, white and Nike Air black Chicago Bulls jerseys book-ended by your North Carolina and Washington Wizards one. And who knows a rematch may even fly with Griffin like a 'White Men (Still) Can't Jump' sequel. But until number 32, let's flip it back to the time the G.O.A.T. won the game on a buzzer beating dunk that strong arm stretched further than his classic free-throw line Slam Dunck contest one.<br />
<br />
Game...Tunes!<br />
<br />
Welcome back to the Space Jam.<br />
<br />
Yabidda-Yabidda! That's all folks!Tim David Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09920775769846725517noreply@blogger.com1