#TheKobeSeries KOBE BRYANT & PAU GASOL Feature-BETTER FRIEND

16/8

By TIM DAVID HARVEY.

"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." Kendrick Lamar, Nike 'Better' #MambaForever commercial spot.

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?

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.

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.

#TheKobeSeries

RUI HACHIMURA Feature - BIG IN JAPAN

Rui In Translation. 

By TIM DAVID HARVEY 

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.

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.

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.

MALIK SEALY Feature-SEALY

21 Jersey Salute. 

By TIM DAVID HARVEY 

“Feel me, I’m loved like the great late Malik Sealy.” - AZ (Nas-The Flyest). 

"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.

"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.

"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.

DOCUMENTARY REVIEW: THE LAST DANCE

5/5

The Last Waltz. 

10 Episodes. Starring: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Phil Jackson & Chicago Bulls. 

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!"

Let's dance! The Bowie (not Sam) sampling 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 (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"). From 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. 

"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. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Come Fly With Me', 'Jordan Rides The Bus', 'Celtics/Lakers: Best Of Enemies'. 

#90sBlockbusters DENNIS RODMAN Feature-DEMOLITION MAN

Hot Rod. 

By TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

(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, 'In Rod We Trust'.)

"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 ('The Last Dance') 

"Greetings, what's your bogle."

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!

"Blast from the past!"

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?!

"Play ball."

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 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. 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?

"Look, you can't take away people right to be a##holes". 

But you best believe he ain't one.

"I created this monster"!-Dennis Rodman ('The Last Dance') 

#TheKobeSeries KOBE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD

Dear Hollywood. 

By TIM DAVID HARVEY

Dear Basketball,

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'.

"KOBE!"

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".

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.

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.

Heat up Kobe...and get loose.

"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."

Love you always Kobe.

#TheKobeSeries

MOVIE REVIEW: THE WAY BACK

4/5

Ben Is Back.

108 Mins. Starring: Ben Affleck, Janina Gavankar, Al Madrigal, Michaela Watkins & Glynn Turman. Director: Gavin O'Connor. 

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.

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.

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. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Coach Carter', 'Glory Road', 'Hoosiers'.