Music Monday

Mariah Carey - All I Want for Christmas is You

Something’s coming ……

Christmas Day, December 25th, 2011 @ 2pm p/t on ABC. The Bulls are Back!!

Backstage w. Ye @ WTT

I wanted to share this video cause I love KanYe. I have my own resignations about Jay Z and the whole Roc*Nation and the objectives behind their movement. And seeing that Kan is a member, he's obviously involved in whatever it is (I don't want to share my thoughts on what exactly their mission might be and project my feelings or perceptions onto anyone else, I'll let everyone form their own because I think actions speak for themselves and some of the images and statements in the video, although minor, are questionable, so I'll just keep my opinions to myself). But anyways, it's a behind-the-scenes and up-close-and-personal look inside Kanye's thought processes and preparations for his tour performances. But it's Yeezy, so it's def worth a look.

Music Monday

Rihanna - We Found Love
Don't know about this video, but the song has a good vibe. (And why does this dude look just like Chris Brown? And why do I get the impression this video was some sort of reenactment?)

We're Back in Business

November 26, 2011 at 10:08 am
‘Tis the Season… For Basketball

The game of chicken is over.

It all ended in Manhattan last night when both cars swerved at the last minute, narrowly avoiding a disastrous collision that would have certainly produced a large number of casualties. It’s been 149-days of empty labor meetings, monotonous press conferences and the complete dismissal of logic and reason. For months, both sides have been essentially saying the same thing:
“We don’t want to lose money, so we’re willingly going to lose money to show you how serious we are about not losing money.”

It was that kind of egotism and downright foolishness that almost wiped out the NBA season (along with about $4 billion in revenue), and while many of us blame greed for what transpired, it was greed that ultimately saved the day. When it came right down to it, the financial ramifications of cancelling NBA basketball on Christmas day just couldn’t be ignored.

Specific details of the agreement are still unclear (and a few system issues still need to be agreed on), but according to sources familiar with the negotiations, the players are set to receive around 50.5% of BRI. The elephant in the room is that both sides still need to hold a formal vote for their members, something Commissioner Stern spoke cautiously about.
“We expect our labor relations committee to endorse this deal, this tentative agreement, and we expect our Board of Governors, at a meeting we will call after that, to endorse the deal.”

NBPA executive director Billy Hunter also spoke with caution, but expressed confidence in the tentative agreement.
“We’re confident that once we present it, the players will support it.”

We expect that specific details of the agreement will spill out over the next several days. While we wait for those, here’s what we know for sure:
__The NBA will begin a 66-game season on Christmas Day.
__The Lakers will host the Bulls as part of a Christmas Day triple-header. Also of note, the Miami Heat will visit the Dallas Mavericks in what will now be Ring Night for the Mavs.
__NBA Training Camps will begin on (or around) December 9th, along with a shortened (and sure to be frenzied) free-agency period.

And with that, we close the chapter on the NBA lockout, and start a new one. Welcome back, NBA. Don’t ever cheat on us like that again.

Source: LakerNation

(I had to post this story, for the last line alone :)

GQ Men of the Year: MVP

GQ has nemed Derrick Rose as one of their 2011 Men of the Year. His title, MVP. (But of course!)

"Derrick Rose was always going to win an NBA MVP award. But that it happened this year, at the age of just 22, is ridiculous. Dirk Nowitzki led his team to the title, but Derrick Rose was the bust-out star of 2011. Nobody pretends to be Dirk on the playground. Everybody pretends to be Derrick. Dirk has the jumper. Derrick has the drive, the stop-and-pop, the finger roll, and our favorite, the twisting-curving-winding sprint to the lane that manages to freeze defenders, not break his spine, and drop home the lay-in. The craziest part? He still feels like he has training wheels on. 'Ain't done nothin' yet,' he says. 'The best is coming.'"



Source: GQ

Music Monday

Drake feat. Rihanna - Take Care

Music Monday

Beyonce - 1 + 1
Luv this song! (Not the video so much, but Beyonce looks gorge)

♥

Best Day Ever!
I got to meet Derrick Rose... kinda. It was more of a photo-op, but nevertheless I got to see D. Rose up close and personal, face-to-face, in the flesh, and I got a hug :)

Got my Derrick Rose fix for the moment at least, cause I hate to admit that it isn't enough. I need to see some on-court action, let the kid play!

I feel like Audrey II: "Feed me, Seymour!"

Music Monday

Cee lo feat. Melanie Fiona - Fool For You
Luv this song!

Panda Baby Boom

"A group of baby pandas in China sunned their sleepy little faces in public for the first time last week. The panda-loving country’s newest celebrities were greeted by snapping cameras and cheers from admirers.

Twelve of the black-and-white snugglers were born over the last three months at Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center in Sichuan Province, China. The newborns bring the total number of giant pandas living at the Chengdu Center to 108.

PANDA COMEBACK?

Giant pandas are an endangered species. China is believed to have the world’s largest population of the rare bears. The last census, or official count, of pandas was taken there 10 years ago. At the time, only 1,600 were found to live in the wild, most of them in Sichuan Province.

But scientists are hopeful that pandas are making a comeback. Panda trackers have set out to get a new estimate of how many of the bears are now living in China.

The researchers are conducting the new census by collecting wild-panda droppings for DNA analysis. The panda poop will help zoologists get a reliable estimate of the population and give them a better picture of pandas’ current living conditions.

The natural habitat, or home, of the giant panda has been shrinking due to human activity. For instance, agricultural and urban development have taken over many areas where pandas were living in the wild. The scarce black-and-white bears are also prizes for poachers, or illegal hunters. Baby pandas are precious too. A female panda gives birth to a cub only every two or three years."

(Source: Scholastic News)

State of Nate

The NBA lockout has prompted an array of new activities and interests among players, including participating in summer leagues, signing contracts to play overseas, procuring new endorsements, attending fashion weeks, and filming their own web-series. Among those that have decided to give fans a look into their everyday lives and routines is Nate Robinson. His new web-series titled "State of Nate" features Nate and his family interacting with one another, supporting each other, having fun, taking care of business,and enjoying each other's company. I particularly like to see Nate on daddy-duty, its the cutest thing :)

Check out the first two webisodes below.



www.stateofnate.com

Feature Friday: Columbiana

The lovely Zoe Saldana stars in this action-packed drama about a woman who becomes a professional killer in order to seek revenge against the ruthless gangster who murdered her parents when she was nine years old.

The film is in theaters today and its sure to not disappoint.

Google+

Google has created a new social networking (or sharing/connecting as they call it) site called Google+.
Google+ is designed to make sharing ideas, news, photos, events easier. The site consists of 5 components: Circles; creates different circles for the people you share and connect with (family, friends, co-workers, etc), Sparks; looks for videos and articles it thinks you’ll like so when you’re free there’s always something to watch, read, and share, Hangouts; live video chats, Instant Upload (Photos); for instantly sharing photos (obviously), Huddle; combines different conversations into one simple group chat.
For more deets or to create a profile, visit Google+
Also, http://www.google.com/+/learnmore
and http://www.google.com/+/demo

Music Monday

Cheers (Drink to That) - Rihanna

Feature Friday: Friends With Benefits

"A young female headhunter (Mila Kunis) in New York convinces a potential recruit (Justin Timberlake) to leave his job in San Francisco behind and accept a job in the big apple. Despite an attraction to each other, both realize they're everything they've been running from in a relationship and decide to become friends...with benefits. It's the perfect arrangement--until they realize there's no such thing as no strings attached."

Feature Friday: Winnie the Pooh

Disney's long adored tubby little buddy all stuffed with fluff.. willy nilly silly old bear, Winnie the Pooh is returning to the big screen today in Disney's Winnie the Pooh.
This adventure follows a donkey named Eeyore who's his friend, and Kanga and little Roo. There's Rabbit and Piglet and there's Owl, but most of all Winnie the Pooh. Oh and we can't forget Christopher Robin too.

Music Monday

Although I wasn't really feeling "Run the World," Beyoncé's latest single "Best Thing I Never Had" is a winner.

Summer, Summer, Summertime Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ

DJ Jazzy Jeff and Mick Boogie have released their second edition of “Summertime: The Mixtape,” aptly titled "Summertime 2."
You can check out the track listing, stream or download the mixtapes for free over at Undrcrwn

I was inspired to create a summer playlist of my own. Check it out below:

Happy 4th of July! Enjoy.

'From Fatherless to Fatherhood'

From Fatherless to Fatherhood is a documentary by Kobie Brown which explores the impact and necessity of having a positive male role model present throughout a child's life, especially within the black community. The film takes a look into the lives of several men and reveals their experiences as fathers and youth.

For more info check out www.fromfatherlesstofatherhood.com

Music Monday

Drake's Marvin's Room track has been getting a lot of buzz. The song is about a drunken phone call from Drake to his ex, and several female songstresses have stepped up to the plate to give their take on the situation from the other end of the phone line or in TT's case from Her Room.

So, here is Drake's version along with JoJo, Rochelle Jordan, and Teyana Taylor's.




I personally like Jordan's best, but that Ex-Factor line at the end of Taylor's kinda hooked me.

In all of this I just have one question: Who the heck is Marvin?
I'll just assume he's that nigga that she loves so bad.

Strength, Courage, & Wisdom

Inside my head there lives a dream that I want to see in the sun
Behind my eyes there lives a me that I've been hiding for much too long
'Cause I've been, too afraid to let it show
'Cause I'm scared of the judgment that may follow
Always putting off my living for tomorrow
It's time to step out on faith, I've gotta show my face
It's been elusive for so long, but freedom is mine today
I've gotta step out on faith, It's time to show my face
Procrastination had me down but look what I have found, I found

Strength, courage, and wisdom
And it's been inside of me all along,
Strength, courage, and wisdom
Inside of me

Behind my pride there lives a me, that knows humility
Inside my voice there is a soul, and in my soul there is a voice
But I've been, too afraid to make a choice
'Cause I'm scared of the things that I might be missing
Running too fast to stop and listen

It's time to step out on faith, I've gotta show my face
It's been elusive for so long but freedom is mine today
I've gotta step out on faith it's time to show my face
Procrastination had me down but look what I have found, I found

Strength, courage, and wisdom
And it's been inside of me all along,
Strength, courage, and wisdom
Inside of me

I close my eyes and I think of all the things that I want to see
'Cause I know, now that I've opened up my heart I know that
Anything I want can be, so let it be, so let it be:.

Strength, courage, and wisdom
It's been inside of me all along,
Strength, courage, wisdom
It's been inside of me all along, everyday I'm praying for:

Strength, courage, and wisdom
And it's been inside of me all along,
Strength, courage, and wisdom
Inside of me

I found it in me, I found it finally
I'm sure to keep it' cause I like it, I say thank you

- INDIA.ARIE

Until the End of Time

Couldn't help myself! Had to post another one from the late-great 2pac.
R.I.P.


"Heroes get remembered, but legends never die."

Keep Ya Head Up

Happy Birthday to one of the greatest lyricists/poets/visionaries of our time, Tupac Shakur!
I dedicate this post to the memory of Pac and here's one of my all time faves.



Some say the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice
I say the darker the flesh then the deeper the roots
I give a holler to my sisters on welfare
Tupac cares, if don't nobody else care
And uh, I know they like to beat ya down a lot
When you come around the block brothas clown a lot
But please don't cry, dry your eyes, never let up
Forgive but don't forget, girl keep your head up
And when he tells you you ain't nothin don't believe him
And if he can't learn to love you you should leave him
Cause sista you don't need him
And I ain't tryin to gas ya up, I just call em how I see em
You know it makes me unhappy (what's that)
When brothas make babies, and leave a young mother to be a pappy
And since we all came from a woman
Got our name from a woman and our game from a woman
I wonder why we take from our women
Why we rape our women, do we hate our women?
I think it's time to kill for our women
Time to heal our women, be real to our women
And if we don't we'll have a race of babies
That will hate the ladies, that make the babies
And since a man can't make one
He has no right to tell a woman when and where to create one
So will the real men get up
I know you're fed up ladies, but keep your head up

Keep ya head up, oooo child things are gonna get easier
ooooo child things are gonna get brighter
Keep ya head up, oooo child things are gonna get easier
ooooo child things are gonna get brighter

Ayo, I remember Marvin Gaye, used to sing ta me
He had me feelin like black was the thing to be
And suddenly ghetto didn't seem so tough
And though we had it rough, we always had enough
I huffed and puffed about my curfew and broke the rules
Ran with the local crew, and had a smoke or two
And I realize momma really paid the price
She nearly gave her life, to raise me right
And all I had ta give her was my pipe dream
Of how I'd rock the mic, and make it to the bright screen
I'm tryin to make a dollar out of fifteen cents
It's hard to be legit and still pay ya rent
And in the end it seems I'm last headin for the pen
I try and find my friends, but they're blowin in the wind
Last night my buddy lost his whole family
It's gonna take the man in me to conquer this insanity
It seems the rain'll never let up
I try to keep my head up, and still keep from gettin wet up
You know it's funny when it rains it pours
They got money for wars, but can't feed the poor
Say there ain't no hope for the youth and the truth is
it ain't no hope for the future
And then they wonder why we crazy
I blame my mother, for turning my brother into a crack baby
We ain't meant to survive, cause it's a setup
And even though you're fed up
Huh, ya got to keep your head up

Keep ya head up, oooo child things are gonna get easier
ooooo child things are gonna get brighter
Keep ya head up, oooo child things are gonna get easier
ooooo child things are gonna get brighter

And uh
To all the ladies havin babies on they own
I know it's kinda rough and you're feelin all alone
Daddy's long gone and he left you by ya lonesome
Thank the Lord for my kids, even if nobody else want em
Cause I think we can make it, in fact, I'm sure
And if you fall, stand tall and comeback for more
Cause ain't nothin worse than when your son
wants to kno why his daddy don't love him no mo'
You can't complain you was dealt this
hell of a hand without a man, feelin helpless
Because there's too many things for you to deal with
Dying inside, but outside you're looking fearless
While tears, is rollin down your cheeks
Ya steady hopin things don't all down this week
Cause if it did, you couldn't take it, and don't blame me
I was given this world I didn't make it
And now my son's gettin older and older and cold
From havin the world on his shoulders
While the rich kids is drivin Benz
I'm still tryin to hold on to my survivin friends
And it's crazy, it seems it'll never let up, but
please... you got to keep your head up!

Save Me From Myself

It's not so easy loving me
It gets so complicated
All the things you've gotta be
Everything's changin'
But you're the truth
I'm amazed by all your patience
Everything I put you through

When I'm about to fall
Somehow you're always waitin'
with your open arms to catch me
You're gonna save me from myself
from myself, yes
You're gonna save me from myself

My love is tainted by your touch
'Cause some guys have shown me aces
But you've got that royal flush
I know it's crazy everyday
Well tomorrow may be shaky
But you never turn away

Don't ask me why I'm cryin'
'Cause when I start to crumble
You know how to keep me smilin'
You always save me from myself
from myself, myself
You're gonna save me from myself

I know it's hard, it's hard
But you've broken all my walls
You've been my strength, so strong

And don't ask me why I love you
It's obvious your tenderness
Is what I need to make me
a better woman to myself
to myself, myself
You're gonna save me from myself

- Christina Aguilera

Music Monday

As much as I hate can't stand Lil Wayne and will not endorse anything he represents. He advocates the absolute wrong messages in his music and his image, regardless of what he really feels/believes, his lifestyle is misleading.
All that said (lol), I heard this song in the car on the way home one night and it really hit me. At first, I felt compelled to change the station at the sound of his voice, but then as I was listening to the lyrics, it really resonated with me. Its so honest and alerted me to some unspoken self feelings/reservations/understandings. So, I had to give in to this one song (after that I'm ignoring him again lol). Anyways, this song speaks to the insecurities/self-esteem (self-worth) issues so many young women suffer. Guess he finally found a way to get through to us self-acclaimed good girls. But this'll be the one song I'll acknowledge him for.

Music Monday

Olivia - December

Love this song, really showcases Olivia's vocal abilities (as opposed to that G-Unit ish, that never worked for me). Glad to see she's back to her old self.

"It ain't what I heard. You said you looovved meeee in Decemberrrr..."

Who runs the world??

Some chick named Amber decided to give us a lesson in feminism or the current social status of women all over the world, in response to Beyonce's "illusion" that girls run the world. And might I add chick ran it down. It appears she has obviously learned something from those sociology/women's studies classes and she's decided to pass along that knowledge to "impressionable young women" and men for that matter. Great food for thought! So check out the video.

Look Into My Eyes...

or eyelids rather.
The Lion King

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Check out this amazing Disney-inspired eye make-up. Katie Alves is a make-up artist who has transformed scenes from Disney classics, using eyelids as her canvas. Head over to StyleList.com to see more of Katie's mystical designs.

These two animal/nature inspired designs are admirable as well.

Music Monday

Diddy & Dirty Money - Someone to Love Me

Feeling this song at the moment. I like Mary J's vocals on this track for the remix, but I can't stand Lil Wayne so I settled for this version, which is just as good.

Feature Friday: Bridesmaids

Annie's life is a mess. But when she finds out her lifetime best friend is engaged, she simply must serve as Lillian's maid of honor. Though lovelorn and broke, Annie bluffs her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals. With one chance to get it perfect, she'll show Lillian and her bridesmaids just how far you'll go for someone you love. The film stars Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, and Melissa McCarthy.

Captured: Thunder's Best

The Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are blessing the cover for the latest issue of Dime Magazine.

Dime chopped it up with the cover boys to talk about their NBA experiences and their incredible 2010-11 season.

"In the previous 63 issues of Dime, we have never featured a duo on the cover. It never made sense. But when we started talking about who we wanted on the cover of Dime #64, the names Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were inextricably linked. Sure you could make an argument for LeBron and D-Wade, Kobe and Pau, or STAT and ’Melo as the NBA’s best one-two punch, but all three of these duos are at least 10 years older than KD and Russ. Aptly titled “Generation Now,” the cover story examines just that... And after spending time with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook for our cover shoot, we know that the league is in good hands."

Check out the issue.


D. Rose graced the cover last month and Dime was already declaring him the MVP, which wasn't very hard to predict. Check out last month's issue.

(via Dimemag)

Feature Friday: Jumping the Broom

A collision of worlds when two families from divergent socioeconomic backgrounds get together one weekend in Martha's Vineyard for a wedding. The film stars Paula Patton, Laz Alonzo, Meagan Good, Angela Bassett, Tasha Smith, Loretta Devine, Mike Epps, Deray Davis, Gary Dourdan, Pooch Hall, and Romeo.

2011 NBA MVP

Its official! Derrick Rose was awarded the 2011 NBA MVP award yesterday afternoon in . The National Basketball Association announced today that Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose is the winner of the 2010-11 Kia Most Valuable Player Award. At 22 years old, Rose is the youngest MVP in NBA history.

Back in September at Bulls Media Day while being interviewed by the press, Derrick stated, "The way I look at it, why can't I be the MVP in the league? Why can't I be the best player in the league? I don't see why not. I work hard, I dedicate myself to the game and sacrifice a lot of things at a young age.”

And he was right!

Rose's stats for the season:
Season Team G ...GS .MPG .FG% .3p% ...FT% ..OFF DEF ..RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
10-11 ..CHI ..81 ..81 .37.4 .0.445 0.332 0.858 .1.0 .3.1 ..4.1 7.7 .1.0 .0.6 .3.4 1.7 25.0
Career .CHI ..240 239 37.1 .0.468 0.309 0.815 .1.0 .2.9 ..3.9 6.7 .0.9 .0.4 .2.9 1.5 20.9


Congratulations to Derrick! He definitely deserves it.

It's not over yet, though. Derrick and the Bulls take on the Atlanta Hawks at the United Center tonight at 5pm pt on TNT. ATL leads this series 1-0. Hopefully, the Bulls can even the score, especially if they want a shot at the Eastern Conference finals.

Scottie Pippen tweeted: "MVP MVP MVP... make it loud tonight at the UC"

Want more?? Check out this article by Sam Smith: Rose is Most Valuable Player… and person
Here's footage of Rose receiving his MVP award.

Drumroll Please...............

The NBA and Chicago Bulls
will make a major announcement
today at 2 p.m. pt. With multiple
reports in the media speculating
that Derrick Rose has won the 2011
NBA MVP. Tune in to Bulls.com
for live video this afternoon for
an official announcement.



I can hear the chants:
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"

Feature Friday: Fast Five

Since Brian and Mia Toretto broke Dom out of custody, they've been trying to elude authorities. Now backed into a corner in Rio de Janeiro, they must pull one last job in order to gain their freedom. As they assemble an elite team of top racers, they realize their only shot of getting out for good means confronting the corrupt businessman who wants them dead. But he's not the only one out to get them. Federal agent Luke Hobbs, played by The Rock, never misses his target and when he is assigned to track down Dom and Brian, he and his strike team launch an all-out assault to capture them. But as his men tear through Brazil, Hobbs learns he can't separate the good guys from the bad. The film stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Jordana Brewster, and Dwayne Johnson.
Side-note: Stayed tuned after the credits because there's an additional scene.

Feature Friday: Madea's Big Happy Family

Madea's niece, Shirley, receives distressing news about her health. All Shirley wants is to gather her three adult children around her and share the news as a family. But Tammy, Kimberly and Byron are too distracted by their own problems: Kimberly is suffering from anger issues that are threatening to destroy her marriage; Tammy's marital problems are being compounded by her disobedient children; and Byron is struggling to stay out of the drug trade after spending two years behind bars. It's up to Madea, with the help of the equally rambunctious Aunt Bam, to gather the clan together and make things right the only way she knows how; with a lot of tough love, laughter, and the revelation of a long-buried family secret.
The film stars Tyler Perry, Isaiah Mustafa, Loretta Devine, Shad Moss, Cassi Davis, Natalie Desselle, Shannon Kane, Teyana Taylor, and Lauren London.

Feature Friday: African Cats

This documentary released through Walt Disney Studios' Disneynature chronicles the magnitude of a mother's love. The film follows feline mothers -- a lioness and a cheetah -- as they prowl the plains of Africa on a mission to protect their cubs and teach them the ways of the world. African Cats is a great film for any age, I really enjoyed it and it is an especially good family movie; the perfect flick for a mom to watch with her kids. The film is both inspirational and comical, as Samuel L. Jackson narrates the film taking us a journey through the troubles and triumphs of motherhood in the wild.

Killing Me Softly

I heard he sang a good song
I heard he had a style
And so I came to see him
And listen for a while
And there he was this young boy
A stranger to my eyes

Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song

I felt all flushed with fever
Embarrassed by the crowd
I felt he found my letters
And read each one out loud
I prayed that he would finish
But he just kept right on

Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song

Whooooooooaaaaaa
Whoooaaa oh oh oh ah ha ahaaaa
la la la la la la la
Whooaa laaa whooaa laaaaaaaa
(Ha ha ha ha) (c'mon)
Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his sonnggggggg

Strumming my pain (Yeah Yeaaaahhh)
Singing my life with his words (Yeaaaahhhh)
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words

- Fugees

Music Monday

Chris Brown = Beautiful People

LOVE this song! It just has a feel-good vibe to it. Real care free and genuine. The video contains nice imagery too. Not to mention it plays off of my favorite word: BEAUTIFUL :)

ESPN Doc: Fab Five

So, I decided to watch ESPN's documentary on the Fab Five after being enticed all week by the commercials. And I have to admit that I was really impressed. First off, the documentary was dope and I learned so much about the game of basketball, including the Fab Five and college ball, as well as the business aspect of it. It had me hyped the whole time I was watching (not to mention I was trying to write a paper at the same time and managed to distract myself completely the entire time, then the doc came on again right after and I even debated watching it again but I finally convinced myself to just turn the tv off). Anyways, I have to say that I hadn't anticipated it to be as fascinating as it was. But I am now intrigued by Jalen Rose's swag. HA! And it was so well produced that i didn't even notice that C Webb chose not to partake in the festivities until the portion about his infamous timeout.



The Fab [Freshmen] Five of Michigan State's basketball team back in the early 90's, had to overcome a lot of adversity and skepticism to prove, oh excuse me, expose themselves as the true competitors they were. Not only did they help the team to gain fame and develop into an elite squad, but the most captivating aspect of their tenure was the element of brotherhood they exuded.

Captured!

Derrick Rose is featured on the cover of ESPN Magazine latest edition, the style issue. The MVP candidate showcases his mid-western style and might I add.... mmm mmmm good!

Music Monday

Lupe Fiasco's much anticpated album Lasers will hit stores tomorrow, March 8th. Make sure to pick it up. Lasers is Lupe's third studio album. Hottest songs on the album are All Black Everything (the best by far), The Show Goes On, and Words I Never Said.

All*Star Round Up

The NBA's All Star Weekend went down in L.A. this year (and I'm ashamed to say that I didn't partake in any of the festivities, though I did watch). There was plenty of action and excitement to last all week or at least until the Heat play the Bulls (shall Chicago own the season series? I think so!). But back to All Star. My first question is what happened to the H.O.R.S.E. contest? (The second is ) Anyways, here's a rundown of what went down:


Friday
The first event, the celebrity bball game, was won by the east.
The western team was made up of Trey Songz, Romeo Miller, Justin Bieber, Jalen Rose, Rob Kardashian, Swin Cash.
The eastern team was made up of Scottie Pippen, Nick Cannon, Michael Rapaport, Chris Mullin, Tamika Catchings and Common.

The rookies walked away with the win in the T-Mobile rookie challenge. The second straight year the rookies beat the sophmores. (check!)
John Wall won MVP and set the record for most assist in the game with 22.
The rookie team was composed of John Wall, Blake Griffin, DeMarcus Cousins, Derrick Favors, Landry Fields, Wesley Johnson, Eric Bledsoe, Gary Neal, and Greg Monroe.
The sophmore team was composed of Stephen Curry, Brandon Jennings, Taj Gibson, DeMar DeRozan, Serge Ibaka, James Harden, Jrue Holiday, Wesley Matthews, and DeJuan Blair.

Saturday

In the first event of the evening, the Haier Shooting Stars competition, Team Atlanta copped the win with cutie Al Horford hitting the half-court shot in both rounds to seal the deal.


Steph Curry held it down in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge, just beating Russell Westbrook. (I was routing for Mr. Rose but he was far to suave to try and outshine his rookie year win)


James Jones took home the trophy for the 3-Point Contest beating all time 3-pt scoring champ Ray Allen.


Blake Griffin topped it all off as the winner of the Dunk Contest. (Although, I think the other players were cheated, especially DeRozan.) Going into the competition I am sure everyone was expecting Griffin to take the cake, but it was actually given to him. Blake's first dunk was astonishing, but the final two were lesser versions of dunks two of the other contestants had just slammed. The whole put-on with the car and the choir was not impressive. However, the fact that the guy has 134 dunks on the season (that's more dunks than games in a NBA season which means he's getting in 2-3 dunks a night since its only midway through the season) is impressive enough to give him the award, he's been puttin on all season. (check!)

Sunday
The big Sha-Bang aka the NBA All Star game.
In the grand finale, the west brought home the win and Kobe Bryant received a well-deserved MVP award to cap off the weekend. (checkmate!)


Want more?? Here's the official web page.

Beloved

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:7

If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 1 John 4:12

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:8

Happy V-Day! ❥

I composed a list of some of the hottest love lyrics, love-making rhythms, and heartbreak anthems in honor of Saint Valentine's Day. Enjoy!

Black History Month Spotlight: Daisy Bates

Civil rights activist, writer, publisher. Born Daisy Lee Gatson on November 11, 1914, in Huttig, Arkansas. Together with her husband, Bates operated the Arkansas State Press, a weekly African-American newspaper. The paper championed civil rights, and Bates joined in the civil rights movement. She became the president of Arkansas chapt...er of the National Association for Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1952. As the head of the NAACP’s Arkansas branch, Bates played a crucial role in the fight against segregation. In 1954, the United States Supreme Court declared that school segregation was unconstitutional in the landmark case known as Brown v. Board of Education. Even after that ruling, African American students who tried to enroll in white schools were turned away in Arkansas. Bates and her husband chronicled this battle in their newspaper. In 1957, she helped nine African American students to become the first to attend the all-white Central High School in Little Rock, who became known as the Little Rock Nine. Bates’ home became the headquarters for the battle to integrate Central High School and she served as a personal advocate and supporter to the students. Bates remained close with the Little Rock Nine, offering her continuing support as they faced harassment and intimidation from people against desegregation. Her account of the school integration battle was published as The Long Shadow of Little Rock. For a few years, she moved to Washington, D.C., to work for the Democratic National Committee and on antipoverty projects for the Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration. Bates returned to Little Rock in the mid-1960s and spent much of her time on community programs. Bates died on November 4, 1999, Little Rock, Arkansas.

Determing Your Destiny

I was visiting a middle school yesterday and the atmosphere there was quite interesting as it was a sharp contrast to the junior high school environment I endured. There was a strong emphasis on college awareness. The school appeared to be under a rather new curriculum which seemed to be working very well. Everything was pretty much in control and there didn't seem to be many issues with discipline, which was a constant at my alma mater. The faculty and staff are always trying to improve the curriculum and enforce student expectations. As one faculty explained, "our goal is to provide students access to the curriculum and a safe learning environment." I felt that the faculty and staff were really invested in student outcomes and they were very hospitable.

One thing that I took notice of, and is the reason I wrote this post, was a poster on the wall that read:
Watch you thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions.
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, they become your character.
Watch your character, it determines your destiny!

Lovin' It Live!!

(All smiles) I had the most amazing time at the Bulls game last night! Might I add that I've been waiting all season for this :) It was beautiful. I really enjoyed myself, and Derrick Rose. lol It was definitely a night to remember. Not only did I have a lot of fun with the fam but the atmosphere in the arena was titillating. We had dinner at Yardhouse before the game, and we were just in time for happy hour. Then, after a wonderful meal, we headed over to the Staples Center to check out the fan gear in their Team LA store. Plus, I got a free Blake Griffin throwback jersey. (As you've probably realized by now the Bulls were playing the Clippers) And we were actually on time for once (I told everyone the game started at 7 cause I know how they are, plus I wanted to watch the team warm up) Anyway, once everyone started pouring in and the game begun, it became obvious that there were a lot more Bulls fans in the crowd than the home team's. The Bulls led the game the entire night and I finally got taste of that D Rose action live. He had a couple fast breaks and some pretty lay-ups, but no dunks :( But I think Blake Griffin made sure to fill the void. I think the best moment came in the second half when Rose started getting MVP chants (I mean this dude even gets MVP chants on the road)! I think I was pretty lucky though as everyone in my section appeared to be Bulls fans and towards the end of the 4th, they even starting chanting "Scalabrine" HaHa. You gotta love it! Oh yeah and even Joakim Noah was there to support his team from the bench. Too bad I couldn't get the dynamic duo that is Rose & Noah, but it's cool. The game happened so fast though. I feel like there's a lot more time to savor the excitement when I'm watching at home. But it was an amazing night all around and I can't wait to do it again. Hopefully the next Bulls game I attend will be at the United Center :)

Derrick's stats for the night: 32 pts, 11 asts, 3 rbs, 1 stl, 1 blk

Here's some video footage of the game. You can even hear the Scalabrine chants and peep Rose score the final bucket. Enjoy!


Also, check out this article at Suntimes: Bulls No. 1? ‘Why not?’ Rose says

Greatness Is What We're On the Brink Of

"I wish that I could have this moment for life. 'Cause in this moment I just feel so alive..."



My fave PGs, The Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Jan. 10-16, continuing a season in which point guard play has arguably reached new heights.

Rose propelled the Bulls to three wins for the week by averaging 27.3 points, tied for fifth in the Eastern Conference, 6.8 assists and 5.3 rebounds. In Saturday’s win over Miami, Rose scored 34 points while dishing out eight assists. He went 28-for-29 (.966) from the free throw line for the week. Not to mention he scored his first triple-double on Tuesday against the Bobcats.

Westbrook averaged 27.5 points, a league-best 13.0 assists and 9.0 rebounds to help the Thunder go 2-0. He recorded his second triple-double of the season on Jan. 13, in the win over Orlando. Oklahoma City has a 12-3 record when Westbrook hands out 10-plus assists.

Here is a recap of the week for Rose and Westbrook:

Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

Jan. 10 vs. Detroit: Tallied 29 points on 10-for- 20 shooting and seven assists in a 95-82 win over the Rockets.
Jan. 12 @ Charlotte: Recorded 17 points and seven assists in a 96-91 loss to the Bobcats.
Jan. 14 @ Indiana: Scored 29 points to go along with 10 rebounds and five assists in a 99-86 win over the Pacers.
Jan. 15 vs. Miami: Tallied 34 points, eight assists, four rebounds and three blocks in a 99-96 win over the Heat.

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

Jan. 12 @ Houston: Scored 23 points to go along with 13 assists, eight rebounds and two steals in a 118-112 win over the Rockets.
Jan. 13 vs. Orlando: Notched 32 points, 13 assists, 10 rebounds and two blocks in a 125-124 victory over the Magic.

The 2 were teammates this summer and were very instrumental in helping Team USA bring home the gold from the FIBA World Championship.

For even more in-depth analysis on The Year of the Point Guard, check out this article at SB*Nation.