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.

Fly Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
to flyyyyyyyyyyyyy
to flyyyyyyyyyyyyy

I wish today it will rain all day
Maybe that will kinda make the pain go away
Trying to forgive you for abandoning me
Praying but I think I’m still an angel away
Angel away, yeah strange in a way
Maybe that is why I chase strangers away
They got their guns out aiming at me
But I become near when they aiming at me
Me, me, me against them
Me against enemies, me against friends
Somehow they both seem to become one
A sea full of sharks and they all smell blood
They start coming and I start rising
Must be surprising, but I am a winner
So I just keep fighting

I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
to flyyyyyyyyyyyyy
to flyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Everybody wanna try to box me in
Suffocating every time it locks me in
Paint they own pictures than they crop me in
But I will remain where the top begins
Cause I am not a word, I am not a line
I am not a girl that can every be defined
I am not fly, I am levitation
I represent an entire generation
I hear the criticism loud and clear
That is how I know that the time is near
So we become alive in a time of fear
And I ain't got no muthafuckin time to spare
Cry my eyes out for days upon days
Such a heavy burden placed upon me
But when you go hard your nays become yays
Thanks to Almighty so I give Him all the praise

I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
to flyyyyyyyyyyyyy
to flyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Get ready for it
Get ready for it
Get ready for it
I came to win
Get ready for it
Get ready for it
I came to win

I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
to flyyyyyyyyyyyyy
to flyyyyyyyyyyyyy

His Eye Is On The Sparrow

Why should I feel discouraged
Why should the shadows come
Why should my heart fell lonely
And long for heaven and home

When Jesus is my portion
A constant friend is he
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches over me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches me

I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
His eye is on the sparrow

And I know he watches
He watches me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches
I know he watches
I know he watches me

I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
His eye is on the sparrow

And I know he watches me
He watches me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches me
He watches me
He watches me, I never thought...
He watches me

- Lauryn Hill & Tanya Blount

A Day to Remember... MLK

Here's a video of Common's A Dream song from the Freedom Writers' soundtrack.

All I'm saying is simply this, that all life is interrelated, that somehow we're caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. For some strange reason, I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. You can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.

— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr