The NBA is back...to back?

First of all I'd like to congratulate us all at surviving another NBA off-season. For those of you enjoying great baseball seasons this is your icing on the cake and softens the blow as it seems the Yankees are winning another World Series. Me myself I'm a Mets fan but thank God I've got the Giants(3-0 Baby!).

This season we begin with the LA Lakers as defending World Champions and give them some props they earned it. Kobe was more Jordanesk by actually having to do less as Trevor Ariza and Pau Gasol emerged as budding stars. This year they return to the dance with the NBA's new "Worm" Ron Artest who I think is a great addition to a team who already has a few hidden gems on it. I believe the biggest hidden gem in the whole NBA is Adam Morrison. In the triangle offense he can be deadly if healthy. Losing Ariza does hurt L.A. but Artest's Defense and Morrison's unexpected offense can have Kobe putting up the peace sign at the start of next summer.

"Why Brandon Jennings is my Rookie of the Year!"

I have a problem with the rules regarding the age limit in the NBA. I understand the reason for it but something has to change. With all the NCAA violations being broken within the past few years why not update the system? Alot of colleges are making uncountable amounts of money off their student athletes but if the student accepts a bag of potato chips outside of the University all the success he's had is forfieted. This is why I support next generation ballers to utilize the world's resources and go get paid! There are far too many of us former players not doing what we love because we chased the dream in one place. The NBA can brainwash you into "Putting yourself in a box!"(Thanks Jesus Shuttlesworth)

Brandon Jennings has the heart of two lions for daring to take his dream elswhere to achieve his goal. Yes it's risky for most but there are some players working in grocery stores across the nation on the nightshift that can play in the NBA. They have the talent but no one told them that dreams are not always made at home. There are 7 continents on this earth full of people that love to see a good game and if an NBA team hears enough things they will find you. Brandon Jennings went to Greece and no he didn't dominate but he remained relevant. He's going to be a spokesperson that the NBA's higher ups are going to love to hate. He has swagger, style and did it his way and got to Basketball's biggest stage. He didn't conform to the status quo of players having to fake the funk for four years and then getting rookie salaries. He's already got the sneaker deal, the nice house, been on his own and all he has to do now is play ball! I think he has the easiest transition than anyone else because he comes into his rookie season already a pro and answers to himself because nobody gave him nothing. He entered his career unprotected and now his target is on "Rookie Of The Year!" which will probably be the easiest thing he's tried to do since highschool!

The Michael Vick Experience and everybody else's.

How can I not participate in this debate? Michael Vick has paid his dues and he deserves to make a living. The crime was unforgivable but he's done the requirement by judicial standards to become a member of society once again. Yes there will be a backlash from Animal rights movements but face it they've won already. He's faced the penalty. You can't burn him at the steak twice. We're all living our lives not free of a minor sin or two and when we get saught out we beg for God's mercy. He's repented and he's reborn again. I credit the Eagles organization for responding so quickly and the commsioner for reinstating him.

There are a lot of other Athletes, Entertainers and Political figures taking part in criminal activities that are a few more credits smarter than Michael Vick they shall remain nameless by me. Vick's Educational Background primarily came from the streets he came from and he was ignorant to what he was doing. We're never gonna ask Michael Vick to do our taxes by any means.

We all deserve a second chance and he's earned it by doing the time for the crime. Some of us aren't doing any time at all for stuff we get away with. With that said I'm gonna get at you guys later. I gotta finsish copying these DVD's I just rented. lol

Old Spurs or Savvy Veterans?

I don't understand how people can count the Spurs out. Youth does not win championships in the NBA, experience does. The core of the Spurs is highly capable of keeping up with the young guns because they have been there. We're not talking about a bunch of old guys who haven't figured it out yet. The Spurs are a well accomplished unit and adding the likes of Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess only enhances your foundation. In the 80's the so cold old Celtics teams gave a lot of trouble to the young teams coming up to knock them off the mountain but they had enough savvy to grind games out. I see the Spurs as this generation's version of the Celtics. No big names but guys who work together to get it done. I think the Spurs are well prepared to raise another banner next year.

Greatest Coach of all time is...

Dare I say it but Phil Jackson is the greatest coach of all time. To get political I’ll say why. John Wooden’s legacy remains in tact and is well deserved but the playing field wasn’t even yet. In the 90’s I believe racial equality was more present during Phil’s run coaching the Chicago Bulls. Don’t misunderstand me The Celtics, Lakers, and Bruins were awesome but those teams were still cracking racial barriers. In the 90’s African American men really started believing in the American dream. Society was changing. We were now on as many magazine covers as everyone else and Phil Jackson coached a man named Michael Jordan to be the greatest of all-time. It’s not just the records or rings but it’s the stature of your legacy. I honestly believe that as the Michael Jordan statue stands in front of the United Center there should also be one of Phil Jackson close by admiring his work. For how great Michael is, he knows he couldn’t have achieved half of his success without Phil Jackson. So for the greatest player of all time I credit the Greatest Coach of all time…Phil Jackson.

Lakers get Odom back!...So what?

Hip Hip Hooray! The Lakers have managed to keep a valuable player in Lamar Odom. He's highly capable of keeping the title in Hollywood but the Lakers may have not made enough moves to combat the new faces in familiar places. In the West the Texas road trip can make or break your season. Dallas and San Antonio have made the effort to aquire players that may end hopes of the Lakers repeating.

Dallas has kept floor Veteran Jason Kidd in the fold and also have added Shawn Marion, Drew Gooden and Tim Thomas who I feel is highly underrated in the NBA. Mark Cuban has been busy getting new talent but San Antonio may have made the moves to get them to Raise another Banner in the Allamo.

The big fundamentals has been teamed up with the best wing man that he has ever played with. Richard Jefferson is a flat out stud and compliments Tim Duncan's game so well it's gonna be scary. RJ is dangerous because he can kill you in ways you don't expect becasue he doesn't carry the air of arrogance that someone of his skill set usually has. His abilty to score without the ball is second to none. He knows how to find angles that catches his defenders in vulnerable positons. He's definitley the steal of the off season and with a healthy core returning San Antonio is already thinking about parade plans. Oh and did I mention they also have obtained Antonio Mcdyess and Theo Ratliff? I personally think the Spurs are the team to beat for 2010.

Now back to our World Champion Los Angeles Lakers. It actually doesn't matter what other teams do because they are the champs and you don't win rings in Fantasy Leagues. Phil Jackson is a genius and Lamar Odom made the right desision to stay. The Lakers have a few tricks up their sleeves and Artest isn't the name I'm going to mention. Dare I say that Adam Morrison is the Lakers real secret weapon. He looked to be in rare form during the Summer league this summer and if he can turn the clock back on his game Lamar Odom and Ron Artest can be sharing lengthy highschool stories on the bench.(After creating a huge lead that is!)

The Birthday Blog

Wow I'm 34 today. God has been good to me and I'm grateful for the strength he has blessed me with to deal with the stressors of the world. As we all only get to live once I wouldn't change a thing because I've seen the results and what is, was meant to be. My spirits are not high and they are not low. I'm right in the pocket and that's how I like it. I thank my parents for giving me the tools to succeed indirectly. I'm a handful but I'm God's product and whatever they couldn't show me, he did. The outside world can be cruel and unforgiving so I kinda learned to live in my own space despite what others think of me. I'm gonna strive to keep being the best I can no matter what. I've experienced far too much to not embrace my destiny.