This year’s Pro-Football Hall of Fame inductees included players who I began watching when I was old enough to understand the game of football. Marshall Faulk and his time with the St. Louis Rams, Shannon Sharpe and his days with the Denver Broncos, and Deion Sanders and his exciting one-liners and game-changing plays with the Atlanta Falcons, San Fran 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, and Baltimore Ravens. Out of all the speeches from the players, I wanted to hear what Deion had to say the most.
When I was about three or four years old, I remember my brother giving me a list of names I need to remember when it came to sports. Two names I remember to this day are Pat Riley, because my brother was a Lakers fan, and Deion Sanders because the Cowboys was his favorite team. And anytime we watched a football game and the Cowboys were playing, he made sure I knew where Deion was on the field at all times. He’s also the reason why my favorite number is 21.
I remember his high steps into the end zone when he would return a punt or an interception and I thought it was the most funny, exciting moment of the football game. His passion for the game and the flashy ways he made playing look contributed to the reason why football is my favorite sport to watch.
During his speech, Deion talked about his mom being the reason why he was so successful in football. He didn’t want his mother to work or struggle to make ends meet. He wanted to be the best so that his mom didn’t have to worry about anything ever again. For him to talk to the critics that said he couldn’t tackle, he fought back and said he never faced a bill for his mom that he couldn’t tackle.
That moment struck me, not necessarily in the way that he described, by forcing myself to tackle any situation, expectation, no matter what anyone says. Despite not ever playing football (I played in two powder puff games if that partly counts,) the idea of never giving up, overcoming obstacles, setting and achieving goals… football, sports in general, goes so much deeper than throwing a ball around for points or hitting the opponent.
Congrats to PrimeTime and his signature bandanna being inducted into the 2011 hall of fame.
The day the Lakers got swept against the Dallas Mavericks, I knew the summer had just gotten longer, especially with the NFL lockout ending no time soon. But 78 days later since that heartbreaking day, I sit in my living room in Boston, thankful that I don’t have to change my plans for Sunday and Monday nights.
This season is gonna be ridiculously unpredictable. There are so many storylines that are gonna go down within the next two to three weeks, ESPN is going to be in hog heaven. I can’t wait to see my Bucs and my Patriots win their respective divisions (I’ll finish the rest of my predictions in a few weeks.) I can’t wait to see what the first big move will be for free agency. How much money will the Jets pay Santonio Holmes? What team will take a chance on Plaxico Burress? Will Tiki Barber revive his career? Will Bob Sanders finally make it through a full season?
Who knows how this season is going to play out. But you’ll be hearing more from me now that my hiatus has been self-lifted.
“(Lebron) took his talents to south beach but left his hairline in cleveland.”
I have only one word for this: DEAD. This quote had me dying laughing. He just said what every basketball fan in the world has seen develop since 2003. But th is is what Howard does, he loves to crack jokes. I want to see what Lebron comes back with, but I doubt anything. Next season just keeps getting juicier and I can’t wait.
(photo credit: Tony Medina/Icon SMI)
Since NFL players around the country are voluntarily working out in preparation for the season that may or may not happen, I figured I need to whip myself into football shape that doesn’t involve working out or running routes. So here’s my first installment of NFL Eye Candy. the Eye Candy award goes to players that not only have good physical looks, but also makes attractive plays on the field. I’ll continue this during the season, but for now, the first Eye Candy award goes to Greg Jennings. Jennings had over 300 yds receiving during the playoffs last year and the two most important touchdowns in his career during Super Bowl XLV. A man that’s proud of his faith, spirituality, and family devotion, he’s also a good piece of tall, chocolate, and fine.
(photo credit: cheeseheadtv.com)
LA Lakers forward Ron Artest is a hot mess for this. This man wants to legally change his name to Metta World Peace. Now the dictionary says that metta comes from the Buddhism as a virtue of kindness. Artest could have possibly stretched the thought of changing his name to Ron Metta, or Metta Artest. But to add your middle name as World and your last name Peace just baffles my mind. I can’t wait for Joe Schad or even Stephen A. Smith to have an ESPN “Sunday Conversation” and really find out why he wants to change his name. I know since his championship winning season with the Lakers two years ago, he’s turned over a new leaf since his Indiana Pacers days, even his Houston Rocket battles with Kobe on the court. But this right here makes no sense.
Here’s the report from ESPN that goes further into the situation.
http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=6698183
I hope Ron reconsiders the name change, but the first O_o award goes to you.
Since the NFL lockout has haulted any kind of football trades, training camp, or big singning news talk, my basketball withdrawl has been more unbearable this year than ever. The Mavs cut basketball season a week shorter by beating the Heat in 6 games, leaving me with hockey and baseball highlights to fill the void.
But tomorrow brings some relief with the NBA draft, along with the 2011-2012 season hype and anticipation. The most notable names include Duke PG Kyrie Irving, Arizona PF Derrick Williams, Kentucky PG Brandon Knight, and my personal favorite player, Connecticut PG Kemba Walker.
Maybe my Lakers will make a move to draft Kemba since they’re in desperate need of a quick PG who can shoot as well as distribute the ball. Despite my wishful thinking, the Lakers will look for more experienced PGs in free agency. (SN: Lakers tried to offer Minnesota Timberwolves Lamar Odom for the No. 2 pick to draft Derrick Williams but talks fell through.)
Aside from the top 5 or so picks, what else is there really to look forward to in the draft? I can’t remember the last time a NBA draft was this weak as far as hyped and recognizable names. Last year, 3 of the top 5 players were freshmen. I remember in 2008 the debate was who does Chicago take Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley? In 2007, Portland chose Greg Oden over Kevin Durant. SMH… But every year there’s a shocking move that happens or a head-scratching move that didn’t happen.
All eyes are on the Cleveland Cavs who have the No. 1 draft pick. All signs point to Kyrie Irving, but whoever the Cavs decide to pick at No. 1, they’ll be right back in the top 5 next year of the draft. I’m looking forward to the trades that will happen between big name stars that are going to be moved. There’s already talks of possibly moving Tony Parker, Odom, Chris Bosh, maybe even Dwight Howard later when the season starts (hopefully to LA.)
There’s four months to go before the season starts, and tomorrow begins the journey for college and international players to create a legacy in the NBA.
“Now or Never.” - Lebron James
James tweets this line early Thrusday morning. The Heat are now down 3-2 in the series. Welp, I guess it’s never. We’ll see what he’s got on Sunday.
Crawford’s walk-off single lifted the Boston Red Sox in a 4-3 win against the Detroit Tigers, his third walk-off this season.
Kobe Bryant, aka Kobe Bean, aka Black Mamba, aka Mama There goes that Man, reminiscing back on his No. 8, high tops, afro days adds to the list of his most spectacular dunks in his 14 year career.
In six games, Bryant avgeraged 22.5 pts, 3.7 rbs, 3.8 assts. On to the next round with the Dallas Mavericks, the Lakers are one series down from returning to the finals.
