LeBron James - Nike 'RISE' Commercial

So... LeBron James has essentially thumbed his nose at the world, especially those talking greasey about him after his announced move to the Sunshine State. Nike clearly has put a lot of marketing dollars into King James. Though they could give two flying Cavaliers about where Bron Bron suits up, it's refreshing to see them take a tongue-in-cheek approach to the controversy. James has tweeted numerous times that he's got a bone to pick with all of the haters and hate that's been flung his way. With the NBA season looming (check out my NBA Season Previews if you haven't already), it's only right that the best player in the world right now would end his silence on such a grand scale. Of course, there still are 82 games to prove the move's worth, but with such a profound statement and the way James has been playing in the preseason, it would be unwise to bet against the King and his court. Check out the best Nike commercial I've seen in a while...

Dear Walkmans

via The New York Times:

Sony is sending its cassette tape Walkman into retirement in Japan as demand for a music player that was ground-breaking in its day dwindles to a tiny niche in the era of digital technology.

Sony stopped Japanese production of the portable music player in April and sales will end once the last batch disappears from stores, company spokeswoman Hiroko Nakamura said Monday.

Sony has sold 220 million cassette Walkman players globally since the product's July 1979 debut that changed lifestyles by popularizing music on the go. More than 30 years later, the cassette Walkman has been rendered an anachronism by MP3 players and iPods. Demand for cassette players in Japan is now largely limited to elderly users. But Sony will continue production of the cassette Walkman in China to accommodate users abroad, including in the U.S., Europe and some Asian countries, Nakamura said.

It is a sad day in music technology. As we enter the day and age where EVERYTHING is on the internet, the media we used to inject our music on is becoming thing of the past. As with the traditional vinyl record, 8-track player, VHS and Betamax, every media format has its dying day. For you, oh great Sony Walkman, with your cassette tapes, that day is upon us. Built in 1979 to a throng of no one (people were still convinced 8-tracks could catch on), you enabled people to take their favorite recordings with them wherever they went. They could use your format-able cassette tapes to record whatever they wanted, from long riffs by jam bands to four hour-long radio blocks with their favorite rappers. Walkman, hip-hop, and music today, would be nowhere without you. You single-handedly began what we call filesharing today.

In the 80s you were synonymous with youth culture, as beat-dwellers were lost in their headphones everywhere you could be taken. My mother said you were the reason my generation would go deaf, though ironically I heard everything you blasted in my ears. Your convenience was unparalleled. Whereas record players and 8-tracks needed an absurd amount of space, all you needed were two double A batteries and a pair of headphones to turn a routine walk to the gym into a personal concert. I can't tell you the last time I've used one of you, but I'm sure in some dusty basement, you're there, just waiting to play 'The Chronic' or 'Illmatic' for some unwitting soul who would never know your magic otherwise. Yes, we dropped you in lieu of CD's and newer versions of your namesake, but your original form will be remembered the most. Walkman, you will be sorely missed as we move into an era where removable media is forgotten and iPods thrust their sound waves into our eardrums. As a child of the 80s (90s really), I'm sad to see you go by the wayside, but happy to have known you, even if half of my cassettes got recorded over by accident...

2010-2011 NBA Season Preview: Western Conference

Yes, people. It is my favorite time of the year. Football season is in full swing, baseball season is finally coming to a close and yes, the basketball season is upon us. We're well in store for another season of dunks, jumpers and great NBA action, and Dear Whoever is here to sift through the clutter for you.

Our season preview continues in the Western Conference, where the Lakers have reigned supreme, but new teams are beginning to show their worth. Let's check out the 8 best teams in the West, who's up, who's down and who's got the juice. Hit the jump to see them:

MORE -->


Until someone knocks them off, this is Kobe and the Lakers' world... We just live in it.

1. Los Angeles Lakers
I said it in the Eastern Conference post, and I'll say it for the West. To be the best, you've got to beat the best. And quite simply put, they ARE the best. The Los Angeles Lakers have two top-10 players on their roster in Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, different scoring options in Artest, Odom, and Bynum, and tremendous depth coming off the bench. They added Matt Barnes, Theo Ratliff and Steve Blake to solidify their rotation, and essentially have 10 players in that rotation who could start anywhere in the NBA. Not to mention, the guru Phil Jackson is back for another threepeat attempt (this will be his 4th if the Lake show wins the ship this year, which is incredible). The Los Angeles Lakers are the team that everyone is aiming at, whether or not they think they have a chance. The rest of the Western Conference is clearly a few steps behind L.A. in terms of talent and a system that wins championships. If they don't end the season at #1 in the West, it will be because the team collapsed, which is highly unlikely with the cast of characters on that sideline...


What does it take for a team to go from Young Guns to Title Contenders? Ask Durant and the Thunder...

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

You might wonder why I'm placing the Oklahoma City Thunder at the #2 position in the West. If you saw the way Kevin Durant and company played the Lakers last year in the first round of the Playoffs, you'd know why. They came within seconds of forcing a Game 7 against the eventual champs, and had a lot of people shocked with their performance. The Thunder have built a roster the old-fashioned way: through the draft. The organization has built around Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook by adding quality pieces around them, and a coaching staff that stresses discipline for the team. James Harden is looking like another steal in the draft. The Thunder also have two underrated big men in Nick Collison and Serge Ibaka. Obviously, the centerpiece of this team is the phenom, Kevin Durant. If he continues to improve, then the Thunder will be head and shoulders above a lot of teams in the Western Conference, simply because of his MVP-caliber talent. The scoring champ has all the tools and complementary players he needs to knock off any of the West's (former) powers, and make the Thunder legitimate contenders.


Old man jokes aside, is there any squad as consistent as the Spurs? Duncan, Manu, Parker and crew are aging like fine wine, and have some new grapes to add to the fermentation.

3. San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs have been the ideal portrait of consistency over the past decade and frequently the recipients of those 'old guy' jokes because they never seem to die. That said, over the latter half of the decade, the Spurs have actually gotten a lot younger. Guys like George Hill, DeJuan Blair, and 2010 draftee James Anderson all look like they'll be able to contribute to the wiley veteran core of the Spurs. The one caveat for the Spurs is whether they'll be able to fight off the injury bug this year. Both Manu and Tony Parker were out for substantial time with those nagging injuries that seem to always take the offseason to heal. From the lack of noise they made in the preseason it would be easy to count the Spurs out, but when have the Spurs every been about the sizzle more than the steak? Gregg Popovich's teams always seem to be prepared when that 1st out of 82 games start, and Tim Duncan is as efficient as ever, with the once-perrenial MVP candidate gearing down his game and getting more fundamental than ever. Are the Spurs as good as the Lakers? Probably not. But we all know San Antonio's only prerogative is the postseason, where they've been for the entire decade. It's for that reason they're at number 3.


The window is closing quickly for Dirk and the Mavs. Can they capitalize on solid veteran role players or will they crumble in the Playoffs again?

4. Dallas Mavericks

Dallas has been my favorite time for a while now, but has always been the butt of the choke jokes. The Mavs have perfected the art of reloading the same roster by trying to plug different players around their MVP candidate Dir Nowitzki. Dirk is the picture of consistency, and Jason Kidd has aged like a fine wine, with improving 3-point range and his cerebral play-making. That said, it's hard to see Dallas beating the three teams above them consistently. They bring back Caron Butler, Jason Terry, Shawn Marion and Brendan Haywood for another crack at the West title. That team would have been amazing... 4 years ago. I think Mark Cuban has gotten a little too content with scouring the free agent wire and trade circuit, rather than building his team the old fashioned way. While the Mavs have considerable talent in rookie Dominique Jones, and their young point guard Roddy Beabois, they don't have the firepower to contend and their championship window is closing faster than Caron's Mountain Dew addiction. It won't be enough to be just good for Dallas. If they want to beat the Lakers and the other titans of the league, it's going to take great defense and mental fortitude, which the Mavs have lacked every year since Dwyane Wade took it to them in 2006.


Blake Griffin is for real. B-Diddy looks like he's 26 again. Can the other L.A. team turn a decade full of frowns upside down?

5. Los Angeles Clippers

This is my surprise pick in the West. I said it. The Los Angeles Clippers will be a PLAYOFF TEAM in 2011. And that's for one reason only: Blake Griffin. The Oklahoma rookie is back from the knee injury that made him miss his true rookie season and has looked dominant in the preseason. Griffin doesn't look like a man who's had knee surgery, catching alley-oops from a rejuvenated Baron Davis. Speaking of B-Diddy, he always seems to have these two year spurts where he looks like an All-Star, and this year seems like the beginning of another of those spurts. When I look at the Clippers though, I see a deep roster, with Chris Kaman (most underrated player in the league), Eric Gordon, Craig Smith, DeAndre Jordan, and Randy Foye all looking to contribute. Add to that, they've got some serious young talent in rookies Al-Farooq Aminu, Eric Bledsoe and Willie Warren. I think if the Clippers can rally around Griffin, they're going to surprise a lot of teams. If they can get consistent production from the wings, then the Clippers will be very hard to defend and even harder to prepare for. Look out, because Blake Griffin will put you favorite player on a poster by the end of the year, while the Clips make it to the postseason as the 5th best in the West.


Chauncey: I know what you did last summer...
Melo: I know what I'm about to do this summer!

6. Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets are in a serious state of flux. With all of the speculation around Carmelo Anthony and whether he will even be a Nugget, there's a silent anxiety around this organization. Of course, Chauncey Billups, Nene, JR Smith, Kenyon Martin, Ty Lawson and Chris Andersen will do what they've been doing, but it seems like this team was a chicken with its head cut off without George Karl. If his presence is what's holding them together, then I have little faith that the Nuggets will make it out of the first round. They added Al Harrington, who is a more athletic and streakier Linas Kleiza, as well as a rejuvenated Shelden Williams, but neither of those players are true game-changers for a roster set in its ways. The Nuggets will win and lose as Carmelo's success comes, which isn't the way to go, especially in the West. The bottom teams in this conference are too good to take a night off, which Denver does a LOT. Yes, the Nuggets will make the playoffs, but I feel like they're the West's version of the Atlanta Hawks, a team that didn't do much to improve.


The Jazz now belong to Deron Williams (and his beard)... Can the addition of Al Jefferson make a difference in Salt Lake City?

7. Utah Jazz

I've said this for years now, and will stand by it until someone unequivocally proves me wrong: Deron Williams is the best point guard in the league. Chris Paul only gets the nod from the world because Williams plays in one of the smallest markets in the league. The Utah Jazz are his team, now that Carlos 'undersized center' Boozer has moved on to Chicago. That said, his departure opened up a spot for Al Jefferson to make his mark in Salt Lake City. Jefferson has been waiting to break out, and now that he has a proven point man in Williams to deliver the ball to him, his game should jump to a new level. The Jazz retained the services of Mehmet Okur, whose jump shooting as a big man should open up a lot of space for Williams and Jefferson to work. Add to that a healthy Kirilenko as the defensive glue, and you've got a trademark Jerry Sloan squad. Sloan is synonymous with squeezing the most out of his players through disciplined play and clutch defense, so the lack of 'star' players doesn't bother me as much as the lack of depth. The Jazz, while adding promising rookie Gordon Hayward, and veterans Raja Bell and Earl Watson are an injury away from disaster. Any hits they take will hit their wins and losses right in the stomach.


Yao Ming's foot should be the next body part to get the Twitter treatment.. Doesn't mean he'll be able to be the centerpiece that the Rockets need...

8. Houston Rockets

This last spot was a toss-up for me because the bottom half of the West is that muddled. The Rockets are eighth in the West because they have great depth. Yao Ming is far from a sure thing at center because of his nagging injuries, but they've got a solid backup in Brad Miller. Kevin Martin is the same way, but the Rockets have guys like Chase Budinger, Courtney Lee, and Shane Battier, who can provide the same production. In fact, Aaron Brooks is just about the surest thing on this team. Brooks, last year's Most Improved Player, is a poised offensive threat with a deadly stroke from the three, which makes up for his diminutive size. Behind them, Houston has solid role players like Chuck Hayes, Luis Scola and Kyle Lowry. These parts are all good, but not great, which puts them ahead of teams like Sacramento, Phoenix and Golden State, but way behind the other 7 teams on this list. I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't make the playoffs, but they're definitely the last good team left. Whether or not they can make noise in the West is dependent on Yao Ming's foot, and nothing more...

Freestyle Friday (10/22)

Hey people. It's a bit late today, but you know I couldn't leave you on Friday with no freestyles to go into the weekend with. Even so, I'll keep it short and sweet. Today we've got Curren$y the Hot Spitta throwing down some bars and shooting the sh*t with with Selector Online Magazine. The only reason I recognized this was because Spitta was wearing the same fit he had on in his video for Audio Dope II. Yes, that's a bit weird and somewhat meticulous, but I suppose fans of Curren$y have an eye for things of that nature. The second one is by a New York artist by the name of Yonas. To tell you the truth, I've been sleeping on Yonas for the longest. The homie Deadstock Ric has been trying to put people on to Yonas for weeks, but I finally gave this freestyle of his a listen and immediately became a fan. He's got a few funny metaphors and it seems like his presence is larger than life. Can't wait to see what else he's got up his sleeve. Check out both freestyles...

Dear Vado (re: Slime Flu)

Download 'Slime Flu' HERE

So, I haven't had an letter-form album review in a while... Academia and personal issues were taken up in lieu of consistent blogging. Even so, I still found time to bump new music in between studying and having a regular job. One of those works is that of you, Harlem native, MOVADO (an anagram for Money Outta Violence And Drugs Only). Vado (the shortened version), I was first introduced to you, not through your music, but from the incessant chants of 'Stop it 5' and 'SLIIIIIME' being echoed throughout New York City and the twitterverse. Naturally, it became my mission to find the root of these new sayings. Scouring the internet for those queries quickly led me to your appearances on your mentor Cam'ron's 'Boss of All Bosses' series, which turned me into a fan from the track 'Intro'. Now that a year has passed, it seems only right for your debut to hit the streets...

Slime Flu doesn't waste time with random skits or instrumentals for the intro. Vado, you went right into what the fans wanted to hear: the rhymes. 'Council Music' is an ode to the people in your corner, claiming that 'Word to mother, no greed in wealth; Council rules: Treat my brother as a treat myself', over a silky smooth beat laced with triumphant horns and a relaxing string riff. As a listener, this is gold. Next up was the uptempo track dedicated to everyone's favorite brand, 'Polo'. Now, the remix with Young Dro would have been better, but I think you wanted the spotlight for yourself on your first release. You didn't disappoint me on this, Vado, shouting SLIIIIME to all of the horse-donners and rugby-rockers out there. The overall feel of this album is like nothing I've heard coming out of New York City recently. Unlike Fab, you don't have a sickening infatuation with death or repetitive punchlines, and it shows in your delivery. I think you've perfected the art of saying a lot without saying too much, Vado. On tracks like 'The Greatest', you flexed your lyrical muscle and recounted on your forays into drug dealing and the general Harlem goonery (yes, I just coined that phrase) that most rappers from your locale can't express.

My favorite track on the album had to be 'Beat Knockin', though, where you did venture into metaphorical territory over a Jahill Beats instrumental that does exactly what the title says: KNOCK. Quotables like 'It aint too many that could fool with me / that flu with me, mouth foamin like Blue Penny's / Thought he was Hakeem, the way we shoot semi's' just fly out as the bass turns my earphones into a seismic experience. Vado, you clearly have a penchant for riding a beat. It's a testament to your Harlem roots (and how much of Big L's influence is in you) how easily rhyming comes to you. Fast forward to another banger 'Celebration', a slowed down ballad over piano keys, and your talent shows even more. It's not enough to have bars or rhymes for you. 'Slime Flu' is chock full of songs, not random verses over e-mailed beats. That's not to say that the verses aren't hot. Only a true lyricist (and black movie buff would say 'I go hard as the concrete / Keep a day job on the dark street / Pops, I drop Cane like I'm a part of the Heartbeats / Make ya boy duck when I palm heat'. Clearly, you're not an amateur, and 'Slime Flu'

The next few tracks were lukewarm compared to the first five, though I must say, you had me rewinding all of them, Vado. I've said it before, and will say it again: It's hard as hell to put together a full ALBUM. Throughout the delays (Slime Flu has been pushed back since July) and the leaks, it's obvious that you payed great attention to putting the best 14 songs on this work. Another thing that stood out to me on the album was the lack of features on it. In today's hip-hop climate, that could either be because the artist can't do it by himself (coughcoughDiddycoughcough) or because the artist has a body of work that doesn't need complements to stand out. On 'The U.N.', you said 'Niggas wanna know 'What he got?', 'Is he fly?', 'When he drop?', 'Is he signed?', 'If he hot, can he shine?'/ Think about it. If I wasn't would I rhyme?', answering the numerous questions as to your positioning in two lines. 'Slime Flu' is as the title says: a flu, an infestation, an influx of a different, yet familiar feel in hip-hop. You don't immaturely talk about gunplay or drugs or whatever dirt is on your plate, yet know it intimately, much like the rappers you probably grew up listening to. If the album is anything, it's a warning shot to the rest of NYC: step your game up! Vado, this wasn't a masterpiece, and could definitely use more in the way of content, but as an attempt at what hip-hop nerds would call 'golden era', this is a valiant attempt. The slime flu is spreading and with good reason. Vado, you're here to stay...

Pokemon in Retirement

One of the things that always crosses my mind is what happens to cartoon characters and personalities when the show goes off the air. Whether the show is in syndication, banished to DVD releases and random marathons, or just lost in television history, the fate of some of our favorite characters almost never seems to be discussed at any length. If you were a kid in the late 90s and early 2000s, there is no doubt in my mind that you've watched at least one episode of the Japanese anime phenomenon, Pokemon. The television show, the trading cards (props to whoever has a holographic Charizard collecting dust somewhere) and the video games will always hold a special place in my memories for their addicting nature, and for the simple fact that my income as a 10 year-old was devoted to these miniature monsters. That said, upon my resignation from the nation of Pokemon lovers, their existence became a forgotten one... Until now. Check out what happened to some of your favorite Pocket Monsters after Ash, Misty and Brock eventually caught 'em all...

PS: Major e-props to those that can name 'em all...

Neighborhood Newsletter (10/19)

Save The Race: 10 Women Who Should Never Reproduce

Roughly 3 out of 4 Tweets Ignored

Shocker: Barack Obama Now More Popular In Alaska Than Sarah Palin

10 War Photographs That Changed the World Forever

Years of Bank Incompetence Led to Foreclosure Crisis

1 in 4 Applicants Too Fat to Be in the Army Now

Cancer a Modern Man-made Disease Caused by Excesses of Modern Life

Housing Crisis Hits Blacks Hardest

Why Republicans doubt global warming

US Decrees that Islam Is a Religion, Not a Political Movement

Officials Push to Bolster Law on Wiretapping

The Nine Most Common Myths About Bullying

Is it cheaper to eat in or go out?

Unstoppable (2010)

There are some movies that just enthrall you because of the mere concept behind them. Sometimes they are so simple that you can't help but want to watch them and soak in all of the action, explosions and palpable tension caused by a seemingly routine act gone haywire. Such is the case in the new flick starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine, 'Unstoppable'. The thriller tells the tale of a huge, unmanned freight train, going at top speed that is... well, unstoppable. Add to that, it's rigged with a ton of chemicals, that upon impact, would create a nuclear holocaust wherever it does happen to stop. Chris Pine is destined for stardom after a great role in Star Trek, and you already know the deal with Denzel. Directed by Tony Scott, who directed 'The Taking of Pelham 123' (I guess he has a thing for trains), this might not be a great movie, but it will definitely be entertaining. It drops on November 12. Check the trailer out...

Dear NFL (re: Helmet-to-Helmet Hits)

There are points in history and humanity when events don't just happen, but are spoken into existence and fruition. They're called self-fulfilling prophecies, a phenomena where a prediction directly or indirectly causes itself to become true. We see it all the time in academia, when students say things like 'Man, I'm about to go fail this exam' or 'This teacher hates me'. Both of those usually result in, lo and behold, failing the exam or the teacher growing to dislike the student in question. Yet in sports, can the same thing be said? I didn't think so until this past week, NFL, where your constant queries and attention to helmet-to-helmet hits has, in my eyes caused the destructive tackles to increase tenfold.

In my decade and change of watching professional football, never have I seen more head-to-head hits than I have over the past year. I remember the day Rich Gannon of the Raiders received the concussion that would essentially end his career. I remember wondering why there was no penalty assessed. Helmet-to-helmet hits were illegal in 2002, but nothing was said. Later on, I realized that the contact was purely incidental, and that in the game, while running at game speed, there really is no way to keep from leading with the head. Football is football. And injuries are synonymous with football, whether or not we want to admit it. Ask guys like Trent Green, Troy Aikman, and other QB's whose careers were cut short because of hard hits. Though I'm sure they'd love to still be on the field, they probably wouldn't argue that the game is inherently flawed, like you are now, NFL.

NFL, trying to curb natural hitting, through whatever initiative or fine you come up with, and even making such a raucous over helmet hits is not going to help the cause. I'd be so inclined to say they'll continue. No rule, fine or speech from Commissioner Goodell isn't going to make a difference. Yes, you've got players like James Harrison who aim to make big hits, but trying to inhibit the game at its root, the hitting, is impossible. That's like trying to stop wild pitches in baseball, or hard checks in hockey or sprained ankles in basketball. There are certain parts of a sport that will never be eradicated without changing the fabric of the sport altogether.

Add to that, NFL, I see what you guys are trying to do. Over the past decade the amount of former players coming out against your medical aid for retired players has increased. Players in the 'golden era' of football (which was ironically played without helmets) are dropping like flies from the toll of the hits they've taken, either due to debilitating mental illness like depression or decreasing motor skill functioning. You'd rather try to hinder the game than help the players who built the league. That's not to say preventative measures are unimportant. It's more that trying to change the game isn't going to alter history, much less change the game in the desired way. From a fan's standpoint, I'd rather run the risk of seeing a vicious hit, than seeing players tip-toe around the field. And I'm more than sure the players don't want to have to think about something that's as natural as breathing for them. Then again, no one likes having a concussion either. I suppose the issue is multi-faceted and not for the weak of heart. But neither is football. Let that marinate...

2010-2011 NBA Season Preview: Eastern Conference

Yes, people. It is my favorite time of the year. Football season is in full swing, baseball season is finally coming to a close and yes, the basketball season is upon us. We're well in store for another season of dunks, jumpers and great NBA action, and Dear Whoever is here to sift through the clutter for you.

Our season preview starts in the Eastern Conference, where there's been a huge shift in power since last year. Let's check out the 8 best teams in the East, where they stand and who's got the juice out East Hit the jump to see them:

Next -->>





Don't know what you guys are looking up to... You're the bests of the East until proven otherwise.

1. Boston Celtics
Yes, I said it. The Boston Celtics are the best team in the Eastern Conference at the beginning of the season. To be concise, you're not the man until you beat the man, and no other team in the Eastern Conference could dethrone the Celts last year on another run to the Eastern Conference crown. Yes, the Big 3 is older. Yes, Shaq and Jermaine O'Neal's careers are surviving through a respirator. No, Rajon Rondo will not have a jump shot by season's end. All of those do not matter. The Celtics have one of the best defenses in the league, and have added major depth through free agency, signing Delonte "Yo Mama", the two O'Neals, and scorer Von Wafer. Not to mention, they've still got Kendrick Perkins (underrated defensively; he kept Dwight Howard in check), as well as drafting sharpshooter Luke Harangody, and Doc Rivers on the sidelines. Everyone's waiting for the Celtics to drop off. They shouldn't hold their breath.


It takes more than 3 players to win a championship, but with these three, does it even matter who else is on the roster?

2. Miami Heat
Yes, yes, y'all. The story of the offseason. The Monstarr-esque triumvirate (look it up) put together by Pat Riley in the greatest coup in NBA history, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh will most definitely inspire fear in most teams before they even step onto the court. What makes this squad even scarier though is the role players they've accrued in this same summer. Along with holding onto Udonis 'the Man in Florida' Haslem, the Heat pretty much got Zydrunas Ilgauskus with LeBron, signed veterans Eddie House, Juwan Howard, Jamaal Magloire, and picked up Mike Miller. Miller is definitely the most underrated pickup of the offseason. With the amount of attention the Heat's Big 3 will get, Miller is going to find himself open... A LOT. He should shoot a ridiculous percentage with both James and Wade feeding him the ball. Add two promising rookies in DeSean Butler and Dexter Pittman to that equation and you've got a solid rotation around Wade, Bosh and James. The Heat are going to be scary good. We won't put them ahead of the Celtics yet, for posterity's sake, but I'm sure Boston can feel Miami right behind them.


Can Boozer bring some boom back to the Bulls, or will he just bust?

3. Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls were a major player in the LeBron, Bosh and Wade sweepstakes, but only managed to come up with Carlos Boozer, which isn't a bad consolation prize in the least bit. Carlos Boozer joins a Chicago Bulls team that overachieved simply off grit, hard work and great defense. Bringing Boozer into a frontcourt with Joakim Noah is going to pay dividends immediately for Boozer, who's coming from a Utah team where he usually played the center. Not anymore. Noah's presence allows Boozer to move back to his natural 4 spot, where he will fluorish, even if he'll be out for a little while with a broken hand The Bulls also have this really good guard... I think his name is... Derrick Rose! Rose is already a phenom, and according to NBA reports, has been working on his jumper consistently over the summer, which should only make him more deadly of a scorer. The Bulls also have talented role-players in Luol Deng, Taj Gibson, and free agent signee Kyle Korver. This Bulls team looks really good on paper, and should jump a few spots this season.


LeBron's going to take much more than the basketball away from you if you don't work on those post moves, Dwight...

4. Orlando Magic

That's right. The Orlando Magic are only the 4th-best team in the Eastern Conference simply because they didn't do much to get better over the summer. Don't get me wrong. They're not bad, at all. Yet, Stan Van Gundy's squad looks eerily similar to the teams of the past two years that were trounced in the Playoffs. Of course they've got Dwight Howard, who's spent another summer 'working' on his post moves. Yes they've got Vince Carter, who's another year older and another year weaker. And yes they've got Rashard Lewis, whose game has regressed further and further during his stay in Orlando. Looking at the Magic, the only bright spot I can see is Jameer Nelson getting better. Nelson was unstoppable during the Playoffs last year, lighting up Raymond Felton and Mike Bibby on the way to the Eastern Finals, and will look to take a greater role in Orlando this year. The Magic added Quentin Richardson, whose weight will balloon up again now that he can camp out on the three point line, and Chris Duhon, who will take his inefficacy elsewhere after two terrible years in New York. Will it be that same old Magic that wins in the regular season, but folds in the Playoffs? We will see.



Scary combination when those two are playing at their best in the backcourt, but the front court will be what drives this team to the Playoffs.

5. Washington Wizards
The first true surprise on this list, the Washington Wizards, have put last year's abysmal season behind them and come back with a new face to complement the old face of the franchise. John Wall is the REAL DEAL. Anyone who's watched him play over the summer or in the preseason can see how nasty this man is. Now that he's paired up with a reformed Agent Zero, it will be interesting to see what the ceiling is for Wall's phenomenal talent. That's not even the main reason I have the Wiz up so high. The real reason is their frontcourt. The Wizards' two big men, Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee are STARS in the making. Blatche reminds me of Kevin Garnett with his ability to score and JaVale McGee is simply a freak of nature at 7-1 with guard-like leaping ability. The Wizards also solidified their rotation, bringing in Yi JianLian, Kirk Hinrich and Al Thornton to complement Josh Howard, Nick Young and Hilton Armstrong. When the Wizards do shock the Eastern Conference, don't say I didn't tell you so.


Jennings might not even know how to say Bogut's last name. Their chemistry on the court certainly hasn't taken a hit...

6. Milwaukee Bucks

If there's one team in the NBA that no one is talking about, but really should be talking about, it is the Milwaukee Bucks. After a promising rookie season, the Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings is poised to make more noise, but the centerpiece to this team is their oft-underrated center Andrew Bogut. I will go as far as to say that Bogut is the best center in the Eastern Conference. More skilled and consistent than Dwight Howard, had Bogut not been injured in last year's Playoffs against Atlanta, the Bucks would have a lot more buzz around them. John Salmons is as good as ever, using a very Paul Pierce-esque game to score efficiently, adding to their allure. Those players aren't the only reasons I have the Bucks up here. Scott Skiles brought in a host of solid, wiley veterans to complement those three like Drew Gooden, Corey Maggette and Keyon Dooling. Let's also not forget that the Bucks have a shooter by the name of Michael Redd, who will get some minutes, even as he works with no knees. The Bucks have a team full of understated go-getters and it shows in how well they play under the radar. Hopefully that won't be the case, this year.


Those frowns won't be turning upside down for a while if the Hawks don't get some new blood on that roster...

7. Atlanta Hawks
There is always one team at the beginning of the NBA season scheduled for a huge drop-off from the success of previous seasons. That team is the Atlanta Hawks, simply because they did NOTHING to get better over the offseason. Wait... They actually did make one move: signing Joe Johnson to a 6-year $120 million head-scratcher of a deal. Now, this wouldn't be so bad if Johnson hadn't already reached the ceiling of his potential at age 29. As a Hawk, yes Johnson's been successful, but the Arkansas product has a knack for shrinking in big games that has cost Atlanta dearly. Not to mention, the Hawks have the same undersized frontcourt and lack of playmaking options that have plagued them for years. Al Horford, Marvin Williams and Josh Smith are already what they are going to be in their NBA careers, while Mike Bibby continues to be a liability on defense and little more than a three point-chucking paperweight on offense. Jamal Crawford isn't happy with his contract, and though exciting, won't be the deciding factor for the Hawks. Atlanta is the same team that Boston blew out in Game 7 of 2007 and that Orlando swept last year. A coaching change with no personnel moves will ensure that, and the Hawks have slipped accordingly.


A'Mare can't be the only Knick to show up if Donnie Walsh's exit strategy from Isaiah's debacle is going to work...

8. New York Knicks
Yes, I said it Knick fans. The New York Knicks will make the playoffs in 2011. However, that is not because they are the 8th best team in the Eastern Conference. It is because no other team under them seems to have the potential to vault them into this 8th spot. The Knicks have one of the most exciting, yet risky, rosters on paper. Adding A'Mare Stoudemire this summer was tantamount to a shot of adrenaline to a dead basketball scene in New York. Bringing in Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf and Kelenna Azubuike is the bandaging to a wounded spirit. And signing Raymond Felton... Well, it's a start. The point is, the Knicks are finally building a nucleus of talent that ISN'T the debacle of players that Isaiah Thomas tried to pass off as a team. The Knickerbockers should be exciting to watch under the tutelage of Mike D'Antoni, and have some intriguing pieces in swingman Wilson Chandler, sharpshooter Danilo Gallinari, combo guard Toney Douglass, and the Russian center that came out of nowhere, Timofey Mozgov. Whether or not the team will be able to string together some wins in D'Antoni's high offense, no defense system is still an unknown. They're still better than the Nets, Bobcats, Sixers, Cavs, Pistons, Pacers and Raptors, though.

Whew... There you have it people; a rundown of the potential Playoff-bound teams in the Eastern Conference. I hope there's no love lost for the seven squads that didn't make it. The Eastern Conference is stacking up again, much like the West was doing in the earlier part of the decade. Check back in the next few days for more NBA posts, including the Western Conference preview, my picks for this year's awards and a few more surprises. I LOVE THIS GAME!!!

Freestyle Friday (10/15)

What's up Dear Whoever faithful? Friday equals freestyles and we've got a few unorthodox ones on deck today. The first one is by Aleon Craft, an ATL representer. Now, Aleon Craft's been doing his solo thing for a few years, but is finally about to explode onto the scene with an October 28th release date for his 'On the Verge' project. He alludes to it on this almost-a capella freestyle. I must say, the man has a way with words and isn't like the rest of his Atlanta brethren, saturated with swag raps. I'm curious to hear what he's saying. The second freestyle is from a hip-hop oldhead. Skillz has been an industry ghostwriter and personality for years now, but decided to take matters into his own hands after seeing the BET Cyphers at the Hip-Hop Awards this week. He drops his own version of the cypher, complete with background cronies, hilarious punchlines and even a few props. Ironically, the day he put this out, he was signed almost immediately to be in next year's BET Hip-Hop Awards Cypher. Funny what some lyricism can do for a rapper, isn't it. Anyway, check out both freestyles and keep it locked to Dear Whoever...

Hip-Hop Highway?

I know I'm not the only one out there who's fantasized about having an extravagant rap video, where you do some outlandish act like... blocking a highway with a truck and performing a concert. Yesterday, someone made that daydream come true. In Los Angeles, underground hip-hop group Imperial Stars did just that, stopping L.A.'s Highway 101 in the middle of rush hour, ironically on a pretty good day of traffic. The group hired a driver to stop the truck in the middle of the 4-lane highway, and then drive away in another car. The result was over an hour of heavy delays and a memorable hip-hop moment. Check out some video of what happens when hip-hop videos try to be too real...

The Kid Daytona - Fly Lullaby (prod. by 9th Wonder)

The Kid Daytona - Fly Lullaby (prod. by 9th Wonder)

If you wanted to get on the Kid Daytona's bandwagon, now would probably be the best time to step on. Daytona's been chopping it up with underground legend 9th Wonder for a while now, and it's only right that 9th would bless the Bronx MC with some of his always classic production. 'Fly Lullaby' features a very minimal, but intricate beat, with chimes sounding over a slow bass tempo, and a nice synthetic effect over it all. 9th certainly had me nodding my head for the whole track. Daytona doesn't disappoint either, switching up his flows over braggadocios rhymes, claiming his adversaries to be declining and waxing prophetic about Clarks Wallabees and fly sh*t that only the Kid Daytona can remark on. The Interlude LP (finally) has a release date of November 2nd. Don't sleep on Daytona, people...

All-City Chess Club - I'm Beamin' (Remix)

All-City Chess Club - I'm Beaming (Remix)

In April, Lupe Fiasco tweeted about a remix to his single 'I'm Beaming' featuring a group he called the All-City Chess Club. The accompanying blog post I put up talked about a lack of group cuts in hip-hop. Lupe's collective, featuring Asher Roth (PIFF), Charles Hamilton (cool, but weird), Diggy (killed it), The Cool Kids (mehhh), B.o.B. (decent), Blu (NICE) and Dosage (1st time hearing him; somewhat impressed), delivers on that call with a bunch of verses over the original beat. I think the best part about the song is the fact that no one recycles flows or tries to mimic the other on wax. Maybe it was just a coincidence, but for a fan of all of the rappers on this track, it's a welcome surprise. No word yet (maybe ever) on whether there'll be another cut by the All-City Chess Club, but at least we know Lupe's not shelved anymore. Check the track out...

Neighborhood Newsletter (10/12)

7 Cruel Medical Experiments

First US Stem Cell Trials Begin

How writing by hand makes kids smarter

Offshore Wind Power Line Wins Praise, and Backing

6 Months Later, McDonald's Happy Meal Is Mold-Free

Why Are the Effects of Marijuana So Unpredictable?

U.S. Ranks 49th in Life Expectancy, First in Health Care Costs

5 Things SpongeBob SquarePants Can Teach You About Business

Blame the Recession for Your Drinking Problem

Curren$y - Audio Dope II (Music Video)

Curren$y needs to be one of your favorite rappers. I don't care what you think of weed raps or sneaker-laced diatribes. Hot Spitta has one of the best track records in hip-hop over the past 3 years, with several mixapes on the circuit and now 3 albums under his belt. You would swear that the New Orleans-born MC was pushing some illegal pharmaceuticals with the way he has his listeners addicted to his slippery flow and easy-going lyrics. That's the concept behind the video for his Pilot Talk track 'Audio Dope'. Spitta clearly is the guy pushing lyrical weight out here, and he's got the addicts and goons under him to prove it in the visual. No one can say the man isn't working hard. A cut off his new album yesterday and a music video from his old album today? JETS is all you need to say at this point...

Dear GOP

via The New York Times:

The Obama administration said Monday that it would ask the lame-duck Congress next month to approve a $50 billion down payment on his long-range initiative to improve the nation’s roads, railways and air systems and to find savings to offset that cost, suggesting a new urgency to create jobs after last week’s disappointing unemployment report.

President Obama met at the White House with mayors, governors and current and former transportation secretaries of both parties to promote the infrastructure initiative, which he first proposed in September. Afterward, Ray LaHood, his transportation secretary and a former Republican congressman, told reporters that the lame-duck session would present an “upfront opportunity” to pass the $50 billion measure. Before then, however, the midterm elections on Nov. 2 are all but certain to expand the size of Mr. Obama’s Republican opposition for the new Congress that convenes in January. So Republicans returning later in November for unfinished business are likely to be in no mood to compromise with the White House when they will have the strength of greater numbers in the new year.

Approving $50 billion more for construction projects would be difficult enough, given that many Democrats have shied away from supporting more economic stimulus spending and that Republicans have convinced many voters that Mr. Obama’s initial two-year stimulus program, which included roughly $40 billion for transportation projects, failed to create jobs. But trying to agree on offsetting savings also would be contentious.

It's been said in numerous political arenas that the government is to do for the people what the people cannot do for themselves. Some take this to mean that the government should provide aspects of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness such as health care, education and protecting citizens. At the same time, oters feel that this tenet shouldn't include much at all. GOP, you're really taking this 'we hate big government' thing a little too far. President Obama introduced a $50 million bill that would jump-start initiatives to rebuild America's infrastructure, including its roads, railways and air systems. And you guys are doing what you've been doing for the past two years under Obama: say 'no'.

GOP, in what universe is improving a nation's infrastructure considered frivolous spending or too much interference from the government? I thought the government was supposed to regulate things of that nature and improve those systems when they begin to deteriorate. In terms of roads and railways, we're slowly falling behind other countries. In Japan and Europe, high-speed rails have all but replaced the Amtrak-style trains that have not only become ridiculously expensive, but also lag behind buses in efficiency. In terms of roads, every US city has thousands of miles upon miles of roads that are dilapidated and in desperate need of repair. Airline travel has become an inefficient luxury because of lack of regulation and airlines constantly folding. And you'd rather be a roadblock (no pun intended) to improving those systems for some vain reason, than just work to do... something with your power? Come on, son...

The thing is, these initiatives proposed by the Obama administration would cost us virtually nothing compared to the dearth of wealth we've just tossed away trying to 'rebuild' Afghanistan and Iraq. The transportation initiative is even going to create jobs, something that your policies have yet to do. Yet and still, you guys continue to say 'no'. Why? What is the point of saying 'no' for the sake of saying 'no'? Something as rudimentary as infrastructure-building shouldn't be a political divider, no matter how much contention or animosity there is between the parties. President Obama is trying to do an Eisenhower-esque overhaul of our outdated infrastructure. Are you really going to stand in the way of that, cutting corners for the sake of an outmoded platform? Midterms are probably going to shift the tides of Congress back your way. You've already fudged up the health care and stimulus bills. Don't stymie the arteries of our nation...

Dear Allergies

I hope whoever wrote that sneezed himself into another dimension...

As the seasons turn, the leaves fall and the chill of colder months comes back, there is an evil, so diabolical that no one is safe from its wrath. It is an evil so wretched that there isn't even a remedy for it. An evil so terrible that there's no hiding from its ugly head at any point during the year. That evil is you, allergies. You've afflicted me from the moment I was born to this very day. From numerous visits to doctors and allergists, to 'herbal' remedies, to every medication known to man, I've yet to have a season that you didn't render me incapacitated for days on end and have me laid out in the fetal position. Allergies, I don't understand you.

Apparently, your wrath stems from lack of exposure to allergens at a young age. Yet even in these latest years, as I've grown wary of cats and dogs and tried to have tissues at my side at all times, you've still not seen your metaphorical grave. Allergies, you never seem to be in a position where I, or anyone I know for that matter, can adequately deal with you. Everyone I know has had their head congested to the point where they turned into a bobblehead. It's never been a situation where there was a sense of control over your evil, or there was a way out. Every time I think I've rid myself of you, there's a sneeze waiting around the corner or a sore throat ready to pounce on a perfectly good weekend.

The worst part about you, allergies, is that you don't even have the gall to have a standard weakness that anyone can take advantage of. You take on different forms for everyone and affect everyone in ways as numerous as Abraham's sons. It's as if you're worse than the plague, because you'll never be gone. In medical history, only a few ailments have eluded the magic of modern medicine. Cancer, AIDS and other terminal diseases have nothing on you (word to Bruno Mars) because they're preventable with good lifestyle choices. You on the other hand, hit without warning like a kamikaze crashing metaphorical shores. We don't deserve you. Modern medicine should've found a cure for you (and the common cold) years ago. That said, I say curses to you, allergies! I will continue to combat you with inordinate amounts of fluids, vitamins and antihistamine drugs, and implore any and all allergy sufferers to do the same. I wish nothing but antibodies, antibiotics, and fresh air on you, and hope that you develop an allergy of your own one day, as improbable as that is...

The Google Car

In another case of Google attempting to take over the world, the California technology firm has apparently logged over 140,000 miles in a car controlled by nothing more than a computer. The cars, which have been under wraps for about a year, are completely automated, using artificial-intelligence software that senses anything near the car and mimics decisions made by a human driver. By all means, this might very well be the invention of the decade, and it's only 2010. According to Google, the car reacts faster and works with the flow of traffic better than most human drivers. Because they do not get sleepy, distracted, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the automated car is virtually impervious to accidents. In fact, the only accident the cars were involved in was when a human driver rear-ended one of the Google Cars (the name sounds right, doesn't it?). Obviously, this is the testing phase of the technology, and automated cars are almost a decade away from production. That said, the concept is revolutionary. The applications are endless, not only from a consumer standpoint, but when dealing with military and public transportation. The only caveat I can see is that Google will now truly know where we are. We're getting closer to a dystopian future, and Google and Apple are at the forefront. I guess talking cars are reward enough for signing our lives over to technology companies. Check out a video of the Google Car in action...

Curren$y - Michael Knight

Curren$y - Michael Knight

There are some songs that knock so hard that it doesn't matter what the chorus is. At the same time, there are those songs that are good and are brought down by a head-scratcher of a chorus. Curren$y has officially penned the latter in his first track off the sequel to Pilot Talk. Michael Knight is vintage Spitta, with the hazy delivery and slick punchlines we've gotten used to. But the chorus, an off-beat chant of 'Michael Knight, Michael Knight', made me use the forward button just to get to the actual verse. Spitta, if you're reading this, you might need to get a ghostwriter for your hooks now that you've got a few industry notches under your belt. The track is fire otherwise. Pilot Talk 2 should be another hell of a flight...