Manchester United seeking a double, and the topsy turvy NBA playoffs

With one week left Manchester United has wrapped up the Premier League title. I for one never expected them to contend much less win the title this year, but give credit where it is due. Injuries, lack of form to key players, improved competition, none of that could stop Sir Alex’s crew from putting together an impressive run of games starting around December. The two teams I picked to battle for the title, Chelsea and Manchester City, will finish either 2^nd and 3rd or 2^nd and 4^th, but considering the recent ownership trends, expect both of them to have reloaded squads next season.

In two weeks, Manchester United plays Barcelona in the Champions League final-A rematch of the 2009 final. The best club tournament on the planet, this years Champions League Final features two of the absolute best teams in the world. Barcelona has been a cut above everyone all year, and I expect that to continue in the finals. That being said, I’ve been wrong about Man U all year, I may be wrong again. Nonetheless, im saying Barcelona lifts the trophy on May 28^th.

So my favorite team, the two time defending champion Lakers, were bounced out of the NBA playoffs. And so were the Boston Celtics, at the hands of the Miami Heat and their “Big 2.5.” I’m officially rooting for a Chicago Bulls v Dallas Mavericks finals.

Basketball, unlike most team sports, is unique in two significant ways: individual greatness can be measured by Championships, and great players are judged based on their offensive and defensive expertise. This is because in basketball, each player has offensive and defensive responsibilities. This is not true in football, baseball, American football or hockey. Leo Messi’s greatness is not diminished because he doesn’t run back on defense. People don’t blame Payton Manning for his team’s defensive shortcomings. But in basketball, you have to play both ends of the floor. And the greatest players did just that. As a result of that (comparatively speaking) added involvement, championships represent an accurate barometer of how great the true superstars are. Jordan has 6. Magic has 5. Bird has 3. Olajuwon has 2. Tim Duncan has 4. Those facts are at the root of Lebron James decision to leave Cleveland for Miami. If he is truly an all time great, he needs multiple championships to validate that. 

Let’s be clear, im not referring to the role players who, while they may have had a pivotal moment or three (see, Horry, Robert) weren’t the transcendent leaders of their teams. 

All the people complaining about the fact that players determined they want to play with each other, all I can say is this: get over it. If the money and perks are equal, who wouldn’t prefer South Beach to Cleveland?

I still think his decision was a bad one, I do believe choosing to go to Miami and play second fiddle to Dwyane Wade will put him a notch below the all time greats regardless of individual numbers, and I also think that the Heat will win a couple of titles over the next few years. 

Just not this year. 

Basketball in the city

In NYC, basketball is part of our DNA. Yeah, the Yankees team and their stars are quite possibly the greatest team in all of sports, setting a standard for championships and expectations across the board. The Giants, Jets and Rangers compete for attention in the Big Apple also, usually existing somewhere below the rarefied atmosphere that the Yankees habitually reside.

That being said, make no mistake, New York City is a basketball town. From the Bronx to Queens, high school to the pros, basketball stars are icons; as acclaimed in many circles as (some) movie stars, gangsters and rappers. NYC has long carved out its station in the world as the place where ballers earn their stripes.

Before I was born, there was Lew Alcindor of Power Memorial High School in the Bronx. One of the first players to be subjected to a major recruiting battle, Alcindor left the Bronx for UCLA and began a dynasty there, forever changing how the game was played, how players were recruited, where they played and their visibility on the high school level.

When I moved to New York, Kenny Anderson was the star of the moment; an All-City hotshot from Lefrak City who set the city record for most points in a high school career among other accolades. Since Kenny Anderson, there have been many others; Kemba Walker, Ben Gordon (of Jamaican descent) Malik Sealy, Mark Jackson, Chris Mullin (who preceded Anderson,) Felipe Lopez, Rod Strickland and the one who was considered by many to be the best NYC player since Lew Alcindor, the enigmatic Lloyd Daniels. All of them prep stars that made their name on the blacktops and hard courts on New York City.

Proof of the status on basketball in the city pantheon can be seen in the publicity basketball gets in NYC on all levels: before Felipe Lopez (R) ever played a game for St. John’s he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated, hailed as the next Jordan, and was as recognizable as any celebrity. Manny ‘Hit Man’ Ramirez was arguably the best high school baseball player to come out of New York, a .650 hitter his senior year and likely a Hall of Famer when he retires. And unless you were a scout, member of his family or a hard core fan no one could point him out in a crowd when he was building his legend in the Bronx.

It’s against this backdrop that you have to consider this unmistakable fact: the only professional basketball team in NYC, the Knicks, has not won a NBA title in almost four decades.

And despite that run of failure, the Knicks are the only team that can challenge the Yankees for popularity in and beyond the boroughs.

It’s not just because they are the only professional basketball team in New York (at least till Mikhail Prokhorov brings the Nets to Brooklyn.) It’s because they represent the city in the city’s game. You want to see the surest sign that the annual iron grip of winter is loosening? Listen for the sound of a basketball bouncing on the asphalt. That sound tells you one undisputable fact: Spring in NYC is coming with summer right behind it. Kids and adults playing pickup games in playgrounds all over Gotham.

The Knick teams of (Jamaican born) Patrick Ewing, Mark Jackson, John Starks, Anthony Mason and Allan Houston were scrappy teams that fought, elbowed and beat other teams down physically and mentally. They appealed to the average fan, and though they couldn’t close the deal (Hey, an entire generation of Hall of Famers couldn’t close the deal in the Jordan era!) they were respected in their town.

St. Johns University, similar to the Knicks, was for a very long time the only team repping not just NYC but the entire metropolitan area. That has changed over the last twenty years; Hofstra, UConn, Seton Hall and others vie with St. Johns to keep the best local talent close to home. Call it the curse of the name change (old time Saint John’s fans know what im talking about.)


The arrival of Amare Stoudamire and Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks this season has reenergized Knicks fans and put them in playoff contention. The resurgence of the St. Johns basketball team has likewise created a buzz and those events confirm one thing that purists and experts have said as the city teams floundered over the last decade: Basketball is always more fun when the New York teams are competitive.

You don’t have to be a winner to win over the hearts of New Yorkers, you just have to always hustle hard and if you talk the talk, you better walk the walk.

That blue collar ethic is why Derek Jeter is revered and that swagger is why Mark Messier (below) is forever loved but Patrick Ewing (R) creates feelings of ambivalence in many fans. Messier talked brash and won it all. Ewing, as great as he was and as respected as he is, will forever be remembered by many fans for his empty guarantees of a championship.

Realistically, the chances of either the Knicks or St. Johns winning titles this season are slim, but they have reemerged and become the one thing that you have to be in New York-relevant. And as the chill of winter recedes, all one has to do is go to the nearest park and watch kids and adults, wealthy and poor, all races, religions and ideologues playing the one game that defines New Yorkers. And ask the question that never gets old: Who’s got next?

More random nuggets of information

Taking Jay-Z out of the conversation, is it possible that Nikki Minaj is the best NY rapper doing it today?

And also in that vein, is Vybz “Cake Soap” Kartel (R) the best dancehall has to offer? Please let the answer to that question be no….

Raphael Saadiq performing with Mick Jagger @ The Grammys = Great look. Saadiq is easily one of the most underrated musicians of this generation.

Watched the Barcelona v Arsenal Champions League 1st leg on February 16th. The same Barca team that picked apart and destroyed Arsenal a year ago was deservedly beaten at the Emirates Stadium by Arsenal.

Koscielny (below) was marking Messi so closely I think the Argentinian superstar is still tangled up in his shorts! I'm looking forward to the return fixture in Barcelona.

Arizona, The new Teflon Don and the goal of the year

 “This is a battle of epic proportions; we’ve allowed the hijacking of the 14th Amendment.”

Senator Russell Pearce of Arizona; described as the architect of Arizona Bill SB 1070.

A cabal of Arizona lawmakers is (again) planning to rewrite the Constitution of the United States. They plan to pass legislation so that children born in the US to parents who are in the US illegally will not be granted citizenship. This to me represents another salvo in the long history of insidious prejudice by Arizona’s leaders and the people of Arizona.

Some may say it’s nothing more than petty politicians trying to make a name for themselves by pandering to peoples prejudices. I say these are the politicians that the people elected and they are pushing the people’s agenda.

This is the same state, Arizona, which 30 years ago refused to honor Martin Luther King’s Day as a holiday. This position at the time was championed by none other than that self-proclaimed maverick, John McCain. He eventually reversed himself on that issue, but as the most strident (at the time) opponent to a holiday honoring Dr. King, Arizona had clearly and unequivocally drawn a line in the sand. This is also the same state where in 2010 they proposed having police officers ask and check people’s immigration status at traffic stops. The starkly racist nature of this proposal is blindingly obvious, as is the fact that it harkens back to Jim Crow and apartheid.

The relationship between these things should be clear. This isn’t an anti-illegal immigration issue; this is the people of a state trying to push their own twisted agenda on the national stage. The explanations they provide behind this may sound logical and even necessary but the racist ideals and prejudicial application of this initiative cannot be denied. However you may feel about the issue of illegal immigration, this legislation is wrong and nothing good can ever come out of it being passed into law.

This is again the same place where less than two months ago a lunatic with a gun killed several people because he had a different political opinion. Some may say its unfair of me to paint such a broad brush stroke on the entire state, but the rhetoric is clear and consistent and seemingly unopposed. 30 years ago it took a systematic series of agitation by black public figures and boycotts of Arizona venues by black performers (including moving the Super Bowl) for Arizona to finally recognize the holiday.

Clearly hypocrisy and racism is still a major part of life in the Grand Canyon state.

Lindsey Lohan’s in trouble. Again. She’s not going to jail. Again. Yeah, this is kinda getting old, but I am constantly amazed by the way she gets by. I’m going to dub her the new John “Teflon Don” Gotti. Of course, even Gotti was eventually sent to jail….

Its only February, and the UEFA Champions League hasn’t even resumed yet, and its only an exhibition game, but Wesley Sneijder has possibly already given us the goal of the year. 2010 was certainly an incredible year for Sneijder. Champions League winner with Inter Milan, Serie A champion in Italy and World Cup runner-up representing the Netherlands. Along the way, he scored some amazing goals, but I dont think anything matched the one he produced this week. Check it out here.

Pitchers and catchers in two weeks.

Random nuggets of information

Andy Pettitte, in my opinion should be in the Hall Of Fame. If your baseball team has one game to win, he was the guy you wanted pitching. Pettitte may not have the greatest numbers, but 19 playoff wins is the all time mark. Clemens and Randy Johnson may have been better regular season pitchers, but with one game to win it all, no one in baseball was as clutch as Pettitte.


That being said, Pettitte most likely wont be inducted. There is a clear anti-Yankee bias in large parts of the media, and that will contribute to it. The confessed HGH use will also hurt. Too much for him to overcome, but he is deserving.

Everyone’s mad at Amy Chua. Her book, “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” is stirring debate and getting people angry because of her take no prisoners approach to raising her kids. Ms. Chua, who is Chinese American, a Yale University educated lawyer and mother of two, has even pissed off Chinese parents (!) with her scorched earth mindset. The online zine The Root has an article about it here.
I wonder what her critics would say if a West Indian parent ever wrote a similar book and ‘exposed’ the secrets to the success of people from the Caribbean? (Hint it generally starts with a sturdy belt at an early age…) You will notice in her recent Wall Street Journal article that Ms. Chua mentioned Jamaican parents-this woman knows of which she speaks!



While I may be in the minority here, I am more disgusted by the allegations against Roethlisberger than I am the crimes committed by Michael Vick. I say that not to trivialize what Vick did, but because I strongly feel that Ben got off lightly. I also think that his alleged crimes are infinitely more damaging to society as a whole than anything Vick did. I cannot root for a team led by Roethlisberger to succeed. For that reason alone I’m supporting the Green Bay Packers to win the Super Bowl.

The Middle East is still ablaze, and there doesn’t seem to be any end in sight. I hope the fight for progress and democracy spreads to Iran and I hope no more blood is shed, God willing.

The final thought on the NY Jets season: They were a better team than the Steelers, but they greatest strength was their biggest undoing-the emotional approach to the game. They rode that emotion to victory over New England, and rightly so. They couldn’t summon the needed intensity for the Steelers and came out flat and got steamrolled. And even with that, there wasn’t a soul watching the closing minutes of that game vs. Pittsburgh that didn’t feel they were going to come back and win…they blew an opportunity to get to the Super Bowl because they were up and down in the game, and up and down all season. That’s what emotion does, takes you on a roller coaster ride. If they ever channel that energy into a consistent pattern of play game after game, year after year, they will be winners.

And they would be the Patriots…

On your marks. Get set. Go!

Madison Square Garden, New York City

It’s been a brutal winter in New York, and the season has only just begun. Seven snowstorms in six weeks, record amounts of snow every time out, and everyone in New York is sinking into a winter funk.

But with the first call of “On your marks. Get set. Go!” one can see the light at the end of this tedious winter tunnel. Long the premier indoor track meet in New York (104 years and counting) the 2011 Millrose Games kicked off with a bang on January 28, 2011.

With each sharp turn, sharp spike and sharp elbow, high school runners, collegiate athletes and professionals all navigated the notoriously quick bends of the track hoping to cross that finish line in first place.

The Millrose Games has been the premier track meet in New York through its tenure. With the recent emergence of the Adidas Grand Prix Meet, the Millrose Games have ceded a lot of the spotlight, but as far as indoor meets go this is the one that gets the season going and quite frankly there is none better.

Millrose also represents the first installment of a series that has been in the works since the stunning (to some) sweep of the entire sprint schedule by Jamaica in the Beijing Olympics.

Yes, the Millrose Games is hosting the first installment of the USA v Jamaica sprint series.

In the city with perhaps the greatest number of expatriate Jamaicans, and gracing the same arena where Mohammed Ali, Willis Reed, Mark Messier and Patrick Ewing reached for greatness, a pantheon of elite sprinters will stake an official claim in a rivalry that has been the benchmark of sprinting for the last 60 years. Decades ago the names were different. George Rhoden, Herb McKenley, Merlene Ottey, Ollie Matson and Carl Lewis have given way to Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Carmelita Jeter and Tyson Gay.

The names have changed, but the rivalry remains unabated.

The USA v Jamaica race is a new wrinkle, one that will probably, hopefully energize the casual fan base in both countries. At bare minimum on this night it represented the starting gun for the beginning of a new track season, and all that comes with it.

Who knows if the competing athletes are aware of the historical rivalry of the two countries? Those same casual fans of track and field may think that the success of the Jamaican sprinters in Beijing came out of nowhere. They may not even be aware of the rich tradition of track and field in general and sprinting in particular in Jamaica.

But ever since the Helsinki Olympics of 1952 when the quartet of Wint, Laing, McKenley and Rhoden won the 4X400 relay gold medal, knocking the USA team into the silver medal, Jamaica has been the consistent overachievers of the sprinting world. In my lifetime I cannot recall a major track and field meet in which Jamaicans were not medal contenders, and I’m not even counting the fine runners of Jamaican descent (OJD) running for other countries.

On Friday night, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Nesta Carter, Lauryn Williams, Mike Rodgers and others toed the line in the indoors 60 meter dash at the Millrose Games hoping to stake a claim for sprint supremacy. For self and for country.

On a cold Friday night in New York, a day after 19 inches of snow blanketed the city, Veronica Campbell-Brown (L) who said in her post race press conference that she had ‘been in transit for over 36 hours’ trying to fly into the city, won the women's 60 meter dash ahead of Lauryn Williams and the Barber sisters. With Nesta Carter’s win in the men’s version and Vonette Dixon’s triumph in the hurdles(R), it is safe to say that Jamaica drew first blood. The point system showed that the US officially won the two race sprint series by virtue of their multiple runner up points in both events, but as Mike Rodgers of the US said in his press conference (seated on the left in the picture below next to Nesta Carter & Lauryn Williams) “The Jamaicans got us tonight. But we will see them at Penns.”

Yes indeed, Mr. Rodgers, we’ll see you at the Penn Relays. We’re coming to your neighborhood, and let the fun begin. Those races at Franklin Field in Philadelphia are called “USA v The World” but really, who do you think is representing the world in the sprints?

The track season has begun. On your marks. Get set. Go!

Same old Jets and Aretha's (very) wishful thinking

The NY Jets talked the talk all season, even after a monumental beatdown at the hands of the New England Patriots several weeks ago. Last Sunday afternoon in Foxboro, Massachusetts, they walked the walk. It’s one thing for fans to say their team should win a big game, but when the entire team talks about winning a do or die game, then they go out and emphatically do it, that’s something special.

Consider these facts; Mark Sanchez has won 4 road playoff games in his 2 year professional career. That’s more than Brett Favre won in his entire career. More than any other quarterback in Jets history. Sanchez has been the quarterback for a team that has gone to two straight AFC championship games in his first two years in the NFL, and he hasn’t been piggybacking on a stout defense, he has been a major part of their success. I think Sanchez will have a great future as the leader of the New York Jets.

Prior to the season, Sports Illustrated picked the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers to play in the Super Bowl. Rex Ryan predicted the NY Jets will be in the Super Bowl. One of these prognosticators will be proven wrong this weekend. I’m thinking the Jets will prevail and the Packers will defeat the Chicago Bears.

Sooo….this is kind of interesting. Aretha Franklin was recently discussing a ‘proposed’ biopic of her life. She indicated that she would love Halle Berry to play her younger self in this movie.

Let’s just let that marinate for a minute. And look at a picture of both of these greats (R).

Halle Berry graciously has said she’s not interested…because she can’t sing like Aretha. Good save, Halle!

Slaughterhouse’s new album is scheduled to be released on February 8th, 2011. If you’ve never listened to this group, the best way for me to describe them is simply the best hip-hop group in the world right now, bar none. The first single, featuring my boys from Yonkers The Lox, is here.

One month to pitchers and catchers.

The great NFL draft of 2006 (not exactly)

The 2006 NFL draft is notable because of the loud debate preceding and subsequent to the first three picks. Coming off of a tremendous performance vs USC, Vince Young, the Texas native was considered a good bet to be selected by the Houston Texans with the first overall pick. Then there was All-World player Reggie Bush of that vanquished USC team, Heisman Trophy winner and highlight reel star. Throw in another Heisman winner in Matt Leinart, as well as Vanderbilt’s Jay Cutler who according to rumor had the best arm of any quarterback in recent memory and you have an intriguing mix.

So what happened? Houston selected Mario Williams; DE from NC State. New Orleans selected Bush, Tennessee chose Young and Leinart and Cutler fell to 10 and 11 respectively.

5 years later, in looking at that draft, you have to think that Houston made the right choice. Williams (# 90, R; shown tackling Bush) is a two time Pro-Bowler; a steady and pretty good player, he is hardly dominating. Bush has not lived up to the hype at all and shares a New Orleans backfield with several other players who play a more physical, straight ahead style than he does. He can still produce an occasional flash of brilliance, but he has not played like the superstar everyone thought he could be. Vince Young has been a mystery, plain and simple. I think if Young goes to a good team and sits behind a veteran for a while he could turn his career around, because he is extremely talented. I don’t think he handled the situation in Tennessee properly, but I blame Jeff Fisher even more than I do Young for the way it spiraled out of control. If Young signs with the Giants, Indianapolis or New Orleans I think it would be great for him and them.

Leinart has been a bust, plain and simple. Instead of being the next Carson Palmer, he turned into the new Akili Smith. Ugghh. Cutler was an above average player in Denver, but has been extremely good in spurts since being traded to the Chicago Bears.

By the way, some of the other players taken later in that draft? Darrelle Revis (NY Jets) Santonio Holmes (Pitt/NY Jets) Antonio Cromarite (San Diego) Greg Jennings (GB) and Maurice Jones-Drew (Jacksonville)

I'm out! Listening to Pink Friday. I gotta say, Nikki Minaj's album is pretty good! Repping Queens, New York!

Happy New Year! Time to stick and move...

This was Gordon Gee to The Associated Press back in November 2010 discussing a college football playoff : "...Having been both a Southeastern Conference president and a Big Ten president, it's like murderer's row every week for these schools. We do not play the Little Sisters of the Poor. We play very fine schools on any given day. So I think until a university runs through that gantlet that there's some reason to believe that they not be the best teams to [be] in the big ballgame."

Well, Mr. Gee, those Big 10 guys haven’t been playing against the Little Sisters of the Poor, but they sure played like they WERE the Little Sisters of the Poor over the last week. Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Penn State all lost. And the big kick in the teeth, Wisconsin losing to those pesky upstarts, TCU in the Rose Bowl.

If the Big 10 is such a tough conference, why then can’t they win the big ballgames?

And doesn’t this prove once again that a playoff system is needed to determine which school is the best? TCU, after an unbeaten season, now has to sit and watch Oregon and Auburn play and know that they can also legitimately make a claim to be the best team and never get to prove it. It’s a joke of a system.

The Miami Heat are finally putting it together and reeling off some impressive wins. I am still unconvinced that they are championship material this season. I say this for three simple reasons: no bench, no point guard and no post players. The LA Lakers, Dallas, San Antonio, Boston and Orlando are better than Miami in those three areas and in a seven game series, I am unconvinced that the Heat can grind out a win. Let’s see what happens in March when instead of beating up on Detroit, Charlotte and Sacramento they have to play back to back games against Orlando, San Antonio and Chicago then host the Lakers less than a week later.

I’m sticking to my belief that the Lakers will face either Boston or Orlando in the Finals.

Hey, I could be wrong, but I could also be right…..last year I predicted Spain would win the World Cup and the San Francisco Giants to come out of the NL West (no, I didn’t think they’d win the World Series, but I thought they were one of the best teams in the NL. Check my blog post!)

And speaking of predictions, I’m going out on a limb now and saying this: The New England Patriots will not play in or win the Super Bowl this year.

Yes, Tom Brady is having a great year, will probably be named the MVP, but that defense is not good and will be expsoed. Belichek or no Belichek, this team can be beat and I don’t see them getting by Pittsburgh, Baltimore or for that matter the NY Jets. Yes I know they beat all of those teams I mentioned in the regular season. But they also lost to the Jets and a five win Cleveland team.

They are a good team, with a great quarterback and one of the best coaches around, but the defense is soft. They will be knocked out of the playoffs before the Super Bowl.

And on a lighter note…..

More than ten years ago, in 1999 Dr. Dre released one of the best albums in hip hop history, The Chronic 2001. The album cemented his status as the greatest producer in the genre, sold over 6 million copies, helped to blow up Eminem as the next big thing and defined the West Coast sound. Ever since then he has teased us with talk and rumors of the follow up album, Detox. Hip hop fans waited patiently, eagerly, rushed to the stores (and the internet-shhh!) to check on every rumor and reported leak and singles to no avail.

Then a month ago, a first single from Detox came out. Pandemonium in the streets! I bought the single from Itunes, a song called Kush featuring Akon and Snoop Dogg.

Wow. All I can say is this:

 

I WAITED OVER TEN YEARS FOR THIS SHIT?!?!?!

One thing’s for sure, 2010 was not short on excitement! In Jamaica, the US and other areas of the globe, we had all kinds of events, beefs, indiscretions and political shenanigans making headlines.

Let’s check out some of the headlines:

The Gulf oil spill, Kathryn Bigelow’s historic Oscar win for Hurt Locker (L) the Haitian & Chilean earthquakes, Duke winning the NCAA title, Spain winning the World Cup, US qualifying for the knockout stage with a thrilling win over Algeria, The Dudus extradition fiasco and the resulting riots in Tivoli Gardens, Toyota recalling millions of vehicles and then losing the throne of top automobile seller to Ford, the meltdown of the Greek economy and then in December the Irish economy, bedbugs take over New York, Chilean miners trapped for months and eventually all freed alive; exhibiting bravery that many of us could only dream about, Air Jamaica is sold to and rebranded as part of Caribbean Airlines, the Manatt affair and the US midterm elections that served as a political bitch slap to President Obama’s policies….(rahtid a whole heap dat!)

Buju Banton’s drug trial, the Wikileaks fiasco, ‘The Decision’ of Lebron James, Nikki Minaj elbowing her way to the forefront of hip hop consciousness, Antoine Dodson becoming a viral sensation, all of these events made 2010 a remarkable and memorable year.

What does the future hold? Well, there are several things worth watching. Next year will mark the half-way point of Obama’s presidency. He is beset on all sides by opponents, Democrats and Republicans alike. While I think he will be able to bounce back popularity wise over the next 12 months, He will have to do a much better job of pushing domestic policy and delineating to the masses directly for it to be successful. He didn’t create the financial mess we are in now, but it’s now his mess, so he will need to do a better job of trying to fix it.

The recent student upheaval in England, opposition to the rising cost of a college education will be a major political issue next year. (Personally I found it refreshing to see the royals rattled!) It will be interesting to see if that government survives the fallout.

Also in Europe, a familiar name is flexing its muscles as the biggest economic engine in Europe. Germany is again a major part of the EU, but their government is not solidly behind the single currency. Considering the predicaments of the smaller European economies (Portugal, Ireland, and Greece) who will vie for position alongside Germany?

In Jamaica proper, what, if anything will be the continued fallout from the Manatt Levy fiasco? I have to admit, I am even more disappointed by the JLP’S performance since their election victory than Obama’s first two years. That situation if its drags through the upcoming year will be a political albatross for the party and with it an uncertain future for Jamaica.

The best that can be hoped for is that 2011 presents a lot more happy endings like the safe rescue of the miners and less sad news like the earthquakes. Someone famous once said “Its darkest before the dawn,” and while it’s pretty dark right now, there’s hope for a better tomorrow.

Or as we say in Jamaica ‘better mus come.’

Redemption, Lil Kim, Kanye and El Clasico 2010

I am a college football (and Florida State Seminoles) fan, have been for many years. That being said,  have always believed that the greatest single game ever played by a college football player in all the years i've watched the sport came in 2000 when Florida State played Virginia Tech.

Bear in mind that the FSU team of 1999-2000 had several players drafted into the NFL, including a number one overall pick Peter Warrick. That team also included Anquan Boldin, Chris Wienke, Cory Simon and Bradley Jennings; major talent on both sides of the football.

Michael Vick destroyed that team, singlehandedly bringing Virginia Tech back from 21 points down before ultimately losing. That performance was his introduction to the world, and prompted many to say he was the next level of NFL quarterback; the mash up of Tom Brady like passing ability and Barry Sanders like elusiveness on the run. The most electrifying player ever to lace up a pair of cleats.

Ten years, countless ups and downs and one jail stint later he showed on Monday Night Football a peek into what so many saw years ago when he was drafted number one after his sophomore year. And just like I was amazed at the plays he made in the 2000 Sugar Bowl, I can again say this: I have never seen a quarterback perform as well as he did against the Redskins. That was quarterback play in 4G. The evolution of the position. A game that will be talked about for years to come.

I am a Michael Vick fan, have been since that Sugar Bowl game. I was disappointed with his actions in the dog fighting mess and felt he deserved the punishment he got. He was the embodiment of the entitlement attitude run amok. That being said, its also over. He did his time and has moved on. The dog lovers need to do the same. And in the year when Josh Hamilton won baseball's AL MVP after years of battling drug addiction, I say well done to Mr. Vick and I hope that, like Hamilton, he has truly turned his life around.

Back in 2000, Lil Kim was still relevant. A good rapper in a field of several (Eve, Foxy Brown, MC Lyte, Lady of Rage, Heather B, Queen Latifah to name a few) she played up her image and talk of frank sexuality into millions of dollars and countless headlines. Fast forward to 2010 and the field has thinned. Jean Grae may be (in my opinion at least) the best female rapper out, but the only one selling and making headlines is Nikki Minaj.

Nikki Minaj has built a career on-guess what? an image and talk of frank sexuality. And this has led to bickering between the old school (Kim) and new school (Nikki.)

My word of advice to Lil Kim is this; if you think you have reason to have beef with Nikki Minaj, put out some good music. Otherwise, shut the hell up, you're starting to look like what you are: a has-been who is resentful of the new kid on the scene.

And oh yeah, Madonna should be asking why BOTH of those dummies aren't giving her props!

Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (R) is another classic from K. West.

Barcelona played Real Madrid in the 2010 version of El Clasico and convincingly showed who the best team in Spain is with a resounding 5-0 thumping that was worse than the actual score. While Inter Milan struggles in Italy and Chelsea is floundering somewhat in England, Barcelona is steaming along, destroying all opposition.

They look like the class of Europe so far, but there's still a long way to go.

The Dirty Dozen (The 12 best rappers not from NY)

This one is a follow up to a post I did elsewhere on the best rappers ever from NY. You’d think since most people think rappers from outside NY-particularly ones from down south-aren’t lyrical, this would be an easy list, but…not so fast.

Lyricism is the key thing here though; you have some rappers who have catchy hooks/dances/verses, but can’t carry an album if you handed it to them. But lyricism is not the only criteria; rappers who have broken new ground also deserve consideration.

My list will have some people that may surprise, but I think true hip-hop heads know who’s who…let the debate begin:

The dirty dozen (in no particular order)

1. Eminem. That one’s easy! There aren’t too many rappers as good as he is. As a hip-hop head going back to the days of The Sugar Hill Gang, I do not think he’s the best ever (as a lot of Johnny come latelys’ will say,) but he is certainly in the conversation with all of the greats on the microphone.
2. Ludacris. Very, very underrated lyricist.
3. Too Short. A legend, some people like him, some don't, he one of the raunchuest to ever pick up a microphone, but his influence cannot be denied.
4. Scarface Another legend. With the Geto Boys and as a solo artist, Scarface was in a class of his own.
5. Andre 3000. Another underrated lyricist. Even Eminem said that Andre is one of the best rappers he’s ever heard. I happen to agree. Funky outfits aside, he is dope.
6. UGK; Underground Kings (I take them together. One of the best groups in the history of hip-hop.)
7. Lil Wayne. Like him or not, he is prolific. No one since Tupac has consistently created so much material.
8. Drake. He is Kanye West without the attitude.
9. Juvenile. Yeah Master P was the first big rapper from New Orleans, but Juvenile really showed us what that Southern slang was all about.
10. Kanye West. Prolific hit maker that made intelligent lyrics and the preppie look cool again
11. Young Jeezy. One of my personal favorites.
12. Snoop Dogg. Another legend. His first album was a classic, and he’s showed staying power to remain relevant as long as he has.

 Honorable Mentions-because I’ve always liked their music: Xzibit, Rass Kass, Eightball & MJG and TI.

BCS talk, Rooney plans his exit strategy and VCB for IAAF athlete of the year

 College football is upside down right now. Alabama, the number one team last year lost to South Carolina, who then lost to Kentucky. Ohio State was number one for a whole week before their bubble burst, and Texas, who already lost to Oklahoma and UCLA, beat number five Nebraska. What in the name of the BCS is going on? I think we need a Congressional investigation into this mess.

Meanwhile, speaking of the BS, er, BCS rankings, unbeaten Boise State (L) is ranked #3. I don’t know what factors went into the equation, but clearly its not any logical process or based on results on the field (like a playoff maybe?)

This is what I think is going to happen; Oklahoma is going to lose at least one game, because, well, quite frankly they are not the best team in the country. I say they will get beat by either Missouri or Oklahoma State. The present #2 Oregon has UCLA, USC and Washington in succession, and I do not see them emerging unscathed. Virginia Tech is going to win out their remaining games and also beat 25th ranked Miami. That puts Boise State, who will run the table, square in line for the #1 spot.

What will the BCS geniuses decide then?

Cliff Lee (R) is showing once again, as Curt Schilling, Jack Morris and Mike Scott did before him, that a dominating pitcher can turn a short series on its head. He’s going to look real good in pinstripes next year…

Wayne Rooney wants out of Old Trafford. I discussed this issue previously here, and I’ll reiterate in brief: Sir Alex Ferguson is old-school and has been for over two decades the biggest star in Manchester. His way of operating (trading your big name, egotistical star and reload with youth) has worked in the past, but it cannot continue, because circumstances have changed. They are not the biggest draw in the world any longer, they are not the biggest in England and they are not even the biggest in Manchester. Until Sir Alex changes his approach (unlikely) Manchester United will be on the slippery slope to mediocrity.

With Rooney (R) the latest superstar to be in SAF'S doghouse, the turmoil will cement the fact that it will be a two horse race for the PL title between Chelsea and Manchester City.

Veronica Campbell-Brown (below,) one of my favorite sprinters, is on the short list for the IAAF athlete of the year. She gets my vote, and hopefully she will get yours. You can vote here.

As a former student at Pace University, I was extremely saddened by the death of Danroy "D.J." Henry. Condolences to his family.

One of my favorite artistes is Spragga Benz. Shotta Culture is a good look. Great song, great video. Big tings a gwan inna 2010, Spragga!

The NFL, LiLo and why King Felix is not Cy Young worthy

The NFL season is proving once again to be a strange one. Kansas City Chiefs undefeated through September? Chicago Bears? Who the hell is Arian Foster? Even Darren McFadden (R) has started earning his paycheck!

All we need now is for a contender to sign JaMarcus Russell, have their starter get hurt and him take them to the playoffs for this to be the official beginning of Bizzaro Season 2010.

I’m beginning to think that Lindsey Lohan has to drive naked down the Pacific Coast Highway with a few kilos of Colombian white in her trunk, at least two (2) bodies on the backseat of her convertible while waving the murder weapon in the air to get arrested and really spend time in jail?

I’m just saying…..most other people would have been halfway through their sentences already, and she’s still tweeting!

Even Iron Man (L) went to jail, but she doesn’t?

I am very happy to see Michael Vick playing exceptionally well with The Philadelphia Eagles this season. He was involved in some heinous stuff, got caught, did his time and is making the best of his second chance at a career. I hope he stays out of trouble and I hope he continues to play well.

Manchester City showed last week that it has the fortitude to go toe to toe with the big boys and beat them too, but can they do it week in and week out? I think they can and i’ll say it again; the two best teams in England are Chelsea and Manchester City.

Manchester United is slipping, Arsenal needs help, Tottenham doesn’t have enough of everything and Liverpool is what they’ve been for the past few years-also rans.

In Italy, this may be the year, after 5 straight years as Serie A champions that Inter Milan is dethroned as kings of Italy. AC Milan added Robiniho to an already loaded squad, while Roma, who chased Inter all last season, is playing very well early on. I still believe that Inter Milan is the best team in Italy and should make it six in a row.

This is supposedly the year of the pitcher, no-hitters being thrown on average once a month, blah, blah blah….but some morons in the media want us to think that Felix Hernandez (R) a barely .500 pitcher deserves the Cy Young award? Seriously?

I don’t care what his ERA is or his run support isn't, in the year of the pitcher, he has won 13 games and lost 12. For a team that has not played a significant game since 1995. He should not even be in the conversation. Period.

CC Sabathia and David Price are the two best pitchers on the two best teams in the American League. They have pitched in pressure packed games all season long and their teams are deadlocked at the top of the standings.

The Cy Young award should be decided between them, not a marginal pitcher on a very bad team.

If this joke of so-called rhetoric isn’t evidence of the Yankee bias in a large part of the (cough-Bristol, CT cough-ESPN-cough) media, I don’t know what is.

Watching the season starting to change

Boise State is a great story, their quarterback is very good, but after watching Alabama, Ohio State, Texas and Oklahoma play, I can say in no uncertain terms-Boise State is not a top-5 team.

The NFL Red Zone network is television crack. It is sports television on steroids. It is, and I’m tearing up here, the best thing to happen to television. Where have you been my whole life?

Whose idea was it to put the VMA’S opposite the season finale of True Blood AND Entourage? Probably the same person that dressed Kanye West. It’s sad when everybody agrees that Lady Gaga dresses better than you.

I’m not that worried about the Yankees recent play. This team was built for the playoffs, and when Andy Pettitte returns to the rotation and they cut Phil Hughes loose from his innings restrictions, they will be primed for a playoff run.

If the Eagles are trying to win this season, they would have had an open competition for quarterback to begin the season. They didn’t; Kevin Kolb was named the starter immediately, signifying the beginning of the rebuilding phase. That means that no matter how Michael Vick, he of the 3 Pro-Bowls, will be not get the starting job full-time this season, no matter how well he plays.

The NY Jets are in trouble for allegedly sexually harassing a female reporter who was at practice to interview Mark Sanchez. I have a tremendous amount of mixed feelings on this issue. I think that this reporter, Ines Sainz (R,) has the right to do her job. She has the right, like any other woman, to dress however she wants whenever she wants. But, but, I also think personal responsibility absolutely comes into play and should.

Because you have the right to dress however you want, going to a NFL team practice dressing like you’re going to a nightclub is probably not a good idea, and considering most other female and male reporters get that concept is telling. There has been very little in the way of a surprise reaction from reporters and athletes alike when told of this story and who the reporter was. Ms. Sainz is a known entity and has been for quite some time; she doesn't seek a story, she seeks the limelight. Her network is the same that sent another reporter to a Superbowl press conference to propose to Tom Brady.

There is one truism in life: If you always try to bring attention to yourself, you will always get it, and it might not be the attention you want.

That being said, I am truly concerned about the ‘new culture’ of the NY Jets. Rex Ryan has a great football mind, and a very good coach. There is no filter between his brain and his mouth, and that trickles down to his team. Add to that mix, some players of questionable character and you have a volatile mix and more than halfway down the road to a wreck. Whether the situation with the reporter is correct as indicated or not, a warning flag needs to be raised to this team, its management and its owners.

Kevin Durant is poised to have a monster year. Move aside, Kobe and Lebron this kid deserved to be mentioned in the same breath as those two. He is an unbelievable talent and Oklahoma City will be in the upper echelon of NBA teams this season with him leading the way.

An English Premier League preview

The EPL has started, signaling the start of another year of incredible goals, plays and games across the continent. The best teams and players in the world will vie for what is arguably the most important club title in all of sports. In England, the country boasting the best domestic league, they are ushering in new talent, reloaded teams and renewed rivalries.

I‘ll start by separating the contenders from the pretenders to see who will be left standing come next summer.

Having watched several of the teams through the first two weeks, I think there is a clear three tier divide in the top flight in England. The handful of teams that can realistically contend are in one group, while there is another group of very good teams that with a few injury breaks can either threaten at the top of the standings or fall precariously into the chasm of the third group, which is to wit, the ones with no chance of winning.

The ‘real’ contenders (in no particular order) are as follows:

Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City & Liverpool.

The pretenders:

Everton, Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bolton & Fulham.

No shot at the top 4:

Everyone else.

In looking at the contenders, I am hard pressed to find any team that can beat Chelsea this season. Consider this: Chelsea won the EPL last year without Michael Essien (R), who in my estimation is one of the top 10 midfielders in the world. Essien, who also missed the World Cup for Ghana because of injuries, is the motor of the Chelsea attack. His passes that picked apart Wigan last week will be crucial for Chelsea as they seek to repeat and win their first Champions League title this season.

The team has already proved that they can win without him, but with Essien orchestrating the attack and the plethora of goal scoring options (Anelka, Drogba, Kalou, Malouda, Lampard…) at his disposal I think they are easily the deepest team in Europe.

If there is any weakness in this squad, it’s John Terry in the middle of the defense. I think he has missed a step or two, and the last season and the World Cup exposed that in the most unflattering of terms. They do have enough depth and youth however that if Terry falters repeatedly or cannot handle the crunch of multiple games each week when the different tournaments heat up that they should be able to weather that. They also have Didier Drogba, who is one of the best forwards in the game, at the peak of his abilities and showing no signs of slowing down.

A disappointing World Cup aside, the strength, pace and smarts of Drogba has proven to be a perfect fit for this team. Pairing him with Anelka, a duo that a lot of skeptics said couldn’t work has created an unstoppable two headed monster for most teams not coached by Jose Mourinho. The failures in Europe have chafed at this team recently and no more so than last year as their former mentor/coach lifted the trophy with a solid but unspectacular Inter Milan team. He has now moved on to Madrid, a team that on paper should be one of the favorites to win that tournament, but Chelsea has already made it clear that their goal this season is the double; EPL and CL trophies.

I think they have the talent to do it in spectacular fashion. I certainly cannot see anyone beating Chelsea in their quest to repeat as Premier League champions this season.

In the Sir Alex Ferguson era at Manchester United the team was resurrected from a middle of the pack rag tag group to an international juggernaut. The team that had ushered in a teenage George Best on the world stage had fallen onto hard times in the early 80’s. That changed under Sir Alex. The names are now legendary; Eric Cantona, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Beckham, Rooney, Ronaldo, Scholes & Ferdinand all have called Old Trafford home and all flourished and became stars under the guidance of Sir Alex. That is a testament to not only him, but the framework he put in place. The scouting, youth teams and also Man U’s willingness to spend money to obtain talent are hallmarks of his stewardship. But talent alone will not ensure success, and that’s where Sir Alex has been superior to any other coach in the game until recently. Talent keeps you competitive, coaching wins titles. So what has changed?

Well, the earnings of players are going up at an unprecedented pace. Great players have always made a lot of money, but now good to average players are breaking the bank, and the trickledown effect is creating a huge chasm in European football between the mega rich clubs and everyone else. In this era of “mo money mo problems,” a disciplinarian such as SAF is a relic. You could see this shift with the rise of Beckham’s popularity and the tension with the coach. It happened again with Cristiano Ronaldo. Guardiola at Barcelona and Mourinho at Chelsea/Milan and now Madrid understand this new dynamic, and their ability to harness the egos of multiple stars on a team has been key to their respective successes.

For over 20 years, the biggest star at Old Trafford has been Sir Alex, and unless that old dog learns a few new tricks, they will be quickly entering another period of dark, trophy less days. That being said, the young players that United have in their squad are very good and will keep them in the chase all season long.

There are a lot of players in the English Premier League who have something to prove after the World Cup. Wayne Rooney is at the top of that list. He was invisible in South Africa, and this past season was the first since his initial season at Man U that the team did not win a single title. Can he rebound? My answer would be yes, and Man U has helped him by reloading to go after Chelsea. Javier Hernandez, Valencia, Nani and Macheda are all expected to play major roles this season. Can they ascend to the throne of best team in England again this season? I do not see it happening, and they may be hard pressed to claim the mantle of best team in Manchester.

Man U will be top 4 again this season, but they don’t have enough top flight players to maintain a sustained challenge for the EPL and CL trophies.

Liverpool is a strange team. They have one of the best English players of the last decade in Steve Gerrard, one of the top 5 strikers in the world in Fernando Torres, and a solid defense anchored by Javier Mascherano. They won the Champions league title in the last decade in the same season where they floundered in the domestic league. In the offseason they made no major additions. Their defense with the aggressive Skrtel and Mascherano is solid, but they are not a team that can go toe to toe each week with the other big teams vying for the EPL title. The gap between them and the other contenders have widened. They will be no better than fourth this season.

Which leaves Manchester City. This team is deep, talented and explosive. Consider this; two years ago Emmanuel Adebayor was one of the best strikers in the EPL, challenging for the Golden Boot and now while healthy he cannot crack the starting lineup. David Silva, Mario Balotelli, Shaun Wright-Phillips, James Milner and Carlos Tevez (L) give Roberto Mancini a mouth watering array of options to work with. Besides Chelsea and the twin powers in Spain, this is the deepest team in Europe. Shay Givens is on the bench and it’s hardly worth an argument, because Joe Hart has proven that he is a very good keeper and deserves to not only start for City but a shot to be the England #1.

The only chink in this powder blue armor? Manchester City has a porous defense. Company, DeJong and Micah Richards need to get on the same page quickly, but if they do this team will be steamrolling the league and challenging Chelsea for the title. The addition of Yaya Toure to anchor the midfield was a great signing, but I think the key for them will be if they manage to consistently get productivity from Silva and Alex Johnson. Silva is going to be a very good player for City once they set on a position for him….Mancini, are you listening? If they can work these issues out, this team will score in bunches and clinch a top four finish this season. As stated before coaching wins titles, and Roberto Mancini will have his hands full keeping this team focused, especially the enigmatic Balotelli. This team was built to challenge for titles however and they will begin to do exactly that this year.

Dark horses in the EPL:

Fulham is an interesting team that will occasionally beat one of the big boys then alternately struggle to a draw with a bottom third squad. Clint Dempsey is a very good player, Damien Duff has an incredible motor-a poor man’s Dirk Kuyt- and they proved last year they could spring a surprise or two. They could stay in the race for a long stretch, but they don’t have the depth or stars to tangle with the big boys over the course of several months. They will be a fun team to watch however.

Arsene Wegner of Arsenal is one of my favorite coaches. He has kept Arsenal competitive despite repeatedly losing quality players. The defection of Thierry Henry to Barcelona however created a void that was never filled. Chelsea has the duo of Anelka and Drogba. Man U has Rooney. Liverpool has Torres. Man City has Tevez. Arsenal has _____?

I do believe that Marouane Chamakh (R) can eventually fill that blank. It will take him a little while to get used to the pace and physical play of English football, but I see him as a future star. Keeping Fabregas, Van Persie and adding Chamakh and Laurent Koscielny has created a very good and exciting group of young players.

The key word is young; this group will be too inexperienced to challenge Man U, Man City or Chelsea for the title this year.

I am also curious what the fallout from Fabregas’ flirtation with Barcelona will be on the field. His desire to move was obvious, and an unhappy captain does not make for good team chemistry. That will bear close watching.

In the end, Arsenal is what they were last year; a good young team with no big time goal scorer and a suspect goalkeeper. Good enough to keep them competitive but not good enough to win the EPL or challenge in Europe.

This is going to be an exciting season in English football. The continued rise of some new school teams is a beauty to behold, the return of Newcastle to the top flight is a good thing, and hopefully the group of contenders will continue to expand to include some of the other clubs with great histories but barren trophy cases. I cant wait to see what lies ahead.