Daily Grind : sports

Hi Haters!

Sports — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:22:00 GMT

As by now the entire universe knows, Jamaica’s superhuman sprinter Usain Bolt did one of the most amazing doubles in sports history – he won both the 100 and 200 meter dashes, justifiably owning the title of the fastest man on the planet. He did it in his own style, throwing in a little gully creeper (a popular Jamaican dance) after winning both races in world record time. But there’s always someone to take a black man down and this time, it's International Olympic Committee president, Jacque Rogge, who criticized Bolt’s celebration by saying “That’s not the way we perceive being a champion. You don’t do that.”

Well, “we” do. I can’t be mad at a 22-year-old Jamaican man who trained long hours on some hot-ass Jamaican track to celebrate his physics-defying win. I can’t be mad at a black man who defies the common Jamaican stereotypes (Rasta, baby daddy, lazy coconut-head, whatever insult you want to add here) and earns his living on his own athletic prowess and drive to succeed. When Michael Phelps celebrated his hard-earned win by pumping his fists and jumping around the pool area, people saw his exuberance as part of his right as a champion. Who cares what the white or French man in this case thinks when you’ve worked so hard for what many saw as an unattainable goal?

If Bolt wanted to celebrate by bringing Elephant Man, Yellowman and Sean Paul on the field to do to the gully creeper with him, so damn what? In fact, they WERE playing reggae music in the stadium, so Bolt probably just did what felt natural when you’re happy and oh, by the way, you just set another world record and it’s the day before your birthday.

Rogge also said Bolt didn’t congratulate the other winners. That’s just a damn lie. Bolt and good friend Wallace Spearmon were running around the stadium together after Bolt’s win until Spearmon was disqualified for running outside his lane.

Give it up to JA people, they beat our asses and apparently did so fair and square. Somewhere, Jamaican runner Merlene Ottey, the most decorated female track athlete ever, who may now get the bronze medal she deserved since Marion Jones’ Sydney 100 m results were thrown out, is smiling. Jones, of course, is watching this Olympics from federal prison. Haters, back up.

-Hellifiknow

TYSON'S TAKE: Dream Team I vs. Dream Team III

Sports — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 07:53:00 GMT

Now that the Olympic preliminary games are over for Men’s Basketball, the comparisons between the 1992 Dream Team and the 2008 Dream Team are starting rev up. I don’t think there will EVER be a team better than the one consisting of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, Isaiah Thomas, Scottie Pippen, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, David Robinson, Chris Mullin, & Christian Laettner. Besides the last two (Mullin & Laettner), the entire team was comprised of 11 of the original 50 greatest players in NBA history. I mean, I don’t even think there’s another sports team that can even boast that fact.

It's now 16 years later and a young, talented group of NBA stars are donning the red, white, and blue. Granted, in those years past, there was a lot of turmoil within both the NBA and in USA Basketball. International competition flourished, Hip-hop fashion was banned, 18 year olds were barred from entering the league without playing for a collegiate institution first and Ron Artest started punching fans in the face.

There was no way David Stern or any of the NBA brass was going to send their elite players to the Olympics to not return with a gold medal--only to have the league’s reputation tarnished yet again. This summer alone, more NBA players have signed contracts with foreign teams than in any other year. The quality of international play is much better than any of the teams that the 1992 Dream Team had to face. So instead of reminiscing on the “good ol' days” of USA Basketball when we would devour other countries' teams for lunch, we should root for and respect Dream Team III because they have the hardest quest to the gold medal than any other team before them.

- Steve Tyson Jr.

SPORTS: Shaq's Rap Attack

Sports — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:56:00 GMT

The latest viral video taking the web by storm features Shaquille O'neal dropping a funny (and vicious) freestyle aimed at his former team mate Kobe Bryant. In the video first grinded by Necole Bitchie, Shaq takes verbal jabs at Kobe for losing in the NBA finals against the Celtics. Patrick Ewing and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are also on the receiving end of Shaq's playful rhyme during the two minute video.

What's causing some folks to believe this freestyle was less than playful is Shaquille's comments about Kobe ruining his marriage. In case you've forgotten, during Kobe's rape trial a few years ago, Bryant told investigators that Shaq paid groupies $1 million dollars in hush money to protect his image. O'neal's marriage to his wife Shaunie is now over, and Shaq rapped "I'm a horse, Kobe ratted me out, that's why I'm getting divorced".

There's a two part question to this matter....first, do you think Shaq was seriously going at Kobe? Second, do you think Kobe snitching on Shaq truly lead to "The Diesel" getting a divorce?

MiLyfe ain't buying into Shaq's hype, "If you cheated...you ruined your own marriage.""

OUCH!

-Sportaphile

SPORTS: The Twisted Tale Of Javon Walker

Sports — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 20:00:00 GMT

The situation surrounding the incident with Oakland Raiders wide receiver Javon Walker in Las Vegas gets weirder and weirder. Javon was knocked unconscious and robbed and the entire ordeal initially seemed like a random act of violence where grinders like Cuban Chica expressed their concerns for Javon saying, "Wow, can't a person gamble safely in Vegas anymore?".

But as the saying goes .... "still waters run deep".

In the days following the incident several pictures surfaced online of Walker partying in a club, popping bottles and spraying champagne. Unconfirmed reports of Javon leaving the club with women he met during the course of the night began to surface shortly thereafter, which implies he could have been the victim of a setup.

Javon's seemingly contradictory version of events prompted police to review security tapes at the Bellagio hotel--where Walker was booked for the night. Security tapes revealed that no such incident took place on their property leaving us with two options: Either Javon Walker is so groggy from his assault that he's mistaken about what happened or he's trying to cover something up. Does anyone in the world of Global Grind have any theories as to what's going on?

What I find particularly disturbing about all of this is Javon's behavior in the nightclub. The picture above clearly shows Javon spraying champagne around wildly during his night of fun in the desert. Sports fans may remember that Walker's teammate Darrent Williams was killed in 2006 following an incident where he and Javon sprayed champagne on patrons in a club. Why would Javon engage in this activity again when it could have very well sparked a chain of events that led to the death of his close friend in the past?

-Sportaphile

SPORTS: The Celtic Celebration

Sports — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:18:00 GMT

So how is it that the player of his era (Kobe Bryant) and arguably the best coach in history (Phil Jackson) can team up to mercifully humiliate themselves in the one arena that matters most to them?

Not even diehard Boston fans could have seen Tuesday night's massacre coming. Not with title-magnets Kobe and Phil manning the opposition, keen on enhancing their respective legacies.

But, in the end, the quartet of Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen clearly wanted their first rings a bit more than Bryant or Jackson simply wanted to add another.

“I'm so hyped right now,” screamed a jubilant Garnett. “Any thing's possible.”

The Celts manhandled Kobe and company from the opening tip, particularly over the last three games where they outscored them by 40 points, leaving Lamar Odom wondering just who the guys wearing the purple and gold along aside him truly are.

"We need to get stronger, nastier,” said Odom. “It's a mindset and they did better."

That would be quite the understatement, notes Talkdatishgirl. But then after Tuesday, what more can they say?

SPORTS: Shaquille O'Neal Wants To Save Your Home

Sports — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:49:00 GMT

Shaquille O'Neal as the new American idol?

Don't sleep. If the self-dubbed 'Big Aristole' is able to pull off his latest trick, his popularity may easily trump that now reserved for "American Idol." This week, Shaq shared plans for a reality show where he would work with homeowners facing foreclosure to save their homes.

"I want to come in not to kick them out, but to work with them so they can stay in their homes," explains O'Neal.

Plans call for Shaq to buy the mortgages of homeowners now in foreclosure due to ungodly interest rates, then sell them back to them at more affordable terms. Imagine that, a businessman with a conscience. A jiggy gentleman.

The show would be called “Shaq's The Big Save," a sequel to his 2007 weight-loss show known as "Shaq's Big Challenge."

“I'm there,” says Verses

SPORTS: Donaghy--It's Game Within a Game

Sports — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:06:00 GMT

With such cinematic heavyweights as Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee Eddie and Jack Nicholson sitting center stage, Kobe Bryant starred in his own drama in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, rescuing the Lakers from a 2-0 hole and restoring a level of must-see chicness to the series.

And still it was hardly the most riveting scene of the night. That honor easily went to disgraced, former NBA referee Tim Donaghy who now alleges that not only were other officials involved in the business of fixing games, but they sometimes were working under direct orders from the league office to do so.

“He is subject to a longer sentence possibly than his co-conspirators,” reasoned Commissioner David Stern in dismissing Donaghy's allegations. “They're baseless, this continuing flow of allegations from an admitted felon."

In between all the rhetoric, observes Verses, somewhere lies a version of the truth.

Which are you buying?

-Glenn Minnis

SPORTS: Sins Of The Father Behind Son's Decision?

Sports — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 01:26:00 GMT

So what would make one of the best pound-for-pound fighters to ever bless the canvas walk away from the game with a more than $20 million payday in his midst?

Welcome to the fast and furious world of 31-year-old Floyd “Money” Mayweather, where plans and logic seem to change direction as quickly as the savvy southpaw throws a punch.

“I loved competing and winning and wanted to continue for the fans. However, after many sleepless nights and intense soul-searching I realized I could no longer base my decision on anything but my own personal happiness, which I no longer could find with boxing," reasoned Mayweather.

Perhaps that all has much to do with Floyd Mayweather Sr.'s recent announcement he planned to train his son's longtime nemesis Oscar De La Hoya for what would have been their much anticipated rematch this September. Or it could just as easily be another way for the six-divisions, undefeated champ to express his mounting discontent with De La Hoya's huge purse, rumored to be roughly twice the size of his.

Either way, it leaves Verses wondering what could possibly be next for Floyd Mayweather? A recurring role on 'Dancing With the Stars'? A collabo with his on-again, off-again bud 50 Cent?

Stay tuned.

-Glenn Minnis

SPORTS: Kobe Shooting Blanks Now?

Sports — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:36:00 GMT

Game 1 of the NBA Finals have come and gone, but the questions linger...is it really necessary to compare Kobe Bryant with Michael Jordan when Bryant continues to struggle on the very stage MJ so thrived upon?

Entering last night's tilt with KG and the Celts, Bryant was shooting just 38 percent from the floor over the last five games he's played for the chip (4-1 loss to Pistons in 2004). Add last night's even more dreadful 9 of 26 outing and, well, you get the picture of mounting futility.

Now, no one is suggesting Kobe will continue to struggle as such over the course of this series. In fact, I'm going on the record and predicting the hardware will ultimately land in Tinseltown. But that shouldn't confuse the facts of what has been.

But as MadGundy's grind wonders “When you want be considered on par with the best, isn't it a testament to that you find a way?

-Glenn Minnis

SPORTS: Blame It On The Tats

Sports — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:10:00 GMT

So let's be clear: It's the tats that make the man and not the man that makes the tats? And every baller choosing to sport them is bad for the game, bad for NBA ratings and just bad for the world?

Explaining why NBA ratings are up this year compared to season's past, sports columnist Jason Whitlock assures us of as much on the strength of scientific data and indisputable observations gleamed by such self-noted omniscients as ...... Jason Whitlock.

“No one wants to watch Larry Hughes or Delonte West play basketball. You don't want to explain to your kids that some millionaire athletes have so little self-confidence they find it necessary to cover themselves in tattoos to mask insecurities,” notes Whitlock.

Yes, it's all about finger-pointing in Whitlock's world, the fact much of Hughes and West's ink serve as odes to family and friends lost in the struggle having little bearing. And the hoops ratings bonanza? It shouldn't take a genius like Whitlock to conclude most hoops fan would rather watch Kobe dueling AI, Duncan and KG in succession than anything else that could be offered..

But logic seems to always elude Whitlock, the same man Verses grinds gave us the assertions hip-hop is the new KKK and Rutgers coach Vivian Stringer engaged in a pity-party defending her team against Don Imus. With the likes of Jason Whitlock serving as a national voice, tats maybe one of few true forms of expressions many have remaining.

-Glenn Minnis

SPORTS: Kobe's Beef Continues To Simmer

Sports — Wed, 28 May 2008 17:25:00 GMT

As if trying to contend with Tim Duncan, the prospect of the East, and his overriding urge to exorcise the ghost of Shaq from all consciousness isn't enough, Kobe Bryant may now have the angst of his wife, Vanessa, to deal with. Again.

Internet rumors of the league MVP's ongoing dalliances with an 18-year-old Laker Girl are about as rampant as his scoring binges have been since the fight for the West began.

Count Vanessa Bryant among those who's seen and heard enough. Her boil reached a fever recently when she came face-to-face with what she termed an "unethical" ESPN reporter while sitting courtside in The Alamo. Vanessa, her two young daughters in tow, erupted: “F*** you! How dare you write about me and my daughters schedule. F*** you! You f****** ***. You have no journalism ethics.”

Seems the writer had dared to attempt to chart Vanessa's indulgent lifestyle. Instead of buying his wife a big rock, which is what he did last time he was caught with his pants down, Kobe ordered his attorneys to file a cease and desist letter against the blogger that first broke the naughty news. Ballin'

Not exactly eight carats notes streetknowledge's grind, but then silence is golden.

-Glenn Minnis

SPORTS: Mike Tyson, This Is Your Life

Sports — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:55:00 GMT

Word on the street is the new film chroniciling the often indulgent lifestyle of former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson makes for must-see TV.

As streetknowledge notes in his grind the documentary styled-expose played to rave reviews at the Cannes Film Festival recently, ending with Tyson being serenaded with numerous standing ovations in appreciation of all the brutally honest testimony he offers, much of which was gathered while he was in rehab just last year.

"I’ve lived a wild and strange life," admits Iron Mike. "I’ve used drugs; I’ve had physical altercations with dangerous people; I’ve slept with guys’ wives, they wanted to kill me. I never thought I'd live to this age (41). It’s just a miracle.”

Kind of the way the then 20-year-old Tyson took the heavyweight division by storm back in the day, blitzing Trevor Berbick in less than six minutes to secure his throne.

"I wanted to throw every punch with bad intentions," Mike says of the fateful night. Yet another evening he recalls just as vividly centers around his 1991 encounter with an 18-year-old beauty pageant contestant that ended with him being convicted of rape.

"I thought the conviction was wrong," he still contends. "I've been abusive to women, but that was unfair."

Indeed, the James Toback featured film leaves you wondering what could have been. So, just how will you choose to remember the Tyson legacy?

-Glenn Minnis

SPORTS: Barkley's Rambling On Gambling

Sports — Mon, 19 May 2008 00:32:00 GMT

Even with a habit that by his own recollection has left him some $10 million in the hole, Charles Barkley's argument has always been he doesn't have a gambling problem because he can more than afford to cover any expense his impulsive spree's may incur.

And now a Las Vegas Casino is intent on calling him on his marker. The Wynn Casino has put Barkley's transgressions on blast by threatening to sue him on four felony theft or bad check charges, each of which could net the former NBA star anywhere from one to ten years in state prison.

“It's my mistake,” admits Sir Charles. “I'm not broke and I'm going to take care of it. I've been gambling 20-years; I've never had this happen. It's my fault, I let the time lapse. I screwed up.”

On that, the two parties can agree, but everything else seems a crapshot. Barkley contends casino officials never contacted him before going public, they insist countless overtures went ignored.

Either way, Verses wonders in his grind if “the need for intervention in Sir Charles' kingdom has revealed itself?” At this point,doesn't that seem a pretty good bet? -Glenn Minnis

SPORTS: Fly Clothes To Foreclosed

Sports — Wed, 14 May 2008 08:02:00 GMT

Man, karma’s a b****.

That’s not to say Latrell Sprewell is deserving of the fate he now shares with countless other Americans by virtue of having his home foreclosed on, but, then, we are talking about a baller who easily made in the neighborhood of $40-50 million over the course of his 13-year NBA career, plus thumbed his noise at the chance to earn at least $21 million more by defiantly retorting “I’ve got my family to feed” when Minnesota offered him a three-year extension back in 2004.

For all this comes on the heels of Sprewell’s 70-foot, $1.5 million yacht being auctioned off by U.S. Marshals just last January. And that family Spree was so adamant about? The mother of at least four of his kids sued him to the tune of $200 million last year, alleging he broke their long-term cohabitation agreement.

As Kit Kat observed in her grind, “you could say it’s been a tough year for Spree,” an understatement that seems akin to saying Hillary Clinton is really pulling out all the strings in trying to snare the latest gig she’s applied for.

Yes, Spree, style and swagger can be virtuous, but even the good book warns: “Waste not, want not.”

-Glenn Minnis

SPORTS: Roger Loves The Kids!

Sports — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:50:00 GMT

When you hear the words "Mister Rogers Neighborhood", you are overcome with fond memories of a sweet old man on PBS entertaining children. However, the neighborhood of Mr. Roger Clemens may have been a little less pleasant for the underage population. The New York Daily News broke news this weekend that Roger Clemens had a 10 year affair with country music singer Mindy McCready, the problem is Mindy was only 15 years old when they first started hanging out.

Roger's camp denied he did anything unlawful, but Mindy pretty much confirmed what the Daily News suggested when she said “I cannot refute anything in the story”. This takes the phrase "if theres grass on the field.... then play ball" to a whole new level, sleeping with a 15 year old girl qualifies as unlawful Mr. Clemens. The funny thing about this entire ordeal is, if Roger had simply said "I did steroids and I'm sorry" five months ago, none of this would have ever came to light. Sometimes it's just easier to tell the truth and take your lumps and move on with your life.

I'm dying to know what the Global Grind camp thinks of this story! Do you think any less of Roger now that you know he likes picking flowers before they bloom? Do you think he'll ever play baseball again, would you care if he did? Speak on it.... -Sportaphile