Arc, the Hardcourt Angels Spring

image via guerreotype

Boom-Dizzle Dropped a Dime on the Jazz: The 2012 Impact of Golden State's Stunning 2007 Upset of Dallas

Out West, the #8 Utah Jazz face a gigantic challenge versus Tony Parker's rejuvenated and #1-seeded Spurs. Brian T. Smith's excellent article for The Salt Lake Tribune shows that it may be easier for David to slay Goliath when some once-fallen Goliaths are now slinging shots for underdog's side.

Fade to Black and White: Brooklyn Nets Unveil Monochrome Gear, Logo

Yes, Brooklyn IS in the house. The Shuttle Enterprise wasn't the only black and white fly thing to make a recent appearance in the borough. The Brooklyn Nets unveiled a new logo and apparel. Not everyone is thrilled. Regardless of whether the Ironbound Brooklyn-bound franchise can re-sign Jersey-bored PG Deron Williams or reverse its win-loss percentage from this year's miserable .333, we think these clean digs will make the scene. Tell us if you like the Nets' new look.

#33 turns 65

Lew Alcindor by Richard Avedon

“You have to be able to center yourself, to let all of your emotions go... Don't ever forget that you play with your soul as well as your body.” -Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives"

Jackie Robinson

image via The Painted Baseball

Marcin Gortat clangs Steve Nash's blind dime.

I'm a firm believer that if the offense doesn't convert, the play -- even a through-the-legs crossover -- gets scrubbed from the perpetual highlight reel. However, this no-look bullet from Nash merits its viral survival in that its delivery didn't even disturb the Suns point god's excoriation of a ref.

Satellite of Love & Basketball: Photo Arrangements by Artist Jenny Odell

Jenny Odell's Google satellite collection "Every Basketball Court in Manhattan" via sbhb

Words with Friends has no respect for my crossover.

Mr. Jones is in the House

NaS and the Legendary Roots Crew rock steady together in Indianapolis for SB week.


Video: Nas x The Roots “Nasty” Live on LNWJF  by YardieGoals via Okayplayer

Snakes on the Brain, Pt II

For this morning's column the Viper was in vicious form, slicing through a treacherous whine from New Jersey's superstar point guard:

After the Nets got wiped out by the Thunder at the Rock (3-for-23 from the Outer Bridge Crossing; 31 percent overall), they put the blame squarely where it belonged … with the building.

“I don’t like this arena one bit,” Deron Williams said. “It’s a good thing it’s not our arena after this year. Even last year, it didn’t feel like a home arena.”

At least the Nets are first in something: Nobody else has ever had trouble shooting in Newark.

Where satire happens ... perennially.

Would have liked to have seen Dolan at least jabbed at, somewhere on this poster.
via Rod @boomtho Benson's SWAG bomb tumblr

Double Venom

Art Director must have been frothing at the fang to have produced so on-point a "Black Mamba" visual, inspired by Kobe's new kicks.

Got Next: Leon Marin "Beyond Limitations"

"So much heart I'm blastin'..." 


It's only one phrase on a 17-song offering packed dense with loaded lines. Yet that mere piece of a refrain to the breakneck-paced second track on Leon Marin's latest resonates, encapsulating the oversized personality and snarling talent that distinguish this young emcee. In just a week since Beyond Limitations was made available for download (and that coming hot on the heels of Marin's video for "NBA Theme Song"), the mixtape has received praise for its consistency and reached thousands of ears, many belonging to hip-hop fans who may have been previously unfamiliar with the Brooklyn artist.

Don't expect the low profile to last. The laudatory blog posts are on point -- Beyond Limitations is rock solid from open to close, while demonstrating a versatile array of flows and styles. There's the loquaciously bitter ruminations of "Jaded" and crass bounce of "Women N Some Cash," offset by the earnest "Strugglin 4 Life" and eminently eponymous "Leon Marin Show." Some songs may call to mind hip-hop's biggest names -- his lyrical contradictions and technicolor expressions make it difficult to avoid Kanye comparisons. But listen, really listen --Marin's word choices and themes bear so much originality, his impact is utterly fresh.

Don't just take it from us -- grab the FREE download below and introduce yourself to one of the next generation's bright stars.

Click here to download Leon Marin's "Beyond Limitations" 

Leon Marin will be performing Saturday January 28th at Paint and Poetry: A Collaborative Effort of All Things Art. 

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Meet Me on the Flip Side

I've always lip-synched along to songs played silently in my imagination. Lyrics can keep you company that way, no matter where you are. It started with Bruce Springsteen's epics echoing across my mind during longer walks home. At some point, Steve Malkmus' four winding verses from Pavement's masterpiece Watery, Domestic EP were recited like a mantra. Later, it seemed that 90% of my mute mutterings were written by NaS and other emcees. With hip-hop I'd become sensitive to repeated incantations that didn't in any way reflect my own experience. It wasn't just that. Some lyrics are just trite, some violent or disagreeable to the point where I wished neither to vocalize nor internalize them. 

With NaS though, I ran into trouble. Here were some of the most masterful flows and displays of lyrical prowess committed to beats. Even if I couldn't own these words, the rhythm with which they were written energized me. And so these 'Flips' were birthed. Some have been posted here, including one based strictly on AZ's legendary first verse from  "Life's a Bitch (and then You Die)". The conception for NaS' verse and development of this entire flip-to-a-more-positive-tip only came this year when our first son was born. Recently I posted the piece, "Life is Rich (and Love is Why)" on my "big kid culture" blog boobuddha.