Blake Griffin is an All-Star



Blake Griffin Dunking on Lamar Odom

Blake Griffin, the Los Angeles Clippers rookie sensation, has become the first rookie to be selected for the NBA All-Star game since Yao Ming’s nomination in 2003.

Griffin has been the most electrifying rookie that the NBA has seen since all eyes were on LeBron James back in 2003-04. His ferocious dunks, dogged mentality, and knowledge of the game have left fans, coaches, players and analyst in awe. At 21, Griffin, who stands 6-foot-10 and weighs 250 pounds, has a game that gives spectators a glimpse of an emerging star who is becoming a man amongst boys on the court.

The former No. 1 pick in the 2009 NBA draft illustrates the basketball intellect that he gained during his original “rookie” campaign when he was sidelined for the 2009-10 season due to a broken knee cap. This year the phenom is averaging 23 points and 12 rebounds per game while shooting 51 percent from the field. The only entity lacking in Griffin’s season is the Clippers 21-35 record.

Griffin’s All-Star bid is well deserved, but some tend to believe that LaMarcus Aldridge of the Portland Trailblazers was snubbed by the lack of votes from the head coaches. Without Brandon Roy, Aldridge is carrying the eighth seeded Blazers with 23 points and 9 rebounds per game. Though Aldridge is worthy, one cannot deny what Griffin has offered to the entire league.

Besides John Wall’s opening night showcase of his dancing skills when he premiered the “dougie,” no rookie has come close to adding any excitement to the NBA this season. Griffin has the second highest single game point total with 47, ranks second to Kevin Love in double doubles with 41 and held a 27-game streak in which he accomplished those feats. Griffin has truly been where amazing happens.

Spectators are watching the Clippers’ games because they’re appreciating the effort that Griffin brings into each contest. They are eager to see who will be his next victim for a poster that will hang up in the homes of many youngsters across the country.

Along with the All-Star game, Griffin is also competing in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam on Feb. 18 and the Sprite Slam Dunk contest on Saturday, Feb. 19. The NBA All-Star Game will air live on TNT on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 8:00 p.m. ET from the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.

A Small Dose of Jim Brown



Jim Brown


There are two lives that athletes live; one is the double life of being a professional athlete while being a citizen in the community, and the other is life after their professional career. Jim Brown, arguably the greatest NFL running back of all-time, is a prime example of this truth.

Brown began the first phase of duality by competing in multiple sports at Syracuse University and evolving into a phenomenal NFL running back. As a stellar athlete Brown also has a conscious for African American rights and issues within the Black community to help improve the lifestyles of youths.



 Even though Brown dominates on the field and in the community, the control factor in his relationships with women leads to his irresponsible encounters with the law. Many professional athletes deal with the pressures of performing on the field/court and managing their personal lives, so it is imperative to analyze the cycle of their paths from many angles because athletes also make mistakes in life.



 Jim Brown comes to national fame as a great athlete at Syracuse University as he letters in football, basketball, baseball, and lacrosse. Integrating a White university is a tough task to deal with during the 1950’s, so by being an athlete it allows for Brown to make an easier transition during this epoch. Named as a second-team and first-team all-American during his junior and senior years at Syracuse, Brown’s success leads him to the NFL in 1957 where he becomes one of the greatest running backs ever.



At 6-foot-2 and weighing 230 pounds, Brown punishes defenders on the field. In his nine-year career he becomes the all-time leading rusher with 12,312 yards, the career rushing leader in touchdowns with 106, and he is the only rusher in NFL history to average 100 rushing yards per game. Being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971 as the greatest player in the Cleveland Browns history places a seal on Brown’s accomplishments during his “first” life.

The closing to Brown’s professional career comes in 1965 as his decision causes controversy amongst the NFL. Brown decides to retire at the age of 29 to embrace his acting career in Hollywood. Many speculate that Brown is senseless for this choice in deciding to walk away from the game in the prime of his career.



Brown’s aware that football takes a toll on one’s body, but that is half of Brown’s consciousness that he lives with. The other aspect is his mindfulness for the youths in the urban communities across America. In the cities of Los Angeles, CA and Cleveland, OH, Brown has established the Amer-I-Can program in order to help inner city youths escape gang activities and criminal lifestyles. Amer-I-Can is a life skills program that operates in Black communities and in prisons.

Although Brown makes a huge impact on the field and in the community, he still has to deal with personal circumstances that are not appropriate.

Heisman Trophy Race




Cameron Newton

 The last men standing in the prestigious race to be named the 2010 Heisman award winner are quarterback Cameron Newton of Auburn University, running back LaMichael James of the University of Oregon, and Boise State University quarterback Kellen Moore.

Cameron Newton has been an emerging star this season for the No. 2 ranked Auburn Tigers because he has turned the program around. Last season Auburn went 8-5, 3-5 in the SEC, but with the addition of Newton they are sitting comfortably at 9-0. At 6-foot-6 and weighing 250 pounds, Newton is virtually unstoppable on the field.

Newton has thrown for 1,573 yards, 15 touchdowns, while also rushing for 1,153 yards. Newton even exploded against the tough defense of No. 10 LSU when he rushed for 217 yards.  He has been nothing short of spectacular.




LaMichael James

Trailing behind Newton in the race is the speedy running back of No. 1 Oregon. James has totaled 1,210 yards on the ground so far after sitting out of the first game due to suspension. Since his arrest on domestic violence charges in the summer, James has come back to emulate his freshman year in which he rushed for 1,546 yards.

 The Ducks high powered offense has been phenomenal and has allowed for James to terrorize opposing defenses. James torched No.13 Stanford for 257 yards and made the USC defense look like a JV football team by racking up 239 rushing yards. James has simply been the best running back in the country.

Kellen Moore

Last, but not least, is quarterback Kellen Moore. No. 4 Boise State is 7-0 behind Moore’s 1,865 passing yards and 18 touchdowns. In Boise’s biggest game against No. 22 Virginia Tech, Moore threw for 215 yards and three touchdowns.



With the exit of Tim Tebow, Moore holds the crown as college football’s ultimate leader.

Since entering Boise State in 2008, Moore has led Boise State to a 33-1 record and a 2010 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Championship.

In the remaining weeks of the college football season, America will witness the spectacular play of all three candidates.







Graduate School Personal Statement



                                                     

                                        Personal Statement             

          Graduates from USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism join 300,000 USC Annenberg alumni from around the world and I desire to be a part of those scholars. Broadcast journalism has been my passion since the age of fourteen when I learned that the journalism/communications field could lead to a wonderful sports reporting career. As an English major and a member of the Maroon Tiger, Tiger TV, and the Sports Journalism Program at Morehouse College, I have been able to receive great experience in the journalism field. However, I believe that the Annenberg School will add greatly to my knowledge in journalism.  

          My inspiration in becoming one of the many outstanding products of Annenberg is directly due to my dogged determination to overcome harsh obstacles that would cease the matriculation for the average college student. Coming from a low socioeconomic background as the son of hearing impaired mother, I have to support myself with the majority of the funds needed to continue my education. Balancing two jobs while being a fulltime student has been a tough task, but I have shown the intestinal fortitude to prevail through the obstacles. Whether it is affording books or other expenses needed to achieve a higher education, neither has kept me from maintaining a 3.0 grade point average. I am determined to be the first college graduate in my family and being a role model for my relatives is my driving force.

          Developing this mission statement is very important to me because I am driven to uplift the youth in my community with my life mission. As a leader, it is imperative that I share my knowledge with children who live in gang infested communities, live in dysfunctional homes, have self-esteem issues, and educational shortcomings. Mentoring the children and relaying to them that I too have dealt with similar struggles as a youth gives them hope. I will continue to use my educational tools in order to illustrate the route to success for those who admire my persistence, will, and dedication to provide for my family. Receiving a master’s degree from this respected institution will allow for me to transfer what I learn over to the children that I mentor.

          In terms of careers I know that alumni have gone on to work for magnificent companies such as the Huffington Post, NYTimes.com, Los Angeles Daily Journal, and the Orange County Register; I envision myself joining them. My goals are to become a prolific writer/broadcaster for a newspaper or TV network and to build small journalism schools in the inner city. The program will be a foundation for youth and high school students, specifically focusing on athletics. In the curriculum the students will create personal blogs to develop the basic formats for articles and they will gain hands-on experience by covering youth leagues and high school sports. By developing my skills at the USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism, I will use this to achieve my goal of changing lives one person at a time.

Winning Cures Everything



(left) LeBron James (right) Kobe Bryant

He is labeled the best in the game due to his motivation to be the greatest in NBA history. His work ethic is unquestionably unmatched. He is a future Hall of Famer with a career average over 25 points per game and winning is always on his mind. He entered the league at 18-years-old, played in multiple All-Star games, and his skills are well respected. He was beloved by everyone at the beginning of his career, then he hit his prime and a critical decision caused scrutiny.

Yes it is him, Kobe Bryant. Wait, no, it is LeBron James.


Bryant and James are the dominant faces of the NBA and they have traveled down similar paths in the eyes of the media. Both fell from the upper echelon of celebrated athletes to the very bottom of scrutiny in a matter of years.

Bryant, 32, came into the NBA out of high school as the No. 13 pick in the 1996 NBA draft and was deemed as the heir to Michael Jordan. Bryant’s career got off to a shaky start as teammates questioned his character as a selfish player during his rookie season. Bryant moved past the criticism in his second year and became the first non-starter to be voted as a starter in the 1998 NBA All-Star game.

Two seasons later the Los Angeles Lakers put together a three-year run of NBA championships and Bryant gained major endorsements, but in the summer of 2003 Bryant received heat when he was arrested.

Bryant, then 25-years-old, was charged with a sexual assault of rape against a 19-year-old woman in Eagle, Co. This allegation cost Bryant the majority of his endorsements and a negative perception in the eyes of fans.

James, 25, and a two-time NBA MVP, saw his status drop this summer when he held a primetime special on ESPN about his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers in order to join fellow NBA stars Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh on the Miami Heat.

Though his circumstance is not as life threating as Bryant’s, James segment of “The Decision” was highly criticized by many people. In some views it displays self-centeredness and a lack of loyalty to the city of Cleveland.

The former No. 1 pick in the 2003 NBA draft can possibly restore his image if he can illustrate what Bryant has done for the past two seasons and that is win a couple of championships.

Bryant has just about cleaned up his image by becoming victorious with the Lakers and many question if James can do the same.

Fans will see what happens in June since everyone believes that winning cures everything.

Kobe Bryant celebrating his 5th NBA Championship (2010)

WHO SHOULD START?

Eagles QB Michael Vick

The NFL is just a few weeks into the regular season and there is controversy already. The majority of the troubles involve the teams that are trying to rebuild for the future.

The Carolina Panthers drafted Norte Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen, 23, with the 48th pick and head coach John Fox planned to bring Clausen along slowly. That strategy has been torn apart due to the Panthers 0-2 start and the poor play of fourth year quarterback Matt Moore.

Moore has thrown for 307 yards, two touchdowns, four interceptions, and has been sacked eight times. The turnovers and sacks clearly have the Panthers stumbling so Clausen might remain as the starter.

The biggest dispute amongst the league is the play of the Eagles quarterback duo.

Kevin Kolb, 26, sustained a concussion against the Green Bay Packers in week one after one half of play and Michael Vick stepped in and has been efficient. Vick, the former No. 1 pick in the 2001 draft, has a passing rating of 105.5, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. Vick’s performance in week two against the Detroit Lions has placed head coach Andy Reid in a crunch.

In the offseason management decided to trade six-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb to the division rival Washington Redskins. The Eagles chose to make a two-year $12.26 million investment in Kolb with Kolb also receiving $10.7 million in guaranteed money.

Vince Young

Reid and his staff will remain in a tough situation if Kolb returns to good health and Vick’s production continues.

Another Black quarterback, the Titans Vince Young, was pulled from their game after a dismal outing against the Steelers tenacious defense.  Young was sacked four times and after literally being flipped over by the Steelers James Harrison, Young found himself on the bench.

Young, 27, lead the Titans on a phenomenal run at the end of last season after Tennessee started the season 0-6, but Jeff Fisher felt the need to throw in sixteen-year veteran Kerry Collins.

Most analysts believe that the substitution may disrupt Young’s fragile psyche for the next few weeks. The mystery here is whether or not Young has matured enough to handle the circumstance so that he may perform well in the next game.

The coaches, players, and fans of these teams all have different opinions about who should start. Will it be the best player or the best performer?

These are tough decisions and in the following weeks notoriety will be taken to see how the teams’ game plans are handled.

Black Heisman Trophy Race



Michigan's QB Denard Robinson

 The 2010 NCAA college football season is heading into its fourth week and the prestigious Heisman trophy race is underway.

The greatest award that a collegiate football player could receive has been surfacing around in the media for the past weeks concerning ex Heisman winner Reggie Bush. Bush won the award in 2005, but was ruled ineligible for accepting illegal benefits during his time at Southern California. After five years of investigation, Bush decided to return the Heisman to the committee and the 2005 slot will be vacated.

Now for the 2010 contenders, there are three Black quarterbacks that are in the hunt. There is Denard Robinson of No. 20 Michigan, Terrell Pryor of No. 2 Ohio State and Jacory Harris of No. 17 Miami FL.
Coming into the season Pryor and Harris received the most publicity out of the competitors.

Pryor has been on the radar since his freshman year as a Buckeye and had moderately lived up to his hype. In his first two years he displayed much frustration and immaturity on the field when his play was not up to par. This season Pryor looks to be much improved after working on his downfield vision and footwork mechanics during the offseason.



Ohio State QB Terrelle Pryor

At 6-foot-6 and weighing 230 pounds Pryor is hard to bring down in the pocket and has the speed to get by the defense. Pryor probably put together his best collegiate game when the Buckeye’s defeated Harris and the Hurricane’s 36-24 as he passed for over 200 yards.

Harris might have been the favorite until his dismal performance. He passed for 232 yards but also had four interceptions and that really hurt his stock. If Harris can play at a high level for the remainder of the season and the Hurricanes have success, he will be back in the running.

So far Michigan’s Robinson has been the most spectacular player in the college football. After a sensational game in a win over Connecticut in week one, Robinson took it up a notch on the road against Notre Dame. Robinson totaled over 500 yards with two passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns and had the longest run in Notre Dame Stadium for 87 yards.

Robinson has been labeled the heir apparent to Michael Vick because of his speed and the excitement that he brings to the game.

The last Black quarterback to win the Heisman was Troy Smith of Ohio State in 2006 and these three are challenging each other to be the next to win the highest honor in college football.

ACC 2010-2011 Power Rankings

Duke University celebrating the 2010 National Championship

 

Collegiate athletics will be in full swing when the 2010-2011 college basketball season tips off in November. The Duke Blue Devils are looking forward to making another title run while trying to repeat as the ACC regular season and tournament champions. Here is a look at my predictions for the teams that will battle for the top spots in the ACC.

1.      DUKE: The defending National champions are coming back with a wealth of talent. Leading scorer Kyle Singler, 17.7 points, returns for his senior year while being surrounded by top recruiting prospects Kyrie Irving and Joshua Hairston. The Blue Devils also added the sharp-shooting transfer Seth Curry (Stephen Curry’s younger brother).

2.      NORTH CAROLINA: The Tar Heels look forward to rebounding from their dismal 20-17 and 5-11 record in the ACC. Coach Roy Williams was shocked by the late transfers of forwards David and Travis Wear to UCLA, but Williams signed three top 30 prospects in Harrison Barnes No.1 in the ESPNU 100, Reggie Bullock No.13 and Kendall Marshall No. 19. The biggest question for the Heels is can junior guard Larry Drew II be an efficient leader for this team?

3.      VIRGINIA TECH: After being snubbed from the NCAA Tournament after going 25-9 and 10-6 in the ACC last season, head coach Seth Greenburg and the Hokies are determined to make some noise. Senior Malcolm Delaney decided to return in order to lead his team and the Hokies non-conference schedule should put them over the hump.

4.      FLORIDA STATE: Recruits Okaro White, Bernard James, and Ian Miller have a chance to make early impacts for the Seminoles especially with the loss of Solomon Alabi who anchored their defense. 

5.      NC STATE: The Wolfpack defeated Duke last season so there is some talent in their program. For head coach Sidney Lowe, this may be his last chance to uplift this program back into relevancy.

6.      MARYLAND: Greivis Vasquez was the heart and soul of the Terrapins for four years and now his pulse is gone. They shared the co-ACC regular season championship with dude at 13-3, so they might be the dark horse of the league this season.

7.      CLEMSON: Brad Brownell is taking over the program after Oliver Purnell’s exit. Hopefully Brownell can keep these players from folding down the stretch of the season. They will look for freshmen Damien Leonard and Cory Stanton to contribute early.

8.      BOSTON COLLEGE: The Eagles are another ACC team bringing in a new coach in Steve Donahue. They were 6-10 in ACC play last season so expect similar numbers this year.

9.      GEORGIA TECH: Derrick Favors absence is going to hurt the Yellow Jackets. Paul Hewitt’s team will rely on his guards whom are turnover prone.

10.  WAKE FOREST: Wake Forest loss their best player in Al-Farouq Aminu and Jeff Bzdelik is their new coach. The Demon Deacons will not duplicate their 20 wins from a season ago.

11.  MIAMI: Hurricane fever will not be in effect this season. They got pounded in league play and it might be repeated. Sophomore Durand Scott will have his hands full.

12.  VIRGINIA: Six freshmen enter the program so this will be another rebuilding year for the Cavaliers.