Okay, so in case you haven't heard - or you've been living under a rock with a tube of KY and a porn magazine - the Cleveland Cavaliers suffered a 13-point defeat at the hands of the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals withe the final score being: Magic 103, Cavs 90. The loss was the 2nd consecutive conference finals lost for the Cavaliers lead by a heralding LeBron James in a Jordanesque performance for the ages averaging 35.4 pts per game, 8.8 rebounds per game and a 'one guard' effort of contributing 8.6 assists per game. Unlike his teammates, many of them in their final years of contract negotiations, James has provided charisma, hardwork and has brought a high level of intensity in the playoffs that hasn't been seen since Dwayne Wade in 2006 - or even Michael Jordan himself in 1992.
Speaking of Michael Jordan, I am constantly reminded of Def Jam recording artists Fabolous and NeYo when they recorded the hit single, 'You Make Me Better' in 2007, but more or less referring to Jordan, but also referring to Scottie Pippen and company. Where would Jordan and Pippen be without one another? Then again, where would LeBron and 'young, healthy players' be without each other? To answer the latter, the proof is in the pudding. Without a championship!
Now, I could go on and on about the Eastern Conference Finals and how the 2009 Orlando Magic is absolutely the most underrated team in NBA history, in my opinion, but 'twould be completely unfair to ignore the fact that the Los Angeles Lakers have proven, once again, that they're the best team in basketball taking down the 2nd best team statistically in the Western Conference - the Denver Nuggets [or the Denver Chicken Nuggets as I would like to call them]. Don't get me wrong, I think Carmelo Anthony is going to give teams hell in the near future and I also believe Chauncey Billups is a great point guard, but I kind of felt bad about them losing in the manor they did. They were beaten so badly, I couldn't bear to watch the last 2 minutes of the game. After the game was over, there was a part of me that wanted to talk all of the shit in the world about the Nuggets, but I just couldn't do it. It was like watching a firing squad unload on a group of mentally-retarded schoolchildren. That funny feeling in the pit of my stomach is still there, to say the least.
Needless to say, the NBA Conference Finals on both sides have been fun to watch. Now it's time to move on to the NBA Finals and see who will be the champion of the entire basketball world. It's going down, June 4th on ABC with the Los Angeles Lakers hosting the Orlando Magic. Oh, and I'm rooting for the Lakers. But one just cannot help but wonder whatever happened to that 'Clash of the Titans' matchup between Kobe and LeBron?
This just restores an argument which should have been laid to rest 3 months ago when VitaminWater made such an enormous stickle in the propaganda pinning two of the league's most prominent athletes against one another, sprucing up one of the most highly debated arguments in sports history. Now, that portion of the debate has ended. Or has it?
I don't think so. I honestly believe that clear and present evidence isn't good enough for die-hard, right-winged fans of LeBron James [if you can't tell already, I'm siding with the argument which places Kobe Bryant aka 'The Black Momba' as the greatest player in the current NBA]. Winning a conference championship in the arguably the toughest conference in the league isn't enough for people these days. Carrying out methodical scoring drives on every play facing 3 of the NBA's toughest, defensively-sound teams in the league wasn't enough [those teams being the Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets, and the Denver Nuggets]. Maintaining a playoff record of 9-2 at home isn't good enough, I guess [okay, so the Cavs only lost one game at home in the playoffs, who cares]. Playing with back spasms and an attention-focused pinky finger wasn't good enough? Of course it was good enough.
First and foremost, I respect LeBron James at the greatest capacity. To be quite honest [as much as I would hate to admit], LeBron has been the most deadliest, consistent basketball player in the NBA for the past 3 seasons, and he's continuously getting better by the day. At this stage in his career, he is better than Kobe Bryant...individually, that is. Yes, I admit it, he's better than Kobe. There are factors as to why I think LeBron is better than Kobe at this point in his career also. Well, for starters, LeBron is a better on-the-court facilitator than Kobe Bryant is. He has a great sense of awareness on the court and he syncronize with his teammates. Kobe Bryant is more of a finess player and does a adequate job of creating opportunities for his players to 'get in position' so he can facilitate within the LAL's infamous triangle offense. Secondly, LeBron is a stronger and more athletic basketball player than Kobe is [not to mention younger]. His size, strength and athleticism makes LeBron a dangerous inside scorer and a nightmare for opposing defenses. What separates Kobe from LeBron with individual skills is the mere fact that Kobe has a better knowledge of how different players in the NBA operate on a game-to-game basis, which comes from years of experience and consistent game film study. Not saying that LeBron doesn't study film, but he's not as experienced.
Sometimes I think people get caught up in the flashiness of the NBA, with the slam dunks, dramatic shots, and alley-oops, they tend to forget about the strategies and the minor things that happen on the court that often times go unnoticed. I can assure you, Kobe has been there and done that in his career, but now I think it's more of a personal goal for Kobe to just win championships, not be the star player individually. I don't think it was ever the intention for Kobe to be the greatest player ever, although many people would consider otherwise, but if it works out that way, it just works out that way. I kind of gotten sick and tired of the argument altogether. It's a bit overrated at this stage and the media will do anything to market themselves rather than the player. In this case, the media being the NBA. The recent events in NBA history doesn't necessarily mean that the argument is void, nor does it mean that one player is greater/less than greater than another player. It just means that great players are born, but champions are made. It isn't something that's gonna come as a shower of natural, divine talent, but you can't win an NBA Championship nowadays without the right people behind you. And it's apparent that LeBron, Carmelo and D-Wade is beginning to realize it. Could anyone name one player who has won a championship by hisself [no, Wilt Chamberlain doesn't count]?
This argument shall be momentarily laid to rest until further examination has ensued. Until next time, I'm Justin Cunningham. God speed, and good night!
~Loyalty~
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Post 14: SouljaBoyTellEm
Hello world, what's poppin'? Here I am, once again. Sitting at this computer Twittering like a mu'fucka while watching this Lakers/Rockets game [if I must say, is pretty interesting...well, the Lakers are kicking ass like I knew they would]. Oh, and Trevor Ariza is that dude, real talk. He's gonna make a great player in the future. And these commercials with this "Drag Me To Hell" trailer is gonna fuck up my night. I can't take this shit. I'm not gonna go see the movie, I don't fuck with scary films like that. Sorry.
Well, to vent a bit, it's been brought to my attention as of late that the Soulja Boy craze is getting worse. People all over the world love his music - if that's what you wanna call it - and they're amazed at how he has contracted the largest fan base since 50 Cent did it in 2003. Count it, Soulja Boy is quite innovative, but there are some people who would argue his musical integrity and core talent [or lack thereof]. There are still people in the music world who thinks Soulja Boy shouldn't be rapping [if that's what they chose to call it]. It's said that he [Soulja Boy] has no real rap experience, no lyrics, no versatile content, no progression, and no guile as an artist. Are they correct in their assessments, or are they just 'hating'? Then again, many of his fans could argue that although Soulja Boy doesn't have the talent and skill as many other rap artists, he does possess a lot of creativity and he makes good music. He's one of the shining examples young, black entrepreneurship in America today. Now, is this side correct, or are they just 'brainwashed'? To each is own.
Me personally, I could care less about what Soulja Boy does, but I agree with both arguments. Let's face it, Soulja Boy isn't the next 2Pac or Jay-Z...or whoever your favorite rapper may be [in case S.B. is your favorite rapper...to each is own], but Soulja Boy is creative and the music he's making is bringing in a lot of funding for him. He is an entrepreneur and he's innovative. I commend S.B. on his efforts.
But if you know me, you know I'm gonna keep it 100 with hip-hop culture.
Although S.B. is good guy and he's impressed the music industry thus far, he's definitely NOT what hip-hop needs. I'm not hating, I'm just expressing opinions about something that should be considered common knowledge by now. The songs he's making now are club-savvy and radio friendly, they're not introspective, socially-conscious, and by no means, are they lyrical. S.B. couldn't spit a hot lyric if he substituted lava and acid for saliva in his mouth. He's garbage, to say the least. It's like the Gucci Mane argument all over again. There is nothing special about their lyrics. I wish some people would wake up and realize the true meaning of hip-hop music and culture, and stop settling for mediocrity. True hip-hop heads knows a one-hit-wonder when we see them. Afro Man was whack, and the world knew it. He didn't last long. Soulja Boy, on the other hand, drops one dance song, and we keep him around? MTV places him in the Top 25 Hottest Emcees in rap [coming in @ #12...Soulja Boy Tell'Em]? The world goes crazy over his music? The kids love him? They're following his trends and they're wearing these big ass glasses? I digress. To each is own.
I'm spent. I've given up on rap music for a while. Rap music is dead. But I can't deny the fact that Soulja Boy is one hell of a hustler! Or could it be that the music industry is brainwashed? Who knows. Could be a conspiracy to take the attention away from the Hip-Hop Police's investigation in the murders of 2Pac & Biggie. Hmm...
Stay tuned for more blogging from yours truly,
The Man With 100 Nicknames! b.k.a. ~Loyalty~
Well, to vent a bit, it's been brought to my attention as of late that the Soulja Boy craze is getting worse. People all over the world love his music - if that's what you wanna call it - and they're amazed at how he has contracted the largest fan base since 50 Cent did it in 2003. Count it, Soulja Boy is quite innovative, but there are some people who would argue his musical integrity and core talent [or lack thereof]. There are still people in the music world who thinks Soulja Boy shouldn't be rapping [if that's what they chose to call it]. It's said that he [Soulja Boy] has no real rap experience, no lyrics, no versatile content, no progression, and no guile as an artist. Are they correct in their assessments, or are they just 'hating'? Then again, many of his fans could argue that although Soulja Boy doesn't have the talent and skill as many other rap artists, he does possess a lot of creativity and he makes good music. He's one of the shining examples young, black entrepreneurship in America today. Now, is this side correct, or are they just 'brainwashed'? To each is own.
Me personally, I could care less about what Soulja Boy does, but I agree with both arguments. Let's face it, Soulja Boy isn't the next 2Pac or Jay-Z...or whoever your favorite rapper may be [in case S.B. is your favorite rapper...to each is own], but Soulja Boy is creative and the music he's making is bringing in a lot of funding for him. He is an entrepreneur and he's innovative. I commend S.B. on his efforts.
But if you know me, you know I'm gonna keep it 100 with hip-hop culture.
Although S.B. is good guy and he's impressed the music industry thus far, he's definitely NOT what hip-hop needs. I'm not hating, I'm just expressing opinions about something that should be considered common knowledge by now. The songs he's making now are club-savvy and radio friendly, they're not introspective, socially-conscious, and by no means, are they lyrical. S.B. couldn't spit a hot lyric if he substituted lava and acid for saliva in his mouth. He's garbage, to say the least. It's like the Gucci Mane argument all over again. There is nothing special about their lyrics. I wish some people would wake up and realize the true meaning of hip-hop music and culture, and stop settling for mediocrity. True hip-hop heads knows a one-hit-wonder when we see them. Afro Man was whack, and the world knew it. He didn't last long. Soulja Boy, on the other hand, drops one dance song, and we keep him around? MTV places him in the Top 25 Hottest Emcees in rap [coming in @ #12...Soulja Boy Tell'Em]? The world goes crazy over his music? The kids love him? They're following his trends and they're wearing these big ass glasses? I digress. To each is own.
I'm spent. I've given up on rap music for a while. Rap music is dead. But I can't deny the fact that Soulja Boy is one hell of a hustler! Or could it be that the music industry is brainwashed? Who knows. Could be a conspiracy to take the attention away from the Hip-Hop Police's investigation in the murders of 2Pac & Biggie. Hmm...
Stay tuned for more blogging from yours truly,
The Man With 100 Nicknames! b.k.a. ~Loyalty~
Monday, May 11, 2009
Post 13: Twitter
Okay, so there's this new phenomenon going around throughout the internet community known as Twitter. It's a social networking site that...okay, so I don't know exactly what it is. But I do know that it's a very interesting site to visit, perhaps join if you don't have one. Twitter, to me, is a site where you can go upload constant information and track other people, businesses, and organizations. It can be a great marketing tool, networking site, or even a simple social network, however one would like to use it. I think it's a great website and I check it everyday. It has some useful information that you would rarely find in your basic online search. I read this one "tweet" (Twitter post) that examined the common causes of suicide amongst teens, followed by a link. Pretty useful information for a general psychology course in college, isn't it? So, therefore, I think Twitter is pretty awesome.
http://twitter.com/jjcunni1 - Follow me!
An article posted via Zimbio reads as follows (no pun intended):
Just when you’ve got MySpace and Facebook figured out – carefully balancing “fun” with maintaining a professional image – comes Twitter, a micro-blogging platform that offers you the ability to send messages (tweets) of 140 characters -- not 140 words.
The idea is that you post a message on Twitter to let everyone who is “following” you know what you are doing. In other words, people choose to “follow” you and then get a news feed of your tweets.
In the last week I’ve gotten email newsletters from several internet marketers explaining how to use Twitter for business purposes. Trying to follow this advice, I’ve sent tweets about attending the two-day internet marketing seminar of John Kremer (www.bookmarket.com) as well as attending BookExpoAmerica. Last night I sent a tweet about reading the book “Problogger” by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett recommended by the BlogSquad (www.blogsquad.biz). It’s important to consider how this new social phenomenon (it’s free – anyone can sign up at www.twitter.com) could help or hinder your professional image. If you sign up for this social network, ANYONE else who is on the network can “follow” you unless you check “Protect my updates.” (This lets only people whom you approve follow your updates.) I’ve just put a Twitter link on both of my blogs. (I chose to have only one tweet appear rather than the five tweets that is the default setting.) And I actually don’t update through Twitter. I update through Ping.fm, which at this writing is still in beta.
And actually I don’t go to the Ping site to update. I go to my Facebook page, where I have the Ping application. There I can dash off a quick update that Ping sends to the sites I’ve indicated: Bebo, Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, and Twitter. And, now apparently, Twitter then sends the update to my two blogs.Okay, are you as confused as I am? And you want to know what’s the point of this post? One, you should know what Twitter and tweets are if someone asks you about this new phenomenon. Two, you should remember to follow all the “protect your brand” recommendations that I’ve given for other social media networks.And because it is so easy to dash off a tweet, you may have to be especially careful to resist shooting off a risqué comment. Instead, if you decide to join Twitter, consider how you can positively impact your brand.You know what? I’m going to send a tweet through Ping on my Facebook account that I’ve just blogged about Twitter.
http://twitter.com/jjcunni1 - Follow me!
An article posted via Zimbio reads as follows (no pun intended):
Just when you’ve got MySpace and Facebook figured out – carefully balancing “fun” with maintaining a professional image – comes Twitter, a micro-blogging platform that offers you the ability to send messages (tweets) of 140 characters -- not 140 words.
The idea is that you post a message on Twitter to let everyone who is “following” you know what you are doing. In other words, people choose to “follow” you and then get a news feed of your tweets.
In the last week I’ve gotten email newsletters from several internet marketers explaining how to use Twitter for business purposes. Trying to follow this advice, I’ve sent tweets about attending the two-day internet marketing seminar of John Kremer (www.bookmarket.com) as well as attending BookExpoAmerica. Last night I sent a tweet about reading the book “Problogger” by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett recommended by the BlogSquad (www.blogsquad.biz). It’s important to consider how this new social phenomenon (it’s free – anyone can sign up at www.twitter.com) could help or hinder your professional image. If you sign up for this social network, ANYONE else who is on the network can “follow” you unless you check “Protect my updates.” (This lets only people whom you approve follow your updates.) I’ve just put a Twitter link on both of my blogs. (I chose to have only one tweet appear rather than the five tweets that is the default setting.) And I actually don’t update through Twitter. I update through Ping.fm, which at this writing is still in beta.
And actually I don’t go to the Ping site to update. I go to my Facebook page, where I have the Ping application. There I can dash off a quick update that Ping sends to the sites I’ve indicated: Bebo, Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, and Twitter. And, now apparently, Twitter then sends the update to my two blogs.Okay, are you as confused as I am? And you want to know what’s the point of this post? One, you should know what Twitter and tweets are if someone asks you about this new phenomenon. Two, you should remember to follow all the “protect your brand” recommendations that I’ve given for other social media networks.And because it is so easy to dash off a tweet, you may have to be especially careful to resist shooting off a risqué comment. Instead, if you decide to join Twitter, consider how you can positively impact your brand.You know what? I’m going to send a tweet through Ping on my Facebook account that I’ve just blogged about Twitter.
Post 12: Top 10 Signs [Ladies] That Your Man Is Gay!
In light of the fact that "alternative lifestyles" are becoming more socially acceptable, we'd like to shine some light on the many men mask their true sexual preference. They either hide the fact that they are gay or they just don't know it yet!
The myth of the down-low man has many women, whether jokingly or seriously, looking at their mates and asking themselves, "is he gay?" Maybe it was an excessive roll in his neck when he told you "No. I'm not hooking up your DVD player right now," or the way he imitates his gay co-workers down to the switch in his walk. While some men would say that he's simply "comfortable with his sexuality," others would say, "he's gay."
With the recent prevalence of such terms as the "homothug" and the "metrosexual," it can be hard to tell the difference between a man that simply likes to bend gender rules and a man that likes to bend over.
We've done some research and put together a few signs that might warn you to stay away from the guy you're dating because he may secretly wear your panties and play in your make-up. This read is for entertainment purposes only, so please don't get your panties in a bunch, no pun intended fellas.
1. He spends more time with his boys than with you.If your guy spends more time with his "boys," or one in particular that you have yet to meet, there's a reason for this! Don't get suckered into the idea that your man is just playing Madden for hours at a time... he's playing football alright, the touching kind.
2. He switches his style suddenly.If your guy was once dressed with some urban flair and went from rocking Timb's in the summer to designer flip-flops and polo's, then you should try and schedule a lunch date with him and his "boy" he's "playing poker" with.
3. He's extremely homophobic.If your man has an extreme dislike for flamboyant gay men or your gay friends, so much so that he can't stand to be around them, then he's got something to hide and he's terrified of being exposed by the "gaydar."
4. He has lost his sexual appetite.If your man is no longer pushing up on your booty in the bed, suddenly lost his goodstroke or lacks the "morningwood," he's either lost his sexual desires for you or for women all together. This is a red flag.
5. He spent an extended amount of time in the slammer.Dudes who have spent time in prison have seen some gay activity go down or were victims of the "dropped soap" nightmare. If your man is anxiously anticipated the release of his cell mate and gets ghost after he's freed, you already know what time it is. *Special Note: Be wary of jailboys with cornrows, what lap did he have to rest his head in to get them joints plaited?*
6. He wants to engage in a threesome with another guy.Red flag. If he wants to have a threesome with you and another guy, this is bad. No straight man wants to see his girl getting down with another guy. If your dude has had a threesome in the past with one of his "boys" and a "jumpoff," that's two too many testicles in a sexual scenario! He's gay.
7. He picks out your clothes.If your dude picks out your clothes for you and is piecing together parts of your wardrobe that you never thought would go together, but somehow his ensembles turn out "fierce," you've got a fairy on your hands.
8. He steals your panties.In some cases, this is okay. Plenty of women have found a set of her panties at her mans place without knowing that he took them, in most cases this is healthy. But, if your man is stealing your thongs and panties in excessive amounts, he's quietly trying them on and wearing them.
9. He has overly-feminine gestures. If your guy rolls his neck, sucks his teeth, fold his arms and stomps away when he gets mad, he's more than "feminine." If he throws his hands to his mouth and rolls his eyes back when he get excited, or walks with more of a switch than you do, he's a certified b*&#h and you knew this already, but just wanted a gay friend, right?
10. He spends more time getting ready than you do.If your man is still in the mirror after you've showered, shaved, applied make-up, did your hair, ironed your clothes, made a drink and took a short nap on more than one occasion. Chances are he looks better than you, knows and loves that he does and officially plays for the other team.
While these signs are NOT psychotherapist certified, they're simply things to pay attention to if you're not sure that the man you're seeing is as straight as he claims. Even though you may have a weakness for "pretty-boys" or hard criminals, the truth is "gay" has no look or preference, so ladies (and men) be smart and always SAFE!
The myth of the down-low man has many women, whether jokingly or seriously, looking at their mates and asking themselves, "is he gay?" Maybe it was an excessive roll in his neck when he told you "No. I'm not hooking up your DVD player right now," or the way he imitates his gay co-workers down to the switch in his walk. While some men would say that he's simply "comfortable with his sexuality," others would say, "he's gay."
With the recent prevalence of such terms as the "homothug" and the "metrosexual," it can be hard to tell the difference between a man that simply likes to bend gender rules and a man that likes to bend over.
We've done some research and put together a few signs that might warn you to stay away from the guy you're dating because he may secretly wear your panties and play in your make-up. This read is for entertainment purposes only, so please don't get your panties in a bunch, no pun intended fellas.
1. He spends more time with his boys than with you.If your guy spends more time with his "boys," or one in particular that you have yet to meet, there's a reason for this! Don't get suckered into the idea that your man is just playing Madden for hours at a time... he's playing football alright, the touching kind.
2. He switches his style suddenly.If your guy was once dressed with some urban flair and went from rocking Timb's in the summer to designer flip-flops and polo's, then you should try and schedule a lunch date with him and his "boy" he's "playing poker" with.
3. He's extremely homophobic.If your man has an extreme dislike for flamboyant gay men or your gay friends, so much so that he can't stand to be around them, then he's got something to hide and he's terrified of being exposed by the "gaydar."
4. He has lost his sexual appetite.If your man is no longer pushing up on your booty in the bed, suddenly lost his goodstroke or lacks the "morningwood," he's either lost his sexual desires for you or for women all together. This is a red flag.
5. He spent an extended amount of time in the slammer.Dudes who have spent time in prison have seen some gay activity go down or were victims of the "dropped soap" nightmare. If your man is anxiously anticipated the release of his cell mate and gets ghost after he's freed, you already know what time it is. *Special Note: Be wary of jailboys with cornrows, what lap did he have to rest his head in to get them joints plaited?*
6. He wants to engage in a threesome with another guy.Red flag. If he wants to have a threesome with you and another guy, this is bad. No straight man wants to see his girl getting down with another guy. If your dude has had a threesome in the past with one of his "boys" and a "jumpoff," that's two too many testicles in a sexual scenario! He's gay.
7. He picks out your clothes.If your dude picks out your clothes for you and is piecing together parts of your wardrobe that you never thought would go together, but somehow his ensembles turn out "fierce," you've got a fairy on your hands.
8. He steals your panties.In some cases, this is okay. Plenty of women have found a set of her panties at her mans place without knowing that he took them, in most cases this is healthy. But, if your man is stealing your thongs and panties in excessive amounts, he's quietly trying them on and wearing them.
9. He has overly-feminine gestures. If your guy rolls his neck, sucks his teeth, fold his arms and stomps away when he gets mad, he's more than "feminine." If he throws his hands to his mouth and rolls his eyes back when he get excited, or walks with more of a switch than you do, he's a certified b*&#h and you knew this already, but just wanted a gay friend, right?
10. He spends more time getting ready than you do.If your man is still in the mirror after you've showered, shaved, applied make-up, did your hair, ironed your clothes, made a drink and took a short nap on more than one occasion. Chances are he looks better than you, knows and loves that he does and officially plays for the other team.
While these signs are NOT psychotherapist certified, they're simply things to pay attention to if you're not sure that the man you're seeing is as straight as he claims. Even though you may have a weakness for "pretty-boys" or hard criminals, the truth is "gay" has no look or preference, so ladies (and men) be smart and always SAFE!
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