As the NFL and ‘Hard Knocks’ drum up as much media attention as possible, the NBA took a few days off from their last appearance with the 2019-20 schedule release. With the NBA season set to tip-off in just a few months, the excitement generated by this past offseason has given fans and media members another reason…
via Five Must-Watch 2019-20 NBA Preseason Games — The Athletes Hub
Have you ever wondered what a star does after it falls? Once it burns out, what next? Can that star be reborn, or does it pretend it were a cloud, nitrogen, or some other particle in the great beyond?
As news broke of another catastrophic lower extremity injury for DeMarcus Cousins, there was a feeling in my gut this may be it. A torn ACL is the prognosis of the “6’9” big man from Kentucky who has rampaged through the NBA during his tenure. Cousins has used style, force, and grace to go along with his High Basketball IQ that would put him on any Top 5 for this decade.
What does that mean now? Once again, he will be sitting on the sidelines in plain clothes as the team he signed with marches along without him. Once again he will put himself through every rigor of physical therapy to get back to the court. Once again pundents will reiterate his nastiness to previous organizations and front offices.
But what about DeMarcus Cousins?
What goes through the mind of a 28/29 year old man who has made a living on the basketball court during the prime of his career? DeMarcus has been able to watch player after player shoot through the sky and out of our sight in a moments notice. Will he be able to keep his mind in tact to rehabilitate yet again? Who are those around him that are willing to stick with Demarcus through this process? I imagine the ones around him have been there since the beginning.
Should Boogie retire? No. This is not the time to retire, yet it is the perfect time to transition into his next phase of living. Demarcus does wonder in every community he has been a part of, so there is no doubt his philanthropy will take him far once his playing days are done. Will DeMarcus start blogging? Behind the scenes with UnInterrupted, or maybe even a few guest appearances on TNT or Espn Radio. He may not have as many hot-takes as Ryan Hollins, but Cousins could provide some insight on his journey through these injuries.
Being in the spotlight isn’t something Cousins seeks out, but it may be beneficial for his psyche if he is able to talk about what he has gone through these past few seasons. The pressure from the outside world plus his own expectations could be troublesome for an athlete of his caliber. We have been conditioned to only concern ourselves with what a player can do for us, but in this case, we should all support DeMarcus through this process again.
Though we have watched former All-stars come back from various knee injuries and have productive careers, there are many who never return to the bench.
Maybe it won’t be about if he can get 20 and 10. Maybe it doesn’t end with a championship ring. Maybe this is the time in which DeMarcus continues to build upon his legacy off the court.
By Mars Champion
Sean Carter’s recent play with the NFL should come as no surprise to the public, as the NFL looks to continue their anti-kneeling initiatives that have been going unnoticed for the past few years. Carter, but mostly his Stan’s, have repeatedly reiterated that he himself is not just a businessman, he’s a Business. Man! (I really hope that lyrics was ghostwritten by somebody else). When the news came down that Carter and the NFL would partner up for entertainment purposes and the initiative, it was only predictable the tap-dancing memes would begin to flood social media.
“Red or blue pill, you win or you lose.”
As if we have not learned a thing or two from the Colin Kaepernick’s exodus from the NFL, the media-driven narratives we have chosen to argue have once again filled our timelines.
Is this society’s fault? The media? Us? Well, it seems to be right within our comfort zone to debate such nuanced topics as we would sports on a Monday morning. There must be a winner, a loser, and any type of objectiveness is considered fence-riding, which on the contrary would seem to be the best use of our discussions. Yet, when these certain emotional hot-button issues arise in the virtual community, we automatically grab our keyboards and begin a slow fight to nowhere.
Nothing Has Changed, Not Even Us
To be frank, siding with the NFL makes you side with President Donald Trump. Which then sides you with racism and white supremacy. You may feel differently about this, but these are the prevailing narratives. Siding with Kaepernick pits you directly against racism, and for social justice. There are other sides in between, but these are the two of the most pushed narratives by us.
That is correct, we have been the main carriers of this message. We allowed them to write the narrative early on, and in return, we have argued time and time again until we no longer care about the issue.
We ought to take time to decipher the drivers of such narratives on these issues. When the narrative, “Why aren’t there more black artists performing the halftime show?” we must remember they answered this narrative with announcing Sean Carter as the driving force for inclusiveness. Carter reiterated he wouldn’t perform at an NFL halftime show, although his wife Beyonce Carter has performed at the event in the past.
What Is The Root Cause
So what is it that angers us? Is it the NFL, a branded company once again giving us the bare-minimum pandering they think we wanted? Is it Sean Carter’s willingness to partner with the NFL? This conundrum seems to be Eric Reid versus Malcolm Jenkins (The Coalition) all over again, but this time the money is in ownership of an NFL team, not Papa John’s Pizza.
Did we learn nothing as money changes through hands that have never shook ours? We keep hoping those who are not us, to be us, even when we would not do what we ask of them. Brands do what brands do, and all that social justice talk is for those who aren’t making millions off if the business deals. Those programs are lead by those like us, but paid for and sponsored by those like the NFL and Sean Carter.
So why are we distancing ourselves from each other over decisions not involving our direct input? Not saying we should not care, but our discourse can lead some to believe we don’t actually care about what is going on, but rather we have a hill we need to die upon. Couple that with the brash generalizing from each side of the argument gets us no closer to a resolution, other than knowing we despise each other for what they have given us as talking points to run with.
Again, I just ask if you are hurt from this partnership? Are you angry at Sean Carter? Are you angry at the NFL? These branded entities have not changed their outlook on making profit for their businesses. There is convenient-wisdom we should hold these companies to a higher standard, but we never set said standard, they did. When we expect more from them, they deliver it to us, but not in the manner in which we accept as a consensus.
Is There A Resolution?
Should we be surprised? No. Should we be puzzled? Yes. Does this end in Colin Kaepernick on an NFL roster? Who knows. What we ought to realize is just as Antonio Brown and the Raiders drum up content for their Hard Knocks show on HBO, it should be noted the NFL could also be doing the same for ESPN and their social media outlets.
All in all, we should see these partnerships coming. Sean Carter doesn’t put the NFL in his lyrics just for kicks. And the NFL doesn’t partner with Sean Carter for no reason. The Carter’s political ties seem to lean left, and that is only from their Clinton performances in the past. A merger with a branded company that runs opposite to what the NFL’s perceived perception is a public relation’s dream.
We only swing at Sean Carter, because we believe he is closer to our reach than the NFL, and Roger Goddell. All the while they are both billion dollar corporations, and neither has been interested in a single word we’ve been arguing over the past 3 years.
By: Mars Champion
With the release of the NBA Schedule 2019-20 , did you have to remind yourself the NBA hasn’t been in the news since Chris Paul was traded? Other than the #RichPaulRule and every mid-teir NBAer pulling their name from the World Cup squad, the NBA has leveled off as the NFL and Pennant-Races take the stage.
As fans around the league wait around for Bradley Beal’s decision on his early extension, and if any team will take on Chris Paul’s contract, the NBA has given us a few morsels to hold us over and fuel future ticket sales with the release of the 2019-20 schedule.
As the NBA landscape went under heavy re-construction this past offseason, the anticipation of this year’s schedule release has had many fans ready for the season to actually begin. Player movement has once again piqued our interest, but more-so this season as presumably the Warriors are not overwhelming title favorites. Oddly enough, the media (including us fans) have determined the Warriors not to be a serious threat, the Bucks to have fallen off with the loss of Brogdan, and the Raptors losing Kawhi Leonard without any compensation.
No sign and trade for Kawhi Leonard… Why not? Oh well.
So as we dive into the upcoming NBA schedule, let’s take a look at some of the matchups that could make regular season basketball enjoyable to watch.
What To Look Forward To:
-Teams that lost players due to trade, free agency or released
-What players will be swooned by certain teams due to Pre-Agency
-Players returning back to teams after this past offseason
Early Bird Special
With most of the NBA talent in the Western Time Zone (that’s a thing now), the NBA has moved their PrimeTime slots up one hour. This now allows East Coasters to once again revel in their arbitrary time zone. Do you feel for the Central/Mountain/Western time zones? Those Denver Nuggets games will be starting at 6pm, which cannot be enjoyable for those leaving work around that same time. So with Time Zone Supremacy belonging to the East Coast, viewers will now be able to catch more games at an earlier hour, and hopefully this is easier for bloggers of the NBA. Staying up until 1am for a Knicks at Suns Tuesday night extraordinaire cannot be a welcomed trend.
The Celtics lost Al Horford, a Morris Twin, Terry Rozier and…. Kyrie Irving. So which one of these former Celtics will be coming to town for some get-back? The Celtics and Sixers will open up on Oct. 23 in Philly, but can Horford muster enough animosity to make this one-sided rivalry even more intense? Are you tuning in for Revenge Horford? More than likely we aren’t but the hype should be enough to see who takes more 3s: Marcus Smart or Ben Simmons? On Oct.26, the Celtics travel to New York to face the Knicks. Although Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown are a ways away from free agency, it’s never too early for Knicks fans to shower young talent with appreciation in hopes they not plan a meeting. On Nov. 7, the Celtics will travel to Charlotte as Terry Rozier will be ready for their arrival via TNT. Can’t believe I’ll have to watch this massacre on TNT in Primetime, but this is what happens when you are a former fan of the Charlotte Hornets.
Charlotte Hornets: A Light Year with no Buzz
The Hornets open the season against the Chicago Bulls, and that’s how we know it’s going to be a very long season. As a former hornets fan, the last time I checked the schedule in early August was when Alonzo Mourning or Larry Johnson returned to Charlotte. That being said, Kemba returns on Nov. 7th and I can’t imagine a more depressing return. The TNT crew may not even show up. That may be the night they bring back Players Only. If Terry Rozier isn’t benched by then, I can only hope we show up and show out that evening. They’re aren’t many bright spots on this schedule for the Hornets, Game 82 is looking pretty promising.
Brooklyn Nets: Russell’s Escape from New York
All eyes will be on the Nets this season with their key additions. But which will gather more coverage? Kyrie’s return to Boston? Kyrie against the Knicks? Or if Kevin Durant will be on the sidelines for when they play Golden State and the Knicks? The Nets start off against the Knicks, so the boos will be loud and clear. There Nets and Celtics will do battle in a Home&Home Nov. 27 and 29, which is something I haven’t seen in a while with 2 Marquee teams. It will be Thanksgiving week, so that early noon start in Brooklyn will be so empty sounding. Nobody is showing up until mid 2nd quarter at the latest and they best hope the weather holds up. Lastly, D’Angelo Russell returns on Feb 7, and hopefully he’s still in uniform and on the all-star roster. They then travel to Golden State on Mar 23, and the reception of Kevin Durant will be on display, depending on how each team stands record-wise.
By: L.I.S.A. B.
“If you only look left, you will be blindsided by the right…
If you only look right, you will be blindsided by the left…”
Being a parent uncovers responsibilities, fears and awkward references you would never have considered before your kids kids arrived. It is easy to drape yourself in hypocrisy as you teach your children values while simultaneously live by your own. It can be unnerving, but yet reassuring as children seem to have the itch to correct us when they see us not living what we teach them. We know the levels to hypocrisy, and the cognitive range they lack at their age. But sometimes, you can apply those same simple values to our own lives.
Staying fit gets harder as you age, but we still relish that those younger than us are here as a reminder to stay in shape. The kids and I go for a jog a few times a week, and recently they’ve been allowed to jog ahead (within my yelling range) so I would not slow them down.
The one thing you have say to them before crossing any road, “Look both ways before you cross the street.” I’m sure they are sick of us repeating it, but it is important and vital to their safety.
So on yesterday’s jog, they all decided to run ahead. As they approached the stop sign, the oldest started to cross the road, which the middle decided to follow suit. I yelled, “Stooooop”, and steadily jogged until I met them at the top of the hill.
I asked my oldest if he looked both ways, and he replied yes. I then asked if he checked for his sister, he had no response, other than to hang his head. I relayed to him again the importance of looking out for yourself, and taking the responsibility of your siblings. Yes, they were only 15 feet from our driveway on a non-busy “residential” street, but I’ve attended two funerals in which someone was hit by a car near their home.
The oldest mumbled the usual phrase of, “this road is never busy anyways” and I reiterated the downfall of comfortability and how it is easy to miss what is coming when you assume there is nothing to see because you have seen it before.
Are you that type of parent? Yes, everything can be a life lesson for our children.
So what about us? Should we not take my own advice in this politically charged world?
The assumption of no-risk is a plague in our society. We have been inundated with fast-paced, lost in translation information that desensitizes us to the importance of evaluating what we take into our brain.
Though many are breaking the chains of misinformation, some have given way to the easiest of solutions: Ignoring the information.
Look, it can be quite the task to watch Democrats and Republicans and decipher who is right, wrong or who is telling the truth. You must also decipher what is at stake, the angles and who is pushing said agenda.
Well, most of us do not want to, nor have the time to look at “both sides” of the argument. And with President Trump in office, the fervor to be objective in this country is not where it ought to be.
This isn’t about President Trump exclusively, but since he is in office we must still remember to look at everything and not just the hot headlines.
No matter which side you ride, we have become weary in our approach to life. Our recon and information gathering has been dwindled down to only focusing on one side, and that side is usually the one we are comfortable in. This line of thinking is congruent with our approach to the workforce and our society in general.
With our generation living through this boom of technology, it has become too troublesome to sit through hours of content just to make a decision on what we believe. Why watch President Trump and House Speaker when you can just watch the one you ride for on Twitter and stay comfortable in your conviction? Why check the stats of the Giants defense (unless in fantasy football in which there are monetized stakes) when your favorite team is the Cowboys? Can you cycle through all 30 NBA teams? Can you gather the PER of all 200 Shooting guards, or can you only focus on just one?
Even worse than confining your mind to just one thing that makes you feel comfortable, is the reasoning of assuming right and wrong while ignoring the other side all together.
“If you only look left, you will be blindsided by the right…
If you only look right, you will be blindsided by the left…”
SouthernFriedSushi 