A Baller's Baller

Steph Curry plays the game the way I like to see it played. I could watch the kid shoot all day long. In this video he talks with the NBA's David Aldridge about what it's been like playing in the Vegas Summer League so far and his expectations for the 2009-2010 Season.

NBA Finals Wrap-up

Well the Finals are over and now our lives get a little less exciting because the only sport left to watch on TV is baseball (which is slowly self-destructing). I haven't posted about sports in a while, so I just wanted to leave a few thoughts I had about the Finals and the NBA in general.

1)I have enjoyed the NBA more this year than any other year. It has passed college football in the race to be my favorite spectator sport. I can't really put my finger on why that is. I think part of it is due to the quality of play and maybe also because I spent more time watching games and reading about it this year than I ever have before.

2)I hate the Lakers. I hate Kobe Bryant. This does not mean that I do not recognize his outstanding athletic abilities and basketball skill, it just means I don't like him. I was really disappointed that the first season of the NBA that I've cared about since my childhood had to end with Kobe hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy.

3)Can we please stop hearing about how Kobe is so much better now and how he has come to realize how much he needs his teammates, etc. Look at his playoff numbers from last year and look at them from this year. They are EXACTLY the same. He didn't play any better, he just had better help. Do you realize how much better Ariza is than Radmonovich? Not to mention the fact that the Celtics from last year would've killed the Magic from this year. Bill Simmons gets into the nitty gritty of this in his latest column which you can read here.

4)Those Nike MVP (Most Valuable Puppets) commercials with the puppet versions of LeBron and Kobe are classic! Nike marketing does it again. This series of commercials is going to go down as some of the best advertising in history. I especially love the one with Dez:



Is it bad that during the one where the Kobe puppet jumps into the car that I was kinda hoping he'd get nailed by it?

5)Phil Jackson is the greatest coach ever. He takes some of the most difficult personalities (Jordan, Kobe, Rodman, Shaq, etc.) and wins championships with them. It's crazy how successful the guy has been.

6)I'm ready for the NBA Draft to start. I might do a running diary if I can find the time.

5 Things About Wale

MTV did a recent segment on Wale. He tells us 5 things he wants us to know about him. Check it out:

Wale - MTV Shows

Official Chillin' - Video

Wale - Behind the Scenes

This video is part 2 of a 10 part video podcast series that Zune is doing on Wale. This video features behind the scenes footage of his video shoot for Chillin'. Enjoy:

Wale on Carson Daly

Wale performed his new single, Chillin' on Carson Daly's show last week. Here's the video.

Hip Hop on 20/20 in 1981

These videos are awesome. Way ahead of it's time.

Part 1:

Part 2:

NEW URL!!!!

In order to simplify this blog, the url has been changed to bignoel15.blogspot.com.

A Couple Videos

I wanted to post a couple videos that I've found recently since it's been a while since I made a post. The first video is from Fayetteville, NC rapper, JCole. JCole opened for Wale a couple of weeks ago at the Cat's Cradle in Chapel Hill. Despite is inexperience, he knows how to rock a crowd. He's the most recent signee to Jay-Z's new label, ROC Nation. This video is the "trailer" for his upcoming mixtape, "The Warm Up." It may seem a little over dramatic, but this dude has a really cool story and I love the fact that he's rockin' the 96 Air Penny's. Those were my favorite basketball shoes.

J Cole - The Warm Up (trailer) from bbgun on Vimeo.

I found the next video on the Billionaire Boys Club blog. This video is CRAZY!!! You have to watch it all the way to the end.

I mean this dude rides his bike better than most people can walk! It's just plain ridiculous!!!

I know y'all are probably waiting for my thoughts on this insane Bulls-Celtics series. Let me just go ahead and let you know that Bill Simmons at ESPN called it. In his column after Game 1, he said that this series could shape up to be one of the best series of all time. You can read the article here.

Since I had such a good time at the Wale concert a couple weeks ago, later this week I'll hit y'all with a megapost on all things Wale. Until then, PEACE!!!!

I Know This is Old BUT...

I cannot get over how ridiculously horrible this commercial is. I know you're Boost Mobile and your budget is probably smaller than the RailHawks', but come on! Young Jeezy has quite a following, especially in the southern U.S., but Dupri is closing in on 40 and don't get me started on this Mickey Avalon character. He seems so out of place with the hardcore urban theme of the rest of the commercial. Check this blurb from his wikipedia page. Great guy to have representing your company?!?!?! I don't even know where to go from here. I'm just so baffled by this guy's appearance in the ad and the fact that someone gave this queer a record deal! I can't wait to get my Boost Mobile phone...SYKE!!!!

YES!!!!!

Out of Control Awesome!

I will now fly Southwest every single time I fly just in hopes of having this guy as my flight attendant. Awesome.

Pharrell @ McDonald's in Paris

This is pretty funny. Pharrell gets no love at the airport in Paris. So much for superstar treatment.

The Year 2019

As most of you know, I'm a huge fan of Apple Products. This video is from arch-nemesis, Microsoft but it's still pretty cool. The video, titled "2019" is Microsoft's view of the future. It shows a lot of touch screen technology and wireless connectivity. Check it out.

<a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-GB&playlist=videoByUuids:uuids:a517b260-bb6b-48b9-87ac-8e2743a28ec5&showPlaylist=true&from=shared" target="_new" title="Future Vision Montage">Video: Future Vision Montage</a>

New K-OS Video

Here's a new video from Toronto MC/singer/producer K-OS (pronounced "chaos").  If you haven't heard of this guy before, I wouldn't be that surprised.  He's been under the radar the past few years but his last album, 2007's "Atlantis - Hymns for Disco," is one of my favorites.  He's also got a really cool acoustic album available on iTunes.  Enjoy the video.

This is Why I Love Jumbotrons...

Kanye West - Welcome to Heartbreat Official Video

This is awesome!  Kanye featuring KiD CuDi.  Welcome to Heartbreak.

KANYE WEST "Welcome To Heartbreak" Directed by Nabil from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.

This is My Jam!!!

In honor of Bill Simmons' annual NBA Trade Value column, he posted a link to this video. This is John Tesh, creator of the "NBA on NBC" theme song. This song is probably in my top 10 favorite songs ever... that's right ever. If this song doesn't bring back memories of Sunday afternoons for you, then you are either a female or I don't have much in common with you and we should probably never speak. Now be prepared, this video is way corny, but just listen to the song, it's awesome.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

I've been wanting to post this song for a while, but I'm glad I waited because the official video was just released this week.  This song features an interesting mix of MC's:  Phonte from the Durham based Little Brother, Evidence of Dilated Peoples, and one of my favorite up-and-comers, Blu.  Former Black Eyed Pea's front man will.i.am sings the hook.  This is on Evidence's EP titled The Layover.

Grammy's 09

I hate award shows in general.  It's basically a bunch of super rich people in one room, pretending to like each other.  The Grammy's is no exception.  I have really strong opinions about music too, and the Grammy's hardly ever reward those that I feel deserve recognition.  Sunday night's Grammy's did result in some pretty cool performances though.  My favorite was this one with Radiohead and the USC marching band.  I can't begin to describe how cool this is:

Radiohead - 15 Step
by Alisvideo

I also really loved the Coldplay/Jay-Z performance.  Everybody knows that Jay-Z is my all-time favorite musician and this colab with Coldplay is great.

Dreadlocks

This is officially the "Year of Dreadlocks." I have always been a huge fan of dreadlocks. I think it is the most stylish hair style. They say so much about the person. I am cool, but spiritual. I am peaceful, serious, and relaxed. I don't allow my hair to get wet or for people to run their fingers through it.

For some, dreadlocks are truly a spiritual choice of hair style. I lived in the Caribbean for 2 years and met many a Rastafarian. Rastas, as they're affectionately known, wear their hair in dreadlocks due to the passages in the Old Testament referring to the Law of the Nazarite. This law forbade the cutting of hair. Samson was a Nazarite and you all know what happened when he cut his dreads.

The most famous dreadlocks belong to Bob Marley. I love his music and the universality of its message. Everyone can relate to peace and love right? Bob's dreads were basically perfect.

The most famous current artist with dreadlocks has to be Lil' Wayne.
WARNING! SIDE RANT: I was really trying to avoid ever mentioning Lil' Wayne in this blog. I hate him and his music. I hate that he is the voice behind the new Gatorade commercial. You know those annoying "What's G?" one's that don't even make sense. I hate Lil' Wayne's voice. He sounds (and looks) like a Gremlin.

 

How the heck can this guy be the most popular musician in America?!?!?!?! He has tears tattooed on his cheeks for crying out loud!!!!! Katie Couric recently interviewed him for the Grammy's and asked him what he would ask Pres. Bush about Hurricane Katrina (Lil' Wayne is from New Orleans) and you know what Lil' Wayne said? He said "I'm a gangsta and gangstas don't ask questions." In other words, I'm a complete idiot! This guy is addicted to cough syrup and we allow our children to listen to his awful music. Ridiculous. END OF SIDE RANT.

Dreadlocks even made their way onto American Idol last season with everyone's favorite Jack Johnson wannabe, Jason Castro. I gotta admit. I liked this dude. He has some nice dreads for a white guy. 

I did see a white guy in St. Kitts once that was bald on top and had two really long dreads that hung down to his ankles. It was crazy.

Super Bowl Dreads: Dreadlocks have become a popular hair style amongst athletes, from Manny Ramirez

 

to that really annoying guy on Clemson's basketball team. 

Football players have been especially prone to grow out the dreads lately. I think this might be a way that they can cushion their heads from those uncomfortable football helmets. If you paid attention at all to the NFL this year, then you know that the best receiver in the league is Larry Fitzgerald. Even though he wasn't able to pull out the win in the Super Bowl, he did break Jerry Rice's NFL playoff receiving record. His dreads were in full effect throughout the season.

So if you're trying to figure out what you should do with your hair, whether your a dude or a dudette, now is the time to grow some dreads. In the comments section list some of your favorite dreadlocked celeb's or links to pic's of your favorite dreadlocks.

Transformers 2 Trailer!!!!

I saw this last night while watching the Super Bowl (more on that later). This looks awesome!!!!

Wale & Colin Munroe Jam Session

My new favorite rapper, Wale, was in the studio with up and coming pop/rock/electronic artist, Colin Munroe. This song has been out for a while but I love the live element.

Broken Ankles!

I can't believe I'm posting this.  If you know me or if you've ever read any part of this blog, you're probably aware of my disdain for all things Kobe Bryant.  I can't lie though, this commercial had me laughing.  I have to admit, I've warmed up to Kobe's personality a little bit, especially after watching him actually be a team player during the Olympics in Beijing.  This does not mean I'm now a Kobe fan.  I can just tolerate him now.  Here's the commercial.  Enjoy!

Side note:  Best rap lyric referencing Kobe Bryant:  "I ordered that Kobe beef like I was Shaquille O'Neal." -Kanye West