MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Any Given Sunday

Since we have finally begun getting a taste of football weather this week, I decided that this week’s film should be dedicated to the gridiron. Some would say that the off the field antics in “Any Given Sunday” are a bit dramatic but I’m sure these people are not fans of the Cincinnati Bengals who have had over 32 players arrested since 2010.

Nonetheless this movie leads me to a lot of questions that will be answered during this NFL season. Is McNabb playing Cap, the over-the-hill QB who doesn’t realize that his time to shine has come and gone? More importantly, will Cam Newton or Terrelle Pryor be the next Willie Beamen. You be the judge and watch “Any Given Sunday.”

Piss on Week 9.26.11

Check out the latest installment of 31 Percent's 'Piss On'

MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Gunnin’ for That No.1 Spot

I’m not gonna lie. I’m pissed off about this NBA strike. The season is supposed to be
starting in a little over a month and there has been no progress. Blake Griffin is interning and some guys are playing overseas, but there is no guarantee about the future of your favorite NBA superstars.

Despite not knowing the future of your favorite players, you can find out how some
of them got to the most elite level of basketball in “Gunnin’ for That No.1 Spot.” This movie takes you on a journey with today’s NBA stars (Kevin Love, Tyreke Evans and Michael Beaseley to name a few) during their high school days as they prepare to play at the world renown Rucker Park in New York City.

Although the film isn’t quite the replacement for an NBA season, it certainly is better
than listening to Commissioner David Stern ramble on about why the NBA isn’t in
action.

Sandcastles and Frisbees

By: Kenny Johnson. A daydreamer, perpetrating as an aspiring writer, leaving a trail of ink from Jersey to Los Angeles. He has something to say. Let’s see if you can relate.

Not only was the beach packed, but the sun seemed to have laid its blanket down directly in front of us. I’m talking lawsuit for spilling your McDonald’s coffee on yourself hot. With the sun hovering like a little sister, it wasn’t long before the ocean called my name and I had to take a dip. We were with a few chicks, and one of them accompanied me to the water.

We’d met about two weeks ago, but this was the first time we’d actually got to kick it. We walked toward the water and she asked why I didn’t have a girlfriend. I told her there was a range of reasons, but right now, “It takes time to build something and I haven’t found anyone to help me lay bricks.” She looked at me puzzled, but her confusion dissipated just as our toes touched the water. “The water is nice,” she responded. I smiled and grabbed her like I was going to dunk her under. She screamed and we shared a laugh as I let her go.

As we stood and talked at the water’s edge, I noticed two small children not far from us. A boy and a girl, both no older than 7. The girl had her back turned and the boy was building a sandcastle. Rather, I should say, he was creating one. I can’t say I’ve ever seen a kid pay so much attention to detail. He was using seashells to sculpt windows and various designs into his castle. It was shaping up, but for all the progress he made, a little was stripped away from his sand masterpiece as the ocean waves tumbled into the shore. This only added to the time of its completion and the queen of his castle was starting to get quite impatient. “How much longer Jimmy? I want to show everyone,” the little girl said. “Almost there, “ he said. He got up and grabbed another seashell. While he was gone, another boy came by. He was carrying a bright orange Frisbee he had purchased on the boardwalk.

Jimmy returned to his project with the seashell and put the finishing touches on his sandcastle. He wrote the name ‘Jennifer’ under it. “Okay, now all the castle needs is its queen,” he said. He looked up to see that Jennifer had moved down the beach and was playing Frisbee with the new boy. I watched his face as joy turned to sadness and disappointment. He picked up his bucket, cocked it back, and aimed it at his sandcastle. I caught his arm before it came crashing down. “Chill,” I said. He looked at me, and I pointed to where he had written her name in the sand. We both watched as the ocean rolled in and washed her name away. I took the seashell from his hand and wrote ‘Jimmy’ in the sand. I handed him back the seashell and gave him some dap. He smiled.

The girl I was with jumped on my back as the kid turned back to his work. “You know that kid?” she asked. “I do now,” I responded. As I carried her back to our spot on the beach, she asked, “Do you want to play Frisbee?”

Vicious Money

By Selena Williams. An avid boxing fan who also contributes to the boxing bible
"Ring Magazine", Ms. Williams writes with a passion that makes many believe she should actually be inside the ring.

Sixteen months ago, “Pretty Boy” Floyd “Money” Mayweather stripped Shane Mosley of his WBA Super welterweight title in a unanimous decision win for Pretty Money…I mean Money Mayweather. Fast forward to now; Money Boy is now going up against the equally matched and skilled fighter Manny Paquiao!!!!

Shit, I WISH! After fighting Hatton, Marquez, and Mosley he’s fighting Victor Ortiz and not Manny Pacquiao? Really? C’mon Son! The only reasonable argument would be for Mayweather to become the WBC welterweight title holder, before fighting Pacquiao.

But on a serious note: this Saturday, the former 5-division champ and #1 pound-for-pound boxer Floyd “Money” Mayweather (41-0, 25KOs) will face Victor “Vicious” Ortiz (29-2-2, 22KOs) in Las Vegas, Nevada at the MGM grand ballroom for the WBC welterweight title. Mayweather is reportedly making $50million but wanted $100mil and was turned down. Ortiz will be making $2-$2.5 million on this fight, which is a come up from his last fight of $400,000.

Ortiz is a great young southpaw fighter who has speed and the ability to counter-punch. At 24, he gained the WBC welterweight title when he defeated Andre Berto after 12 grueling rounds. Personally I think it’s way too soon to put him in the ring with such an advanced boxer such as Mayweather. Ortiz needs a few more fights under his belt as the title holder before I can legitimately say that he has a good chance at winning. I’m not discrediting his skill, I think if he stays calm, counters, sticks and moves, and takes it to the body, he may cause some difficulties for Mayweather, but not enough to defeat his strategic opponent. In order for Ortiz to win he’ll have to sit Mayweather down...on the canvas.

Mayweather on the other hand, isn’t getting any younger and with the layoffs after his fights I’m pretty sure it’ll catch up with him. Until then, I think it’s safe to say he still has it. I predict he’ll win this fight in simple Mayweather fashion…he’ll outbox the shit out of Ortiz! Unless Mayweather lost some of his skills during his 16 month hiatus while talking to 50cent on that money phone, I don’t see him loosing.

Personally I think that this fight is just a warm-up of what’s to come (hopefully) with Mayweather and Pacquiao. Ortiz is southpaw and so is Pacquiao, Ortiz hits pretty hard and…well… Pacquiao hits harder. All I know is after this fight, there shouldn’t be any question who Mayweather should fight next.

Captain Planet...The Movie?

In an era where every cartoon you watched as a kid is being turned into a full length movie, it is amazing to me that they have yet to remake “Captain Planet.” Not just because he was the man back in the day, but “Going Green” is a big deal nowadays. Who better to spread the word than "The Captain".

Some people feel like Captain Planet was soft, and who can blame them with characters like "Heart". But have no worries, it seems as though actor Don Cheadle has come up with a few ways to toughen up his image.

Don Cheadle is Captain Planet from Don Cheadle

Albums After Death

So, I’m watching the VMA’s and the Amy Winehouse tribute comes on. As I listen to Bruno Mars(regretfully) and a cast of other celebs pay tribute to the fallen entertainer, I wonder if Winhouse will be the most recent artist to have a posthumous album, recorded primarily after her passing. Will it be a classic, enhanced by the musical talents of her peers? Or will it be sloppily thrown together to make a quick buck? If new material were to be released by Winehouse she wouldn’t be the first deceased artist to have new hits. Here are, in my opinion, the best and worst “After-Death Albums.”

BEST

5. Notorious B.I.G.- Born Again(1999)

On the track “Dead Wrong” Eminem made sure that the ghost of Christopher Wallace did not cast a shadow on his lyrical prowess. “Notorious B.I.G.” featuring Lil Kim and Puffy Daddy also provided remnants of classic Bad Boy party tracks.

4. J. Dilla-The Shining(2006)

J. Dilla was such a perfectionist that it is sadly ironic that he did not get to see his 2006 release come to fruition. Nonetheless “The Shining” holds its own among posthumous hip-hop albums.

3. Bob Marley-Chants Down Babylon(1999)

Erykah Badu…Rakim...The Roots...and Lauryn Hill, those are just a few of the big names that accompany the late Bob Marley on this album. “Rebel Music” featuring Krayzie Bone gives me chills every time I hear it.

2. Big Pun-Yeeeah Baby(2000)

“Banned from T.V.” is the most fitting name of any track on this album. This song features Big Pun, Noreaga, Jadakiss, Styles P and Cam’ron. It doesn’t get more hardcore than that. Not to mention the CD introduced many hip-hop fans to R&B songstress Ashanti.

1. 2Pac-R U Still Down (1997)

This list wouldn’t be complete without an album from 2Pac. This album featured two hit singles in “Do for Love” and “I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto”. I wasn’t the only one to think that this was a classic, seeing as though it sold 549,000 in its first week.

WORST

5. 2Pac- Pac’s Life(2006)

Hell the man had seven albums released after his death! At least one of them had to be bad. This 2006 release did not even reach Gold status.

4. Notorious B.I.G- Duets: Final Chapter(2005)

The singles were whack. The combination of artists were poor. Even Method Man, the only artist on the 2006 release to appear on B.I.G’s first album, voiced his disapproval of the collection. Aside for the lost footage on the bonus DVD, I really could have done without this one.

3. Michael Jackson- Michael Jackson’s This Is It(2009)

Quite frankly this album just seemed rushed. Don’t believe me? MJ passed away on June 25, 2009 and the album released on October 26, 2009. They say haste makes waste and it certainly did in the case of this CD.

2. Ol’ Dirty Bastard-A Son Unique

Ol’ Dirty died in 2004. Work on his album has been taking place ever since, but no results. It was supposed to be released by Dame Dash Music Group, but I’m not even sure that company still exists. Sorry, but I can’t be a fan of an album I’ve never had the pleasure of hearing.

1.What Do You Think?

I’ve told you who I think should make the list. What are your thoughts? Let us know your favorite/most hated “Albums After Death.”

'Piss On' Hits the Big Screen

Well maybe not quite the big screen. But at least YouTube. Check out the first video ‘Piss On’ below and let us know what you think.

'The District' Hits Mitchell & Ness

Despite the many changes in fashion over the years there is one thing that has always remained a staple in my wardrobe...athletic wear. Whether it was my Sixers bib when I was 4 months old or my John Elway throwback from high school, I have always managed to rep my team. We recently took a trip to Mitchell and Ness, the most authentic athletic apparel store in existence, to see what could be added to the collection. Take a look at what we found.