…Now he just keeps coming back! If you throw a mangy mutt a bone one time, he’ll expect one every time and keep visiting your doorstep. Just like a certain #4, who the media CANNOT leave alone. Favre has just un-retired…for the second time.  (The story is SO big, Chad Ochocinco has even twittered about it.) And unlike Michael Jordan, he didn’t leave too soon to try his hand at baseball. Favre just took his ball and went home (twice!) until a new team called him up to come save their season (twice!)…all amongst a media frenzy that not even John Madden man-love could manufacture.

Sure he’s a good QB, if you can live with 20 interceptions every season (and that’s probably a really low guess). Yeah, I know the Vikings were in dire straits before when they had the tough choice on whether to rely on the scrambling chicken with his head cut off Tarvaris Jackson OR the Iowa State alum Sage Rosenfels (both equally terrible disses on both QBs in my book). Now they’ve got Favre, a guy who’s historically played badly in the Metrodome his whole Packers career. Now he can play terrible there for eight games!

Whether it was the attention or not, Brett Favre can’t stay away for long. Or maybe Brett was just that bored down in Mississippi with his Wrangler jeans.

-DeRoin.

((I almost made it to the end without a Michael Vick joke. I mean my opening was about dogs and a returning quarterback…the material practically writes itself! I can’t resist…so just one: Luckily the Eagles don’t visit the Browns this year. I don’t think Vick would survive the Dawg Pound. Yeah, I know…I’ll see myself out.))

Don’t act like this has never happened to you before.

Situation: Your cell phone’s battery died (or you dropped it in the toilet or it was ran over by a car or …well, there are just too many fun scenarios to list) and you must call your Mom now!

Dilemma: You can’t remember her number, for Pete’s sake! (This is especially bad if calling up Momma would really benefit your pal Pete.) But with your cell phone out of commission, you’re really up the creek.

So, have we collectively succumbed to technology’s power again? Without our digital contacts list, are we helpless to remember data once oh-so vital?

I investigated by doing and no research and asking like three people…and of course, the answer is a resounding ‘Yes’.

Before cell phones, I could remember any Bridgette’s seven digits. Still to this day I can recall most of my best friend’s home phone numbers from when we were growing up…plus my favorite pizza joint. (That one is 402-494-2999; call ‘em up and get a Canadian Bacon and Pepperoni pie– excellent!)

Alas nowadays, I’m stuck without the mystical powers of my celly’s phonebook. I guess I’ve got better things to memorize…or not. Case v. Point- life might be too convenient these days. So, is memorizing phone numbers just the latest skill to fall into obsolescence these days thanks to technology? Only time will tell (I just hope telling time never goes out of style, I rock around the analog clock).

In closing, don’t feel bad when you can’t remember your Mom’s number, I can’t either. If the number’s not 876-5309, I’ve got no clue.

PeAcE,
C. DeRoin.

NBA Jam Pool

* = if you’re a rich kid from California with a really nice pool. If not, just watch and be amazed.

-DeRoin

More Basketball fun from YouTube:

Flip shot
Buzz beater
Trick shot artist
A double dose

Rivalries of epic proportions: Lakers vs. Celtics, Duke vs. North Carolina, Bob Knight vs. a chair, Bricklayers vs. Violators. Wait…what?
 
Naturally, I’m talking about MTV’s Rock ’N’ Jock Basketball. So, gather around boys ‘n girls as I tell the tale of athletes and celebs coming together for an annual (ran from 1990 to 1997 or so, I think?!?) charity game of basketball. But not just any basketball game…how about one that featured a 25 point and a 50 point hoop waaay above the regular rim? Sounds intriguing, yet?
 
Add in 1990’s NBA greats like Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton, Reggie Miller, Tim Hardaway, J.R. Rider, and John Salley (okay, now I’m stretching the word ‘great’ too much)—and you’ve got the starts to a winning combination. Plus suit up singers like Brian McKnight and Boyz II Men, baseball all-stars like Kenny Lofton and Ken Griffey Jr., rappers like Queen Latifah and Marky Mark Wahlberg (sigh…), musicians like Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and actors like Dean Cain and Leonardo DiCaprio—and it’s a slam dunk.
 
The game were often intense, okay…not really, but there were a lot of alley oops and points on the scoreboard. MTV VJ and comedian Bill Bellamy captained the Violators, while MTV Sports anchor and actor Dan Cortese guided the Bricklayers. Bellamy often ended up on the losing end…but don’t worry about Bill ‘cuz he made plenty of memories along the way.

I mean, who can forget…
 
–Latifah stealing the ball from Kemp en route to a layup? No one told the 6 foot 9 inch “Reign Man” that the Queen was a high school b-ball star growing up in New Jersey.
 
–“Superman” Dean Cain winning the celeb dunk contest every year? How tall were the hoops for that anyway?
 
–Flea absolutely en fuego during a three-point shootout contest? Check that groovy court.
 
and finally…
 
–Gary Payton trading himself from team to team after every quarter to assure he’d be on the winning squad?
 
Ahhh…the crisp and refreshing taste of the 1990’s. Sure beats Crystal Pepsi.
 
PeAcE,
DeRoin.
 
Hey Yo, wait a second!!
I can’t leave without mentioning that MTV Rock ‘N’ Jock played softball, too. Much like basketball, more hijinx ensued. Outfielders brought fans out onto the field to take over in centerfield for awhile, baserunners had to go backwards around the basepaths one inning a game, and I’m sure a manager got thrown out every year for arguing a call.
 
Stars like George Clooney, Warren G. (once struck out twice in a slow-pitch charity softball game… c’mon Warren- you shoulda regulated on them fools), and Carmen Electra hit the diamond next to MLB players like Cecil Fielder, Darryl Strawberry, and the illustrious Roger McDowell. I had to make mention of softball because of relief pitcher McDowell alone, who took the mound over the years wearing anything from a kilt and a jester hat to crazy sunglasses and a dreadlock wig.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/24/is-this-the-stupidest-per_n_244440.html
(watch the video)

Ummm…no comment.
No words can describe this ineptness.

A quick Saturday drop…

If you’ve never checked out:
http://homestarrunner.com/
then you don’t know animated, internet comedy at all and should be banned from pointing-and-clicking forever!!!
(Three exclamations points better peak your attention meter.)

I won’t tell anyone, but here’s your late pass.

This website is worth its e-weight in terabytes. If you miss out, it’ll make your Twitter bitter. It’ll blow you iTunes right outta the iPod. The consent is so epic, you may need you iEyes checked, cap’n!

So check it out and report back with your findings in a 3-5 page essay, citing 6 sources…due tomorrow.

-DeRoin.

One trip down Memory Lane wasn’t enough today, so here’s another attraction on the road to remembering the best decade ever- the 1990’s.

My sister was telling me about just getting into watching old, syndicated episodes of ‘Saved by the Bell’. She referred to the Bayside gang as: Mario Lopez, Screech the nerd, the cute blonde guy, the cheerleader, the Black one, and the one with curly hair. (If you’re keeping score at home- that’s Slater, Screech, Zack, Kelly, Lisa, and Jessie.) Kids these days don’t have any solid Saturday morning sitcoms that are totally unrealistically and about high school. We had plenty.

Sure ‘Saved by the Bell’ was good (and way too corny even then), but nowhere near as good as NBC’s ‘California Dreams’. (Tons of episodes are available on youtube, just search for ‘em.) I’ll take up any argument, so bring it on. But, I am obligated to share this:

CALIFORNIA DREAMS THEME (sorry, couldn’t embed the video)

One last question:
Fellas- Were you a Sam, Tiffany, or Lorena kinda guy?
Ladies- Was it all about Sly, Jake, Mark, or Tony?

PeAcE,
DeRoin.

P.S.- Sharky’s was cooler than The Max, too.

Fashionably late for your Friday, it’s on with another edition of “The ‘90’s On My Mind”- the only blog where you can help me reminisce over the good times…from last decade. In elementary school, it was all about NBA gear, high socks with Nike flip-flops, and tight Lee jeans. But we had to grow up. So today, let’s set the way back machine to 1996 and me in middle school.

Ahh, adolescence…boy-girl parties in your parents’ basement, traveling basketball teams, name brand clothes, and well…that was about all we needed back then. You wanted to be ‘cool kid’? Of course you did, so you know these fabric fibers well. So grab your huge, heavy Doc Marten sandals for the summer and windbreaker jogging suit with the tear-off pants for winter, and jump back on the catwalk.

First came Tommy Hilfiger. No one knew or cared who we was, we just worse his name all over baggy jeans, polos, t-shirts, and underwear in red, white, and blue. Tommy became a household name in the urban and suburban communities and schools thanks for Hip-Hop acts like Snoop Doggy Dogg and Naughty By Nature rockin’ his gear in videos and TV performances. From there, we all jumped the bandwagon and never looked back…until high school that was. Around the turn of the millennium, the trend was to shop at the Goodwill and look as wacky, while thrifty as possible. Jump Rope for Heart tees were the rage while Tommy became ‘too mainstream’ for the cool kids to wear anymore. Heavily imitated (Abercrombie & Fitch, Old Navy, Lucky Brand, etc.) but never under priced, Hilfiger is still around…but focusing more on upscale men’s wear these days.

In about 1998 as I progressed to junior high, “for us, by us” broke out of Queens, New York and became for “everyone”…apparently. All the jocks and fellas had a New Era fitted in every color to match their Fubu jeans with Fubu baseball and football jerseys, of the 05 variety. We rocked them like there was no tomorrow while listening to Jay-Z and DMX. A good thing, too, tomorrow was fleeting. Fubu knockoff jerseys and jeans popped up at every swap meet, flea market, and ethnic fashion spot (with numbers like 07, 10, and 01). But it wasn’t like Fubu didn’t inspire its real competitors, either though. Companies like Phat Farm and Ecko both took cues from Fubu. By 2000, not even LL Cool J could sell us Fubu anymore. So no longer popular or popping up in every music video next to a Mercedes or shiny suit, Fubu has expanded into the tuxedo and men’s suit market today.

Still got some of these clothes in your closet?? Don’t front like you don’t. My Tommy gear lasted into college and I still got some Fubu stashed in the back of my drawers. I might have to dig up some pics. In the meantime, why not share your own?

PeAcE,
DeRoin.

If you were like me and busy at Saturday in the Park all day on Independence Day, then this tidbit of news might have slipped through the cracks. But thanks to a friend’s Facebook status update, I caught this gem for ya.

Atmosphere- ‘Leak at Will’ EP

Check this seven track FREE release from the Minneapolis Rhymesayer duo that almost every underground Hip-Hop kid loves. After the success of ‘Strictly Leakage’- a free downloadable LP that the group dropped on Christmas 2007, Slug and Ant have decided to bless the fans again at the right price.

I downloaded the joint yesterday, but haven’t listened to it yet. I can only assume it’s dope. So get to work and you can be the first to weight in your opinion on this blog.

PeAcE,
DeRoin.

You know the YRB had to get in that the SITP action, too, right?!?

Well, here is my collection of pics from the 2nd Stage.
2nd Stage Gallery

Expect more to be uploaded sooner or later.

Plus, while I’m at it, how about my list of the top 5 performers of the day. (I saw all of the eight acts except Dead Mans Hand…I had to go watch Lenka) So, check out my countdown:

5 (tie). The Top Civilian- vocalist (The Gateway Drug): on-point lyricist cracked some jokes, kicked his shoe off on accident, and proclaimed his love for Ted Waitt.
5 (tie). Chad Severson- guitar/vocals (Huxley Maxwell Exit): the man known as “Tiny” rocked super hard on electric and acoustic guitar while belting out the tunes.
4. Mike Berger- vocals/trumpet (HawnSwamp): incredible ball of political energy opened the day with a spoken word poem and only got more intense.
3. Biggz- vocals (Lazer Rocket Arm): the emcee had his comedic timing down cold and helped put on an all-around fresh set
2. crazy guitar player (Parallax): took a diving leap off the stage, threw his ax up into the air, stabbed the band’s ‘bag man’ to death, and laid some some phat licks.
1. Aja Black- vocals (The ReMINDers): singer, rapper, mom…she did all to the dopest degree.

But, number one in my heart— Lenka.

Agree? Disagree? Have any good stories/memories from SITP 2nd Stage? Let me know.

PeAcE,
DeRoin.