To The Rack With Mac

Look away Knicks fans! This one is all about the man who made the 90’s and early 2000’s a living hell for you! Mr. Reggie Miller. Now, having grown up in New York during the time Reggie was absolutely dominating the Knicks, you would think it was in my DNA that I hate every single thing about the man. Well, I am here to tell you that is the furthest thing from the truth. Reggie Miller is easily one of my favorite players I have ever seen play. He was a straight killer and savage on the court. He is easily one of the best 3 point shooters in NBA history, having retired as the NBA’s all time leader in 3 pointers made (since broken by Ray Allen and soon to be overtaken by some guy named Curry).The best part about him was that he was going to let you know about it, even if your name happened to be Michael Jeffrey Jordan. This week, my Legend of the Week article will be a bit of a different format than in recent weeks. Rather than detail his entire life from high school, I am going to keep this one all about his most memorable moments on the court and celebrate the icon that is Reggie Miller. These moments will not be ranked in any particular order but rather just listed to be appreciated especially by the younger generations who may not know just exactly what they missed during what can only be described as the peak of the Indiana Pacers franchise to this point. So without any more delay, let’s get into the 4 most iconic moments in the career of the legendary Reggie Miller.

The first moment is probably less known to the casual fan, but the die hards will remember this series vividly. It pitted Reggie’s Pacers up against the aforementioned record breaker, Ray Allen and the Milwaukee Bucks. The first round of the 2000 NBA Playoffs would have these teams head to a deciding Game 5 and as is a common theme in the career of Reggie Miller, he would step up and take over when it mattered most. Reggie would leave no doubt that the Pacers were on their way to an incredible run after this decisive Game 5. The game would be a back and forth battle all the way through but, in the 4th quarter, Reggie did what Reggie does. He would go off for 18 points in the 4th, bringing his game total to 41 points on 60% shooting and leading the Pacers to a 1 point series clinching win. Believe it or not, that wasn’t even Reggie’s best game of the 2000 playoffs, but we will get to that later.

Next up, enter one of the moments that embodies the career of Reggie Miller. He always had a significant flair for the dramatic and ALWAYS knew how to get under an opponent’s skin in order to gain an edge. Yes, even if that opponent was not even on the team and his name was Spike Lee. Let us set the stage here. It was Game 3 of the 1994 NBA playoffs. Series tied 1-1. The Pacers were trailing by 12 entering the 4th quarter and it looked like the Knicks were going to take control of the series. Reggie Miller decided that was not going to be the case. Reggie would absolutely go bonkers and score 25 points in the final frame all while starting a sideline feud with the acclaimed director who sits courtside at nearly every Knicks home game, well up until recently when James Dolan threw another one of his power hungry hissy fits and threw Spike out. After every clutch shot and every big play made, it seemed Reggie would point, taunt or just stare down Lee as he was single handedly destroying the New York Knicks, all leading up to the game clinching shot when Reggie stared over and gave the now infamous choke sign to Spike. This game had everything that built Reggie into who he was. Clutch shooting, beating the Knicks and shutting up one of his biggest haters. This is actually the moment I knew Reggie was one of my favorites. I cannot help but admire a player going to hostile enemy territory and absolutely shining while breaking hearts and sucking the air out of an arena, especially MSG in the 90’s.

The 3rd moment I wish to speak of is one that is oh so fresh in everyone’s mind from the finale of “The Last Dance” this past Sunday evening. That’s right, the infamous game winner over Jordan. I love this moment despite MJ being my favorite player of all time. It just epitomized the grit and guts and heart that shined off of Reggie every time he stepped on the floor. This shot is so important and so iconic for a variety of reasons. The Pacers found themselves down 2-1 in the series and if Reggie misses this shot, there is just no way they force a Game 6 going back to Chicago against the best franchise of the 90’s. We are so used to MJ doing this to other teams time in and time out, that when someone does it to him, it is remembered almost as vividly. Now, Reggie pushed off or as he likes to call it, “ a slight bump”, but it was the playoffs and back then refs didn’t call the ticky tack fouls they call now. Reggie hits the shot and runs down the court, arms raised, jumping around like a little kid. I loved it. It mortalized Jordan, and almost simultaneously immortalized Miller. Truly one of his greatest moments for sure.

Now this next one everyone has probably been waiting for. His most iconic moment by far, 8 points in 9 seconds. Think about that for one minute, how does that happen?! Let’s break it down. Game 1 of the 1995 playoff series again against those pesky New York Knicks. Reggie hits his first 3 with 16.4 seconds to go in the game. On the ensuing inbounds pass, Miller makes the steal steps behind the line and knocks down yet another 3, and again I love this, staring down Spike Lee like he loved to do. On the other end, John Starks was fouled to stop the clock and as fate would have it, misses both free throws. Patrick Ewing grabs the board but misses the next shot and Reggie powers his way through for the board. For some reason unbeknownst to most, Reggie is fouled and sinks both free throws to ice the game for Indiana. Watching the video below, you will see that so much had to go wrong for the Knicks to blow it, but also Reggie had to play flawless for those 9 seconds, and he absolutely did, again crushing the spirits of Knicks fans everywhere. Me? I was sitting there enjoying every minute of it watching my father nearly have a heart attack at the unfolding events. I love my dad but the way we battle over sports, it brings joy to watch his teams lose. It’s the little things, ya know?

There are so many other moments I could have covered. These are the 4 that stand out most to me! These are the ones that solidified my adoration for his game. I can see why a lot of fans disliked Reggie Miller. He was cocky, had swagger, and usually made a living off of destroying the hopes of your favorite team. However, you have to look at the overall body of work and what it took to have the career he did in order to make a legitimate case as to why you hate him. He was always told he would not make it. He was too skinny. He was too arrogant. He was uncoachable. He quickly changed that narrative when he attended UCLA and carried that throughout his career. He silenced the haters. He never backed down. It seemed like he lived at the 3 point line, but what most fans do not realize is that the mid-range game was his bread and butter! If you didn’t want to see Reggie take over late in a game, then you better stop him at the mid range level or you were in for a long evening. Reggie Miller is an integral part of NBA history. Despite your feelings toward him, he is one of the absolute greats of the game and there is no one that can take that away from him now! Thank you Reggie, it was an honor to watch you play.

Randy Moss is widely regarded as one of the best wide receivers in NFL history. There is no debate about his greatness between the lines whatsoever. Throughout his career however, Moss was always portrayed as a jerk. Most of the time, this was brought up by no one else except Randy. But, was it entirely Moss’s blame to shoulder or did the media find themselves a villain and ran with it? As we take a trip into the life and career of Randy Moss, all the events and evidence will be presented. It will be up to the reader’s discretion to draw their own conclusions. Whether you hate him or love him, Randy Moss put up some legendary numbers and performances that led to him being immortalized forever in Canton, Ohio as a member of the Pro Football Hall Of Fame. How did he get there? Where did he come from? Just how good was Moss? Was he really as big of a prick as he was portrayed in the media? Well, read on and get all the answers in the latest edition of Mac Daddy’s Legend Of The Week series.

Randy Moss grew up in the small town of Rand, West Virginia. He attended DuPont High School in Rand, where he absolutely excelled in 3 different sports. A lot of people may not know that Randy Moss was a sensational high school basketball player. He was paired on the same team as future NBA star point guard, “White Chocolate” Jason Williams. Moss was twice named West Viginia State Player Of The Year. His Senior season he averaged 30.2 PPG, 13.7 RPG, 5.1 SPG and 3.8 BPG. Numbers that were sure to draw attention from basketball scouts everywhere, but Moss’s true love was football. He led Dupont to back to back State Titles in 1992 and 1993. His dream after high school was to play for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He received very high praise from Irish coach Lou Holtz who said “Randy Moss is the greatest high school football player I have ever seen.” In 1995, Moss’s dream was realized when he signed a letter of intent to play WR at Notre Dame. That dream would be very short lived due to an incident in school that would alter the direction of his NCAA journey. In His senior year of high school, Moss was involved in a fight that sent a student to the hospital. The student had thrown some pretty harsh racial slurs at one of Randy’s friends and if you come from where he does, business gets handled. Moss was charged with misdemeanor battery and sentenced to 30 days in jail. He served 3 days and was ordered to serve out the remaining 27 withing the next year and a half. As a result of all of this, Notre Dame rescinded their scholarship and notified Randy that he would not be a member of the Fighting Irish. Not then and not ever. Florida State Head Coach has already been quoted as saying that Moss was just a bigger version of Deion Sanders when he swooped in and gave Randy the opportunity to play at FSU. Due to eligibility rules forcing him to redshirt his Freshman season and yet another off the field incident, Randy would never step foot on a field in a competitive game as a Seminole either. Serving out the rest of his initial sentence on a work release program, Randy tested positive for marijuana and he was again dismissed from a major D1 school. The marijuana rules are really bogus, but remember this was the mid-90’s and there was still little known and a huge stigma around it. After serving 60 days in jail for the violation, Randy was accepted to play football for Division 1-AA Marshall University. Moss would excel as a member of the Thundering Herd and catch 54 touchdowns in just 2 seasons while paired with future NFL QB Chad Pennington. His final year with Marshall, Moss won the Fred Blitnekoff Award and was a finalist for the Hesiman Trophy, finishing 4th in the voting. Moss had shown the world he was ready for the next level and the NFL, but were they ready for him?

With concerns about his off the field run ins with the law, Randy Moss was overlooked by 20 teams before ultimately being selected #21 by the Minnesota Vikings. A decision they would all come to regret, depending on how you feel about his off the field shenanigans being a major issue. Now, I am not going to sit here and break down every single season of his career but holy s**t, the man could play football. One of the more memorable performances of his career came in week 13 of his rookie campaign. Moss torched the Cowboys for 163 yards on just 3 catches, all of which were for touchdowns. Moss broke the rookie touchdown record with 17 and was named Offensive Rookie Of The Year. From here on out, NFL fans got to witness truly one of the greatest players in NFL history. Moss would again put up monster numbers the next year but it was the way it ended that would stick with him for some time. Minnesota would face off with the St. Louis Rams in the Divisional Round of the playoffs where the Rams would go on to end the Vikings season. The story of the game however was a fine levied of $40,000 (reduced to 25K) to Moss for squirting a referee with water from a water bottle. Moss was crucified in the media for the act, with a lot of outlets citing his past for his poor behavior and attitude. Honestly, I understand why people would take it the way they did, officials are protected heavily throughout major sports, but come on, it was just water. It is not like he threw the water bottle itself or anything else at the ref. That is just my opinion on the matter. No matter his antics, Moss would thrive in Minnesota with Daunte Culpepper, consistently putting up video game like numbers and memories that are embedded in NFL history for all time. In 2002, while on the top of his game, Moss was involved in a traffic incident involving an officer where he allegedly bumped her with his car. Charges were dropped but he was forced to pay a hefty fine. Moss was found to be in possession of Marijuana again. He had also tested positive the year prior by the NFL. Fast forward to 2004, his final year in Minnesota, The Vikings are playing in a wild card round game against their hated rivals, the Green Bay Packers. Moss would score a pair of TD’s in the win but it was the second of the two that would cause an uproar. Moss streaked to the end zone and subsequently ran over to the goal post, turned toward the fans and pretended to moon them. Announcer Joe Buck could be heard on the telecast saying ” That is just a disgusting act”. Again I believe this to be something that was terribly overblown. It would be one thing if Moss scored and actually mooned the fans but pretending?! To me now, and even then as a 15 year old watching it happen and the fallout thereafter, I can and could not believe it got so much negative attention and press. I guess I have always had the mentality that if you do not want to see the other guy celebrating in any way, then stop him from scoring.

Moss was widely outspoken throughout his career. Whether it was having to defend his sometimes bizarre behavior on the field or demanding more money from the team he was playing for, Randy had something to say about it. At the end of the 2004 season, Randy expected a hefty extension from the Vikings but was ultimately traded to the Oakland Raiders. Moss would eclipse the 1,000 yard mark his first year in Oakland but as a team, the poor performance on a team level reared its ugly head. In 2006, Randy did not play much due to injuries and when he did, he looked unmotivated and disinterested. He would go on to publicly state that he was unhappy and that maybe a move somewhere else would be better for him. Just something about top class receivers and hating it in Oakland, huh? On draft day 2007, a deal was reached to send Moss to the New England Patriots to combine forces with Tom Brady and Bill Bellichick. During his time with Oakland and leading up to the 2007 season, Moss was widely criticized and belittled by the media with them all claiming he could no longer perform at an elite level. Boy, did Moss and company make them eat their words. What followed was the single greatest season by a wide receiver ever. Moss caught 98 balls for 1, 493 yards and an NFL record 23 touchdowns. The Pats wen undefeated the entire regular season and nearly went unbeaten all the way but ran into The New York Football Giants and lost in the Super Bowl in what is undoubtedly the greatest upset in sports history. Moss seemed to turn his attitude around while under the tutelage of Bellichick. He went for over 1,000 yards the next 2 seasons despite losing Brady for the entirety of one of them. Prior to the 2010 season, Moss again decided to speak publicly about how he was feeling toward his situation with the team and spoke out to reportes claiming to feel unwanted and misused. Moss would play 4 games for New England that season, along the way threatening management with his quotes to reporters stating it was his final year at Foxborough. Well as we have seen beforehand and since, Bellichick doesn’t play those games and Moss was traded back to the team that drafted him 12 years prior, the Minnesota Vikings. The reunion was supposed to be a celebration of sorts but that was extremely short lived. Moss was again the center of negative media attention when he was quoted as telling a caterer that the food in the locker room ” tasted like dogshit”. He also was extremely outspoken against Head Coach Brad Childress stating that Childress “didn’t know what he was doing and had no place in the NFL as a coach”. He also had publicly criticized his teammates. Moss had told owner Zygi Wilf that he was unhappy and Childress needed to go. Well, Moss was waived from the team and Childress was fired 3 weeks later anyways.

Moss would get picked up by the Tennesee Titans and would have an abysmal year. Moss would then retire and come back to play for the San Francisco 49ers. Turned out to be a good decision because he ended up being able to possibly claim his first Super Bowl ring. The 49ers would lose to the Ravens though and Moss would walk away from the playing field forever. Randy Moss had one of the best playing careers of all time. Some even consider him to be better than the consensus #1, Jerry Rice. He finished his career with 982 catches for 15, 292 yards and 156 touchdowns which are 2nd all time. Randy Moss would join the ranks of broadcasting first with Fox Sports, until he ultimately found a home he still has today on ESPN’s Sunday and Monday Night Countdown shows. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 2018, his first year on the ballot.

As for Randy Moss the person? Again that is for you to decide on your own. Honestly he was someone who was a legendary football player who liked to smoke weed sometimes, demanded the ball and his money, and told it like it was. He is also a pretty damn good analyst on his aforementioned ESPN shows. Also, before you go judging someones character based solely on who he was in the spotlight, you should probably know that the man has worked tirelessly to provide opportunity and growth for those in need in his home state of West Virginia. He has founded multiple charities aiming to build learning centers and create more opportunities for the youth there as well. Look regardless if you think the guy is a jerk or a diva, you cannot deny his greatness and legacy he leaves behind on the field. He is an icon, a sensational athlete who left his mark on this league and blazed a trail of glory to leave in his wake. We have not seen anyone quite like Randy Moss since he left the league 8 years ago. I know one thing, the Redskins sure hope that his son, Thaddeus can be like his dad although unlikely considering he is a tight end. Who Knows? Maybe Thaddeus can win that ring dad never won. All kidding aside, this one was a really fun won to write. As you can tell, I air on the side of who cares how big of a jerk he could be?, I was lucky enough to grow up watching yet another one of the greatest to play the game! A few joints and a bad attitude ain’t gonna change that!

UFC 249
Prelims.

Since the cancellation of sporting events indefinitely, sports fans around the globe have been waiting impatiently for a night like last night. A great escape from what has become a necessary reality for all of us. Quarantine, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Sheltering ourselves at home. Binging our way through Netflix and Hulu. 
I don’t know about you all, but professional tag and marble racing is not cutting it. Thanks for your efforts ESPN the ocho. 
Queue everyone’s favorite Uncle! Uncle Dana, fearlessly announcing UFC 249. The most stacked card we’ve seen in quite sometime. Big names, and heavy hitters. 
Kicking off the prelims was suppose to be two very heavy hitters. Jacare Souza and Uriah Hall. Unfortunately Jacare tested positive for Covid-19. Thoughts and prayers with him and his family. 
Stepping up to take their place a rematch between Niko Price and Vincente Luque. These two men had big shoes to fill. They did not disappoint. 
Niko the aggressor and Luque the more polished of the two, waste very little time getting after it. Vincente at the end of round 1 rocks price for his troubles and sends him back to his corner on ice skates. 
Round 2 Price is having more success in their exchanges. It’s looking like he may take the round and tie it up 1 round a piece. Luque clips Price dropping him. As Niko returns to his feet fairly quickly, the two exchange on the fence before the end of round two. Cut under Nikos eye, he remains unfazed and marches out for war in round 3. Still applying pressure like only “The Hybrid” can. Niko is doing great pouring it on, trying to take back the fight by any means. Mixing up his strikes very well before getting clipped yet again. A well timed left hook sits Price down. Luque swarms for the finish, Price recovers well and gets back to his feet. His eye is swollen shut. Looking worse than Rocky end of round 14 against Apollo Creed. “I can’t see nothing. You gotta open my eye, cut me Mick.” The only quote that rang through my head when the ringside physician stepped in the ring and waved off the fight. Winner Vincente Luque referee stoppage. 
Fight 2 Michelle Waterson v Carla Esparza. I had high expectations for this fight, but it underdelivered. Both women playing it safe feinting from a dramatic distance rarely entering to risk it all. Disappointing to say the least, but I don’t see either of these women making a title run anytime soon. Especially after that snooze fest. Winner Carla Esparza split decision. 
Fight 3 prelims welcomes back the legend Fabricio Werdum taking on Aleksei Oleinik. Two years out of the game we were wondering what version of Werdum we were about to see. Would it be run across the ring flying side kick to the face of Travis Browne Werdum, or would ring rust take its toll on yet another legend. 
Round 1 looked like ring rust Werdum was our answer. Aleksei hit Werdum with heavy hands in high numbers. Every combination landing flush. With no audience in attendance, you could literally hear every punch bouncing off Werdums head. Somehow he weathers the storm and survives the round.
Round 2 Aleksei seems to be feeling the fatigue of trying to close the show early. Werdum working some great knees from the clinch, and a decent guillotine attempt eventually drags the fight down to the ground in an attempt to pick up the submission victory. Having no such luck, Oleinik gets back to his feet letting a few more haymakers go before the end of round 2. At this point I personally had it 1 round a piece. Round 3 Werdum again gets the fight to the ground, working on Alekseis arm. Working from kimora, to straight arm lock, to arm bar, seamlessly flowing from one attempt to the next. Aleksei defends, makes it back to the feet yet again and closes the third out with some more heavy hands. Great close fight from these two I had it 29-28 Werdum but in a split decision the judges went the other way. Hats off to these two for getting the show back on track. 
In yet another rematch, to close out the prelims we were gifted Cerrone v Pettis 2. Coming off a lackluster performance, and all around mauling by Conor McGregor in Cerrones last fight. Along with the TKO victory “Showtime” already had in the the books against Cowboy. This rivalry turned friendship was destined to be great. 
Cowboy marched forward as the aggressor, Anthony playing marksman looking for the counter strike. After a big head kick, Cerrone catches the leg, securing a takedown. A few burst from his back and Anthony makes it back to his feet closing the round out with a big right hand to Cowboys face.
Round 2 Pettis gets lose and starts to feel it. He’s landing almost all the shots he throws at cowboy while maintaining his distance well. Cowboy secures the leg and completes another takedown, this time with Anthony’s back against the fence. Jockeying first position “Showtime” utilizes the fence to make it back to his feet. 
3rd round is back and fourth the 2 warriors matching one another blow for blow. Anthony gets away with an eye poke followed by a good combination, Cerrone clearly irritated throws caution to the wind and fires back landing a head kick that should’ve sent “Showtimes” head into orbit. Until the final bell sounds the two are toe to toe letting leather fly, giving us the fans a taste of what’s to come on the main card. 
Result, unanimous decision 29-28 for Anthony Pettis.

UFC 249 

Cejudo “retired”, Tony gets a taste of his own medicine, Ngannou killed a guy and all of it took place in an empty arena.

In the opener for the main card we had Greg Hardy vs Yogan De Castro, two absolute studs with the ability to turn the lights out with one blow.  In the opening seconds of the fight, Hardy was looking to establish his outside leg kick while Yorgan greeted him with bombs. Getting his head snapped back ferociously, Greg quickly realized sheer athleticism wasn’t going to be enough to edge out the shorter opponent. As Hardy continued pressing forward De Castro was waiting and ready with a big counter punch, or a hefty leg kick. Although bruising was setting in on Hardy’s leg, he wore it well. Greg eventually broke through, letting shots fly for the last minute and thirty seconds of round 1. 

           At the beginning of round 2 De Castro went back to the well with leg kicks; unfortunately for him Hardy had timed one with a check.  De Castros toes collided with Hardy’s knee, this clearly hurt him, and made him hesitant.  After the fight, Greg claimed that he had heard Daniel Cormier on commentary saying that he needed to check those kicks.  Hardy picked him apart through the next two rounds of action, pop shotting De Castro with jabs, crosses, and leg kicks. The final call was 30-27 on all three judges score cards, in favor of Greg Hardy. 

        The second fight of the main card card was Jeremy Stephens, vs Calvin Kattar. In my opinion, there was no chance in Hell this fight was going the distance. Stephens, who had missed weight by 5 pounds, was looking great in round one. He chopped away at Kattars legs, and let bombs go when he threw he hands. “Little Heathen” was looking to shut the lights off with every blow. Kattar answered back with some long stiff shots of his own before the close of round one; as if to say, “Im still right here.”
As round 2 kicked off, roles reversed and now Kattar was going to work on Jeremy’s leg. It seemed as though they came to a mutual understanding that trading leg kicks sucks, and they would be better off exchanging hands instead. With this non verbal agreement in place, Kattar began to light Jeremy up with fantastic boxing combinations. After shaking off some blows. Jeremy looked for that big right hand; Calvin timed it to perfection parried the punch and slipped outside while meeting Stephens with a right elbow of his own. Jeremy dropped like a bad habit, Kattar jumped on top of him and sliced his head open with a vicious left elbow. The referee had seen enough, and stepped in to stop the bout. 
The winner: Calvin Kattar by way of knock out. 

       It was time for the third bout of the evening, a fight I’m sure we all had high expectation of providing a highlight reel finish. Francis Ngannou vs Jairzinho Rozenstruik. The walk outs took longer than this fight. 

As soon as the first round began, the two beast met right in the center of the octagon. Rozenstruik got off two leg kicks before Francis basically said “fuck this.” Ngannou seemingly tapped into his inner Deontay Wilder, and proceeded to throw windmill haymakers; as he marched forward, with no regard for his opponent. Missing the first two blows the third connected, a vicious left hook,  and it was lights out. As Jairzinho’s body went limp and he fell to his ass, back still supported by the cage, Ngannou landed a few more unnecessary shots. The referee dove in to save Rozenstruik’s life. 18 seconds into the first, Francis was declared the winner. This should mean Francis has reentered the title picture. It will be interesting to see if the UFC forces Stipes hand in his trilogy bout against DC, or if they strip him allowing DC and Ngannou slug it out for the vacated title. Both sound like great options for the fans.

      It was time for the co main event, and I was torn, but I had already gone on record saying Cejudo would get it done. In the middle of gloating to my friends via text about my correct prediction, The Cringe King shocked the world, retiring after his second round stoppage over Dominick Cruz. 
Since being out of action since 2016 I would be lying if I said it looked like Dom Cruz had any ring rust. As he was being announced, he gave us a glimpse of the infamous footwork. My wife looked at me and said “His feet are so fast.” I’m sure this was a point of concern for Henry as well, as he attacked Dominick’s legs from jump street. Henry controlled the distance well, and did not bite on Dominicks feints. The two clinched briefly, Dominick landed a decent knee that Henry secured, scooping Dominick up slamming him to the mat. Dominick scrambled and got back to his feet very quickly. Dominick couldn’t seem to settle into a rhythm verse the champ and round 1 came to a close. 10-9 Cejudo. 
Dominick began to apply more pressure at the start of round two, ducking his head and swinging for the fences at times; Dominick started to find success, however Cejudo still held his own in the exchanges of leather as the pace picked up. Both men ducking their heads simultaneously led to an accidental head butt that cut Henry on the hairline. Blood poured down Henry’s face as with 30 seconds left on the clock Cejudo marched back towards Cruz. Ducking and swinging for the fences one too many times Henry clipped Dom with a huge knee that dropped the former King of bantom weights on his ass. Cejudo jumped on top of Dom landing 11 unanswered shots to the head before the referee stepped in with little to no time left on the clock. Cruz immediately hopped to his feet to berate the referee for a bad stoppage. Afterwards Cruz made claims the ref “reeked of cigarettes and alcohol” really downplaying his decision to stop the bout. I’m a huge Dominick fan, I even teach some of his footwork drills to my own private clients but even still from my seat, I thought the stoppage was fine. Sure he was on all fours, but Henry was teeing off and it didn’t seem like the most intelligent defense. 
With the fight concluded, gold medal around Cejudos neck, UFC belt strapped securely around his waist, “Triple C” took to the microphone. After thanking Dana and UFC staff Henry says “I’m happy with my career Joe, I’ve done enough in the sport, I want to walk away. I want to enjoy myself, I’m 33 years old. I have a girl now who’s watching back home, I eventually want to start a family. Since I was 11 years old I sacrificed to get where I’m at today. I’m not going to let anybody take that from me, so I’m retiring tonight Joe!” “Triple Cs out.” 
While I do believe he will step away for a while, I don’t believe this is the last we will see of Henry Cejudo. This could be a page out of GSP book, retire then comeback for the super fight when they add a “0” to that paycheck. I guess only time will tell. Until then; tip of the cap, and all respect to the “King Of Cringe”- way to leave on top. 
     With the close of that co-main event and that completely unexpected retirement, Tony and Justin were going to have their work cut out for them if they intended to steal the show. Something told me they were going to be up for the task. Maybe it was Dana exclaiming that he guaranteed it was going to be a fantastic fight. Maybe it was already having the knowledge that Justin Gaethje had received 7 fight bonuses in 6 fights. Or Maybe it was the fact I have never seen either of these men not in a all out war that absolutely over delivers. To the critics constantly coming after Justin Gaethje for being reckless in his fights, not calculated, with a lack of defensive head motion- kindly shut the fuck up. 
From bell to whistle he put on a absolute master class of striking and defense. Landing an incredible 143 out of 197 significant strikes (75%) 30 out of 30 leg kicks. While making Tony miss 65% of the significant strikes he threw at Justin. 
Every single shot Justin threw, was thrown with awful intentions, so much so that his corner man pleaded for him to take off 10% in round 3.  To Tony’s credit the nickname boogey man had never seemed more fitting as he was split open and lumped up much like he did his past opponents, and still marching forward with a smile on his face. By the championship rounds I could’ve sworn the deep water was going to catch up to Justin and he would try to coast and survive 4 to see 5. I was wrong, he continued to land tight compact bombs at will even while breathing heavily. By round 5 Tony’s legs were mangled and his face was pulverized. A few minutes in and 30 shots later, another bomb staggers Tony, now struggling to catch himself on legs that were absolutely beaten to shit. Herb Dean stepped in, and Tony complained; wanting instead  to go out on his shield. 
I thought It was a great stoppage, and greater performance, moving “The Highlight” to 9 fight bonuses on 7 fights. As Justin said in his post fight press conference  “Nobodies fucking with that.” Even Khabib chimed in on twitter immediately following the bout stating it was “so impressive.” Seems as though all signs are pointing towards Gaethje/Nurmagomedov for the unification now. As the final decision is being made and Dana goes to put the title on Justin he immediately takes the belt off, stating he’s waiting for the real one. Daniel Cormier, ringside announcer for last night events alludes to seeing Khabibs toughest opponent ever in Justin Gaethje. 
…

I’m so stoked to see those two clash when the time comes. 
What a great night of fights, and hats off to Dana for pulling it off. From getting all the fighters tested, keeping everyone as safe as possible, to bringing back a live sporting event we could all thoroughly enjoy.
While some will complain it’s not the same without fans, I will counter argue we may have gotten to see the best version of our fighters last night. Clear minds, able to hear their coaches and not get reckless over the cheers or boos of the crowd. Of course I want us all to be able to attend again, but this was still absolutely fantastic.

I first encountered the work of David Meltzer at an incredibly pivotal moment in my life. I had been doubting my abilities as a writer and nearly ready to throw in the towel. A message popped up on my phone diverting me to the Instagram account of David Meltzer, where he was holding one of his daily Q&A morning sessions on Instagram Live. Within 30 seconds of tuning in, I was hooked while simultaneously being almost forced to look within myself at something I had not had the courage to look at in a very long time, my truth and my purpose. I had been revived. I now was convinced that pursuing my dreams was what I was meant to do. I had to tap into, as David puts it, “the consistent, persistent pursuit of my potential”. I turned my attention back to the man on screen before me, often referred to as “The Ferocious Buddha”, who was speaking his own truth and his own purpose with such ease and inspiration to the hundreds tuning in with me, I knew that I had to pursue speaking with him and I had to share his journey. David Meltzer is on a lifelong mission “To Empower A Billion People To Be Happy”. If he can empower 1000 people who in turn empower 1000 people to empower another 1000 to be happy, that number can be reached and the world will change dramatically because of it. Today, as you read on and we peel back the layers of the journey that has built David Meltzer into who he is, keep this mission in the back of your mind. You too, can be one of the 1000 people David empowers to be happy and your life will become exponentially better because of it.

David Meltzer is formerly the CEO of Leigh Steinberg Sports & Entertainement agency as well as currently the Co-Founder of Sports 1 Marketing. He is also a 3-time international best selling author, a Top 100 business coach and Host of the top entrepreneur podcast, ”The Playbook”. These are all things that have come to be due to hard work and years and years of the devotion to his craft. But where did this journey begin? David says ” I grew up poor with a single mom and six of us. After being ran over playing football in college by the man they call “The Nigerian Nightmare”, Christian Okoye, I decided to go to law school in order to make alot of money. My goal in life was to buy my mother a house and a car. After I completed law school however, despite my mother insisting that the internet was a fad, I became a salesperson selling legal research online. 9 months out of law school, now applying all the things I had learned on the field to what I was gifted at, I was a millionaire. I always say that if I was as good at football as I am at selling, I would be Drew Brees or right alongside my business partner Warren Moon in the Hall Of Fame.” This meteoric rise to wealth was not just solely based on talent alone. There are other factors to be noted as well. David recalls a conversation with the late Kobe Bryant as a great analogy for this. “I asked Kobe Bryant what his favorite movie was one time and he has the same as me which is “Rudy”. I was puzzled. How could you be Rudy, I’m Rudy, everyone knew by 8th grade you were going to be a superstar, that’s nothing like Rudy!. Kobe looked at me and said “No David, Rudy is not about being an underdog, it is about your potential. Every time I was Unfocused or not doing what I was supposed to be doing, my father threw me a DVD copy of “Rudy” and told me not to waste my talent, to pursue my potential.” More great wisdom from Kobe that was passed on during his lifetime. This is a conversation that has stuck with David to this day as he notes ” You know the great ones like Kobe and Warren Moon, they are more than just genetically gifted, they have this constant desire that they must be what they can be and pursure every last drop of their potential. That is what I did. I developed my system which there are 3 things that are vital along with capabilities. 1. I develop my skills and continually do. 2. My knowledge, like my brother said to me when I wanted to be a doctor, be more interested than interesting, so I constantly left myself space to learn accelerate, expand and grow and 3. My desires to be absolutely anything I wanted to be.” Using these tactics and tools, David would have part in a wide array of things, leading to a unique opportunity upon a chance meeting world renowned sports agent Leigh Steinberg. “I met Leigh Steinberg when I was helping a friend, using my great negotiation skills and business acumen, represent him in a reality show with Magic Johnson. I met Leigh and he immediately recognized the skills, knowledge and desires I had. Jeff Moorehead had left Leigh’s practice after buying into the Arizona Diamondbacks and there was a vacancy at the firm as an Executive. Within 48 hours of meeting me, I had the job, which was a dream job for most men and women who work day in and day out to be a sports agent, and I was now CEO of the biggest sports agency in the world for 3 reasons, I had the skills, I had the knowledge and most importantly, I had the desire.”

David Meltzer was on top of the world. He was CEO of the world’s first smartphone, a venture capitalist, he had made millions and raised millions and was now also CEO of the world’s biggest sports agency. As meteoric as the rise to the top, so was the fall from grace. To understand this, David points to 3 incidences in his life. “I was a multi-millionaire, married to my dream girl, everything in my life was geared toward the fact that money will buy love and money will buy happiness. My father, who was estranged from me because when I was 10 had forgotten about my birthday but lied and said he didn’t believe in birthdays, had now reappeared 20 years later with a gift for me on my 30th birthday. It was a jacket with no pockets. I became very upset with him. How dare you show up with a gift after 20 years and I cant even wear it? He told me it was not for wearing, it was to be buried in. It was a reminder that you can’t be the richest man in the cemetary. That I could not buy love or happiness, but the main purpose was to remind me that I was just like him. I became very upset with him again. I am nothing like you, you liar, cheater, manipulator, over seller, back end seller. I hung the jacket in my closet.” Pay attention to what David says happens next. “6 years later, I am now CEO of Leigh Steinberg Sports surrounded by the greatest athletes, celebrities, executives in the world. So I ask my best friend Why don’t you come hang out with me man, let’s go out with these guys, it has been a dream of ours since like 4th grade?! My friend said to me I don’t like who you hangout with and I don’t like what you are doing. I was shocked. I said I am not like them, I am not doing what they are doing. He replied David, You can lie to me but do not lie to yourself. I went home crying. I was so upset because after being surrounded by yes people and people who were saying what I wanted to hear, someone had finally told me the truth. 2 weeks later, I hit the pinnacle of dumb stuff I was doing when I lied to my wife and went out partying after the Grammy Awards with rapper Lil Jon. I got home at 530 am after lying to her all night and it was the first time my wife looked at me in our marriage and told me she was not happy. I hit rock bottom right there. I immediately got resentful and thought how dare she be unhappy when I had provided everything for years?! I went to bed and woke up still so angry, I plotted how I was going to take all my money and my kids and I was going to show her. Until I looked at my closet and saw the jacket my father had given to me. I realized right then I hated the liar, manipulator, cheater, overseller, back end seller my father was, and I hated myself because I had become just that.“

Right then and there, there was a shift in not only David’s thinking but as well as deep within his soul and every fiber of his being. An almost cosmic shift within himself prepared him for what was to come and how he came to find the mission he is on today. “I took stock in who I was. I shifted the paradigm of value. I lived my life of service and of value. I believe in making alot of money, helping others and having fun. I do not think you can be poor enough to make someone rich, you have to be rich to make somebody rich. I know you can be rich enough to make others rich. I want everything to come through me for others. That is the shift that occured in me when I was 36. At 38, I lost everything. I was well prepared to lose everything. I have had no problem making back what I had lost by using these philosophies and values of what I want in my life.” How does a man who literally had everything one can dream of and loses it all, find a mission to make 1 billion people in this world happy after working his tail off to get it all back? The answer is very parallel to the times we are currently living in. “Happiness is the greatest virus of all time. It is something that can be spread just by witnessing it. Happiness boosts the immune system. You cannot be angry or attack other people if you are happy. So I wanted to mathematically by connecting the dots backwards figure out how to create an abundance of happiness because I know if I can create that abundance of happiness, the world would change immediately“. David’s goal was met by befuddled looks and gazes of uncertainty. However, upon hearing his story, People not only believe in it, but they want to instantly be a part of the 1000 he empowers. I am lucky enough to be chosen as one myself. Upon reading this interview, I hope that others are inspired and empowered by the powerful words of David Meltzer. I hope that I can continue to honor those on life altering missions and achieve my dreams of being a major force in sports journalism but it is not possible without what David says is essential to life and especially his lifelong mission ” I need to consistently, persistently pursue this potential but most importantly, I need to continue to thoroughly enjoy doing it, which I undoubtedly am.”

At this time, I would usually leave my readers with what the person I am speaking with hopes their lasting legacy is. If you have been paying attention, that message has been uneqivocally clear and redundant during this entire piece. Today I would rather end with something I know will resonate throughout the world and that is what David says when he speaks about Regret. ” I do not have regrets. Regrets can take away from what we are trying to accomplish both in the present and the future. If you can find the light, love and lessons in everything, like I have, regret will be erased from your inventory and will certainly free up more space and time in order to consistenly and persistently pursure the passions, desires and values you are striving for.” David Meltzer is a giant in the world of business, sports, media and entrepreneurship. He is also one of the purest and happiest souls I have ever had the opportunity to speak with. The light and love and peace in which he conveys every thought and word is contagious. I hope that it continues to spread from what has been written here today, even to one soul, as we collectively work to change the world.

When you immerse yourself in the rich history of the sport of boxing, it is undeniable that the name Sugar Ray Leonard will come up an astounding number of times. He has accomplished almost everything you can in the sport. He is easily one of the most recognizable names not just within boxing history, but sports history as well. He won a gold medal in 1976 as a member of what is arguably the greatest Olympic team ever assembled. He is a 6 time World Champion. He has been one half of some of the most legendary battles in the ring with men like Tommy Hearns, Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran. Put all of that to the side for a moment and what do you have left of Sugar Ray Leonard? The answer is an absolutely world class human being. He is a loving father, A devoted husband, A philanthropist, A visionary and an advocate for so many different and incredible causes. Today, we take a journey into the rise and legacy of Sugar Ray Leonard from his childhood to his greatness in the ring to his life after boxing today and how he fights a different legendary battle while simultaneously being a bright beacon of hope for so many others, including myself.

Sugar Ray Leonard grew up in Palmer Park, Maryland during the 1960’s and 1970’s. Speaking on these days, Leonard recalls ” I am truly blessed to have had the upbringing I did. Whether we were living in a 2 bedroom apartment for 8 of us or otherwise, my parents did the best they could and I always appreciated how hard they worked to make our lives exponentially better. My father wasn’t an educated man but a GOOD man. My mother worked in the hospital as a nurse and as a unit, they provided not only the things we needed to survive but a tremendously loving and supportive home. I am forever grateful for the way my parents brought us up”. How did Sugar Ray find his calling and ultimately become one of the greatest fighters of all time? The answer may surprise you because it is not as simple as one may think. ” I was never athletically inclined. My brothers Roger and Kenny were the athletes of the family. One day when I was 8 or 9, they took me down to the local boxing gym. I put the gloves on, stepped in the ring and was almost immediately punched in the nose. I threw the gloves down, walked out and swore I was never doing this again, so I have a history of quitting as well.” Sitting here, I could not imagine Sugar Ray ever calling it quits. Not just because of what he accomplished as a fighter, but all of the other things he has had to face and conquer. 5 years later and lucky for all of us, he gave boxing another chance. “I was 14 and I stepped back into the gym. When I put those gloves on it was magical. I had found boxing and boxing had found me. I had to work harder than everyone else and I did. The only reason I had the level of success I had in my life is because of hard work and sacrifice. I view that just how I view life today. Life is a fight. Respect is a fight.”

Growing up major boxing enthusiasts, my father and I would watch old tape of Sugar Ray Leonard seemingly on a weekly basis. His footwork and hand speed were stuff of legend. Any time we had the chance, we would pop in old footage of his most legendary battles. It should come as no surprise to anyone that my next questions were about the most important feats in his career to which he responded, “The Olympics in 1976 in Montreal. Bringing home a gold medal, I mean it does not get any better than that because the fact of the matter is it wasn’t about money, it wasn’t about fame, it was about representing myself and my country. Winning gold, that was just amazing to me, it was everything.” From a professional standpoint, there is not one moment that stands out to Ray, but several. “When I fought Wilfred Benitez in 1979, I mean that was one of my toughest fights hands down, Tommy Hearns in ’81, Roberto Duran, although he beat me the first time, he taught me so much about the mind and so much about composure. Then with Marvin Hagler, close fight…depends on who you ask , I definitely give him his props. So there is no doubt, The Olympics stands by itself without question but professionally, just being a part of that era was a blessing.”I would like to add in here that I am among the fans that although close, Leonard definitely beat Hagler, but Marvin Hagler is one of the greatest Middleweight fighters of all time so there is nothing to be taken away from the things Marvelous Marvin accomplished.

About 10 years ago, Leonard and his wife, Bernadette, founded the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation. The foundation works tirelessly to fund research and care for type 1 and type 2 pediatric diabetes while simultaneously creating awareness for both diseases. I asked how it came to be and what was the driving force behind it. “It is a cause that is near and dear to my heart. My father who passed away a year ago now was a diabetic, my friends have children who were diabetics, so I saw first hand the complications that this disease caused. I am a blessed man. I have had nothing short of an illustrious boxing career and I just wanted to give back. It just feels so good when we can raise not only funds, but awareness to this horrible disease. I cannot wait for the day when they say that Diabetes is no longer here, it has been knocked out.” For more information on how you can be a part of the solution, please visit Sugar Ray’s website at sugarrayleonardfdn.org. It is something that many people, including Ray and his wife truly care deeply about and you should too!

As many people know and there are some who may not, I have been very public about my own battles with drug abuse/ alcoholism. I have recently also brought to light that I am a sexual abuse victim. These are things that do not discriminate. They know no boundaries. They can happen to a relatively unknown sports writer making his way in the business or in this case, a world champion boxing legend. I know that the reason behind me being so public about my struggles was that I wanted to let people know they are not alone. But why would someone like Sugar Ray, who is astronomically more in the limelight than I, bring his demons to the light? Turns out we are not that different. “You know, 15 or 16 years ago, I could never imagine that I would say that I am an alcoholic. My perception of an alcoholic was someone who was on the streets or didn’t have a job. That is definitely not the case. It was my wife, Bernadette, she was the one that said Ray, you’re an alcoholic and she took me to my first meeting here in Los Angeles. I walked in, I had my hat down, I had my sunglasses on, I kept my chin down. It was the best moment of my life, because it saved my life. I could not believe I was saying these things. Saying I was sexually abused, saying that I wasn’t happy. My level of happiness was not always what it appeared to be, but when I started getting these things off my chest, my life became better. I became a better father, a better husband, a better friend. It is so amazing but you have to be willing, the person has to be willing to dig deep and willing to change.”

The times we are in have certainly changed the landscape on how alcoholics and addicts can get help. One particular example is definitely how the still sick and suffering person can reach out and ask for help. Mr. Leonard weighed in on this as well. ” You know, that is essential. It is the key to living a better life. First of all, I suggest to hop on Zoom and check out the virtual meetings that are happening all over the world and also check in with your sponsor, like I do with my sponsor, Mike. Being isolated and locked down can be really hard on us so reach out and get your butt to a virtual meeting ASAP. Another thing that is key is I have learned to get whatever is bothering me, whatever is holding me back off my chest. You need other people in this fight. You need others to rationalize things because I know for me, I can take things to heart. In my head I can even go back to things that took place 10 years ago and it will drive me crazy sometimes but what I do is I say my prayers, I go to my meetings and I talk to people because that I have learned is what is priceless about this process and it keeps me sober, One Day At A Time.” The process of revealing the truth about yourself on such a large scale can be nerve racking. You can get in your head and almost drive yourself to the brink of insanity worrying about what others might say. The people who care about you will never judge, only support. Mr. Leonard spoke about the response to him revealing his alcoholism to others. “Oh man, support with a capital S! There were times when I would be sitting in that room talking about my life and the things I had done or what may come next and I would shed a tear. At first I thought something was wrong with me because I was crying in front of people that I don’t even know but it was the best thing in my life. I got rid of all that toxin and all that poison because if you do not talk about it will just build and build until it explodes. You never know what can happen if it gets to that point so it is best to get it out and not let it build.” The amount of humility and love and happiness that was exploding through the phone was unbelievable. Here is a man that has accomplished so many things in his life and without hesitation was willing to share the darkest moments of his life. The most amazing part was that he did it while smiling and laughing. It was not a nervous or fake happiness, but a genuine real laugh and real happiness that undoubtedly comes from the amount of work he has done to better himself and those around him through this process. A truly beautiful testament to how this program really works and saves lives.

If you have read my work before, you know that my goal is to honor these men and women for not only what they have done and how they got there, but also what they intend to leave behind. This day was no different with Sugar Ray Leonard. ” My first reaction is to say that I want to be the best fighter in the world, but when it is all said and done, I want people to know me as someone who cared. Someone who cared about others, who actually gave back and someone who helped that other guy get up from that knockdown. I made a huge impact in the boxing ring, but I want to make an even larger impact outside the ring”. I can honestly sit here and say that even if I did not publish a single word of our conversation, Sugar Ray has accomplished just that by having a 25 minute talk with me. What we have learned through our own process is that the gift we are given needs to be shared with others in order for all of us to grow. Reading this, I hope you take away that yes, he was a world class athlete and a world class champion, but Sugar Ray Leonard is so much more than just that. He is again, a world class human being and a man who truly loves and cares about the people and causes he fights for. Thank you Sugar Ray for showing us we are not alone, and for showing us that anything is possible if we are willing to fight for it!

Success can be defined as “the attainment of popularity or prosperity.” I am also a firm believer that just like beauty, success is in the eye of the beholder. If you were to give me a choice between someone who was born into a rich family, had every opportunity handed to them in their lives and was a billionaire or someone who had to overcome harsh realities and work 10 times harder to acquire those same opportunities and financial status. I would tell you that the 2nd choice is the more successful and it would not even be close. Gene McClendon is certainly the latter. He has gone from growing up in an enviornment that afforded him little to zero opportunity as a child to building 2 unbelievably successful businesses from the ground up with nothing but hard work and a dream. Who is Gene McClendon? How did he get to be so successful? How does he know so many legends of Sport and Music? I can tell you this much, it was no easy journey and no one handed him a thing. In fact, in his own words, “I never want to consider myself successful, because that just means that I’ve accomplished something and I haven’t, I’m just a hard worker.”

Gene McClendon grew up in St. Louis with his Mother Brenda and his 11-
month Older Brother Ronald McClendon. He recalls how he and his brother
spent all of their free time with family and relatives playing who lived just 2
blocks away in the very small town of Kinloch, Missouri just outside of St.
Louis during the 1970’s. Kinloch is the oldest African-American community to be incorporated in Missouri. Mr. McClendon remembers Kinloch as “A small town of about 250 people. Mixed with hard working people but mostly, It was riddled with drugs and poverty. Back then, there were only 3 ways out of there and that was jail, death or you knew how to bounce or throw a ball”. The way Gene and his family were able to get away from Kinloch was not by one of these 3 choices, however. “My family and I got out to escape domestic violence. My biological father was bringing violence into the home regularly so My 3 Uncles got us and all of our stuff, put us on a redeye to California where my mother had a sister who lived there and that is how we were able to leave Missouri”. I could not even imagine. I know an abundance of people that could use those circumstances as an excuse to never make something of themselves or play the victim role for the rest of their lives. Not Gene McClendon. He was determined to make something of himself, and that he did!

Before finishing high school in 1988, Gene suffered the greatest loss of his
life in 1985 when his only sibling and Older brother Ronald was brutally
murdered. Gene was still determined to not give up on a mission to build
his own business. Not just any business, but one that he knew would never change or be pushed out by larger corporations and such. ” I decided to go into the business of mobile detailing. I knew that people were always going to want their cars to be clean, especially in Los Angeles, so it was a business that would never have a lack of clientele.” Every one has to start somewhere. ” I started out working from the trunk of my car with nothing but a bucket, some rags and a garden hose.” Before long, Gene was making a name for himself because of his reliability and hard work. He landed his first celebrity client in Quincy Jones, esteemed music arranger and producer. “Within a few weeks of working for Mr. Jones, I was travelling to many entertainers and athletes homes cleaning their cars. After the first 2 years, I had 2 vans with 2 guys on each van working 7 days a week.” The business was not limited to Los Angeles, Gene was chasing his dream all across the state and country. ” We were driving as far South as San Diego and as far North as Oakland to do our work. Within months we were going across the country to detail vehicles for the NY Jets. I was only afforded these opportunities because I did what I said I was going to do when I said I was going to do it, every single time.” One common theme you will find throughout this article is that despite his success and close relationships with big stars, Gene McClendon is a man of his word and a man who can be relied upon no matter the circumstances.

Following the success of his mobile detailing company, Gene founded International Motoring Inc. which has since been transitioned to Stratos Inc, a company that specializes in the purchase, design and customization of exotic cars. ” I was always the one asked by my clients if I could find new rims and tires or different upgrades to sound systems for their vehicles. I always did. Sometimes, things would go wrong with different shops and it made a little bit of a mess of things. One day I just thought to myself that if I could bring these cars to my own shop and oversee everything myself before they were returned to the client instead of finding different places around the area to do it, it would eliminate the middle man and any mistakes that could be made”. Once off the ground, International Motoring Inc. flourished, as did the close business and personal relationships between McClendon and his star studded client list.

” I became friends with numerous former players such as Lawrence Taylor,Richard Dent, Marcus Allen, Ron Harper, Eric Dickerson and MitchRichmond among many others. I was attending their private events, family outings, and even their kids school functions and graduations. I knew at that point that I really cared for them and I could do better for them than
most.” With these ideals, Gene approached his friends and clients with an idea. “I approached every one of them and asked them what they thought if I was the one who organized appearances and I was the one who cut them the check. Every single person responded with enthusiasm and trust
that I would be the one who could get it done.” Thus, After Sports and
Entertainment Network Group was born.

I know one or two members personally from this group and the level of care and attention is unmatched as Gene alluded to in our conversation. ” What sets us apart from the rest of the people in our industry is that we truly care about our clients. They mean so much to my team and I. In a day and age where everyone gets caught up in the new up and coming stars, we pride ourselves on keeping the spotlight on those that paved the way. We call them our MVP network because that is whothey really are to us. We want to make them money first. We take care of them and then we are taken care of. It is truly a beautiful relationship”.

I have to say, I have never met someone who’s humility shines through everything more than Gene McClendon. Yes, he developed the relationships with these amazing men and women but takes none of the credit for it. ” Honestly I am just a worker.” We both laughed. “My team brings me the ideas and chases down the leads for our clients. I am nothing without them. What my team brings to the table is amazing, it is not about me, it is about us, there are no big heads here”. Under current circumstances, I wondered how a group such as After Sports would move into the future and how they are handling the Covid-19 crisis. ” Well now, a group like ours is going to be in even higher demand. We have to re-invent the wheel and get even more creative, but this is a chance for us to absolutely thrive over the next year”. I could not agree more. I am certain they will because after a brief interaction with Gene and multiple interactions with his team, I know they are welcoming all challenges and smashing their goals no matter what it takes.

Also moving forward, Gene and his team have developed the “After Sports and Entertainment Cares Foundation” which is truly a passion project for him as I could hear his enthusiasm and belief in it jump through the phone. “Whether virtually as we have to do currently or in person in the future, this gives us a chance to not only keep our MVP Network relevant but also give back as much as possible to the community. We want to bring attention to the communities and youth especially who are plagued by poverty and cannot afford dental or health care among all the issues that deserve attention such as mental illness and drug issues as well. I want After Sports and Entertainment Group to be known as a group of marketing advocates who not only made the lives of our MVP Network better but those who are really in need as well”

I have done a few interviews now. I have spoken with many people in the sports industry. None brought me more satisfaction than this one. Honestly to be able to speak to a man who came from the places he did, worked hard, never waivered, kept his word and built something of himself was absolutely beautiful. I am sure as Gene reads this, he may see the praise I give him and think it is unwarranted because he is just that selfless of a person. However, I find it necessary to honor someone like him for their journey. It goes to show what one can accomplish with goals and hard work. The mission that Gene and After Sports and Entertainment Group approach each day with to honor their clientele is exactly what I am trying to do here today for him. I think a man who gives so much of himself to others deserves to be recognized for his efforts, don’t you?

When most fans hear the name Allan Houston, they immediately think of a prolific scorer, a silky smooth jump shot, that big last second runner to take down the Miami Heat and an incredible 9 year run with the New York Knicks. By the time you are finished reading about the discussion I was blessed to have with him today, those will be the furthest things from your mind. Father, Son, Faith, Integrity, Sacrifice, Leadership and Legacy are the words that embody every fiber of who Allan Houston is, ever was, or ever will be on and off the court. It is those core ideals and beliefs that mean more than anything to Mr. Houston. They are embedded in the deepest parts of his soul, making their presence known with every word and thought he speaks. This article is about way more than a basketball player. We spent very little time speaking on his NBA career because as is evident in the times we are in today, life is so much more important than that.

From a young age growing up in Louisville, Kentucky, Allan Houston was surrounded by success and greatness especially when it came to basketball. ” My father was an assistant coach at Louisville so I was fortunate to be around many great teams from age 6 or 7. Before I was a sophomore in High School, I had been to 4 Final Fours and 2 National Championships”. Basketball had always played a big role in his life and he credits his development in high school to the enviornment he was in. “I would practice with a lot of the Louisville players who would come back when I was in High School , so I knew by the time I was ready to go to Tennessee, that I could compete at a high level and be successful” . It was not until his freshman year at Tennessee however that the thought of the NBA became more of a reality than a dream. Allan’s father, Wade was his head coach at the University of Tennessee and some of the proudest moments of his life were ” When I could find my father after a big game and we would share a hug”.

Mr. Houston spoke of the mindset that drove him throughout these years in college and the NBA. ” There is a fine line between confidence and humility. It is razor sharp. Hard work was never the issue for me. You have to have confidence in anything that you do in order to be successful but always using that line as guidance”. He graduated the University of Tennessee as their all time leading scorer. Preparing for the NBA draft was relatively easy using these tools and that mindset. “I didn’t care what different people around the country would say about whether I should go 1st overall or 11th overall or 20th. I knew my worth both as a human being and as a basketball player”. He was drafted 11th overall to the Detroit Pistons. In 1996, his rookie contract expired and Allan Houston would hit free agency. He would ultimately choose to play for the New York Knicks, where he would spend the rest of his career. I asked what New York has meant to him both as a player and executive (he is currently special assistant to the GM of The New York Knicks) to which he responded ” New York and my time there has made me the man I am today. I was blessed throughout my career to be surrounded by players and coaches/mentors who were winners and made me part of a winning culture”. New York is also where he would find his calling off the court through his foundations and projects.

His career was stopped short after a knee injury hindered his ability to play any longer at a high level. Now, many question this injury and say that Houston took the money and ran. Well, considering that the man only missed 10 games in 10 seasons prior to that, I would say the bitterness is substantially unwarranted. While working as an executive with the Knicks and devoting time to various community service projects, Houston had also founded the Allan Houston Legacy Foundation which was wearing him pretty thin. ” I had to sit my family down and as a family we had to decide what we wanted our legacy to be and what our mission was , which is where the idea for FISLL was born”. Mr. Houston is a man of profound Christian faith so there is no doubt that is where the first principle comes from. ” My faith has made me who I am, being a father as well as a son of God is at the root of everything I am and believe in”. Along with Integrity, Sacrifice, Leadership and Legacy, “this led us to refer to them as the Fundamentals of Life and incorporating the 3 dimensions of mind, body and spirit”. None of this would even be conceivable or possible had it not been for one particular person being the driving force in Houston’s life. “My mother, she is such an inspirational and spirit filled person. So much of our foundation of faith and values came from her words every day.” The mission of FISLL is to engage, equip and inspire leaders using those core values as their teaching point through combing digital and experiential learning. It is truly an unbelievable mission and one Allan takes great pride in knowing it is those fundamental principles that made him the man he is today.

When asked about fatherhood, Houston replied “Along with getting married, it is one of those feelings that unless you have experienced it, one cannot describe it to you. I have 7 kids so it seems every day, every month and every year I am learning new profound things about myself as a father and as a man through each one of them”. When speaking on this particular subject as well as the faith he practices, I could almost feel the energy of love coming through the phone as undoubtedly he was smiling ear to ear. The love he has for his family and God is at the forefront of every message he shares. I asked about some of his defining moments in his life/career and at the top of his list were “Getting married, every time I became a father , every moment I can spend with my mother and father, and when I ultimately get to spend a few moments alone with God”. Of course right up there as well was “Winning a gold medal, and the magical run of the 1999 Finals team as well as all my years in the league”.

Using one of the words from his “Fundamentals of Life” and the entire basis of this article, Legacy, I asked him “After all is said and done, what is it you hope YOUR lasting legacy is?” He paused for just a moment and spoke “I want to be known as a great son, a great father and a great husband, but also just like in my career, I want to be known as the one that could be trusted in the biggest moments, when it all came down to it, I was the one everyone trusted to make the best decision possible”. Wow. An absolutely powerful statement and one I think we all strive in one way or another to be a part of our own legacy as well. One thing that Mr. Houston said in our conversation that I keep repeating over and over in my head is a message I think we all need to hear during these uncertain times, especially this aspiring sports journalist. “Use this time to its full potential. Find out who you are at your core and what motivates you. When this is over, and it will be over, it is that which is going to define you and set the course for the rest of your life”. Thank you Mr. Allan Houston for that message and for all that you do inspiring, motivating and teaching everyone you come in contact with whether you know it or not.

Who is Damon Feldman? Right away I know most of you are asking yourselves this as you read my headline. You probably know him as the man behind “Celebrity Boxing”, the outrageous spectacle of boxing matches pitted between the has beens of the celebrity world such as Danny Bonaduce, Tonya Harding, Jose Canseco and Doc Gooden just to name a few. Maybe you know him from the news as the guy who regrettably went to jail for hitting his ex-girlfriend in a fit of depressed and drunken rage. Or maybe you know him as the man who has quite often appeared on “The Howard Stern Show” being mocked and roasted yet still respected by the King Of Radio. But, who is Mr. Feldman really? Where did he come from? What is it that makes him tick? Behind all the mayhem and madness, what is it that Damon Feldman hopes to ultimately accomplish now that it seems he is getting his life back on track? Buckle up, it is sure to be a wild ride!

Damon Feldman grew up in a small town just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From as far back as he can remember, the sport of boxing was a part of his life. ” My father was a fighter and also an accomplished coach/trainer. He trained 6 World Champions. These guys were always in and out of the house training and staying with us to prepare for their fights”. As most children do at some point in their lives, Feldman felt it was his number one priority to try and impress his father. “No matter what I did, I was always trying to impress him and get his approval. I love my father but most of the time it felt like he was trying to live through me”. Feldman turned pro and accrued a total record of 9-0 before an out of the ring slip and fall injury derailed his career. Being a father himself, I asked Feldman about how he handles the relationship with his own son and boxing. “I love my son with all my heart. I do not force him to do anything he does not want to do. I do still train him and make sure he knows how to defend himself because you never know when he may need it, but a career? No. That is not the end goal.”

After Damon’s in ring career came to an end, he turned his attention to coaching and promoting. ” I started Celebrity Boxing in 2000 because it was a passion of mine. I could no longer fight with the injuries I sustained so I took pride in trying to get other people their chance. Whether celebrities or the undercard amateur fighters, it was a way for me to stay involved in the sport while also building a brand and making money doing it. I love money but I am not in love with money, it is more about the sport and discipline of boxing”. Feldman has received a lot of negative press for exploiting has been celebs for financial gain. ” I really do not care about the negative stuff said about me. 99% of it is not who I really am so it does not bother me any”. No stranger to making his way into the news, Feldman has been in the spotlight since the birth of Celebrity Boxing. Certainly none more unfortunate than the incident that sent him to jail just a few years ago. “Man”, Feldman said clearly fighting back emotions, ” I cannot and will not make any excuses for what I did. I put my hands on and hit that woman. It breaks my heart because I was in love with her. My life was spiralling out of control at the time. I was drinking heavily out of control nearly every night, I was in a major bout with depression because my father was dying, I just lost it. I hate that it ever happened. I look back and wish I never did what I did. I wish I could have been more of a family man and less of the trainwreck my life was becoming”. Feldman spent the next amount of time in jail writing his life story on a piece of paper titled “The 16 Minute Man”, a play on the fact that after their 15 minutes of fame, celebrities can come to him for another round. The book has since been published and is available wherever books are sold!

Damon Feldman is currently looking to get the book up on the silver screen as a major motion picture but obviously the times we live in have put that to a halt for now. The movie as well as being a more present and better father to his kids was a promise he made to them while over the phone in jail. One that in the 3 years since he has been released that he has been keeping. He also continues to promote and hold his Celebrity Boxing matches, still giving everyone their chance to do something in the ring. As I always ask anyone I interview, i asked what the end goal of all of this was and what he wants his lasting legacy to be to which he replied, “I want to be known as someone who made the people around me better people. I want to leave this place better than how I found it or even how I left it before going to jail. I have made so many mistakes in my life and I do not wish for those to define me. I cannot change anything that happened but what I can do is do better”.

This interview was a tough one for me I have to admit, but even more so it was one I am glad that I did. Every single person has made mistakes and done things we wish we could change. One cannot say how things will turn out for Damon. One cannot say where things will end up for him and his family. One thing I will say however, is I do hear the sincerity and passion in his voice when he speaks about his path to redemption. How long can we as journalists and more importantly, as human beings, punish someone for the mistakes of their past? How long can we beat them down and be harsh towards them, especially when they are working so hard at turning it all around? Ask yourselves these things the next time you judge anyone. Thank you Mr. Feldman for an enlightening and humbling experience and conversation.

Gary Sheffield is widely known for being a ferocious hitter with such a deadly swing that one former manager said “Gary could turn on a .38 bullet”. Unfortunately he is also known for his hot head temper and fiery antics on the field and reported arguments behind the scenes. What lies beneath however is easily one of the scariest hitters in MLB history. With a combination of ridiculous bat speed and pinpoint accuracy with the bat head, Sheffield put up consistent outstanding numbers at the plate and defensively, impressed many with his rocket arm strength and speed. I am going to provide an overview of his career and background including some wildly impressive numbers from his MLB career that should in my mind, easily put Gary Sheffield in the Baseball Hall Of Fame despite the rumors and negative B.S surrounding PED speculation. First let us take at how Sheffield became the player he was and developed into one of the most underrated players of our time.

From a young age, Sheffield was destined for greatness. He grew up in Tampa, Florida living in the same house as his uncle, another future MLB standout player, Dwight Gooden. Sheffield credits learning how to hit a fastball from growing up and hitting off Gooden. He attended Hillsborough High in Tampa and by his senior year he had bulked up and became a standout 2-way player. His fastball had reached the upper 80’s but at the plate is where he shined. In just 67 regular season at bats, Sheffield batted .500 and hit 15 homeruns! Gatorade had no choice but to name him their High School National Player Of The Year. He entered the draft and said notably if he did not get picked in the first round, he would opt to attend the University Of Miami to play baseball. However he did not need to worry about that because he was picked 6th overall by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Sheffield absolutely tore up the minor leagues. In just his 2nd season in the minors, he did not quite reach a .300 batting average but he led Class A in RBI’s and was named the #1 prospect in the Brewers system. By the end of season 3, Sheffield would find his way into the majors. His entire Double A and Triple A season that year, he combined for a .327 batting average hitting 28 homeruns with 118 runs knocked in. He was more than ready to take the MLB by storm and that is exactly what he did after a rocky at best start with Milwaukee. Sheffield’s first at bat with the Brewers was a successful one ending with a long home run. From there on out however, his relationship with the Brewers was tumultuous at best between losing his starting shortstop job to Bill Spiers and many injuries that hindered the amount of time he spent on the field. There was definite tension between Gary and the Brewers but there is no way I can comment on that relationship. I know what was reported in the papers way back when and I know what has been said since but still I cannot speak on the claims of racism or other issues without speaking to either side myself. I do know that the relationship severed abruptly with a trade to the San Diego Padres.

Sheffield shined in 1992, his first season with the Padres, becoming an instant triple crown contender that season. Sheffield belted 33 homers, knocked in 100 runs and won the NL batting title, hitting .330. He had a fantastic first half to the 1993 season with San Diego as well but mid season he would be dealt to the Florida Marlins. Not such a bad trade for the Padres who picked up One of the best closers in history, Trevor Hoffman in the deal. Having been a 3rd baseman pretty much this whole journey in the majors so far, Sheffield would move from 3rd base to right field with Florida where he absolutely thrived having a bullet for an arm and laser like accuracy. At the plate, he exploded having a tremendous 4 years with them, blasting 112 home runs. In 1996 he hit 42 out of the park and in 1997, helped Florida win a World Series title over the Cleveland Indians. Gary Sheffield had emerged of one of the games top players and being in such a small market, Florida had no choice to trade him knowing full well they would lose him for nothing in Free Agency. They did just that, trading him to the Dodgers in May of the 1998 season.

Sheffield again found success, something he would do no matter where he went in his playing career, especially at the plate. He would be with the Dodgers for 3 more seasons until 2002. During his tenure with the Dodgers, Sheffield was a 3-time All Star, hit 129 homeruns and drove in 367. He again became rooted in a public war of words in the tabloids with LA’s management, criticizing them for not spending money wisely and going in a bad direction. Subsequently, Gary was traded again, this time to the Atlanta Braves. He spent 2 seasons there and again was a force to be reckoned with in the batter’s box. He hit 62 homers and knocked in 216 RBI’s in just 2 seasons, setting himself up for a very profitable contract via Free Agency. It was the first time in his career thus far that he would hit the open market.

He was signed by the free spending Yankees in free agency to a lucrative 39 million dollar deal. The Yankees seemed to be getting their money’s worth the first season as Sheffield finished 2nd in the AL MVP race. He hit .290 with 36 homers and 121 runs batted in in his first season with New York. He again had a stellar year at the plate the next season belting over 30 homers again but in 2006 he sustained an injury that would see him lose his starting job as well as spot on the Yankees altogether. He was traded to Detroit and still produced at a considerably high level but was released by Detroit after the 2009 season sitting on 499 career round trippers. He was picked up by the New York Mets and became the 1st player in their Team history to hit his 500th career homer while with them. Although he was determined to keep playing, Sheffield retired from baseball prior to the 2011 season after sitting out all of 2010 with an injury.

When all is said and done, Gary Sheffield is a Hall Of Famer in every sense of the word. I do not give any weight to empty accusations of steroid use, even though Gary was named in The Mitchell Report, there was no proof of anything besides some hearsay that cannot be trusted. Sheffield hit 509 career home runs, over 2,600 hits and over 1,600 runs batted in. As a kid I loved watching him play. His bat speed when he would get a pitch right in his wheelhouse was absolutely astonishing. I remember the running joke in baseball was to stand 20 extra feet back when Sheffield was up to bat so he didn’t take your head off pulling it down the line. The fact that he is not a hall of famer is a joke. There of plenty of other names being snubbed too, but Sheffield may be the biggest. This was easily one of my favorite pieces to write because not only did I enjoy watching Sheffield play growing up, but his career is genuinely one to get excited over! No matter where he went, he produced at an extremely high level. He obviously had some well documented issues with management in a few places but who doesn’t have a spat with their boss every once and a while? I also believe he is not in the Hall because of his relationship with writers. I cannot say I don’t blame the guy. After years of being ripped and misquoted in the tabloids, I would probably stop speaking to them too considering the papers cost him his job once or maybe twice. Maybe it is time to start getting some new writers who do not hold grudges in on the voting? What do you say Cooperstown, I’m available!

Well this is the point we have reached in quarantine life. I am such a sports fanatic that I must keep the content going, if not for you the reader, then at least to keep me from going absolutely bonkers. I have watched every single team from nearly ever single sport for as long as I can remember. I have developed such a love for each sport that I can honestly say I have a favorite player from every team in each one of those sports. The point of this article is that we all know for the most part there is an out and out clear cut pick for Each franchise’s best player. What we do not ever talk about is if that player is necessarily our favorite player. I will go through each team and each franchise with a pick for each. This way you get to know my range of knowledge as well as you get to know what kind of fan I am. I will provide a very brief explanation as to why I picked who I picked ( there is alot of teams and I plan on doing this for each sport!). So without any further ado, lets get started.

Boston Celtics–

Best Player- Bill Russell & Favorite Player-Larry Bird-Bill Russell is a 5 time NBA MVP, 12 time NBA All-Star and An 11 time NBA champion. There is really no arguing he is the Franchise’s best player. Bird is my favorite because of his play but also because of his toughness and competitive fire. His classic feud with Magic is one that will stand the tests of time and I am sure I am not the only one that when they think Celtics Basketball, they think Larry Legend.

Chicago Bulls–

Best Player Michael Jordan & Favorite Player- Michael Jordan– I mean did you expect anything else? He is His Airness, 6 time NBA Champion, Defensive Player of the Year, Slam Dunk Contest Champion, MVP, Jumpman, Michael Freaking Jordan!! Whether shoes or basketball, he is THE GOAT! Enough said.

Philadelphia 76ers–

Best Player-Julius Erving & Favorite Player- Allen Iverson-Yes I know for the most part, Dr. J played most of his career in the ABA. However, He was an All-Star all 11 seasons in Philly, Won an MVP award AND he brought a title there. Barkley and Iverson did not. Iverson was the guy every one wanted to be growing up. He was an insane scorer who led a Philadelphia team to the Finals who had no business being there besides the fact that Iverson putting them on his back and carrying them there only to get dismantled by Kobe and Shaq. Not to mention, his non chalant attitude and no bullshit game on the court just made him fun to watch.

Utah Jazz–

Best Player-Karl Malone & Favorite Player- John Stockton- It really is hard to mention one without the other. They spent 18 amazing seasons together in Utah. Malone is the franchise leader in points and rebounds while Stockton leads in steals and assists. Malone won 2 MVP awards and averaged 25 points and 10 rebounds in those 18 years but let’s be honest, he doesn’t do it without John Stockton running point.

Brooklyn/New Jersey Nets–

Best Player-Jason Kidd & Favorite Player-Jason Kidd– Jason Kidd was a triple double waiting to happen every single night. He electrified New Jersey by leading the Nets to back to back Finals appearances. He averaged 15 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists in 7 seasons there. He was Westbrook before we even knew who Westbrook was. A floor general who’s leadership was unparalleled throughout his career in Jersey.

Houston Rockets–

Best Player- Hakeem Olajuwon & Favorite Player-James Harden- A True ambassador for the game and probably the best foreign- born player in NBA history, Olajuwon delivered a couple of things Harden has not, NBA Championships. That does not take away from the fact that Harden scores at a torrid pace and is hands down their funnest player to watch. Olajuwon won back to back titles and Finals MVP awards, all while being the best defensive player in the game at the same time. If Harden delivers some championships, this conversation could change but that window may be closing fast.

Los Angeles Lakers–

Best Player-Magic Johnson & Favorite Player-Kobe Bryant– WOW!! Hands down my toughest choice. My pick for best player could have been Kareem or Kobe easily but Magic had something else during his day. Magic could play all 5 positions and play them well. He started at center in the Finals as a rookie and was the face of the showtime Lakers leading them to 5 titles. A 3 time MVP and averaged 11 assists for his career. Had he not gotten sick, we do not know the levels he could have reached. Kobe is Kobe. He gave LA 5 titles as well but during his time he only had 1 League MVP. Regardless, Kobe gave me and a ton of fans everywhere memories we will never forget. RIP Kobe.

Miami Heat-

Best Player & Favorite Player-Dwayne Wade– Yes, I know Lebron played there as well but make no mistake about it, Miami is Wade County. He delivered the Heat a title before Lebron even arrived. At the height of his career he was one of the game’s most unstoppable and can’t miss players. Wade was a 13 time all star and a 3-time NBA champion. Miami is and will always be his city.

Milwaukee Bucks

Best Player- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & Favorite Player- Giannis Antetokuompo– Kareem was an absolute monster with the team he was drafted to. He brought them the only championship in franchise history in 1971 and is the franchise leader in points and rebounds averaging 30 and 15 in his career there. Add in 3 MVP’s and it leaves no doubt. Giannis is a beast and if he can deliver a title to the Bucks, he will be in the conversation for their best player ever. He may have been on his way there to had it not been for the season shutting down early. Damn you Covid-19!!!!

Washington Wizards-

Best Player- Wes Unseld & Favorite Player- Bradley Beal-Unseld led the then Bullets to the NBA Finals 4 times in his career and delivered them their only NBA Championship as well. I know Jordan played there too but that laughable considering how past his prime he was. Beal is just a special player. He is constantly underrated and overlooked while leading the Wizards even in their worst of years. The way he is so dismissed is what probably what makes him my favorite. Keep doubting him and he will keep killing it every time on the floor.

Phoenix Suns

Best Player-Steve Nash & Favorite Player- Amare Stoudamire– Steve Nash led the Suns in the 200’s, winning back to back MVP awards and numerous playoff appearances including all those memorable battles with the Lakers. he shot 50 percent from the field with Phoenix and 44 percent from 3. Stoudamire is a big reason Nash was so succesful and vice versa. I loved the power of a dunk stoudamire threw down off a lob from Nash. Amare played with high intensity and was a force to be reckoned with his entire tenure there. Nash is definitely the best player but Amare’s big play ability made him my favorite hands down.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Best Player & Favorite Player-Kevin Garnett-Kevin Garnett is the Minnesota Timberwolves. Period. Granted, Kevin Love had a great run there but no where near the impact Garnett did on the franchise itself. Garnett made Timberwolves basketball must watch tv no matter what the matchup was. The most intense player to ever wear the jersey hands down. He is the franchise leader in games, minutes, points, steals, assists, rebounds and free throws. Animal.

New York Knicks

Best Player- Walt Frazier & Favorite Player-Allan Houston– Walt Frazier gets my pick because he did something Ewing could not and that was bring 2 titles to New York. He also was a 7 times defensive player of the year and 7 time All Star. Alan Houston hit one of the most memorable jumpshots in Knicks history but he is my favorite simply because I got to interview the man and he is a genuinely great person. Take notes current and former Knicks, do an interview and get a spot on my list ! That’s like the equivalent of winning an ESPY, right?

Sacramento Kings

Best Player-Oscar Robertson & Favorite Player- Jason Williams– Oscar Robertson obviously did most of his work for the franchise when it was still the Cinncinati Royals. He won an MVP and averaged 29 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists in his career there. Jason Williams or “WHite Chocolate” was a walking highlight reel. He had ridiculous ball handling skills and seemingly could find his open teammates no matter how impossible the situation seemed. He was a jaw dropping show that was impossible to ignore and that’s why he is my favorite King above Chris Webber.

Golden State Warriors

Best Player & Favorite Player- Stephen Curry– Curry is hands down the best shooter in NBA history. The reason he is both in my opinion though is the way he transcended the entire league with his play. He can get to the rack with ease and can pull up from literally anywhere on the court. A couple of titles and league MVP awards certainly helps his case. I only hope his health rights itself so we can continue to watch him shock us all with his big shot and big play capabilities.

Los Angeles Clippers-

Best Player- Blake Griffin & Favorite Player- Chris Paul-Blake Griffin changed the entire culture of Clippers Basketball. Before he arrived, they were a laughing stock. As soon as he burst onto the scene, more and more players wanted to go there and soon they were perennial contenders. blake started the movement known as Lob City but it is only right I include his PIC, Chris Paul. Blake had a considerable amount of posters developed from Paul lobs or assists, and CP3 is the best floor general point guard maybe the league has ever seen in terms of controlling a game. Paul also accomplished 20 assists in a game with no turnovers as a Clipper, a feat that no one else has ever accomplished.

Atlanta Hawks

Best Player- Dominique Wilkins & Favorite Player- Spud Webb– The Human Highlight Reel was the star of the show for his entire career in Atlanta. He averaged 26 pointer per game, won a scoring title and led the Hawks to 8 playoff appearances. He is also the only player to ever beat MJ in a dunk contest which I find is worth noting. As for Spud, A guy that was shorter than me that could dunk like that?!….yeah, no brainer.

Portland Trail Blazers

Best Player- Clyde Drexler & Favorite Player- Damian Lillard-Clyde is definitely the most accomplished Trailblazer of all time. He is the franchise leader in points, steal , free throws and offensive rebounds. He led the team to a finals but was yet another victim of the Jordan Era. Lillard is so much fun to watch. He never backs down from a challenge whatsoever. He has shown time and again that he can pull up from anywhere across half court in the biggest moments and come through consistently. Always overlooked, he is by far my favorite Blazer ever.

Orlando Magic–

Best Player- Shaq & Favorite Player- Dwight Howard-Although not as accomplished as when he was a Laker, Shaq still was a dominant superstar during his time in Orlando. He led the Magic to the Finals but ultimately fell to Hakeem and The Rockets. He broke a ton of backboards as well. Dwight Howard led a team that had absolutely no business being there to the NBA Finals. Dwight was a block and rebound machine when in orlando and easily the most dominant since Shaq. He was pretty damn fun to watch during The Dunk Contest too.

Denver Nuggets-

Best Player- Alex English & Favorite Player- Carmelo Anthony- Alex English is hands down the best player in Nuggets history. Yes I said Hands down. English outscored every other NBA superstar in the 1980’s, the entire decade, including Jordan and Bird. He was a 8 time All Star, a scoring champion and the franchise leader in points and field goals. That is not to say Carmelo was not fun to watch and a force to be reckoned with. Melo played like a man possessed with prolific scoring, crazed intensity and yes, a solid defensive presence especially his battles with Kobe and Lebron. I also loved him coming straight out of Syracuse so that contributed to him being one of my favorite players to watch.

Detroit Pistons

Best Player- Isaiah Thomas & Favorite Player-Ben Wallace-Thomas was the leader of the Detorit Bad Boys team playing with a fire inside him that no opponent or injury or cheap shot could extinguish. He is the franchise leader in points assists and steals and easily one of the 50 greatest players of all time even if he did have teammates like Laimbeer and Dumars. Ben Wallace was just plain old fun to watch. He was a ferocious rebounder and shot blocker. He made the defensive side of the ball so fun to watch and gave opponents nightmares just with his presence. He was also never one to back down from a fight a la The Malice At The Palace. He was a key part of the Pistons title run as well.

San Antonio Spurs-

Best & Favorite Player- Tim Duncan- 5 titles. Thats enough right there to give Duncan the title of the franchises best player but couple that with the fact that he did it while being ridiculed and bashed because he was “boring” is why he wins both spots on this one. He was a nightmare for your typical down low presence and changed the game by making bigs step out more with his ability to knock down his mid range jumper. He is also a 15 time all NBA team and defensive team member. 3 Finals MVPs and 2 Season MVP’s. Yeah, not so boring after all.

Charlotte Hornets-

Best Player & Favorite Player- Kemba Walker- Yeah I am crazy or am I? Alonzo and Larry Johnson were great but Kemba did it for longer with Charlotte and meant way more to the franchise in my opinion. He was a 3 time all star and is currently the franchise leader in points. Considering how bad those teams he had were, he is overlooked as the best but statistically and longevity wise, there is no doubt.

Dallas Mavericks

Best Player & Favorite Player- Dirk Nowitski- He spent his entire 20 year career with the same organization. He single handedly took over the Playoffs en route to his only title. He had a nearly impossible step back fadeaway jumper and was an asbolute sniper from 3 point range….at 7 feet tall! Franchise Leader in points, and he was the man who knocked off Lebron’s Heat in that 1st year they were together as the Big 3. Everyone except Heat fans can thank him for that one. Also being a Mavericks fan, he was awe inspiring to watch, defying the odds at every turn in his career.

Memphis Grizzlies-

Best Player-Mike Conley & Favorite Player-Marc Gasol- Honestly, I would not mind if these two were flip flopped but when I think of the Memphis Grizzlies, I think of these 2, period. Conley is the franchise leader in points and assists while Gasol is the leader in blocks and rebounds. You cannot have one without the other in any way, shape or form. The Grizzlies success would not have been what it was for the last decade had it not been for the grit and leadership of these two.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Best Player & Favorite Player- Lebron James- Do I really need to explain this one or are we all on the same page? Good.

Indiana Pacers

Best Player & Favorite Player- Reggie MIller– Have you figured out yet that a lot of my favorite players are lights out shooters? Miller is no different. He did it with a cocky swag though that got under his opponents and their fans skin so deep, it made everyone want to fight him. Especially the way he could break your heart in just seconds. Sorry Knicks fans, and especially you Spike. Reggie was the face of many feuds but let’s be real , none were more fun than the rivalry he brewed up with New York. He scored over 25,00 points in 18 seasons and is one of the few retired players I think would be even more accomplished in today’s era of run and gun.

OKC Thunder/Seattle Supersonics-

Best Player-Russell Westbrook & Favorite Player-Shawn Kemp– Westbrook is far and away the most accomplished in franchise history. Averaging a triple-double for 2 entire seasons is pretty damn insane and kind of cements that one for me. Gary Payton certainly has the numbers to give him a run for that spot though. Kemp is my favorite because of his sheer brute power when finishing a slam dunk. It was most of the time downright disrespectful but oh so fun to watch.

Toronto Raptors-

Best Player & Favorite Player- Vince Carter- You can argue this one all you want but you will never change my mind. Vince brought prominence and pride to the Raptor culture. He was a one man show night in and night out every single time he stepped on the court. Vince’s mythological abilities really took shape in Toronto and had he not been such a draw in his career, I do not know if we are still talking about a team even existing in Canada. Vince is an all time Raptor, even if he left what I consider to be too soon.