Drunken Driving With Antoine Walker

Quotable:"Walker is one of the very best multi-faceted, versatile players in this game...He is able to handle the ball, pass it, make plays, shoot threes and rebound the ball. There isn’t anyone in this league better at doing that." Pat Riley, former Miami Heat coach.


My how the “mighty” have fallen. Former NBA player, Antoine Walker was recently charged with suspicion of drunk driving early Monday morning after get this, getting caught driving around with his headlights off at 5:39 in the morning. This is of course special interest to me due to the fact that the whole reason I indirectly started a brawl at the Palace (yes the infamous Pistons-Pacers brawl took a page out of my handbook) was because of this pseudo savior to Bean-town professional basketball pre-Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen era. An obnoxious Celtics’ fan insisting on being heard cheering for his favorite player over hundreds of Pistons fans is not fight inducing in itself but when you insist on cheering for your favorite player on enemy lines and you LIVE IN the opponent’s city THEN proceed to taunt the opponents’ fans about their weakest link (in our case, the Detroit Lions), “thems fighting words, buddy!”

So how did I put the Walker’s long lost lover in his place? I hit him in the head with chicken sandwich wrapper. Like Walker’s career, it went downhill fast. The whole crowd in section 201 including *gasp my mother began chanting asshole; the bleachers rained popcorn, beer and pennies on the guy and his friend and about seven guys young and old manned up ready to fight the “fake thugs.” By the end of the night, the Walkerettes were lead away by Palace security for failure to keep the peace and fights erupted elsewhere in the venue after the Pistons embarrassingly lost in a down to the wire, last ditch effort by the Celtics’.

Of course, in recent years, nobody with half a brain has been that up in arms to get his or her ass kicked by a crowd full of opposing fans over Antoine Walker. After acquiring him in a three player trade that included Jason Williams, and James Posey, former Heat coach Pat Riley commented that, “Walker is one of the very best multi-faceted, versatile players in this game. I think his numbers have shown throughout his career that he has been consistent year-in and year-out, providing points and rebounds. He is able to handle the ball, pass it, make plays, shoot threes and rebound the ball. There isn’t anyone in this league better at doing that. I believe that he will bring a tremendous, versatile, play-making, scoring, rebounding dimension to our team. He is in his prime and I think he will pair up brilliantly with Shaquille, Dwyane and the rest of the team.” Since winning a championship with Miami in 2006, Walker has been exiled to Minnesota where he struggled in 46 games with the Timberwolves during the 2007-08 season only to have his contract bought out by the Memphis Grizzlies in December, making him a free agent.

The police reported Walker stank of alcohol and looked even more like a sleepy eyed basset hound than usual. Given that this latest charge is added to the fact that Walker hasn't played this season, maybe Walker realizes that his chances to get picked up by a team are about as slim as Lebron singing a rendition of "Hello New York" as an official New York Knick when the Free Agent season rolls around in 2010.

A fat chance in hell!

LUDACRIS' GAMES ON WITH MADDEN CHALLENGE

Quotable:"I call myself the MVP of rap..." Ludacris, rapper/actor


Grammy award winning rapper/actor, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges is sending a cry out across Sportsnation for all Madden fans who think they can put the smackdown on Luda for the Number 1 spot in Ludacris' Madden Challenge. Ludacris is one of many celebs putting their mouth where their um joystick is as part of Xbox's "Game with Fame" promotion giving everyday gamers the chance to duke it out with some of their favorite celebrities and artists. Earlier this year, hip hop hotheads,rappers Bow Wow and Game went toe to toe in a Madden showdown of Youtube proportions.

For those interested Xbox gamers ready to throw some bows, users simply had to send a friend request to Luda's Xbox game tag, GWF Ludacris and be ready to rumble Monday, November 17th 3:00PM EST in order to compete. A master at cross marketing and promotion, Ludacris has set himself apart from other rappers with TV and film appearances in blockbuster hit, "Max Payne", "Law & Order:SVU","Crash","2Fast2Furious",and "Hustle&Flow" to become one of the most consistent, business savvy mainstream rap artists in the game. Ludacris "Game with Fame" Challenge comes just in time for his new album release, "Theater of the Mind", slated to hit stores, November 24th.

"I call myself the MVP of rap...When you put everything together in rap, as far as lyrics, visuals, record sales, personality, conceptual songs, I feel like I'm the summation of all. I feel like there's nothing I can't do."

Related Links:
Xbox Game with Fame

Dream Shattering Deaths Strike Jennifer Hudson’s Family

Quotable:"I've had a similar journey as Effie…Me being a part of 'Idol,' her being part of the group. ... We both go through our journeys, trying to hold on to our dream and achieve our goal. We have hardships, but we prevail at the end.”

In recent events, Oscar winning actress/singer, Jennifer Hudson realized what nightmares are made of when the horrendous news of the violent deaths of her mother, 57 year old Darnell Donerson and older brother, 29 year old Andre Hudson in Hudson’s native Chicago, hit airwaves last Friday. Hudson’s rise to stardom was like the slow but steady ascension of a rollercoaster ride through good old-fashioned hard work and talent. Her critically acclaimed performance in the 2006 smash hit musical, “Dreamgirls” featuring an all-star African-American cast composed of Oscar award-winning Best Actor, Jamie Foxx (“Ray”), Grammy award-winning actress/singer, Beyonce Knowles, and comedic legend, Eddie Murphy among others, garnered her an Oscar and Golden Globe award in the Best Supporting Actress category in a Comedy/Musical in her first nomination shortly after being eliminated midway from Season 3 of “American Idol.” Her tumultuous on screen portrayal of Effie, the overweight lead singer of the fictitious Dreamettes , features the show-stopping song, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," a remake of the original Tony award winning song performed by singer, Jennifer Holiday in the hit stage play. Hudson reportedly beat out 800 other actresses/singers for the role including her Idol running mate, Fantasia.

Things seemed to be on track for the rising star who recently announced her engagement to “I Love New York2” contestant, David Otunga. Her healthy body image and beauty have been at the center of many celebrity magazines and message boards as an example of a positive role model for young women everywhere. Senator Barack Obama personally requested the girl with the “big voice” to sing the national anthem at the Democratic National Convention and 2008 has seen her appear in the blockbuster “Sex and City Movie” and most recently, “The Secret Life of Bees” with fellow black Hollywood starlets, Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys and Sophie Kwundo as well as the release of her first solo album, “Spotlight.”

Miss Hudson has been no stranger to tragedy. In 1998, she lost one of her inspirations for her music upon the death of her grandma whom she tearfully thanked during her Oscar acceptance speech along with her mother, also her muse. Prior to that her father was also laid to rest. Always humbled and thankful, the close knit Hudson family was struck with tragedy again early Friday morning shortly before Hudson’s mother and brother were found fatally shot in Jennifer’s childhood home on Chicago’s Southside. News of the Hudson family’s horrific murders sent shockwaves of sadness, sympathy and outright disgust at the gall and viciousness of the homicides. Nine am Monday morning, the body of a 7 year old boy found shot multiple times including an execution style bullet to the head in the backseat of an abandoned white 94’ Chevy Suburban, has been identified as being that of Miss Hudson’s missing nephew, Julian—adding another devastating blow to family and its supporters.

"Jennifer always used to beg her mom to get out of that neighborhood, but she owned that house and she would never leave," said a neighbor.

Jennifer and her sister, Julia Balfour, pleaded in a Saturday press conference for the safe return of Julia’s son, Julian affectionately nicknamed “Juicebox” and “Dr.King”, offering a $100,000 reward for information of his whereabouts. The boy was originally believed to be in the custody of Julia’s estranged husband, William Balfour at the time. Balfour, 27, has been arrested and place in police custody for questioning in the Hudson family slayings. Although Balfour was rumored to have threatened to take the boy away and his alibi has been ruled contradictory to what was revealed by his pregnant girlfriend, he has not been charged with their deaths and denies involvement in the incidents. Outpours of condolences, well wishes and prayers flooded Jason and Jennifer’s myspace pages from family, friends and fans alike showing support what must be the singer’s growing pain for the loss of family that has kept her “grounded.” Neighbors from the Englewood neighborhood where Hudson herself once lived with her family, crowded outside the Hudson home silently praying, tears glistening and already a memorial of teddy bears and other tokens of support litter the street, marking the area where the tragedy first took place.

Jennifer’s brother was described as a “nice guy” who had few enemies and was nearly lost to a robbery at the family’s home two years prior. Anyone who knew the family admired their closeness and adored the “happy go lucky, spoiled yet easygoing kid” they lovingly referred to as Julian.

“It was such a nice family...I was shocked that somebody could ever do something like that to such a sweet lady. [Donerson] was quiet, but very nice," a neighbor commented. "She kept to herself and stayed in her house a lot."

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BOLT STRIKES TWICE

Quotable:"Michael Johnson is a great athlete, and he revolutionized the sport,I just changed it a little bit." Usain Bolt, Jamaican world class sprinter


They say lightning never strikes twice. Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt begs to differ and the Olympic gods have spoken. In a blur of green, gold and black, Bolt flew across the finish line in a daunting 19.30 seconds, shattering a world record of 19.32 seconds set by American, Michael Johnson back in 1996 during the Atlanta Olympics. The 22 year old mega track star is the second prodigy of the Olympics to skyrocket skepticism and virtually impossible dreams of shattering old world records straight into the stratosphere. With an air of concentration and focus he hadn’t shown in his showboat finish in the 100 meter race Saturday, Bolt took the gold in the 200 focused and determined to surpass Johnson’s expectations that he’d breeze past his world record “someday.” Today was that day.

“Everything came together tonight," Bolt said. "I just blew my mind. I blew the world's mind.”

You could say it was Bolt’s gold spikes reminiscent of Johnson’s gold spikes on that fateful night in Atlanta 12 years ago that did it for him or call it the “poetry in motion” he embodies when watching his tall, 6’5 lean yet graceful body effortlessly propelling him down the stretch as former gold medal hurdler, Renaldo Nehemiah describes him. Whatever you do, don’t focus on the diet. Sure Bolt trained hard but I’d hardly call an insatiable craving for McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets the breakfast of champions.

One thing is for sure, the quest to proclaim the Jamaicans as the best sprinters in the world is not a long stretch by a long shot. With 7 total medals, Jamaica surprisingly leads the US with 4 gold medals versus America’s 2 gold medals and 9 total medals. A product of a nation known for mass producing some of the fastest sprinters in events 400 meters or less, Bolt has a country lineage to uphold and a promise to fulfill as he leads his team for one last hooray in the 400 relay.

"We want to prove to the world we're the best," said Jamaican 400-meter hurdles gold medalist Melanie Walker.

If lightning can strike three times, Bolt indeed might be just the man to do it.

For Beijing Olympic action, visit
Olympic Central

LIL WAYNE: MILLION RECORD BABY

Quotable:"The only time I will depend is when I'm seventy years old, that's when I can't hold my ish within so I ish on myself cause I'm so sick and tired of ish on everybody else." Lil Wayne


Lil' Wayne is so sweet, girls want to lick his wrapper. Lil' Wayne spits hot fire! Lil' Wayne is the best rapper in the game! Now all the Lil' Wayne naysayers and haters can lick his "rapper too!" Today marks a monumental day for the Carter, now an inductee into the First Week Million Records Boy Club, Weezy baby surpassed Kanyeezy's 900,000 first week record sales of his junior album release, 'The Graduation' back in September 2007 and has clocked in at a reportedly 1 million sound scans. With 400,000 albums flying off the shelves on the first day, it was clear that a few leaks couldn't kill his pipe dreams.

"I wasn't trippin' about this," Lil' Wayne said. "I didn't have no expectations. That's not only with music, [that's] period. You shouldn't expect anything. You never know what could happen."

Previously not one to out do his self, Weezy's 2005 album release, The Carter II only registered at 238,500 sound scans, premiering at #2 on the Billboard Charts. This time The Carter's ecstacy tongue laced in sizzurp (that's codeine and cough syrup, as if you didn't know) landed him the coveted number #1 slot on the Billboard charts and bragging rights along 50 Cent's 2005 chart topper, 'The Massacre' which also set records at $1 million + in first week album sales.

Looks like third time's the charm for the self-proclaimed "best rapper alive." A fan favorite among mixtape DJs and hip hop heads alike since busting on the scene with his solo album 'The Block Is Hot' in 1999. To the Carter, being placed in the ranks with contenders Kanye West, Jay-Z, Nas, 50 Cent for best rapper in the game is so passe.

"I ain't lookin down but i see no one above me."

Despite mixed reviews including one proclaiming Wayne's third studio effort as glossed over as lip gloss, full of radio friendly fanfare that is more bubble yum than down right gritty, as Lil' Wayne fans will declare "A Milli, Hip Hop IS ALIVE!"

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'HULK' SMASHES, NOT ENOUGH BASHES

Quotable: “There are aspects of my personality that I can't control. And when I lose control, it's very dangerous to be around me.” Bruce Banner (Edward Norton)


Two words sum up the comic book adaption of one one of the most popular superheroes of all time, the Incredible Hulk…

HULK SMASH! (Yes! Been waiting to say that!)

The CGI infused second installment in the Hulk series started off slowly but delivered an action packed punch that gained the Marvel franchise and Hulk storyline a new audience without alienating long time fans. The story picked up where the first Hulk left off, with Dr. Bruce Banner (Ed Norton, previously portrayed by Eric Bana) now a fugitive on the run from the U.S. Army led by cigar smoking, non-chalant, General Ross (William Hurt) sworn to capture him at any costs to harness the power within as the ultimate weapon for their own selfish gain. Searching for a cure to rid him of his primal green counterpart, Banner fights off soldiers, bullets, his love for Dr. Betty Ross (Liv Tyler) and an enemy equally as menacing, the Abomination (Tim Roth).

Hulk is a classic struggle of the rage that lurks within us all ready to spin us out of control. For most of us it’s contained or kept in check by our own accord or even with the help of loved ones, a hobby, meditation, or some other method that helps us to escape from the stresses of everyday life. Though there is heart pounding action in the form of chase scenes and a tug of war between Hulk and the Army as well as a showdown of epic proportions featuring Hulk and The Abomination, the movie does little else to thrill and at times babbles more than Tom Cruise proclaiming his love for Scientology. Edward Norton does a good job of depicting the torment that riddles Banner and voluntarily confines him to a life of solitude at the expense of being happy. The chemistry between him and Betty is undeniable and not only is it his voice of reason but it keeps alive on quite a few occasions yet also keeps him determined to remain on the run. When the promise of a cure and the discovery of his Brazilian location after a bottling plant incident where he freelances as a factory worker forces him out of hiding, Bruce must test his restraint and push his limits or risk losing control forever. Tim Roth plays a British soldier Emil Blonsky enlisted by General Ross whose awe of Hulk’s rage and his own greedy lust for power ultimately transform him into one of Hulk’s famed nemesis’, The Abomination, a creature of pure adrenaline and aggression.


“As Banner, Norton gives a strong performance. Like “Iron Man’s” Robert Downey Jr., Norton is a former Oscar nominee who brings a wealth of talent to a role one normally wouldn’t consider him for…”

A welcome change from the Ang Lee directed disaster in 2005, the 2008 Incredible Hulk directed by transports me back to the Sunday mornings while getting dressed for church, when my guilty pleasure was watching the animated Hulk engrossed in his signature smashing and bashing. )? While Hulk got a much needed human upgrade, making his character more relatable than his movie predecessor, there was still something missing you “can’t quite put your finger on.” Could it be that sense of morale and social responsibility that was present in ‘Iron Man’? Or could it be the vengeance that drives Batman pre Kilmer (Michael Keaton, Batman) and post Clooney (Christian Bale, Batman Begins)? No wait! Maybe is it the ability to go from ordinary to extraordinary like in Spiderman or better yet the struggle for equality being social outcasts that X-Men represents. The special effects that transformed the medium build David Banner of modest stature into the 8-10 ft tall, green-eyed, muscle ripped, towering Hulk were certainly impressive yet more realistic this go round. His skin was less rubbery and besides the hair color, his height-weight proportions were more on point.

Three things Hulk shares in common with these other super heroes and summer blockbusters however is its fun factor, popularity and high yielding box office revenue. The opening weekend box office racked in $55,414,050 planting it firmly in the #1 box office slot. Since smashing its way on the scene, The Incredible Hulk has racked in $66,226,305 (domestic); $30,766,138 (foreign) with a worldwide gross of $96,992,443.

As the second movie financed and produced by Marvel Studios, Hulk fans disappointed in Lee’s version will be pleasantly satisfied by the action in 2008’s Incredible Hulk. Add a little dash of nostalgia provided by a voiceover from The Incredible Hulk TV series star, Louis Ferragno (Hulk Smash!), a cameo by a reprised Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and you got a green, environmentally friendly (tree bashing and city pummeling were largely done in CGI) superhero movie to tie you over until Hellboy2: The Golden Army(Coming July 11th) and most notably, the long anticipated The Dark Knight (Coming July 18th.)

Hulk In Theaters Now!

2008 Incredible Hulk Trailer



Visit the Incredible Hulk Online
http://increbilehulk.marvel.com

DON’T CALL IT A COMEBACK

Quotable:"We just wet the bed. A nice big one, too. One of the ones you can't put a towel over. It was terrible." Kobe Bryant (sans Game 4 Lakers loss)


The Boston Celtics got banged around, outscored, and outrebounded but in the course of one quarter, the third quarter, they managed to bring an 18 point deficit within two points heading into the fourth quarter. This series the Celtics have dominated the third quarter making it a pivotal time in which to secure a win for 3 out of 4 games. Strategy? Not hardly.

The Lakers took an early lead, steadily keeping the Celtics at bay by as much as 24 points. With Lamar Odom and Paul Gasol playing off each other in a sequence of touch passes and pick and rolls combined with key plays by Kobe, Sasha Vuyacic, Vladimir Radmanovic and Derek Fisher, Lakers’ offense seemed unstoppable. That is until Paul Pierce launched a three with 6:56 left to go in the 3rd quarter. Watching what transpired from this point on was far from watching paint dry and more like a descent into every Lakers’ fan own personal brand of hell when talking about the rivalry between LA and Boston. Cringe! Another consecutive Boston win and on Lakers’ turf that is.

So where did the Lakers’ go wrong and when did the Celtics’ go right? Point blank when Boston’s status as number one defensive team in the league came rushing back to them. In a chain of events made up of drives to the hole by Ray Allen and off the bench 20 foot plus jumpers by Eddie House of all players, Boston put LA’s legendary triangular offense on LOCK, forcing turnovers and taking advantage of LA’s lack of interior defense. Some questionable calls by Phil Jackson such as benching Derek Fisher and Lamar Odom just when they got the hot hand only fueled the Lakers’ scoring drought. The buckets that previously rained in Southern California dried up as Kobe’s 8 assists for crucial shots by Derek Fisher during the first half just weren’t enough to keep the Celtics from gaining the momentum that the Lakers’ possessed throughout most of the game. Ray Allen was enigmatic and tireless, Paul Pierce caught a second wind that proved crucial to the Lakers’ demise.

The honorary Lakers’ fan in me is as stunned as any other Laker enthusiast. Not only did Boston manage to raise the stakes in the series and gain the competitive advantage but the son of guns overcame the largest half-time deficit in the NBA Finals history in the shot clock area at 18 points. Previous records had been set at 14 points by get this, Lakers’ opponents! If anyone should be calling foul on game rigging should be Jerry West. Take notes Tim Donaghy, no team down 3-1 in the Finals has ever come back to win the championship. With a 5 out of 6 win-loss record against the Lakers’ during the regular season, is it any wonder really that history was made Thursday night? Things don’t look pretty in the City of Angels as Game 5 takes place in the Garden in Boston Sunday. With the Celtics being one game away from their first championship in 21 years, the 0-6 road record epidemic, inconsistent scoring by Big Three members, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in addition to the perils of having a young bench seem almost irrelevant.

Well the bench and Big Three certainly showed up in Game 4. As part of a 21-3 run, Eddie House hit two shots from three point land followed by a 10-1 run highlighted by a dunk by P.J.Brown to close the third quarter. A jumper by Leon Powe tied the game for the first time since the first quarter at 73. Saying it was all downhill from there would be a firm grasp on the obvious.

“We sucked it up. We said we weren't going to back down. At the end of the third quarter I looked up at the scoreboard and told the fellas. We just have to go out there and compete and let the chips fall where they may.'' Paul Pierce said.
While the odds are certainly stacked against them, the Finals’ favorites find themselves in a precarious position to have their asses handed to them yet again. Though the same analysts and fair weather fans are already jumping ship calling for a Lakers’ concession … “It Ain’t Over ‘Til The Fat Lady Sings!”

Game 5 Sunday – Lakers at Boston @ 8:30PM EST

Related Links:

Lakers Have A Collapse For The Ages
Phil Jackson Master of Disaster?
Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals Coverage
Top 10 Best Moments in Celtics-Lakers Post Season History