Bringing the Heat: Draft Day Review

B-ballers,


What’s poppin? We’ve nearly reached the end of the summer, but the madness is just beginning. Once again, your MannofStat has come back like a tax return to spill some b-ball logistics of how we ball on the row. Na mean?

Much has transpired since the last time I was in your ear. Death row b-ball is officially on the map and not just the 50 states. We have ears in Canada, Israel and Denmark. Real talk. Without a doubt we are international players. If your peoples would like to get on board, they can ride with us at: http://www.balltilwefall.blogspot.com/. It will most definitely be the ride of a lifetime. The 2008 season of Summer Madness is occupying computer screens as I write this. That’s what’s up!

In saying that, I’ve been advised by my peoples to reduce my b-ball commentary to 750 words or less. Now, it’s no secret that I’m madly passionate about this game. Working with a lesser amount of words will definitely be a challenge for me, but in the words of the late, great Ray Charles, “I’m a make it do what it do baby,” for sure.

For the second straight year, my man Paul Brown, aka “Mr. Blue” will be assisting me at the table to handle the game clock responsibilities. Also joining us will be the newly retired, crafty sharpshooter, Danny “Shoot em up” Frogg. He’ll be helping me with the stats.

The addition of a 30 second shot clock brings to the table another first time spotter, Johnny Hyde, aka “El Indio.” The math will be so complex this season, that Mr. Blue will be sharing some ink on the mid-week special. Don’t sleep b-ballers, this cat is nice with the pen. Word is bond!

Now, allow me to briefly spit some actual factual about today’s long awaited draft. The number one pick in the 2010 Death Row B-ball Draft went to the league’s top coach, Ricky Cagle, aka “Slick Rick.” It’s been a three year ritual because his #1 pick remains the same every year. Last season’s MVP, Phillip “Lil’Magic” Davis. In 2008 it was, “Dark Cloud.” Last season is was, “Locked and Loaded.” This year, their union will be called “The Gatlins.” As coach and player, they have produced a 30-3 record and two championships in the last two years. Is another chip on the horizon? We will see.

Also, like last season, the #2 pick was last year’s scoring champ and all time scoring leader, Marcus “Do Holiday” Mitchell. He’ll be playing for first time coach, Kenny “Bird Man” Neal on a squad known as “Mayhem.”

The #3 pick went to last season’s champion and first time coach Michael “Big Bank” Braxton. His choice, the 3rd first team All-World selection, to go in as many picks. Eddie “E-Smoove” Taylor will lead team “Ruffneckz.”

Breaking the trend of selecting 1st team All-World ballers, coach Terrence “TC” Campbell chose 2nd team All-World selection and last season’s top rookie/best 6th man, James “Silk Money” Little to lead his squad known as “The Realest.” Aight?!

Team “Elixir” will be coached by Jamie “Red” Smith. He had the 5th and final pick of the 1st round. His top choice was 1st team All-World selection, Jeremy “J-Rock” Murrell, but due to some unfortunate circumstances, J-Rock may not be available for the August 23rd scheduled tip-off. I guess the name Elixir is appropriate. Let’s see if coach Red has the proper formula to keep his squad alive in the absence of his first team All-World baller.

On that note, I gotta do the Lebron. I’m gone.

Be Easy,

MannofStat

Copyright © 2010 by Leroy Mann

North Carolina Death Row B-Ball is ‘Bringing the Heat”

B-ballers,


What’s crackin?

If you’re reading this, then you already know what time it is. March was a disappointing month for your MannofStat. Watching Temple get sent home in the first round of the NCAA tournament, by Cornell, was a shock indeed. But, when my Villanova Wildcats were eliminated in the second round by Omar Samhan and St. Mary’s, I was floored. Real Talk.

But now, the pollen is in the air and Death Row B-ball is pounding in my chest. The last time we spit b-ball logistics, it was a cold winter day in mid December. A wintry battle for the tournament chip between “Locked and Loaded” and the “Thunder Warriors” featuring the likes of Phillip ‘Lil Magic’ Davis (multiple tournament MVP), Eddie ‘E-Smoove’ Taylor (2 time sportsmanship Award winner), Mitchell ‘Chubsta’ Holmes (record holder for most rebounds in a game, 22) and Stacey ‘Scoop’ Tyler, aka, ‘The Human Erase (last year’s Defensive Player of the Year).

As you should already know, team Locked and Loaded gave the Thunder Warriors the bizness, 56-33, finishing the season at 15-0. Last year’s ‘Wet Season’ is still winning rave reviews, but a new season is on the horizon. In these last four months, I could sense the temperature rising. Throughout the cold winter months, these cats have been ballin outdoors as if the tournament never ended. And, as expected, the ice cold concrete makes injuries inevitable, na mean?

The cornerstones of our league, Lil Magic and Marcus ‘Doc Holiday’ Mitchell both spent time on crutches this past February. The league’s most notable ‘glue guy’, Michael ‘Big Bank’ Braxton sustained several shoulder injuries that required some offseason physical therapy. But, once again, all three are back on the court, stompin the yard like Columbus Short. Ya heard?

This season will probably be the deepest crop of talent we’ve had since 2006. That’s right, 2006, the reign of the great ‘Team Dynasty.’ C’mon now, you know your MannofStat can’t talk b-ball without spittin some history. But, it’s only right, because former Team Dynasty member, Jeremy ‘J-Rock’ Murrell is returning to the mix this season. After taking last season off, this ‘chip chaser’ has regained his desire for b-ball supremacy. But, the mayor of Treysville, Doc Holiday and the stat sheet stuffer, Lil’ Magic, will be colossal-like barricades blocking J-Rock’s road back to glory.

Check this math:

In the last two seasons, Doc Holiday has tallied 986pts., in 32 games and he shot a staggering 159/196 from the stripe. Lil Magic has conjured 26 double/doubles in his last 33games (3 triple/doubles). Any questions?

Without a doubt, these cats are the top guns in our league, but allow me to introduce you to the rest of the ‘Monster Ballers’ of the Death Row B-Ball League. Remember these names, because I’m sure you’ll be hearing them again throughout this upcoming season. I assure you, when the temperature rises, these ballers rise with it, because this year, Death Row will be “Bringing the Heat.” Word is bond!!

Nuff Said,

MannofStat
Copyright © by Leroy Mann

“2010 All-World Squad”

1st Team

Phillip ‘Lil Magic’ Davis

Marcus ‘Doc Holiday’ Mitchell

Stacey ‘Scoop’ Tyler

Eddie ‘E-Smoove’ Taylor

Jeremy ‘J-Rock’ Murrell

2nd Team

Martin ‘Heart-N-Soul’ Richardson

James ‘Silk Money’ Little

Paul ‘Pablo’ Cummings

Brian ‘Scrappy’ Bell

Mitchell ‘Chubsta’ Holmes

3rd Team

Darrell ‘Baby D’ Mannes

Rodney ‘Bucktown’ Taylor

Terry ‘Geezy’ Robinson

Jeffrey ‘The Gem’ Barrett

Michael ‘Big Bank’ Braxton

Honorable Mentions:

Shawn ‘The General’ Bonnett, Elrico ‘Concrete’ Fowler, Roger ‘The Blanket’ Blakeney, Reche ‘Runny Ray’ Smith, Nasir Al-din Siddiq, aka ‘Nasty Nas.’

 

The Lebron Issue: Is this a bad thing?

MannofStat would like to take a short break from the Summer Madness Recap and sound off on the much disputed Lebron James issue.  Summer Madness recap will resume next week.
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B-ballers,

I’ve heard several sports pundits condemn Lebron James for leaving his hometown quad, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Why is joining Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami a bad thing? I hear all of this talk about disloyalty and letting the fans down. Well tell me this, where was the loyalty when Lebron asked the Cavaliers’ front office to sign a big time free agent? This request came at the conclusion of the 2007 season, a season in which Lebron single-handedly led the Cavaliers to their first and only NBA finals appearance. Feel me?

The Cavaliers’ brass didn’t even try to meet Lebron halfway. Mo Williams? Antwan Jamison? Shaq? I know, I know, Shaq was a beast about 10 years ago, but this is the occasionally bloated, gimpy knees, post Karine Steffans(Superhead), Shaq I’m speaking of. Na mean?

I hear these sports pundits comparing Lebron’s so called disloyalty, to the loyalty of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. First of all, Jordan was the greatest professional baller I’ve ever seen. In his prime, he would’ve won championships in any city, Chicago, Atlanta, even Sacramento, but even he had Scottie Pippen. Ya heard?

Magic Johnson and Larry ‘Legend’ were drafted by teams who already had all-star caliber players as well as respected championship pedigrees. I mean, as a rookie, Magic was dishing out dimes to cats like the original ‘Cornbread,’ Jamaal ‘Silk’ Wilkes, ‘Stormin’ Norman Nixon, and the only cat to ever come close to whipping the great Bruce Lee, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Now tell me, how hard could it be to win championships with that squad?

I applaud King James’ decision to team up with other top flight ballers. He gave Cleveland 7 phenomenal years. So, soak it up Cavs fans. Lebron isn’t the reason you don’t have a championship banner. You have your front office to thank for that. Real talk.

The bigger question is: Why is Boston signing Shaq to a two year deal? For the last three years, Shaq’s game has been fish (It stinks)! To get a deal like that, he’s obviously got a good head on his shoulders, but then he did learn from the best, right? Holla if ya hear me, Superhead.

Nuff said,

MannofStat
Copyright © 2010 by Leroy Mann