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

'Bringing the Heat' Delayed, but MannofStat Back on the Court...Temporarily

B-ballers,

What it do? I just got the news that the starting date for this year’s b-ball fest, “Bringing the Heat,” has been pushed back for the second time in the last two months. The administration is claiming they’re short on staff, so, I’m officially playing it by ear. When I know something, you’ll know something. Until then, I hope that you’ll enjoy our 08’ season, Summer Madness.”

Speaking of summer madness, I recently got a comment from Highrise, on my ‘Word to the Masses blog (http://word2themasses.blogspot.com/). He displayed some b-ball braggadocio in reference to a June 28th post entitled, “Recognize the Real.”

The braggadocio of Highrise is a common language amongst North Philly ballers. In our hood, ballin was a rite of passage. The mention of our adolescent days, playing ball, ignited the flames of my b-ball soul. I haven’t played ball in over a year. That is until today (7/11/2010). That’s right, your MannofStat put down the stat sheets and took my rightful place on the court. Real talk.

My recent hiatus is the longest I’ve ever been off the court since I was 8 years old. I took the court with the likes of ballers like Silk Money, last season’s top rookie, as well as the league’s best 6th man. Everybody’s favorite glue guy, Big Bank and the most improved player from two seasons ago, Nasty Nas, held things down in the paint, while I had my work cut out for me guarding our league’s top coach, Slick Rick, (30-3 in his last 2 seasons) on the perimeter.

Today’s comeback was merely OCS (on the court scouting). It gave me the chance to experience the vast improvement of a 3rd year youngsta, Streets from an on the floor perspective. Playing with Streets proved to me that the only thing he’s been missing is the best point guard on the row feeding him the rock. Na mean?

The first two games proved to be my phase of adjusting to the 92 degree heat. My legs felt like wet sandbags, which caused me to play flat-footed defense. But, the ballers showed me no mercy, especially coach Slick Rick. We’re the same age, but he’s been ballin with the youngstas the entire offseason. He took full advantage of my sluggish movements, draining spot up jumper after spot up jumper. Needless to say, we lost those first two games. No doubt.

I got my groove back in games 3 & 4. Despite the fact that I’m at the front door of my mid 40’s my jumper is still wetter than Niagara Falls. Ya heard? I started draining long range jumpers, forcing defender to step out and challenge my marksmanship. This eventually led to my dribble drive penetration, which resulted in pinpoint dimes and floaters sweeter than a bee’s knees to close out games 3&4. That’s what’s up!

Being the MannofStat for the last 4 years, I kept mental notes of my on court production. I finished the day with 12pts, 14 dimes & 4 turnovers in 4 games played to 11. Not bad for the old school, huh? The ball is now in your court Highrise. Holla if ya hear me.

Be Easy,

MannofStat
Copyright © 2010 by Leroy Elwood Mann

Becoming MannofStat

B-Ballers,

In 1999, I hyper extended my left knee, while smacking boards on some cat. I could barely walk. I was put into a wheelchair and taken to the prison E.R. The doctor examined my left knee and noticed bruised blood on the bottom of my left foot. So, I was sent to Wake Medical Center to be examined for blood clots.

The doctors at Wake Medical Center performed a Doppler test. After viewing the arteries and blood vessels of my left leg, they concluded that I didn’t have blood clots. When I came back to the prison, the doctor’s prognosis was to stay off of the court for a few months and take these anti-inflammatory pills for the swelling.

I eventually played ball again. I was still able to do my thing on the court, but afterwards the stiffness and swelling in my knee eventually became unbearable. Every time I went to the doctor, he’d just prescribe more pain medication (Motrin). He said it was natural for my knee to be aching and swelling due to my age, so I continued ballin’. By 2007, I was walking with a limp.

I went back to the doctor. This time he recommended that I receive an MRI exam. Surprisingly, it was approved. The MRI exam revealed that my left ACL was torn and my left MCL was dislodged. The doctors at Wake Medical Center couldn’t believe that I was still playing basketball.

I had a good doctor (Dr. Wood). He explained to me how they were going to remove tissue from my left hamstring, then using the tissue as a graph to mend my knee. At first, I had reserved feelings about the whole procedure. I told Dr. Wood that the procedure struck me as primitive and I felt they were experimenting on me. Na mean?

Well, after several visits, Dr. Wood learned of my loyal Eagles fanfare. He told me that my surgery would be the same procedure that Donovan McNabb just had. That didn’t make me feel any better, due to the fact that I gave up on McNabb when he choked in the Super Bowl in 2005. But, when I learned that professional athletes have this type of procedure regularly, I was on board. And, I gotta tip my hat; Dr. Wood did an excellent job on my knee.

The day before my surgery was my first appearance as the league statistician. It was the season opener. I didn’t know what to expect after I had to sign a release form, ridding the state of any responsibilities if anything was to happen to me during surgery. So, that night, I took the stat sheets to my cell. I decided to leave behind some form of sports commentary about the day’s events. I concluded that if I never wake up from surgery, at least the brothers on the row will know what it feels like to get some positive press. Feel me?

I left the block about 5am the next morning. I left my written commentary with one of my fellow ballers. I was gone for two days. When I came back to the death row housing unit, on crutches, the b-ball buzz was incredible. It seemed like every one was feeling my written b-ball commentary. That was the day I became the MannofStat. Ya heard?

It’s ironic that the founder of our league, Earl J. Richmond once told me that he was really going to miss my sports talk. He told me that someone would have to step up as a leader after he was gone. He reminded me that I was a point guard and dishing out dimes is what we do. Na mean?

So, here’s my latest assist to the ballers on the row as well as the masses in the blogosphere. I may not be on the court, but I’m most definitely in the game.

That’s what’s up!

Keep on Keepin,

MannofStat
Copyright © 2010 by Leroy Mann

Ballin’ On The Row: how it all began

B-ballers,

Welcome to the maiden post for the Ball-Til-We-Fall blog. The purpose of this blog is to expose the masses to the revolutionary play of death row basketball. The title of this season is “Bringing the Heat,” but before the season begins, I want to bring you up to speed on how this all began.

North Carolina’s Death Row Basketball was the brainchild of my man, and fellow point guard, Earl J. Richmond (DOE 5/6/2005). Through my travels in life, I’ve learned that basketball is universal. Death row was no different.

I came to death row in July of 1997. By the summer of 2000, our annual b-ball tournament was born. No other death row in the country was doing this, and, to my knowledge, we’re still the only death row ballin’ on this level.

I believe the D.O.C. approved our annual b-ball tournament for various reasons. One of the more notable reasons would be that we’re the only death row in the country that travels to and from the chow hall in mass units. And, I’m sure we’re one of the few death rows that aren’t locked down 23 hours a day. With all of this movement, what’s the big deal about letting us ball under the whistle?

But, over the last decade, death row b-ball has become a very big deal. The success of our league has opened the door for a six week janitorial class for death row prisoners, sponsored by Wake Tech. I know, it’s only a janitorial class. No big deal, right? Well, I don’t know of any other death row in this country allowing 15 death row prisoners to sit in a classroom together to be taught by non-D.O.C staff.

Our inaugural season was brief. It consisted of four teams with ten players from each block. Each team played two games. The two teams with the best records played for the championship. The name of my team was “Mobb Deep.” We went 0 – 2, but the opportunity to break some ankles and shoot the lights out under the whistle, was rewarding within itself. Ya heard?

Beginning in 2006, we evolved to a 12-game regular season and a double elimination tournament to follow. 2006 was my last year as a player. I was the starting point guard for the legendary “Team Dynasty.” At 37 years of age, I averaged 17pts a game on a team where most of my teammates were ten years, or more, younger than me.
We went 14-0 that year and set a prison record for most points scored in a game (96pts. In 36 minutes). Real talk.

Our starting five was Lil’ Magic (whom you will soon get to know), J-Rock, Heart-N-Soul, E-Boogie(RIP), and myself. The highlight of that season was when I picked the pocket of an opponent, and took it the length of the court, only to throw it of the back board for a trailing E-Boogie. His game was similar to a young Latrell Sprewell. His calves were like springs.

In perfect rhythm, he caught my assist off the backboard, cocking the ball behind his head with two hands. The sound of his hands meeting the rim, combined with the swish of the ball going through the net sent the rec yard spectators into an uproar. “Team Dynasty” most definitely set a high standard for anyone that picked up a basketball on the row. That’s what’s up!

Last season, more than 50 people signed up to play. We had to add a 5th team to accommodate so many ballers. I expect a healthy turnout this year as well. I hope you enjoy this b-ball journey through the halls of North Carolina’s Death Row.

Our reality is simple. We’re bonded by sentences of death, but basketball is our constant of positivity and, on the row we literally, Ball-Til-We-Fall. Na mean? So, join me here each week, same time, same place, to witness the raw unadulterated play of Death Row B-ball.

Be Easy,

Mannofstat
Copyright © 2010 by Leroy Mann