Bringing the Heat Week 4 Rap Session

B-ballers,

What it do?

Basketball can be about physical dominance (Dwight Howard). It can be about athleticism (Dwayne Wade. At times, b-ball is a chess match between infinite b-ball IQs (Phil Jackson and Glenn “Doc” Rivers). But, the end result is always about having a good time. Na mean?

Certain ballers draw the spectator’s attention as soon as they step on the court. In some cases, if these “fan favorites” are not on the court, the spectators will shout the player’s name until the coach decide to put the requested player into the game. The fanfare on the row can be very persuasive. Word is bond!

These “fan favorites” inspire others, not because they’re the most athletic or physically imposing. They inspire others through their efforts and willingness to be a line in a chain known as death row b-ball. The integrity of this chain is what makes us who we are. Whether it is running the figure eight drill with J-Rock and Bigg Dogg or shooting free throws with The General. Death row b-ball is a language of its own and despite the different characters and backgrounds amongst us; it’s the language that solidifies the integrity of our chain. Ya heard?

Hear the voices of two links in our b-ball chain. This week’s Player of the Week, “Jimi-Jam” and the embodiment of team spirit, “Ernie."

MannofStat: What’s good fellas?

Jimi-Jam: What’s up, homeboy?

Ernie: What’s up?

MannofStat: Aight Jam. Let’s clear the air. You’re from Asheville, NC. Why do you call me your homeboy?

Jimi-Jam: Because I used to live in Philly. Mr. Doobie Greenwood is my kinfolk. 17th and Chew. Oh, excuse me, is that cool if I give a shout out?

MannofStat: Cooler than a fan, Jam.

Jimi-Jam: Thank you man. I’m just happy to be here.

MannofStat: Ernie, you’ve been a part of this tournament for years. What do you find exciting about death row b-ball?

Ernie: I love the game. The thrill of being able to compete with the best is what excites me the most. I’m old and slow, but I’m grateful to be able to get out there and participate. Just doing my job to help my team.

Jimi-Jam: Yeah man, I kind of feel like that too, but this week every time I stepped on the court I felt like I could score 30 points, steal 5 balls, block 6 shots and snatch 10 rebounds.

MannofStat: (Laughs) Easy Jame, you’re old-school man. You really think you can put it down like that?

Jimi-Jam: Even better homeboy.

MannofStat: How much better?

Jimi-Jam: I’m so fired up at game time homeboy, I feel like I could score 60 points in 40 minutes.

MannofStat: Wow! That’s what’s up! Now back to reality (Laughs).

Jimi-Jam: C’mon homeboy (Laughs).

MannofStat: Ernie, tell me how death row b-ball has made a difference in your life?

Ernie: I’m learning about the game from the best players in the league. I’ve been able to apply these same lessons to my everyday life.

MannofStat: Give me an example.

Ernie: To play as a team, you can’t be selfish and with us living together, here on the row, we can’t be selfish because we’re all in the same boat. Regardless of our individual situations, we’re still on the same team.

MannofStat: Respect. I got my high beams on Ernie. I can definitely see you. Ya heard?

Jimi-Jam: MannofStat, let me bless the masses with a freestyle.

MannofStat: Nah Jam, we’re on the 3rd strike.

Jimi-Jam: 3rd strike?

MannofStat: Yeah, we out.

Stay up,

MannofStat
Copyright © 2010 by Leroy Elwood Mann

Bringing the Heat: Mid-Week Special Day 10

Game 1 Mayhem vs The Realest – A slugfest. The Realest went down 9-2 early and did not score their first FG until 9:32 of the first half. But, they were able to stay in the game due to the brilliant defensive strategy by Coach T.C. Campbell of denying the ball to Marcus “The Phenom” Mitchell and smothering him with a constant double-team. The score was tied at 14 with 6:09 to play in the 1st half and The Realest swarming to the ball with tenacious, in your face, team D.


We went to the half tied 24-24. Second half fire! The defensive pressure got turned up a notch for some high intensity hoops. Stacey “Scoop” Tyler was held to 4 points, but was solid across the board as usual with (11 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocks). And, John “J Dub” Williams and Roger “The Blanket” Blankeney stepped it up for Mayhem combining for a much needed (12 points and 10 rebounds).

Foul trouble plagued the Realest throughout the contest. And you cannot stop the Phenom; you can only hope to contain him. And he began to get loose, finding his range from downtown then slashing inside for easy baskets and making his free throws to finish with a modest, for him, (24 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists). James “Silk Money” Little, III finished with a game high (25 points, 11 rebounds 2 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks) and seemed to make plays from every spot on the floor. But, the double-team was called off in the closing minutes due to foul trouble which was the turning point in this 50-46 thriller. A losing effort for The Realest, but a gutty, stand-up performance. They were outmanned, but they manned up!

Game 2 Elixir vs Ruffnex: the rivalry continues. This game became a rivalry when Elixir forfeited an earlier win over the Ruffnex on a controversial call. There was a little extra incentive on each possession. Jeremy “J-Rock” Murrell came back early from a head injury last week requiring stitches. He was tentative in the early going, but then exploded with a spectacular performance going (17 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists and 6 steals). Poetry in motion with the rock; good to see ya back out there kid!

Paul “Lil Bison” Cummings came to the game donning his warrior headband and a warrior mentality with aggressive play on both ends. It was a one point game at the half. Eddie “E-Smoove” Taylor (16 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 5 blocks) seemed to be able to score at will, but ironically was not a major part of the offense. And, Mitchell “The Carpenter” Holmes dominated in the paint with 18 boards (6 points, 4 assists and 2 steals). However, the Ruffnex are prone to mental errors.

The odds-on favorites to play for the chip at the beginning of the season, the Ruffnex are a team that can’t seem to get out of its own way. Still, anybody’s game late when out of nowhere, James “Jimmy Jam” Morgan nailed back-to-back bombs from treysville, also adding a clutch turnaround jumper to push team Elixir out to a 5 point lead and provide the spark needed to pull away. Final score, 45-41 Elixir, but it’s not over. These teams will meet again on the last day of the season… Bring your fire suit!

Player of the week honors go to: James “Jimmy Jam” Morgan. In the absence of injured team leader Jeremy “J-Rock” Murrell, Jam stepped his game up with a career high (16 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist), and came up huge today in crunch time to help team Elixir go 2-0 for the week. His energy and spirit are unmatched. Congratulations Jam, you always got the green light and that’s the Blue-View. No games tomorrow; flames Monday-bring it!

Mr. Blue
Copyright © 2010 by Paul Brown

Bringing the Heat: (Humidity) Day 9

B-ballers, what’s good?

We’ve passed the half-way mark of our regular season. The good weather has been a blessing indeed. This season is progressing much faster than last year’s “Wet Season,” much too fast for your MannofStat. I’ll hate when this season comes to a close. But, I’ll definitely find comfort in knowing that the monumental statement death row b-ball is making will be like the timeless lyricism in Tupac Shukur’s music. It will be a hot topic for generations to come. Feel me?

For the second time this season, the 7-1 Gatlins faced the 2-5 Ruffnex. The last time these two teams met, it resulted in a 61-56 Gatlins win. A tight game, no doubt. The first half of this one resembled their first meeting. Gatlins led at the break 29-28, but Phillip “Lil Magic” Davis brought the heat coming out of the recess. He scored 9 of the Gatlins’ first 11 points of the 2nd half. He finished with a healthy line; 22 points, (3/4 from the stripe), 9 rebounds, 6 dimes and 5 thefts.

Martin “Heart-N-Soul” Richardson surpassed his own b-ball brilliance by tallying 10 thefts, a career high, and one better than his previous record of 9. His total contributions were, 22 points, (8/10 from the stripe), 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 10 thefts. As a team, Gatlins recorded 18 thefts, 15 between Lil Magic and Heart-N-Soul. Without a doubt, death row’s version of HBO and Showtime featured the blockbuster, “The Prince of Thieves” at this morning’s Humidity session. Ya heard?

The Gatlins won this one 64-48, but the Ruffnex got mass production from the explosive combination of “TNT.” Eddie “E-Smoove” Taylor produced his 3rd double/double of the season. He finished with 22 points, 12 boards, 3 assists and 4 swats. In two games against the Gatlins, he’s averaging 26 points, 13.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 3.1 blocks. The second half of this explosive duo, Rodney “Bucktown” Taylor recorded his 3rd double/double of the season as well. Today’s 11 points, 10 boards, 2 assists, 2 steals and 4 swats, gives him season averages of 13 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks.

Game 2 saw team Elixir produce their 2nd win of the season. They were without their 1st team All-World selection Jeremy “J-Rock” Murrell. He’s still recovering from the eye injury he suffered in last week’s “Fuego” session. Compensating for the loss of his 19.1 points per game average would be a challenge, but Chris “Bigg Dogg” Gregory was up to the task.

The BiggDogg stepped off the porch to contribute 17 points, (13 in the 1st half), 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals, but the x-factor for team Elixir turned out to be James “Jimmy-Jam” Morgan. He finished the day with a season high 16 points (2 treys and 2/3 from the stripe). He also contributed 4 rebounds and 1 assist. David “Bo” Williams finished with 12 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Paul “Lil Bison” Cummings came through with 11 points and 1 steal to cap a 61-58 Elixir victory.

The stats say The Realest should’ve won this game. They outrebounded team Elixir 53-26 (3 players with double digit rebounds). James “Silk Money” Little, III tallied 22 points (16 in the 1st half), 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. Warren “Pitt Bull” Gregory produced his first double/double of the year with 12 points (2/2 from the stripe), 12 boards and 1 assist. Shawn “The General” Bonnett finished with 10 points, 13 boards (a career best), 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. Elrico “Concrete” Fowler contributed 8 points (4/6 from the stripe), 13 boards, 1 assist and 1 block.

The Realest led 37-36 at the half. Team Elixir was grasping onto a 55-54 lead with 1:42 to play, but frustration caused a momentum shift in favor of team Elixir. Obviously team Elixir had the antidote for the absence of J-Rock, but they will need him if they plan on improving to 3-5 when they face 2-5, team Ruffnex. The last time they met, it resulted in the Ruffnex winning by forfeit. I can feel the Heat already. Na mean?

Catch me at the table b-ballers. I’m out lie Glenn Chapman.

One,

MannofStat
Copyright © 2010 by Leroy Elwood Mann

Bringing the Heat: Week 3 Rap Session

B-ballers, what it do?

 

Shot-blocking is a dimension of basketball that is too often underrated. At times, this critical dimension of the game can be written off as mere stoppage of play, but shot-blocking is so much more than that.

Wilt “The Stilt” Chamberlin changed the game with his ability to block shots, but Bill Russell mastered this craft and used it as the driving force to win 9 chips in 11 years. Real talk. I spent some time with two of our league’s premier shot-blockers, Stacey “Scoop” Tyler, aka “The Human Eraser” and Eddie “E-Smoove” Taylor, aka “The Delete Technician.” Not many shots go uncontested when these ballers are on the floor. Na mean?

MannofStat: Scoop, what’s good?

Scoop: Yeah, what up?

MannofStat: E-Smoove, how you?

E-Smoove: I’m good Dawg.

MannofStat: Who was the best shot-blocker ever?

Scoop: Without question, Hakeem, “The Dream” Olajuwon. 3,830 blocks. Nuff said.

E-Smoove: Well, the stats say The Dream, but in my mind Dikembe Mutombo was the greatest. When you saw that finger, you knew what it was. That was intimidation man.

Sccop: Yeah, but what appealed to me is the manner in which The Dream handled his. No screams, no pointing, no finger waving, just playing ball and waiting on the next opportunity.

MannofStat: Aight, I can see both sides of that ball, but Bill Russell was like the Picasso of shot-blocking. I mean, changing the course of a shot and turning it into an opportunity for your team to score is definitely something special. Feel Me?

Scoop: I agree. Bill Russell made shot-blocking an art. When you think about it, everything must be done with precision; timing that release, the moment of lift-off and the brutal assault on the ball. To do that intact, makes one the creator of “art” in motion.

MannofStat: Okay, Playa (Laughs). Break out the scuba gear, cause we’re about to get deeper than oceanography. Ya heard?

All: (Laughs)

MannofStat: Real talk. E-Smoove, you gotta spit some real on this emotional rollercoaster you and team Ruffnex have been on these last two weeks. I mean, you was doing it in week one, averaging 24 points and 10 boards. How do you get back to that form?

E-Smoove: I just wanna win, Dawg. If the numbers come, they come. I love the game. The 1st week we just played ball and had fun. Then emotions came into play and it showed in the team’s performance.

MannofStat: In saying that, where does this team rank compared to other teams you’ve played on?

E-Smoove: By far, this is the best team I’ve been on and Big Bank is the best coach I’ve played under. All we need to do is come together and we’ll win.

MannofStat: Has ballin on the row made a difference in your life?

E-Smoove: No doubt, without it, this would be an all day soap opera. These are the days of our lives. As the world turns on death row. Know what I’m sayin’?

All: (Laughs)

Scoop: “The Blueprint” taught me that every team starts with one person willing to sacrifice for others. To lead the way you want to be led. I have great respect and appreciation for Earl “E” Richmond (R.I.P.) [“Bringing the Heat: Fuego A Tribute” – 9/15/10 (http://www.balltilwefall.blogspot.com/)]. I love the game. It’s one place where everyone becomes that leader and are led.

E-Smoove: True indeed. Big-ups to “Big E.” R.I.P. Dawg. It’s because of you I love death row b-ball. Your memory lives on.

MannofStat: Can’t stop won’t stop. Word is bond!

 

One,

MannofStat

Copyright © 2010 by Leroy Elwood Mann