2011 Concrete Soul: Recap

B-ballers, 

I know its been a minute, but the masses will get the chance to experience the 2011 North Carolina Death Row Basketball Tournament.  "Concrete Soul" took place in the summer of 2011, but due to some unforeseen obstacles, the game couldn't be brought to the masses. 

Now the game can be broadcast to the masses, just in time for the return of the NBA season.  While you await the return of Lebron and Kobe, checkout Concrete Soul with your MannofStat and the North Carolina Death Row ballers.  Let's see if "The Phenom" will have a repeat M.V.P. season.  There will be a new post every day for the next 26 days.  Tell all your family and friends

Now, let's pick up where we left off

Pre-Season Rap Session #1

B-ballers,

What’s poppin?

Upsets, blowouts and emergence… all definitive terms that link a b-ball fiend to the month of March.  Every year I look forward to another baller making the most of his opportunity on the big stage known as the NCAA tournament, aka “March Madness.”

Witnessing the emergence of Derrick Williams, Brandon Knight and Jeremy Lamb was an exhilarating experience, indeed.  Arizona’s upset over Duke kept me on the edge of my seat.  And, the slaying of the mighty Kansas Jayhawks by the hands of head coach Shaka Smart and his VCU rams blew me away.  Ya heard?

There we were, two weeks into the month of April when my beloved Sixers were back in the playoffs.  I was amped about it, but I’m a realist.  So, I knew facing the Miami Heat in the first round was a bad omen.  The Sixers’ gave the Heat a run for their money, but D-Wade and King James were too much to handle.  The Sixers were able to steal game four in the series, but sadly that was it.  It was just not our time. Feel me?

The Sixers ended the regular season 14 games better than they did last season.  Kudos to first year head coach, Doug Collins for bringing respectability back to the Sixers’ organization.  In my opinion, he’s the coach of the year.  Ya heard?

Speaking of first year success, I caught up with death row’s number on stunner, “BirdMan.” In his inaugural season as a head coach, he led team Mayhem to a 14-2 championship season.  Let’s find out what the BirdMan has brewing in the nest for this upcoming season.

MannofStat:  BirdMan, what’s good?

BirdMan: I’m good Brother, and yourself?

MannofStat:  Well, I’m good, but still mourning my Sixers’ lost.  The tornado coverage on ABC blocked out one of the games, but I guess that turned out to be a good thing. Na mean?

BirdMan:  (Laughs) Yeah, I heard the Sixers blew a 14 point lead in the first quarter of that game.  I know you didn’t wanna see that.

MannofStat:  I don’t even want to think about it BirdMan.  So, let’s get on a higher note.

BirdMan:  Okay

MannofStat:  After your impressive coaching debut, will you be back on the sidelines as a coach this season?

BirdMan:  I’ve had some friends ask me to play, but I think I’ll coach.

MannofStat:  Do you think you can repeat as a championship coach?

BirdMan:  By all means, yes!

MannofStat:  Aight.  That’s what’s up!

BirdMan:  I enjoyed coaching.  Watching my team come together to win 14 out of 16 games is an experience I’d like to build on as a coach.

MannofStat:  Having “The Phenom” as your number one option can simplify any coach’s game plan.  Without a doubt, he was you main ingredient, but who was the extra spice that gave your squad the championship flavor?

BirdMan:  All of my guys played a part in winning that championship, but the two that stand out for me is my floor general, “The Diesel” and my power forward, “Scoop.” His defense made the difference.

MannofStat:  Who would you take with the first pick in this year’s draft?

BirdMan:  “Silk Money” without a doubt.  He’s a true point guard.

MannofStat:  That’s a solid pick, Coach.  Who were you pulling for in the NCAA tournament?

BirdMan:  I’m an ACC fan.  So, when the last ACC team lost, I was pulling for VCU.

MannofStat:  The heavy underdog.  That’s what’s up.

Much Love,

MannofStat

Copright © 2011 by Leroy Elwood Mann

Championship Game

Hotep,

When I started writing this post, the Men’s basketball team for the University of Connecticut (Uconn) was preparing for the championship game.  It was final four weekend, the pinnacle of all college basketball showcases.  It was no coincidence that point guard Kemba Walker and his UConn Huskies were playing for the chip, that Monday night.  It was no coincidence that they had won 5 games in 5 days to close out the conference tournament and were crowned as the Big East conference champs.  Their 10 game winning streak, at the time, spoke louder than any theories about coincidence.  Feel me?

I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason.  I acknowledge and combat spiritual warfare on a daily basis.  Whenever a basketball team develops a respectable winning streak, the next game is always tougher than the last.  The winning streak symbolizes the team’s commitment to achieving their ultimate goal of winning a championship.  Na mean?

Everyday I’m challenged by the inevitable negativity that looms throughout this prison.  This blog has been my winning streak.  It’s no coincidence that certain officers are taking it upon themselves to knock me off of my game, trying diligently to distract my focus of achieving my ultimate goal.  Whether it be the blatant attempts to inconvenience my peoples during visitation or the constant harassment I’m compelled to endure at the dining hall.  Spiritual warfare exists in every life situation.  The head games of a handful of officers will not deter my mission.  Ya heard?

I have yet to reach the championship game of my current situation.  I find it ironic that the UConn Huskies were seeded 9^th out of 16 teams in their conference.  They were heavy underdogs going into the month of March.  The experts counted them out.  Only the players and those close to them believed that they could do the unthinkable.  Yet they shocked the world on Championship Monday (4/4/11).  That’s what’s up!

On that final four weekend, I chose to shelve my 2500 calorie diet as a means of sustaining my winning streak.  You see, the dinning hall’s diet line had become an open door for some officers to harass death row prisoners.  It’s like the watering hole in the wild.  If you wanna drink, you gotta show up, but there’s always this risk of you getting more than your fill of water.  Na mean?

I know for some it may be logical to think a prisoner deserves to be mistreated.  I also know that the thought of my being a blogger is inconceivable to the vast majority I mean, I am on death row.  So, I can somewhat understand that degree of skepticism, but this is no hoax people.  My transmission is real.  I’m a heavy underdog, no doubt, but I’m prepared to defy the odds.  That’s why I don’t’ have a problem writing this before the championship results are in.  Even if the UConn Huskies Men’s basketball team had lost to the Butler Bulldogs, they would have still had a championship story etched in the minds of the sports world.  Na mean?

As for my Championship Game, you just keep reading this blog.  The results may shock the experts, but I promise the outcome won’t be a coincidence.  Word is bond!

Keep on Keepin,

MannofStat

Copyright © 2011 by Leroy Elwood Mann

Introducing the 2011 All-World Squad

B-ballers,

What it do?

The last time I was in your ear, there was a December chill in the air.  Spring is here and the hibernation period of your MannofStat has officially ended.  March Madness has awakened the baller in me with the likes of UNC’s Kendall Marshall, aka “Ken Dime.” Witnessing his unlimited feeds to his Tarheel teammates restored the hunger of the point guard that dwells within me.  Word is bond!

Last season’s “Bringing the Heat” concluded with “Team Mayhem” reigning supreme as the champs for the 2010 season.  The ballers on the row are ready to bring you some “Concrete Soul” in 2011.  The preparation for this year’s tournament started at the final buzzer, last December.  Real talk.

The NCAA tournament never disappoints.  I’m a realist so I knew that my Villanova Wildcats wouldn’t be in the final four this year, but I enjoyed watching Jimmer Fredette, Jared Sullinger, Kawhi Leonard and Kemba Walker display their elite b-ball skills during the month of madness.  Na mean?

March Madness excites me, no doubt.  The high level of b-ball competition ignites the flame in this point guard’s soul, but it’s not the main event.  March Madness is a prelude to the fire simmering on the death row rec yard. Without question, the death row ballers have been “Bringing the Heat” throughout the cold winter months of 2011.  As Jay-Z would say, “Going H.A.M.” Feel me?

Phenom and Lil’ Magic battling like every pickup game is a game 7.  The youngstas: Scrappy, Billy-Ho and Frost have been hitting the weight pile, preparing their bodies for the duration of what promises to be a very physical season.  Silk Money continues to grow as a true point guard.  Scorching the nets and dishing out dimes like a cashier and, The Carpenter remains a force in the paint, snatching boards at will.  Ya heard?

Basketball continues to be the pulse of the row.  We can’t stop, won’t stop.  On the row, basketball is much more than entertainment.  It’s a pact amongst men who chose to Ball Til We Fall.  That’s what’s up!

 2011 All-World Squad:

1^st Team

The Phenom

Lil Magic

Silk Money

J-Rock

Heart-N-Soul

2^nd Team

The Carpenter

Bigg Dogg

Scoop

E-Smoove

Bucktown

3^rd Team

Billy-Ho

Big Bank

Scrappy

Nasty Nas

Geezy

Honorable mentions: Frost, Streets, Concrete, The General and The Blanket

Peace and Love,

MannofStat

Copyright © 2011 by Leroy Elwood Mann