The Mecca of Basketball

Billy "The Kid" Harris pt.2

2010-02-11T20:19:00.002-06:00

I wanted to post a few comments from around the internet about Billy "the Kid" Harris who was voted "Best Playground Baller Ever" by Slam magazine in 1998.

"As a little boy in the early 70’s i was fortuante to meet Billy Harris through my father John Frencher, who was coaching a basketball team in a league at Washington Park on 55th and King Dr. in Chicago. We were the Dating Game and Billy played on the Feather Merchants. There were some other great Legends from Chicago that played in that league, like Hubbie Marshall, Tim Bryant, Lloyd Bates, Mario Brown, Steve King,Chilli Harris, just to name a few.The gym would be feeled to the top to see Billy go at it against these other greats. People would be coming straight from church and you would think you were at the Old Chgo Stadium waiting to see the NBA Championship. Dating Game was pretty stacked and would beat the Feather Merchants but Billy would always get at least 40 points or more no matter who would stick him. Billy would always be talking stuff but he always would back it up. People would bet on the games all of the time and you would think you were at the OTB. Billy would sit back after the game and have a few beers and continue to talk about his game no matter if they lost or won. He would always play with my brother and I every week and show us some of his moves. Billy would tell us his stories and we were so young we didn’t understand why he wasn’t in the NBA because he was better than any player we ever saw on TV. He told me how he was black-balled but he never gave up on showing his talents. He was like an uncle to my brother and me and I am just proud to be able to say I saw the legend do everything that he said he could do. RIP my Uncle and you will always be remembered."

"I knew Billy and was in the same class as his brother Jimmy at Dunbar when the Mighty Men were a Chicago powerhouse. Basketball did’t mean much until I saw that half court shot he had. His game was way ahead of his time. The whoop must have looked like a garbage can to him. My daughter loves basketball and I took her to the services so she could learn about the greatest player I ever saw and was blessed to know. God bless Billy and all his family, we all will miss him."

"I am a Robert Taylor Project homie.
I remember Billy Harris as a great high school player. I went to DuSable High and was on the frosh-soph team in 1969/70 when Billy came to play our varsity team at the Panther Paradise (the name for our high school gym). We went to Dunbar to play them also. After one game there we were talking on the back of the bus to one of our best varsity players Mitchell Mosley. Mitch described the shot that Billy made from Half Court: I was sticking Billy the best that he could then suddenly at half court Billy started to rise up so Mitch said I better jump up some, but Billy kept rising up and up and suddenly his feet was in my face and he looked at me and said GET DOWN!! and the ball went through all net…Mitch said that he jumped as high as he could and Billy’s feet was still in his face. that was enough to intimidate him for the rest of the game.. We all laughed because we new Billy was great and no could stop him. I am not sure but that was probably a 50 point game for him.
I really wish there was movie because there is great story that the world should see. Told but not sold."

"I grew up playing basketball on the 39th street the same courts Billy Harris played on. I had game and build up enough balls to ask Billy lets play one on one. He said I will spot you 22 points and the game is 24. I couldn’t score a basket cause he stayed talking shit and talked his way all the way to 24.I must say he is a legend and is the best player I’ve ever play against, with. I would never change my life growing up in Stateway Gardens because I wouldn’t never met the greatest hooper to lace em up.R.I.P. BILLY YOU WILL BE MISSED"

"I’M NOT A BROTHER, BUT I IDOLIZED “THE KID” I WAS AT NIU, AND SAW BILLY LIGHT UP NOT ONLY THE GYM, BUT THE CAMPUS. HE WOULD WALK THROUGH UNIVERSITY PLAZA [THE DORM] WITH AN AWESOME HAT, COCKED TO ONE SIDE. JIM BRADLEY WOULD BE AT HIS SIDE. I USED TO WATCH BILLY WORK OUT [ALONE] IN CHICK EVANS FIELD HOUSE. [OR WITH “BRAD” AS HE CALLED HIM. BILLY WOULD TALK TRASH, AND TALK TO HIMSELF, OCCASIONALLY GIVING THE WHITE BOY A GLANCE. HE WAS SO COOL AND SMOOTH…AND HANDSOME AS HELL. HE COULD JUMP OUT OF THE GYM!HE WAS “AIR” BEFORE MICHAEL. I FOLLOWED HIS CAREER. AT NIU IN THOSE DAYS, THERE WAS A LOT OF RACIAL TENSION, BUT I ENJOYED PLAYIBG BALL WITH THE BROTHERS IN THE FIELD HOUSE. IT WAS A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE. I MADE SOME GOOD FRIENDS WITH THE BROTHERS.I HEARD LATER, THAT DICK MOTTA CUT BILLY AND I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. THERE WAS SO MUCH ELECTRICITY IN THE AIR WITH THAT NIU TEAM..BEATING INDIANA ETC..AND BILLY AND BRADLEY WERE THE CENTER OF IT. I REMEMBER BOSTON COACH, TOM HEINSOHN AT THE NIU FIELD HOUSE, SCOUTING BILLY. THAT TEAM PUT NIU ON THE MAP, AND BILLY THE KID HARRIS WAS THE MAN..I EVEN MADE MY OWN “KID” JERSEY JR. YEAR, WITH HIS # 12 ON THE BACK. WHAT MEMORIES..MAY HE REST IN PEACE
MY CONDOLENCES TO HIS ENTIRE FAMILY"

"I was at that game back in 1969. I’ll never forget it. As a matter of fact, a group of us Dunbar-ites actually took a jitney and walked from King Drive to DuSable High School to watch that famous game that Billy played. Nobody in their right mind would dare walk through “DuSable hood” and into their gym — but we did, because we loved and supported Dunbar and Billy. The moment that I will always remember was how he hushed the crowd with what we now call the “3-pointer”. And he shot them all day! I believe he scored 50 points that day. Billy was so awesome that he would actually intentionally step behind the half-count line and shoot. Thanks for the memories, Billy. May God Bless and Keep You."

"I met Billy when I was a kid 12 years old at Abe sapersteins camp in Lake Forest >He took an interest in me I am 48 years old living in Miami Florida and throuhout my basketball career and life I have never forgotten how niece he treated me as a kid rip Billy"

"I had the honor of seeing "The Kid" play every home game of his college career at NIU and several road games as well. My father Tom was his coach. He was an incredible talent. Range of 30+ or throw down in your face (dunking was illegal in college then for you youngsters). Think Dell Curry jumper (with 18 more inches off the ground) and Nate Robinson explosion on the dunk (but taller). Things were a tad different back in 1971. The NBA was nervous about players like Billy because they were revolutionary. His teammate, Jim Bradley, had no NBA success, though Dan Issel, his Kentucky Colonel teammate, said his talent was equal to Julius Erving or David Thompson. So i will quote Scoop himself here, "Their contributions never fully appreciated, legacy never fully documented, story never fully told. "It's life as an afterthought. But for those who know ... they know. And they know for life." Thanks Scoop and RIP Billy."

"I had the privlige 2 see Billy 'practice' & play as a student & former athlete at Dunbar.Some of the things that he did in practice that people did'nt see were unbelievable!!!!!!!!!R.I.P."

"I went to Dunbar H.S. with Willie and Billy, while I played football I watched both Harris brothers play basketball.Michael Jordan should consider Billy Harris as his "idol" that is how good of a basketball player he was. Rest in peace."

"I can remember everyone
saying, "Who is this Kid name Billy, Who is this Billy Guy",
It was a Lot of Talk about Him, He was the Talk,
When the Game was over, Everyone knew who Billy "The Kid"
Harris was. He Shot 57 pts From the Double Green line.
I never seen anyone ever did that in a Game. And I still
say, "I never seen anyone to yet still do what he did,
High school or Pro".
The Pro's Missed a Great One, The professional Game was not ready for Billy.
"My Man" the KID for all Real Ballplayers, You got my Prop's."

"We found that the stories were true as he talked a little trash while dropping that one-handed release jump-shot from long distance. It was always a treat to watch him in the Dr. King Boys Club summer league, and also at Chicago State. He put on a show like non-other. Billy had athleticism as well as the long range shooting skills. He could put it on the floor and throw it down with the best of them."

"For those of us who played in the Chicago Public League in the late 60s, Billy was a giant. I had the privilege of getting to play against him and get to know him a bit because,as you know, my HS coach at Harlan (Lee Umbles) and Billy's HS coach (Jim Foreman) were good friends. As a result, Mr. Umbles would often take us to Dunbar in the summers to scrimmage against Dunbar's teams. Billy's skills, particularly his long-range shooting and "hops" were off-the-charts. Also, off-the-charts, was his engaging personality, or what if referred to today as "swagger". He had it more than any other player of our time. My memories of playing against him, watching him play at Dunbar, Northern Illinois and in the Summer Leagues at the Martin Luther King Boys Club and Chicago State, are everlasting."

"I left Dunbar in 1966, the next thing I hear in 1969 is about this kid at Dunbar who is 6' 2'' scoring 30 points a game and I said to myself, "You got to be kidding. It's the little kid who we never took with us." Some of us from that era realize that the reason he never played pro-ball was because at that time a lot of players, especially Black players from Chicago, were blackballed, and he happened to be one of them. Rest in Peace Billy."

"Billy the greatest basketball player from Chicago. I learned so much from you. I incorporated some of your style of play at the small and power forward position. I remember the times when we would visit each other when you were at NIU and I at Aurora college. I also remember when you were at the Bull's training camp and I was practicing with you and the team though I was still in school. I know the real reason why you did not make the team. I enjoyed playing with you and against you. Thank you for showing and teaching me how to play this wonderful game of basketball. RIP love you always"

"His quickness, elevation, and accuracy of his jump shot was phenomenal. He would make three or four of those long range jumpers in a row and you could see it take the heart out of an opponent. When you played against Billy you knew it was going to be extremely competitive and verbal; and he hated losing. I had great respect and admiration for his game and his competitive spirit. There have been many great players to come out of Chicago. Billy “The Kid” Harris was at the top of the list and he will surely be missed by us all. Billy, thanks for the memories."

Billy "The Kid" Harris

2010-01-15T14:56:00.007-06:00

Billy "The Kid" Harris of the greatest ever to hold a basketball passed away. Harris, 58, a Chicago playground legend was voted "Best Playground Baller Ever" by Slam magazine in 1998, died Sunday after suffering a stroke.

"Between the ages of 16-30, there is no player that could ever beat me. Jordan, Doc, Bird, Oscar, Magic, any of 'em. I would have f----- them up. I'd give them 22 points in a game to 24. They would never beat me." -- Billy Harris.

R.I.P. November 12, 1951 - January 2, 2010.
"You are gone,but,will never be forgotten."

http://billythekidharris.com/Home.html

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/01/public-memorial-set-for-billy-the-kid-harris.html

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/01/public-memorial-set-for-billy-the-kid-harris.html

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/columns/story?columnist=jackson_scoop&id=4798666

A great article by...Scoop Jackson a columnist for ESPN.

Chicago leads the NBA again this year.

2009-12-13T18:50:00.003-06:00

Chicago leads the NBA in the number of players from it's city. There are more players in the NBA from Chicago than any where in the world. Down from 23 players from last year to 17,however,still number one! The List....
Tony Allen
Kevin Garnett
Bobby Simmons
Eddy Curry
Derrick Rose
Jannero Pargo
Will Bynum
Luther Head
Nazr Mohammad
Quentin Richardson
Dwane Wade
Steven Hunter
Julian Wright
Michael Finley
Juwan Howard
Corey Maggette
Shannon Brown.

Who did we lose?
Dee Brown
Linton Johnson
Andre Brown
Melvin Eli
Darius Miles
Antonie Walker
Patrick Beverley.

William "Wil" Bynum - His Legend Grows

2009-11-29T15:30:00.002-06:00

William "Will" Bynum born in Chicago,from the west side Crane H.S.
One thing we knew about Wil,was that he could score on anybody! His electrifying moves and vertical jump could rival anyone.
Will is a 5'9" point guard currently playing for the Detroit Pistons,is having one heck of a season. Will played his college ball for the University of Arizona,before transfering after his sophomore year to Georgia Tech. Helping Georgia Tech make it to the championship game with a game-winning shot. Drafted by the Boston Celtics 2005and later waived. Will became a journeyman but,never giving up on his dream...to play in the NBA. He became NBA Development League Rookie of the Year. After playing overseas in Isreal, Will got another shot in the NBA. There has been no turning back since. He set a Pistons club record by scoring 26 points in one quarter.
Basketball fans from Chicago Knows Will could score,watching him every year in the Pro-Am Summer League in Chicago.He's constantly into weekly NBA highlights,from dunks,to steals,to blocks,to big plays.
Welcome back to the "L" Will Bynum!
On your way to becoming a Chicago basketball Legend.

A new NBA season

2009-11-08T10:35:00.002-06:00

Here we go again!
A new NBA season on the way. And it's the usual suspects...world champ Lakers and the Celtics heading up the field. Lakers have the best player on the planet in Kobe Bryant and a young bench that just got a bit better with experience. Chicago's very own Shannon Brown is making a name for himself. The Lakers will be very tough to beat. The Celtics coming back with a healthy Kevin Garnett,while picking up help in Rasheed Wallace...nice pick up! However,father time is not on their side. They signed Rajon Rondo to an extention which help them in the long run. Rajon is coming into his own.
What's with Chris Paul and the Hornets??? They should be moving up instead of sideways and back.
What's with Shaq and the Cavaliers team??? I'm a big Shaq fan,so,time will tell. Shaq and Varejao together may be a problem. Don't sound the alarm just yet.
What's with Allen Iverson and the Grizzlies??? No one really wanted to pick him up over the summer,now he's stated his displeasure in not starting. He was allowed to return home to attend "Personal business". Wow!
Where's Jerry Stackhouse(no one picked him up yet),Tracy "T-Mac" McGrady(working out with trainer Tim Grover all summer and beyond hoping to get back to form),Michael Redd(injured again),Hasheem Thabeet(sitting on the Grizzlies bench).
We just hope Chicago's very own Antoine Walker and his shoulder-shimmy can get out of his financial-jimmy.

Paxton Lumpkin A Chicago Legend

2009-11-02T15:05:00.004-06:00

Paxton Lumpkin was a true Chicago legend. Paxton Lumpkin went to DuSable High School,that's where his legend grew. He always had a big smile and was a joy to be around,he had a low dribbling style at times that remined you of the Globetrotters,he would later join the Harlem Globtrotters,so,it kinda make you wonder where they got that spinning,Groucho style of dribbling of the Trotters came from. DuSable were "Fast-breaking and full court pressing team on their way to the 1954 State Championship. They did not win the title because of a lot of controversial calls that turned the game. Paxton led his team to 31 straight victories,wearing high "Pro" socks. Paxton H.S. team was a big inspriation for young kids in the community. The DuSable team played a new high-school style of basketball called "Run-and-Gun". They were averaging 80 points a game when the other high school teams were averaging 50. Paxton went on to Indiana University on scholarship,but his books were second to basketball. He got in trouble with gambling and alcohol. He left Indiana University and joined the Harlem Globetrotters. He came back to Chicago to lead a positive life being a inspriation to young people in the community. Hats off to a true Chicago Legend Paxton Lumpkin.

NBA Power Rankings

2009-10-25T16:23:00.002-05:00

A new NBA season starts with the champion Lakers being my choice as the top team. Here's my top 10 to start the season....
1. Lakers
2. Cavaliers
3. Celtics
4. Magic
5. Nuggets
6. Spurs
7. Hornets
8. Mavericks
9. Trail Blazers
10. Jazz

Rickey Green A Chicago Legend

2009-06-20T18:53:00.002-05:00

Rickey Green...One of the fastest to ever dribble a ball 3/4 court. I can really agrue that Rickey was THE FASTEST! Ricky grew up on the south side of Chicago,stood six feet tall and was a skinny guy,Rickey Green went to Hirsh High School,won a state title in 1973.I can still remember running up the court as fast as we can trying to be like Rickey Green...Hollering "Rickey"! He went on to the University of Michigan to earn acclaims as an explosive scorer and super fast ball handler. Ricky Green was he was drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the first round. He struggled his rookie year and found himself in the CBA. It doesn't end there. The Rickey Green we all saw and grew up with worked on his jump shooting skills and refined how to set up his teammates. Rickey Green was back! Back in the NBA! He found himself playing in the league 14 years and making the All-Star team for the Utah Jazz also being one of the oldest players to be in the NBA. Always carring the tag as the league's fastest point guard. It was one thing to see him on TV playing in the NBA, and a whole another thing to see him playing in the summer leagues. I thought If Rickey was playing today's game, he'd been a superstar! There was so much control on players back then compared to the game today. If you see him today,Rickey Green can still play! He's over 50 and getting up the court,shooting from half-court now! Don't let the age fool you. Rickey Green is truly a CHICAGO LEGEND.

NBA PLAYOFFS UPON US

2009-04-11T11:33:00.006-05:00

How time goes by! I just looked at my post from the start of the NBA season...WOW! I said that the Phoenix Suns,Yes,THE SUNS would win it all! They are not even going to make the playoffs! Shaq is still my man! I was riding Shaq,he didn't disappoint,playing in the most games this year for the first time in his carrer.Shaq had a very good season,he also made the All-Star team,however his teammates let him down,Steve Nash for one...this guy can't play a lick of defense! Nash is a one dimensional player! I'd get rid of him over the summer and pick up Allen Iverson. Yes, Allen Iverson! He's even worse you say! A.I. has something to prove after the Detroit disaster this year.I also picked the Los Angles Lakers,New Orleans Hornets,or Phoenix Suns. See what happens when you go out on the limb. L.A. still has a good chance. Everyone will be looking at Cleveland with Bron Bron leading the way! LeBron of my picks for MVP of the year.Yeah I know...that was a no-brainer. I think this is LeBron's year. I fail to even mention Dwayne Wade! He's had an outstanding season with more to come in the playoffs. Chicago leads the way again with 18 players in the league...more than any city in the country. That list include New York! We should have great NBA playoffs this year..Let's sit back watch and enjoy history being made.

Don’t Be Afraid To Be Different

2009-01-14T18:31:00.004-06:00

Following the crowd is a road to mediocrity. Do your own thing. Be a trendsetter! Back in the day, NBA basketball players wore very short uniform bottoms. Today, the bottoms are very long[Thanks,to the Fab Five.I have to remind you one of the Fab Five was from Chicago...Jawan Howard]. The shorts are knee length and below now. Ankle socks, headbands, leather gym shoes, tattoos[I don't like one,I think Dennis Rodman has a lot to do with this one.], cross over dribble[came from Chicago...Tim Hardaway, tear drop shot[by the way,it started in Chicago.You better ask somebody!], sky hook, backward slam, behind the back pass, finger roll[that's George Gervin,ol' skool], alley-oop, and trash talking[Chicago took that to another level,although I don't like that we get credit for this one started], all came from somewhere so, don’t be afraid to start something new. Don’t be afraid to do whatever it is that you like. It may become the new trend in basketball. Hope you enjoyed the Ten Secrets For Basketball Sucess.

"OFFENSIVE" Game

2009-01-08T09:42:00.004-06:00

Offense is 50% of the game. In order to be that Ultimate Player, one has to have an inside,outside game,and be able to take a person off the dribble. If your opponent is not guarding you close enough, you can shoot your jump shot. If your opponent is on you too close, you can take him to the basket. Remember, offense is just a strategy of action and reaction. You have the ball – you have the advantage. So, you are always creating the action which means the defender has to react to what you do. This gives you the ultimate advantage. The three point shot is a very big weapon that you have to put in your arsenal. What’s your strategy for successful offense? You want to be the "leader" and the "performer". The leader is highly reliable. You just know that in the 4th quarter, you will shine. The other players will feed off your drive. The leader knows when to let the game come to him and when to take the game over. On the offense, the "performer" does things to ignite his teammates and ignite the crowd (slam dunks, behind the back passes, no-look passes, crossovers). Keep the crowd in the game when you’re playing at home. Take the crowd out of the game when you are playing away from home. The "performer’ can act on a moments notice. And, don’t forget, you have the mindset of the Wolverine! 9 of 10

"DEFENSIVE" Game

2009-01-01T14:42:00.002-06:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR ! Defense is 50% of your game! So given this fact, if you have a very good offensive game and a mediocre defensive game, you are not a complete player. At most you would be at 50%. Most players give and focus a lot on offense. They use too much energy to score or play offensively. Then, they become too tired or have a lack of motivation or desire to be effective on defense. But, the great players know when to rest; know when to step up their defense in order to put pressure on the opponents. To be a good defensive player, you must have the desire to be good defensively and play with heart. You must also know all of the basic fundamentals of defense. You must also know the most basic – action / reaction. So, if an offensive player has the ball and creating the action, which means dribbling or shooting, that means you must react. But a great defensive player turns the table and he will initiate the action. Thus, making the offensive player react. You must have a burning desire to succeed. That same mindset is used on the offensive must be transferred to the defensive game. You must have the mindset: "I can’t be stopped", and "I can shut down anybody". Defense is the main thing that wins games. Defense is the thing that tests your opponent’s heart and desire. If you are consistently putting pressure on your opponent, he will respond. Applying "good to great" defense creates offense; creates steals and blocked shots; and creates fast breaks. A great defender takes charge on the floor not taking a charge. They are good communicators and they always know where the ball is while keeping their opponent within reach. There is much to learn about defense. Take "defense" seriously…just like your offense.
8 of 10

Communicate Effectively

2008-12-20T08:27:00.006-06:00

Changing others attitudes by speaking effectively on the court has been an effective tool for changing the momentum in a game. Just by saying "Way to go!", "Let’s get ‘em!" or even, "Yes!" has been known to change the ebb and flow of a game. Motivating younger ballers of today is a good sign of communication going on between the generations. There seems to be a lack of communication between the old time ball players and the new generation of ball players. New generation players can learn a lot from the older players about the game of basketball. Just ask older player about your game. Where can you improve or change your game to make it better. Ask your basketball coach for his/her opinion about your game. Take the comments and use them as appropriate to enhance your game. Keep the lines of communication open. It makes this game more effective. Communication on defense is very important. So, how will your teammate know if there’s a pick coming if you don’t tell him? How will your teammate know if someone is getting ready to take the ball if you don’t tell him? How will your teammate know which play you are running if you don’t tell him? Can you tell him/her with you’re your body language? Communication can also be non-verbal. Your face can communicate fear or it can communicate fearlessness. For example, when LeBron James goes to the basket to dunk, he has fearlessness on his face. You know to move out of the way. But when Darko Milicic goes to the basket, he displays fear in his eyes. Body language is also a communicator. Bending over pulling on your shorts can communicate fatigue. Flopping in the paint area can communicate weakness because you are not willing to get in there and bang with your opponent. Sometimes it’s a good idea to talk with the refs before, during and after a game. You could say something like "good call ref" or ask the ref to clarify a call rather than screaming or going off on the ref. You can talk with the ref before the game to find out his/her style of officiating. On the other hand, it’s just as important to be a good listener. Stay focused on the game. Is your teammate trying to communicate with you? Did you know that you cannot talk to the opposing player in the NBA? Some players were being intimidated...WOW! Did you know you can't trash talk in the NBA? Some players were losing there cool...WOW!Are you aware of where the ball is at all times? Communication is a two way street. 7 of 10

Never Stop Learning

2008-12-13T15:57:00.004-06:00

"A mind is a terrible thing to waste." Study the game of basketball through magazines, videos, newspapers and books. Talking to "old timers" (old skool) and high school & college players (new skool) can be very beneficial too. Discover what successful ball players are doing, and "model" (modeling is emulating what someone else does) yourself after them. For example, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar perfected his sky hook shot. It became known as one of the greatest shots [If not the Greatest]in the history of basketball and when it is mentioned, only one player’s name comes to mind. Learn how to sharpen your senses (sight, feeling & hearing). Pick a basketball role model and study him. Why is he successful? Whatever you don’t know or don’t have in your game, find out who does have it and study what they did to get to that point. Research what the successful players have done to become successful. Watch old tapes of games over and over studying the moves of the players. Try to identify any of their moves that you can incorporate in your game. Whatever you don’t know or have in your game, learn it. Learning is a continuous process. " Clyde the Glide", "Earl the Pearl", "Magic". "Chocolate Thunder". Why did these guys have these names? Was it a special move they developed? Can you incorporate one of these moves in your game or develop your own? Oh Yeah! It’s just an updated version of an old move. Did you ever study the way Dennis Rodman "Worm" in for a rebound? If you want to become a good rebounder, then studying Dennis Rodman’s moves would be a good lesson to learn. Study that until you get it down to science. Keep learning!!! 6 of 10

Persistence And Hard Work

2008-12-07T14:54:00.005-06:00

Never give up! You must focus on your goals and press! Success is a marathon, not a sprint. Don’t let anything stop you from working your plan. If you are playing a game and your team is down 10 points in the 1st or 2nd quarter, don’t get worried. It’s a strong start in the beginning of the 3rd, giving it all you got and having something left in your tank in the 4th that counts. Don’t allow outside influences to interfere with your work out program. If you have to practice in the rain... Just do it! If you have to practice in the hot sun... Just do it! If you have to practice in the snow... Just do it! If you have to practice at night when it’s dark... Just do it! It will make you better at your game and keep you committed. When you practice on your game, don’t become content with yourself. The way you practice is the way you will play. Perfect practice means perfect play. Keep practicing your left hand lay up or your right hand lay up until it is perfect. People always work on their strengths. But, the great ones also work on their weakness to make them better. Allen Iverson has mastered his crossover move with his right hand, but can he do it with his left hand? This is something to think about. Keep pressing to do more and become better at what you do. Can you practice 2 – 5 hours everyday? That’s what it takes to achieve greatness. The Greek philosopher Aristotle said, "Excellence is not a singular act, but a habit." You are what you repeatedly do. 5 of 10

Work Your Body!

2008-11-28T11:10:00.002-06:00

Back to the Ten Secrets to Basketball Sucess...4 of 10 Work your Body.There are no short cuts to success. Success requires good ole’ fashioned hard work. Tracy McGrady had two workouts a day – one in the a.m. and one in the p.m. before he started getting noticed as a major basketball player which allowed him to enter the NBA after high school. There’s a saying that goes "no pain – no gain." Start a workout program and be committed to it. Develop a specialized drill that will focus on the body parts that you need to develop. What’s important? How about these: "upper body strength" for stamina and mixing it up down low; "arms" for jump shot shooting and boxing out; "legs" for running up and down the court, vertical leap and endurance. Ok, now what do you need to do to develop these parts? Weight training, aerobic drills, squats, running up and down a hill, jumping rope, jogging? What about wearing a weight vest? How about using finger weights to develop your jump shots? How about working with a medicine ball? Whatever you do, do it regularly. It should become your routine that you are committed to doing. Eat right. Nourish your body. Limit the junk foods and fuel your body with foods like fruits & vegetables & complex carbohydrates. Sleep right. Get plenty of rest. Your body needs sleep to rejuvenate. Take vitamins. Check out a health food store and see what’s best for you. Talk with a health care professional and get the supplements that will work best for you and help you create the body you want. On a final note, Michael Jordan has been working with his trainer Tim Grover 4-6 hours every day to get in shape for his major comeback. There are no short cuts to success. Enough said? 4of 10

Chicago leads the NBA!

2008-11-22T13:37:00.021-06:00

Chicago leads the NBA in the number of players from it's city.There are more players in the NBA from Chicago than any where in the world! 23..just like M.J.Let me give you the names....just in case you don't believe.1. Tony Allen-This guy has game!See him in the summer playing...OH Man! He's playing within the "Team" concept at Boston.Which hurt alot of young players,because it's tough to know when to go for self or play team ball.Playing "Team Ball" hurts when it's time to get paid/last year of a contract.2.Kevin Garnett-We take him as our very own...knowing he's from Mauldin,South Carolina.But, He moved to Chicago to live[KG didn't have much to eat,he was on the grind. He struggled early...it was rough,plus living on the West Side! WOW!] and to play H.S. basketball...knowing it would help his game BIG TIME.Playing alone side a Chicago Urban Legend Ronnie Fields.3.Bobby Simmons-This guy is very good! From the South Side of Chicago. Injuries has slowed him...He's trying to get back to form.4.Luther Head-Money jumper,has to up his game a bit if he want to stick in the "L".5.Eddy Curry-Eddy is sorry. He has sooo much upside,not doing anything with it.I think the wealth has gotten him.He's not hungry anymore.Plus,the NBA has moved to long,skinny,fast running centers.6.Quentin Richardson-still has upside,wealth accumulation has gotten to him ??? When you get paid[become a young millionaire]it's hard to stay hungry on the B-Ball court.Maybe the death of his brother due to an attemped robbery a few years back could have something to do with it. Or him breaking up with Brandy?7.Antonine Walker-He gone! Nobody will pick him up after his contract expires.Good career,good days in Boston,ring in Miami.It's been One!8.Andre Iguodala-Great upside! He's a star!9.Melvin Ely-Must keep working hard! There's a ton of guys his size,and skill level.Got him a ring down in San Antonio.Life's Good!10.Julian Wright-A ton of upside here!He has to breakout!Otherwise...11.Michael Finley-It's Been One!Good career,down in Dallas,ring in San Antonio, Don't think he will get picked up after this season...unless he take a big pay cut.We'll see.12.Derrick Rose-Great up side! All-Star... HIS ROOKIE YEAR! NBA future Superstar...we'll have to see about that.!13.Steven Hunter-Only reason I see he's still in the "L" is...that he fit the mold of the new centers of the NBA...Long,Skinny,and can run.For a big man 7foot...he run like a gazalle.14.Will Bynum-Man! You see this guy in the summer? He got game!Will can score on anybody! Was killing em' overseas... Now he has to play within the confines of the NBA,plus,he's short which becomes a defensive liability.15.Corey Maggette-Got paid! He's still hungry...keep up the good work! Don't hurt to stay with trainer Tim Grover.16.Andre Brown-Has to find his way...it's tough out there.Good young body.17.Shannon Brown-must find his way...this guy can play! Right now he need the minutes to show his wears.Hey,so do everybody else in the League.Good Luck! If he don't get on the court,and fast,Shannon will be overseas playing.Still Basketball...Still gettin' paid!18.Narz Mohammed-I think he never got over the death of his dad...a few years back,due to a robbery.I met Narz...he's a great guy!19.Shaun Livington-coming back from major knee surgery is going to be a major hurdle.20.Shawn Marion-He's from North Chicago...but, we claim him because,he played a ton of ball in the Chicagoland area.All-Star,Top 20 NBA talent.21.Dwyane Wade-What can I say...He's Back!Strong as ever,back to top form.Top 10 NBA talent.I remember him at Foster Park...The things he use to do back then...He's still doing now! WOW!22.Dee Brown-hang in there Dee!23.Linton Jonhson-This guy just need a chance.He can play! Come from a good family that include...Chicago Urban Legend:Mickey Johnson.The NBA's first Point Forward! Players lossed: Jawan HowardIt's Been One! Great career,signed a record NBA contract some years back...I think like 187mil. over ten years.It was Crazy money!Jannero Pargo-Overseas getting paid a record contract for himself...I think 5mil. a year. I can almost say...Can't confirm untill I do more research,that Chicago leads the History of NBA with the most players from any city. That's saying something! What? If you want to get your game on...if you want to get your game strong...and your mind right...you come to the Chi. Chicago is the MECCA OF BASKETBALL! Did anybody see the NBA Steal of the Night?11/24/08. http://www.nba.com/video/index.html Chicago flavor Will Bynum taking candy from a baby Sebastian Telfair.

Create An Action Plan

2008-11-09T15:18:00.005-06:00

Your plan is the roadmap to achieving your Vision. What’s your plan of attack? How are you going to become the player that you want to be? You must have a Plan of Action. That means, you must write down what you are going to do. Start by taking your vision statement and further developing it into your Plan of Action. Take the individual steps as your goals. For example, If one of your goals is to become great at shooting free throws, your Plan of Action could be – take 200 shots a day. Kobe Bryant once had a goal, during the off-season, to take 2,000 shots everyday. How about that goal! How about developing a plan to make the school varsity basketball team? First thing you would do is to write down this goal. Next, would be a list of the things you need to do to achieve this goal. (practice daily working to improve your individual skills; join tournaments to develop your competitive edge; work out daily to develop your body; eat right and get plenty of rest; and never stop learning). Whatever your goal, establish a program to improve your present position. Goals are nothing without an action plan to achieve them. Don’t be afraid to get started. Don’t allow other people to distract you from completing your goals or your action plan. Focusing on your goals is a 24/7 job. The start of your action plan is the beginning of building your leadership qualities and every test you face as a leader begins within yourself. That’s why it’s important to complete your action plan because you can’t lead anyone else if you can’t lead yourself to complete an action plan. Face the "leadership challenge" – translation: size up every thing you do–your successes and failures. Learn from them. Ask yourself, "What did I do well or What do I need to improve upon?" Your areas of improvement are your mistakes, but keeping things in a positive mindset you call your mistakes your areas of improvement. Focusing on the solutions. But remember, The key is to write down your plan. Now, do it! 3of 10

Vision

2008-10-23T21:42:00.001-05:00

What do you see yourself doing in the future? What’s your vision of where you want to go? Just think about some of our great visionary thinkers like Martin Luther King, Jr. and his vision for equality, non-violence and peace. Where would we be today if he had not had great vision for his people? What about Alexander Gram Bell and his vision for the telephone? Today we are able to talk to people clear around the world because of his vision. And, there’s also Thomas Edison and his vision of the light bulb. Today we are not in the dark because of his vision. Finally, there’s Garett A. Morgan who witnessing a terrible accident in the early 1920’s and invented a traffic light, a device that after 75 years remains the primary tool for managing automobile traffic. Develop your vision of what you want. You have to see it and believe it, before you can achieve it. "Do you want to play Division 1 Basketball?" "Do you want to play overseas?" "Do you want to be in the league (NBA)?" What’s your desire? Think on it. Meditate on it. Take time to write down your vision – then write down specific, itemized goals (steps) that will lead to your vision. There’s a saying in the Bible that says, "my people perish without a vision". You must have vision or you are going nowhere fast! How true a statement? If you don’t see yourself doing something in the future, you won’t do anything. If you work a 9 to 5 job and you don’t see yourself as one day becoming the manager, company executive or owner, you probably don’t have any vision. A person without vision becomes stagnated and falls into a rut. Think about what you want. Then you must see yourself attaining it. Now, hold that thought. Write down your vision. Make a list of individual steps that you can take to achieve your ultimate goal. You can formulate this into a "vision statement" for yourself and work towards achieving it daily. 2 of 10

Ten Secrets For Basketball Sucess!

2008-10-04T12:44:00.007-05:00

I worte this a few years back for another site...But I thought it will be useful for someone wanting to get better at the game I love.I'll be starting with the first and foremost thing you need.....1 of 10 MINDSET
"Get Your Mind Right". How you think is everything. Always think positively – think success. Make up your mind to be committed and dedicated to becoming the best. Positive thoughts will bring success on and off the basketball court. Have confidence in yourself –"high" self-esteem. Don’t blame yourself when you make a mistake. Learn from it (think about what you could have done differently). Move on. Remember, how you think is everything. How is it that when some guys get the ball they just know they are going to score and can sometimes tell you what they are going to do and then, do it? They know they are going to "do" you because they think success. They are focused when someone is guarding them on offense. Think in terms of the "jungle mentality", translation: in the jungle, it’s eat or be eaten. – only the strong survives. Think: "I’m hungry and I’ve got to eat". Think like the wolverine. A wolverine is not the largest animal nor is it the strongest. But it is one of the most tenacious and fearless animals on the planet. Being that the he is not fast, he has to find whatever he can to eat. If he stumbles upon a very large grizzly bear eating, he will go over and take the food from the grizzly leaving him running into the woods. The wolverine has been known to take food from a pack of wolves. How does this happen? These animals know that the wolverine means business and they can risk injury in a fight so they move on knowing they can get another meal. But the wolverine is hungry, and he’s got to eat. If you don’t eat, you’re going to die. In order to get to the next level, you must have this type of attitude. Ask yourself, "what am I thinking?" Maybe you don’t know because everything is going so fast. Are you thinking, "pass" as in passive or are you thinking "destroy" as in dunk?" You must be focused and concentrate on the game. Don’t be passive and think about "whatever comes to your mind" you must have a focused mind so that when you get the ball you will be successful. Always aim high. Strive to be the best. Think, "I can’t be stopped ‘cause I’m the best; I can score anytime I want and the only reason I don’t score is because basketball is a team sport and I want the game to come to me". 1 of 10

A New Season II

2008-10-04T11:14:00.010-05:00

Here we are again to start a new NBA season.Last year I asked the question...Could the San Antionio Spurs repeat? I said No. I was right. Then, I asked the question... Could the Boston Celtics win it all?...I was right again. Man! I'm going to step out there again,with a prediction on this new season. Can the Boston Celtics repeat? No! Kevin Garnett is great...but,he's not a real dominate type needed to carry a team sometimes. It showed in the playoffs. Paul Pierce,well he can carry a team[proved it early in his career,can't do it now. He need help]James Posey is Gone! That's Huge Mistake! So, my choice is a tough one this year.I'll pick one team....but, I can make a case for at lease three teams to win it all.Los Angles Lakers,New Orleans Hornets,Phoenix Suns. My choice...Phoenix Suns. I can't go against Shaq! The most dominate big man in the history of basketball...still the best at 35.Although Superman Dwight Howard is coming on strong...a force.[Howard still need a go-to move,then work all the rest of his moves off that].Getting back to the Suns,cutting Steve Nash minutes during the regular season[he's 35]should have him rested and ready for the playoffs. Same for Shaq...Rested and Ready for the playoffs.Shaq was built for the playoffs.They will take it all this year. There I said it. MVP...take your pick. Kobe Bryant,LeBron James,Chris Paul..All will have outstanding seasons. Now let's talk about CHICAGO!The Chicago Bulls ...they picked up the number one draft pick,by chance...and drafted Derrick Rose. Great move! Now the Bulls go on and make blunders...there is still time to fix. 1. Not making a move at the guard position. Kirk Hinrich needs to GO! Too slow for the point...not tall enough for the 2 guard,can't play defense on anybody.Larry Hughes needs to GO! He's just not a winner.Larry is just out there getting paid. 2. Derrick Rose! Give the kid heavy minutes! 35+ every night! Otherwies you ruin him! AKA...Joakim Noah,Tyrus Thomas,Thabo Sefolosha.These guys need minutes! The ONLY way you get better in this league. 3. Get rid of the Big Poluka Aaron Gray. Nothing aganist you man...you might be a great guy. But as far as basketball...You are slow,can't guard anybody,no downlow moves,if you needed a coach to teach you bigman moves last season...You don't have it! Don't have the mindset to dominate. I see it! Don't you KNOW your opponent see it TOO? The only good thing you can do is shoot freethrows...But, you can't get to the line to DO THAT! 4 . Fire the General Manager! John Paxson! Proved to be one of the worse GM's out there. He will start the season on the HOT SEAT! If Derrick Rose starts the season unhappy,Pax will be GONE! 5. Need of a GO-TO Guy Big Time! Ben Gordon can't do it...although he's proved it a few times.He's Short! Put a big guard on him ...Ben Gordon has problems. Plus he has hurt feelings from the contract talks.Ben you should have took 10! The 5 year 50 million dollar contract offered.Ben settled for 1 year 6 million. Becomes a free agent next year...and you still won't get over 10 mil. I'm a BIG Ben Gordon fan! He put his work in!You can see it in his body.Fire your agent! 010

International Basketball

2008-08-10T20:27:00.011-05:00

With the Olympics in full force,Team USA now dubbed the Redeem Team was playing China before ONE BILLION watchers! Yes ,ONE BILLION! A record to view a basketball game...any game for that matter. Leads me to address why NBA players are now bolting the NBA for the International stage. 5'5" Earl Boykins just became Italy's highest paid player...What? Earl Boykins? He's 32 years old! Carlos Arroyo,He Gone! Josh Childress,He Gone! Nenad Kerstic,He Gone! Bostjan Nachbar ,signed in Moscow....He Gone!Jannero Pargo One of Chicago's Finest! Has reached an agreement with the same team,Moscow Dynamo for a one-year deal...He Gone! Carlos Navarro,He Gone! Carlos Delfino,you know it...He Gone! Kobe Bryant said he would leave for Europe for 50 million a year. LeBron James free agency is coming up next year...If Bron Bron was trading on the NYSE,he would be trading for like 500.00 a share.He's all business.He has Warren Buffett as a buddy!What's keeping him from going? Ben Gordon and the Chicago Bulls can't come to terms...Overseas??? Dallas Mavericks 2008 draft pick Shan Foster is playing in Europe. Follow the money...It's overseas right now.With a BILLION people watching basketball, you can't help but have big sponsers,commercials,shoe deals,endorsements,etc.But, the biggest of all...maybe not the biggest name in the bunch...Brandon Jennings from Oak Hill Academy High School,not going to college,not going to the NBDL,but, headed overseas! WOW! Signing a contract to play overseas in Italy.I think it's a tip of the iceburg,more high schoolers will bolt to Europe. With a declining US economy,getting paid in Euros,and not the declining dollar,a bigger audience with the world being the stage,You really don't need an agent if you are playing in the NBA, salary caps are already pre-determined. Just follow the money!

Cazzie Russell A Chicago Legend

2008-07-26T07:16:00.011-05:00

This is the first of many post about Chicago Urban Legends. Cazzie Russell was from Chicago's Altgeld Gardens housing projects on the far south side. He went to Carver H.S., class of 1962.Where he learned from and played with Tommy Hawkins[Another Chicago Urban Legend].Cazzie stood about 6'6",averaged about 25pts. per game as a senior.A person having a big influence on Cazzie was Larry Hawkins[no relations to Tommy Hawkins or Connie Hawkins!]. Larry was Cazzie's coach and kept him on the straight and narrow.Larry was a great ball player in his own right,can still be found at the University of Chicago helping people. Cazzie was so dynamic he could have went to almost any school in the country at the time. He was being heavily recurited by UCLA,University of Michigan,University Of Cincinnati[which featured the Great Oscar Robertson]who even came to visit Cazzie! Cazzie chose the Uni. Of Michigan, because he felt he would play more there.At the Uni. of Michigan,Cazzie averaged about 24pts. per game,and was a 3-time All American.Cazzie put Uni. of Michigan basketball program on the map!He was the Uni. of Michigan's first Superstar...By the time it was over they built a new arena,Crisler Arena,"The house that Cazzie built".He also was the first to have his number [33]retired at the Uni. of Michigan. Cazzie was the number one draft pick in 1966 by the NBA. Drafted by the New York Knicks.Played his first five seasons for New York. And was part of the 1970 Championship run that featured...Willis Reed,Bill Bradley,and Walt Frazier,which beat the L.A. Lakers and Wilt Chamberlain.Cazzie went on to play 12 seasons in the NBA 1966-1978.Here's to you Cazzie Russell a positive influence on kids back in the day. And Still a positive influence today! One of the great Chicago Urban Legends.

WHY !

2008-07-19T19:34:00.006-05:00

Why did certain Chicago area basketball players make the Chicago Urban Legends list,while others did not? To quote Ozzy Osbourne... "I DON'T KNOW". There's always going to be people who should be on something and left off. That don't diminish who they are as a person,or as a player. Also,just because one made it to the NBA does not constitue being a Urban Legend. NBA is not the tell all ,do all when it comes to basketball. There's like 480 players in the NBA...And I can tell you with a clear mind...not all are the best players in the world! Not even half! WHY? Politics,breaks,being in the right place at the right time,psychological make up.That's the new thing in the NBA[not really new]doing mental, and behavior studies and questions on players to see if there is any problems in the future.Coming soon to a NBA team near you...DNA testing. OH NO! Way to go Eddie Curry! Ok Ok here's a list of players not on the Chicago Urban Legends, not saying they will or will not be on in the future. George Mikan,Isiah Thomas,Mark Aguirre,Maurice Cheeks,Jamie Brandon,Darrell Walker,Terry Cummings,Lee CummingsTerry's brother,Don Ross,Cory Blackwell,Ronnie Lester,Bo Ellis,Lafayette Lever,Alfredrick Hughes,Andre Battle,Larry Hawkins,Eddie Johnson,Hersey Hawkins,Quentin Richardson,Johnnie Selvie....Did I miss anyone? skoolofskills.org

Best Basketball Players...Chicago Southside,or Chicago Westside

2008-07-19T12:13:00.006-05:00

There has always been a question as to where the best basketball players in the Chicagoland came from...Westside! Or the...Southside! Hard question to answer. But, I'll try and bring more light to the subject.Not to take away from players from any area in Chicago. Chicago,as far as I'm concerned,has "The Best" basketball players from any place on the planet! The rest of the world of course, is catching up to us.Isiah Thomas is by far the best NBA ball player to come from Chicago...and he's a westsider.Billy "the Kid" Harris is by far the best Streetball Legend/Pro ball player[Billy played in the ABA,Overseas,shooo,Billy played all over] Billy Harris is from the southside.You ask Billy...He says,Art Sivels was the best he's seen!Art was from the westside.Art Sivels could shoot,fast as ...I don't know what!Could dribble out of this world! Doing moves nobody never seem before!The Globetrotters wanted Art to play for them bad...they would come over his home bagging Art's mom to let him go on the road and show his wears.Art never went on that road show,but, he continue to be a Legend in Chicago.Who has the most players currently in the NBA? Westside or Southside? Southside of chicago has a slight edge in the amount of players currently in the NBA. Who has the most players on the Chicago Urban Legends list? To the view full list ...see below. Southside has a slight edge. With Derrick Rose being drafted number one in the NBA draft in June..gives the Southside another edge.So,overall,the Southside have a slight edge on the westside when it comes to Basketball.I can tell you one thing...You better not go on the westside talking trash! Especially,if you are from the southside. skoolofskills.org

Derrick Rose!

2008-06-29T06:23:00.010-05:00

BULLS take Derrick Rose with the number one pick in the NBA draft. Now can he live up to the hype of being the number one pick? For Sure! What has to happen is...General Manager John Paxson,has to give Rose tons playing minutes like Chris Paul. Chris Paul averaged like 35 minutes a game,like 16 points per.Give Derrick the minutes, rest will take care of itself. We are now hearing that Paxson says,"Derrick's not a guy we're going to look at and say, `Come in and right away [and start],' " Paxson said. "He's got to earn that given the chance. But we're not going to throw him into this thing and say you have to do everything right now. We'll give him time." Right away we have a problem!
Here's what Derrick has to say about that...He wanted to be the league MVP his Rookie season! And a superstar like, Kobe Bryant,LeBron James,Chris Paul,within five years.What has to happen..Kirk Hinrich has to go[Lack of leadership,not fast enough to play the point,not a great shooter to play the 2 guard],Chris Duhon has to go[he's a good point guard but,not, enough speed,and Too Short!]Larry Hughes has to go[not enough heart,don't want to be a second fiddle,aka Lebron James,Clevland,and he's not a winner].Get rid of Aaron "The Big Poluka" Gray,He's way too slow, no post moves,not a good rebounder,just a good free throw shooter that can't get to the line.Pick up a seasoned Big man...one that can get up the court,DeSagana Diop,Samuel Dalembert,Chris Kaman,Joel Przybilla,Kurt Thomas,then we are good to go! Skoolofskills.org

World Champs!

2008-06-18T20:06:00.008-05:00

Boston Celtics, YOU ARE THE WORLD CHAMPS! Kevin Garnett,Ray Allen,Paul Pierce,You guys did it! There were doubts...Atlanta took them to a game seven. Atlanta. KG you got your ring atlast! Chicago's very own...Glen "Doc" Rivers,Tony Allen,Keven Garnett,that's right...We claim KG because he played his High school ball here in Chicago. What happened to Kobe in the finals??? He didn't seem to be able to take over games like the past.He has a ton of miles on his body.I still think he's the best player in the world.I might not be saying that next NBA season.NBA number one pick???? Derrick Rose! When everybody was talking about O.J. Mayo,Here comes Derrick! To take what's his! That's that Chicago mindset I was telling you about.I have bad thoughts about Derrick Rose being drafted by the Chicago Bulls...The Bulls have horrible management! A rookie need plenty of playing time to flourish.At lease 25 min. to 35 min. a game. That's not happening in Chicago. skoolofskills.org

A New Season

2007-11-04T08:12:00.006-06:00

A new NBA season has started. Things you should know about the upcoming season that might be of interest. The San Antonio Spurs...can they repeat? Something they have never done. If they do,it will make Tim Duncan one of the greatest players in NBA history.Boston Celtics...the "Big Three",Kevin Garnett,Paul Pierce,Ray Allen. Can they win it all? YES! If they was coming out of the West ...I would say no. But, being in the East, and having a legitimate chance making it to the Finals,anything could happen when you get there.The rest of the players would have to step up also,to make that happen. Kobe? You can make a very good case that Kobe is the best player in the NBA...I think he is. Will he stay with the Lakers? The New York Knicks..and the off court termoil. Isiah Thomas,Chicago's very own.. was found guilty in a sexual harassment lawsuit by a former executive. I've been around a lot of NBA players,and one thing I KNOW...there are women from everywhere coming at these guys and falling at their feet. Man! I can tell you some stories! Back in the day at the eating spot Houston's in Chicago where most the Bulls players went after the game..Ladies so Fine! You want to marry them! So would Isiah go hitting on a employee. Something's not right here. So, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? He didn't do it...Something happen that's for sure.BUT,The world may never know. skoolofskills.org

Best of the best...

2007-10-24T17:05:00.007-05:00

NBA is the best of the best..when it comes to basketball. We now have other leagues gaining. Players overseas are getting better. There is aprox. 480 players in the NBA coming from all over the world. But, Chicago has more players in the NBA than in any place in the world. More than L.A. and Philly combined! More than New York? Yup, More than New York! Why?? Good Question...I'll say the players from Chicago play with more fire,they want it more...What ever It is. When you play a guy from Chicago,you are in for a battle! Each part of Chicago is different from the other..I mean, you can go on the westside play a game[if you make it home ]and then play a game on the southside[if you make it home..lol]and then go on the low end and play a game...And the style of the game,flow will all be different! That's just Chicago...most hoods don't call many fouls,hacking ,pushing is somewhat allowed. but, then again ,it depends on where you are at. At the start of the NBA season 2007/08 we have 19 players in the "L" down from 22 of last year.We lose Will Bynum,Dee Brown.Linton Johnson is still there,hoping to make the squad and sign. All will be playing overseas or somewhere,we'll try to keep up with them. So who's in? Here they are...Tony Allen,Andre Brown,Shannon Brown,Eddy Curry,Melvin Ely,Michael Finley,Luther Head,Juwan Howard,Steven Hunter,Andre Iguodala,Shaun Livingston,Darius Miles,Nazr Mohammed,Jannero Pargo,Quentin Richardson,Bobby Simmons,Dwyane Wade,Antoine Walker,Julian Wright. That's them...all 19 of them. More on the horizon..that's for sure. We will get some sleepers....like Jannero Pargo, and some sure fire one's like Patrick Beverley,Arkansas and Derrick Rose,Memphis. They will be there...just a matter of when. Antoine Walker got traded from Miami to Minn. He's safe for at lease two more years..being paid 8 mil. for the next two yrs. on his contract. He came to camp not in the best of shape....known for having a good time.Nothing wrong with that...but, have to know when to take care of business.I think he don't the the fire in the belly anymore. skoolofskills.org

The Mecca of Basketball....Chicago!

2007-10-17T23:10:00.005-05:00

Hello World! Welcome to the MECCA...Chicago! I'm new to blogging, so bear with me. I want to first thank the people at Skool Of Skills...to let me have the opportunity to talk basketball to you. Something I love dearly. I've been around a while, a seen a lot of things...hope to relay some of things I think and things I saw in and around Basketball and Chicago. I promised not to be graphic or rude when speaking on this game I love...Basketball. The best ball players in the world come from here man. DON'T FORGET IT. I won't debate the point. FORGET IT! Kinda reminds me of some other things Chicago is number one in...Stepping[started here],House Music[started here],Juking[started here],Slam dunking[started here]largest market in the world ..CME/CBOE,Options started here. sorry NYSE.The real gangsters Al Capone,Jeff Fort,Larry Hoover was here. We have R.Kelly.We have Kanya West! Anyway, back to Basketball. The NBA season is close to starting, a lot of things to talk about. Tons of rumors in the league...I do have some thoughts on the NBA. Let me tell you. Well for one ...there's only like 480 players in the NBA. So that make it like an elite group[What's Up with all the Tattoos... Rodman.]It use to be once said...If you were in the "L" you are on of the best in the world.NOT TRUE! I can tell you right now there's like 100 guys right now in the "league" that couldn't hardly make it in some pick-up games in the big cities...no heart,not fast enough,no athleticism...so, why are they still in the NBA? That's a whole new blog. The good thing they have going for them is the conditioning. That's IT! I can get a guy on the Westside OR Southside[The Chi has a thing within itself about where the best ball players come from...Southside or Westside.]and bring these guys the BLUES! Thanks again to Skool Of Skills for letting me Blog! skoolofskills.org