Basketball Players, Beware of This Man August 21, 2007
Posted by Marquis Chapman in Basketball, NBA, Sports.10 comments
If you’re a person that loves to play basketball and get a pick up game going, it would only be fair to warn you of this man I’m about to talk about. This man has appeared in every basketball gym and park you can think of and is notorious for ruining thousands of pick up games a year. We have all been victims at one time or another, and if you haven’t seen him yet, you should be be extremely careful if you don’t want to be the next victim.
The man I’m talking about is that middle aged guy that plays with the young guys in an attempt to relive his glory days. We’ll just call him “old school.” He comes in many shapes and forms, but he is always easy to spot. My objective here is to help you spot him so you don’t become yet another victim. I’m going to describe some instant giveaways that the old guy you’re playing might very well be “old school”.
Beside age, the easiest way to spot “old school” is to look at his attire. Usually he’ll be wearing some type of clothing that belonged to him in high school or college. It might be a jersey, might be some shorts, or it might even be a headband. In addition to that, he most likely will be wearing knee pads, elbow pads, high socks, a huge mouthpiece, and possibly goggles.
If your unable to judge by clothing, just pay close attention to the way he acts or what he says while warming up. If he takes an extremely long time to warm up due to his hour long stretching routine, he’s “old school”. If he’s extremely siked up to play, he’s “old school”. If he attempts a hook shot, he’s “old school”. If he shoots with two hands, he’s “old school”. If he at anytime starts talking about an amazing play he did back in high school, he’s definately “old school”.
Back in the Day: Tecmo Superbowl August 20, 2007
Posted by Marquis Chapman in Back in the Day, Football, NFL, Sports.7 comments
With Madden ’08 coming out this past Tuesday, I thought it would be a good idea to go back in the day when there was no Madden. Before the hit stick, before the precision passing, and before the amazing graphics, video gamers turned to one game to get their football fix. That game was called Tecmo Superbowl.
Tecmo Superbowl was one of the first sports video games that used real names of NFL players. The game had a NFL team license, which allowed it to feature the then all 28 teams in the NFL.
Released in 1991, the graphics were not that great, but they were good enough. The players pretty much looked identical and looked very unrealistic compared to the football games of today. Whenever there was a touchdown or a big play, they would show a screenshot of the player. It was pretty much just a horrible drawing of the player up close.
The game could be played on the original Nintendo Console. It didn’t come on a disc, but rather came on a fairly large, block looking cartridge that you had to blow on about twenty times before playing. If you didn’t blow on it, then you would just get a very colorful grid on your screen when you attempted to play.
The gameplay was fairly limited due to the contoller. There was no analog stick and there wasn’t too many buttons to press like today’s controllers. Nope, there was just an A and a B button, along with the directional pad. It may sound bad now, but back then, that was all you really needed to get your game on.
Sure, Madden may have came along and revolutionized the football gaming world as we know it, but football fans and video gamers all over the world know that before there was Madden… There was Tecmo Superbowl.
Top Five: Most Intimidating Athletes August 18, 2007
Posted by Marquis Chapman in Baseball, Basketball, Boxing, Football, MLB, NBA, NFL, Sports, Top Five, UFC.30 comments
5. Charles Barkley- Oh sure, you may think that Charles Barkley is just your average NBA analyst with an opinion on everything, but back in his heyday, Barkley was one of the meanest players in the NBA. Standing 6’4” and weighing 252 pounds, players rarely got in his way when he came through the lane. Sir Charles has also been known to get into scuffles on and off the court. Barkley once threw a man out of a plate glass window during a bar fight, and is the only man in NBA history to actually pick up Shaq and slam him down.
4. Albert Belle- By far the meanest, most intimidating player ever to put on a MLB uniform, Albert Belle was not to be messed with. Standing 6’2” and weighing 225, he defiantely intimidated pitchers when he stepped to the plate. Some of his most famous incidents include throwing a baseball and striking a fan who was heckling him, chasing after a fan in the stands after the fan shouted a racist remark, and chasing vandals during Halloween in his car after they threw eggs at his house.
3. Ray Lewis- Don’t let the photo fool you, Ray Lewis is the most feared man in the National Football League. Running Backs choose to run out of bounds when Lewis is near and Wide Recievers dare not go through the middle when he’s playing the pass in zone coverage. Regarded as one of the hardest hitters in the NFL, offensive players are constantly aware where Lewis is at all times. His intensity can not be matched by any other player in the league. Standing 6’1” and weighing 250 pounds, Lewis always makes his presence known.
John Stockton, The Last Pioneer of Short Shorts August 16, 2007
Posted by Marquis Chapman in Basketball, NBA, Sports.12 comments
Most fans know John Stockton as the all time assist record holder or as the ying to Karl Malone’s yang. Stockton is regarded as one of the greatest point guards of all time, but he was so much more. Many NBA fans may not realize that John Stockton was a true pioneer.
We live in an era where “keeping it real” is a must, but before Allen Iverson was staying true to himself and not changing for anyone or anything, there was John Stockton. Stockton is the epitome of keeping it real and staying true to oneself. When the league started getting younger and the shorts started to get baggier, Stockton still wore those infamous short shorts.
In the early 90’s, Jordan was the trendsetter for the baggy shorts and it caught on like wildfire. Before long, everyone was rocking the shorts just above the knee, and sometimes longer. Even Stockton’s teammate Karl Malone made the change. Not Stockton, he refused to sell out and kept his shorts 3 to 5 inches above the knees. Not because he wanted to be different, but because that’s just who he was. From 1984 to 2003, Stockton’s shorts remained the same. While the style of the uniform may have changed, the length was never touched.
Pacman Now a Triple Threat, Plans to Release Rap Album August 15, 2007
Posted by Marquis Chapman in Football, NFL, Sports.5 comments
With all the bad publicity Pacman Jones received for his decision to wrestle, Pacman has decided to head in a slighty different direction by deciding to release a rap album. Yes, you read it right, he’s releasing a rap album.
Jones is one half of the duo known as the “Posterboyz”, and their first single entitled, “Let it Shine” will be released on August 27. The song is rumored to talk about money, cars, and jewelry.
Now, what would a Pacman story be without the NFL getting involved? The NFL has one major issue with Pacman’s decision to rap. His record company is called National Street League Records, and the name might infringe on the league’s trademark.
I really, truly believe that Adam “Pacaman” Jones has lost his mind. Is he doing this on purpose? It’s almost as if Pacman has a checklist of what not do. He continues to do anything and everything that a player shouldn’t do while on suspension. What will Jones do next?
The National Felony League August 14, 2007
Posted by Marquis Chapman in Football, NFL, Sports.15 comments
Lets face it, the NFL has a serious problem with its players and it’s only going to get worse. Players just can’t seem to stay out of trouble these days. Whether it be the usual D.U.I., assualt charges, or dog fighting allegations, the NFL finds itself handing out more fines and suspensions than ever before.
Lately, NFL players are in the news for all the wrong reasons. Obviously, players such as Michael Vick and Pacman Jones are the two most talked about players dealing with legal troubles. However, there are countless others that have been fined or handed suspensions. Chris Henry, Tank Johnson, Chris Chambers, and Joey Porter are just a few of the other names. And lets not forget that nearly half of the Cincinnati Bengals team have had their issues as well.
Many blame the NFL for their players misconduct, but the NFL is not the sole cause of why so many players get into trouble. It’s not as if once the players get drafted, they run wild and think they are above the law. They’ve been running wild and thinking they’re above the law since college, and for some since high school.
It’s no secret that star players for universities are sometimes favored. They may not get the punishment they deserve when they get into serious trouble. Some coaches are strict disciplinarians, but others favor the team record, while their players are building records of their own.
Vick May Be in Some Serious Trouble… August 14, 2007
Posted by Marquis Chapman in Football, NFL, Sports.1 comment so far
The jury looks like they mean business.
Picture from Allhiphop.com
The Infamous Madden Curse August 13, 2007
Posted by Marquis Chapman in Football, NFL, Sports.5 comments
With Madden ’08 coming out tomorrow, it would only be right to revisit the infamous Madden Curse. Many people disagree on whether or not there is actually a curse, but since 2001, any player that has been on the cover of Madden, has had their numbers drop significantly, or suffered an injury that caused the them to miss a number of games. Is there really a curse? You be the judge.
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Eddie George (2001)- The year George was on the cover, he actually had a great season with career highs in touchdowns and yards. The next season however, George was bothered by a toe injury the entire season. This resulted in George having a career low in yards and touchdowns. George was never quite the same player after that season.
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Dante Culpepper (2002)- Threw 13 touchdowns and 14 interceptions the year he was on the cover. He later suffered a back injury that would end his season.
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Marshal Falk (2003)- Missed five games due to an ankle injury. His numbers noticeably declined, and he would never rush for 1,000 yards in a season again.
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Michael Vick (2004)- Suffered a broken right leg in a pre-season game against the Baltimore Ravens, causing Vick to miss the majority of the season.
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Ray Lewis (2005)- Perhaps the player least affected by the Madden Curse, Lewis’ numbers were slightly down.
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Donovan McNabb (2006)- McNabb suffered a hernia in week 9, and was forced to shut it down for the rest of the season. He also threw more interceptions and the Eagles missed the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
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Shaun Alexander (2007)- Alexander missed 6 regular season games with a broken left foot. He finished the season with only 896 yards and 7 touchdowns, which were his lowest totals since his rookie season.
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Vince Young (2008)- ?
Lets all cross our fingers for Vince Young this season.
The Sacred Free Throw Ritual August 12, 2007
Posted by Marquis Chapman in Basketball, College Basketball, NBA, Sports.49 comments
The free throw is one of the most important aspects in the game of basketball. The free throw line, or charity stripe, gives a player an opportunity to earn free points. There are no defenders, just the player and the basket. Making or missing free throws can sometimes determine the outcome of the game. They matter the most at the end of the game, and can transform an average player to a hero, or give a superstar player the label of a choker.
Any good player will tell you that it is an absolute must that you have a free throw routine. For 10 seconds or less, you do whatever you need to do to get relaxed and make your shots. Making a routine and doing the same thing each and every time you step to the line is key. It should become almost like a ritual in a sense, soon becoming something a player doesn’t even have to think about.
Most players roughly do the same ritual when stepping to the free throw line. There’s usually 2 to 3 dribbles, a couple of deep breaths, a short stare at the rim, and then a shot. Some however, create very unique free throw rituals. Former Utah Jazz guard Jeff Hornacek’s free throw ritual consisted of stepping to the line, taking a couple of dribbles, and rubbing the side of his face. It was later discoverd that Hornacek rubbed his face as a way to say hi to his kids.
Others use a more direct approach to say hi to family members. Jason Kidd used to blow a kiss to the rim before he shot his free throws, which was a way to say hi to his wife. I always thought that was a little weird and would be akward for anyone esle to try, but like I said, everyone has their own unique ritual.
Georgia Tech Football Team Training for the ’06 Season August 11, 2007
Posted by Marquis Chapman in College Football, Football, Sports, Video.2 comments
This is an amazing video of the Georgia Tech Football team training for the 2006 season along with some highlights from the ’05 season. Some of the drills they’re doing are extremely demanding and are designed to improve speed, power, and strength. It also shows the results of all the hard work, by showing the crazy amount of weight they’re able to lift in the weight room. You also get a look at how much of an athletic freak Calvin Johnson is. Johnson breaks the school’s vertical leap record by jumping 45” and breaks the broad jump record by jumping over 11 feet. If this doesn’t make you want to hit the gym, I don’t know what will.
All Talk Sports 