White Men Can't Jump

In January,  you may have heard that former boxing promoter Don "Moose" Lewis planned to start a  "whites only" basketball league called the All-American Basketball Alliance (AABA).   And, to prevent "passing", (no pun intended, I promise!) Lewis made it very clear that "only players that are natural-born United States citizens with both parents of Caucasian race" need only apply.
Ridiculous, I know.  So ridiculous that media sources (and me) are unsure whether this is a publicity stunt or the real deal.  Regardless, Lewis shared that the purpose of the league is to restore fundamental play to the game of basketball.  Something that he's convinced only white players are able to do because apparently, non-white players have ruined the game with their athletic style of play. 

When I first heard he was starting a "white only" league, I interpreted that as "non-black".  Although, after Lewis further defined "white only", I realized that players including Steve Nash (Canada), Dirk Nowitzki (Germany), Hedo Turkoglu (Turkey) and many other non "natural-born United States citizens" are also banned from the league. Did I mention that this was ridiculous?

Note to Lewis:  YouTube some old Larry Bird footage and then let's have a conversation about "white" players lacking athleticism and sticking to the fundamentals.  Bird is a natural-born United States citizen with both parents of Caucasian race" who is also known as a skillful, athletic trash talking showman.  Or, let's keep it funky and talk about David Lee, Chris Kaman, or Birdman, just to name a few.  Those boys are good and should feel some type of way about Lewis feeding into the stereotype that White Men Can't Jump. 

Well, this semi-old news was resurrected on Monday when Jason Jones from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart interviewed Don Lewis.  During the interview, Lewis attempted to defend the league as well as claims that he's racist.  Pretty funny stuff.  Although, I couldn't help but wonder how much funnier it would've been as a Chappelle's Show skit, but what are you going to do...Enjoy!

PUSH PLAY:  SNOWBALL

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Video Credit:  The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Where Are They Now: Stephon Marbury

In January, Stephon Marbury announced that he was joining China Basketball Association's Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons.  This statement came two months after Marbury ustreamed his life for all to see, which was definitely not a good look and only gave everyone more reasons to doubt and criticize him.  As a result, many people dismissed Steph's decision to play in China as another attention grabbing announcement from a spoiled, washed up NBA player. 

However, for Steph it was about something different.  His decision to play in China was primarily based on expanding his Starbury line into a new and booming market.  Instead of relying on others to push his product, he made the move to China to hustle his line himself. Smart move.  With the NBA dedicating tons of resources toward building their brand in China, and being successful at it, Steph was able to parlay that into checks.  Positioned properly, I'm sure he made a decent come up.

I do believe Steph's choice to play in China was based on expanding Starbury, but I'm also convinced it was an opportunity for Steph to redeem himself.  After tarnishing his reputation, which appeared to be beyond repair, Steph voluntarily (with the help of advisors, I'm sure) removed himself from the madness.  Once he took time to reflect on all of his actions, it appears he realized that he needed a change of scenery.  A fresh start.

Imagine receiving the opportunity to live your biggest dream, but none of it plays out the way you've always envisioned.  Everything that can go wrong does.  Everywhere you turn, fingers are pointed in your direction.  Searching for light at the end of the tunnel, but only continuing along a dark and lonely path.  This is what happened to Marbury.  But, once he recognized that his life was at an ultimate low, he took accountability for his actions, and did what was necessary to reclaim his identity.  I'm glad he did.

I've been a Marbury fan since his Georgia Tech days. When he joined the Knicks I was optimistic, but that optimism quickly faded to disappointment.  I didn't follow his career while he was in China, but it seems that the time spent over there was valuable.  Not only did his line do well, but it appears that he was able to get his mind right.  Kudos to him for that.  I hope that he'll maintain that level of clarity and peace when he returns to the States.  Fans love a great comeback story and I'm sure that if he decided to suit up for the NBA again, fans would welcome him back.

Marbury's two-month stint in China came to an end on Wednesday at the CBA's All-Star Game.  According to reports, it was quite successful.  Although he didn't take his team to the playoffs (some things never change...sorry, I couldn't resist!), he was named MVP of the All-Star Game after scoring 30 points.  Finally, the Star in Starbury is shining again.

It's Bigger Than Hip-Hop!

Think of two brands that have memorable or outstanding campaigns.  Was one Apple and the other Nike?  If so,  these two brands are often top-of-mind because they have evolved into lifestyle brands.  For Nike, that's in large part due to their Air Jordan line.

Today, The Atlanta Post released a Q&A article with Erin O. Patton, founder of The Mastermind Group, a strategic marketing agency, and author of Under the Influence:  Tracing the Hip-Hop's Generation's Impact on Brands, Sports, & Pop Culture.

I know you're wondering why you should care.  Just keep reading.

Erin O. Patton is the man credited with building the Air Jordan brand.  Now you're paying attention, right?

Growing up during the rise of the hip-hop era, Patton had the foresight to know that hip-hop was not merely a trend.  When Run DMC was rocking shell toes and rapping about it, or when LL wouldn't go anywhere without his Kangol, Patton was observing and strategizing. 

He recognized that showing love to these brands could be a huge business opportunity.  A way to connect with an untapped, young, loyal market in a manner that's never been done.

Before joining Nike, he worked for Burrell Advertising and Edelman PR.  It was his responsibility to build brand equity and relevance among the hip-hop generation.  Remember Sprite's Obey Your Thirst campaign?   Patton was the man behind that too.  See a trend?

Then, when Patton joined Nike he took it to the next level.  A product of the streets, he knew what needed to be done in order to reach Air Jordan's target consumer and for it to be a success.  He blessed the trendsetters and influencers aka rappers and barbers with the hottest product first.  When guys gathered in the barber shop or saw their favorite rappers rocking the freshest kicks before anyone else, a demand and buzz was created; thus birthing a movement.  He got it and continues to lend his genius towards developing strategies for Lebron James, The Williams Sisters and others.

Last night, after the Health Care Reform bill was passed, Nancy Pelosi addressed the House.  During her speech, she described President Obama as a visionary, a strategist, and a persuader.  Wow!  Who wouldn't want to be described as such?!?!  Those three adjectives resonated with me because in order to be an effective leader, you should exhibit all of those qualities.  Agreed?  Well, upon reading the Q&A with Patton, I felt like those adjectives were also applicable to him.  In no way am I suggesting he has the goods to be our next President, but he's definitely at the top of his game -- bridging brands with the hip-hop culture in a smart and authentic way.

If you're interested in marketing, advertising, PR, brand development, the business side of hip-hop or sports, then you must do yourself a favor and learn more about Erin Patton.  I guarantee that you'll respect him so much that you'll be inspired to read his book.  I'm copping mine right now!

You're welcome.

Ballin'!!!

Take a brief step away from the madness, and let's talk money and college basketball.  As we all know, the sports industry is a huge moneymaker, but what exactly does that mean for these basketball programs at D1 schools?

For the third consecutive year, Forbes.com has ranked the Top 20 Most Valuable College Basketball teams, based on the following four factors (in order of weight):

1. The value of contributions to the institution for academic purposes, including scholarships for basketball players.

2. The net profit generated by the basketball program retained by the athletic department.

3. The value contributed to conference peers via tournament revenue.

4.  Estimated direct spending by visitors to the county attributable to home basketball games.

Ranked at #1 for two straight years and valued at $29 million are the North Carolina Tar Heels.  Coming off of their 2009 Championship, the Tar Heels are stacking their chips and saving for a rainy day.  Good thing they are, because ladies and gentlemen, that rainy day has arrived!  Last year, 2009 NCAA Champs, this year, a round-trip ticket straight to the NIT.  Can't wait to see how a disappointing season impacts their 2011 ranking. 

And, because you simply can't mention UNC without hearing Duke (or vice versa), the Blue Devils are ranked #11 with a value of $16.4 million.  For the second consecutive year, their value has dropped.  The steady decline is attributed to their enormous operations budget which is 50% more than any other team.  This seems a bit excessive, especially when they share a market with UNC.  Anytime twice as much money is spent to do the same job, questions should be asked, eyebrows should be raised, and people should be fired.  Just sayin'.

For the complete list of rankings, check out the article and slideshow. 

You may now return to your regularly scheduled program with beer in one hand, bracket sheet in the other.

Gus Johnson: Mr. March Madness

If you've been following the NCAA Tournament for the past 15 years then you know that Gus Johnson aka Mr. March Madness, as I like to refer to him, is the man!  He's so good that he also serves as the play-by-play announcer for the Knicks, Big Ten Network, NFL and a few other sports.  

However, I love him most for the value he contributes to the NCAA Tournament.  There is no one better at calling the play-by-play of these games.  Period. Point blank.  End of discussion.  Gus gets into the "holiday spirit" and truly. loses. his. mind.    There's no way he can contain himself.  What I love most is that he doesn't even try.  His overt and unapologetic passion and excitement shows his pure and genuine love of the game.  For that reason, his level of hypeness gets me amped.  It's contagious! 

His calls go something kind of like this...wait for it...wait for it...wait for it...SCREAMING + SCREAMING! + MORE SCREAMING!!!  Nothing but pure awesomeness!  I love it!!!  As he's yelling at the top of his lungs, it's almost guaranteed that everyone in the bar is yelling right along with him.  Jumping up and down and making themselves dizzy from whatever they just witnessed. 

Everything about Johnson's play-by-play delivery is what makes this tournament so great. The unpredictability of each game always makes Johnson's outbursts seem like they come out of nowhere.  If you, for whatever reason, walk away from the TV for 5 seconds, all you need to do his hear Johnson's voice go 10 octaves higher and you'll know you missed something amazing.  Shame on you.


When Gus isn't calling a game, I often wonder if he's somewhere screaming like he's doing it for TV.  I think I curse CBS at least five times during the tourney when I realize that another play-by-play team is covering that game.  I feel cheated.  It's almost as if I wish they'd just patch Gus in and have him deliver the last minute or two of each game, just because.  I'm sure anyone who matters would be ok with that.

In case you're wondering, here's Gus Johnson's NCAA Tournament first round announcing schedule:

• Fri, 3/19 @ 12:15 ET – #2 West Virginia v #15 Morgan State
• Fri, 3/19 @ 2:35 ET – #7 Clemson v #10 Missouri
• Fri, 3/19 @ 7:10 ET – #8 Gonzaga v #9 Florida State
• Fri, 3/19 @ 9:30 ET – #1 Syracuse v #16 Vermont

Gus will then be announcing the winners of these games on Sunday.

If you're interested in anyone else's schedule, check it out here. 

We'll have to get through Day 1 without Gus, but on Friday, it's Gus (and Len Elmore) all day long.  Until then,  enjoy this. 

It's Tourney Time!

The NCAA Tournament tips-off on CBS in less than 24 hours!  If you haven't done so already, make your picks now!

Also, to all my sports heads holding it down at the j-o-b during the day, and having a breakdown about not being able to watch the games on TV, I'm about to change your life.   Actually, all credit goes to Mashable, but I'm putting you on, so give me some love when you pay it forward.

Mashable put together a great list of how social media + technology will help you keep track of your bracket(s), blow outs, and upsets.  From real-time tweets +  watching live games online  or on your iPhone/iPod Touch, they've covered it all.

Don't take my word for it, see for yourself!

You're welcome.

TJ Out. LT In.

Did we really just release Thomas Jones and pickup LaDainian Tomlinson?  That didn't really happen did it?  If you read my entry about the Cromartie pickup, then you know that I struggled with how I felt about letting Jones go.  Well, it's no longer a struggle.  It's official, I don't like it. 

Let me tell you why....

1.  Age most definitely couldn't have been a factor.  Thomas Jones will turn 32 this year, while LT will turn 31.  Despite the 10 month age difference, they're both considered liabilities by NFL standards.  On paper, Jones should be a bigger threat because he's older, but if you look at their numbers, Tomlinson is the bigger risk. 

2.  It can't be about money.  According to ESPN.com, LT's 2-year deal is worth $5.1 million with an escalator that could boost his salary to $5.6 million.  Kansas City and Thomas Jones agreed to $5 million, which is $800k less than what Jones was owed from the Jets.  He was due a $3 million roster bonus on top of his $2.8 million base salary.  It's a $200K difference.  It's been reported that the Jets asked Jones to take a pay cut.   He declined, which I don't blame him for doing.  He put up the best numbers of his career (1402 yards, 14 TDs, 331 carries, 4.2 yards per carry) and they expect him to accept less money.  What part of the game is that?!?!

Meanwhile, LT had the worst season of his career...730 yards, 12 TDs, 223 carries, and 3.3 yards per carry.  You do the math...

So, since those aren't the reasons why they signed LT, maybe these are:

1.  Perhaps there was some behind-the-scenes drama between Jones and the team.  I can't imagine the Jets and Jones not being able to reach an agreement that would've satisfied both parties.  Or, maybe the fact that the Jets even thought about cutting Jones' salary made him feel some type of way.  Possibly Jones wasn't trying to hear anything besides what was due to him.  If that was the case, I respect that, especially after he was paid $900K in 2009, coming off of a 1300 yard season.

2.  Maybe they feel that LT's style of play is a better fit for Brian Schottenheimer's offense.  Jones and LT do have different strengths.  LT is known as a great pass catcher out of the backfield, while Jones is a workhorse that hits the hole.  If the Jets do intend on giving Shonn Greene the majority of the carries, it might not be such a bad look, after all.  If they limit LT's touches and let the young boy do most of the dirty work, they'll be able to preserve LT in a hope to get the best out of him.  Pause.  Where does Leon Washington fit into all of this?  Assuming he's rehabbing according to schedule, where will he fall on the depth chart?

3.  Back to Schottenheimer.  The Jets could also be hoping that LT's familiarity with Schottenheimer's offense will allow him to adjust to the offense pretty easily.  After all, Schottenheimer was the Charger's QB coach for four years during the height of LT's career.  

4.  LT will be hungry.  He's been destroyed by the media, due to a consistent decline in his numbers since 2006, when he captured the rushing title and was named MVP.  Everyone gave him the benefit of the doubt heading into the 2009 season, and he was a disappointment.  Instead, he got injured during Week 2.  Come September, LT should be ready to show-n-prove. 

Now that I've weighed the pros and cons, I don't hate it as much, but I'm still not a fan.  When thinking about us being Super Bowl contenders, I just don't feel that we've upgraded our offense by cutting Jones and signing LT.  Not to mention that we need a wide receiver!  

I'm a New York sports fan.  I'm demanding and spoiled.  I expect greatness.  If we made it to the AFC Championship game in 2010, we better be going all the way in 2011.  Anything else is unacceptable.

LT is a class act and a Hall of Famer.  He's had a hell of a career, but I can't help but think that his best days are behind him.  It happens to all of the greats.  Hopefully, he'll prove me wrong.  I beg that he proves me wrong!  As you've seen with Stephen Curry,  when I'm wrong, I have no problem admitting it.  Cheers to me being wrong!

I'm Focused, Man.

Last year this time, I was in South Africa on vacation. Sounds awesome, right?  Yeah, it was, except for the fact that I completely missed Champs Week.  Yep, I was bugging when I planned that trip with my friends.  Once I realized the mistake I made, it was too late.  Trip was paid for, dates were locked, and there was nothing I could do about it.  What a setup. The only positive thing was that I'd return in time for the NCAA Tournament with a couple of days to get my picks in. That put me at ease until I got realistic with myself and admitted that I had no shot at the big prize.   I immediately returned to panic mode because I already knew that I'd be taking a quick dive straight to the bottom of all five of my pools.

See, I don't really start following college basketball until March.  Don't worry.  There's a method to my madness.  With the NFL going until early February and the NBA in full swing, I feel like something has to take a back seat.  For me, it's college bball.  And, based on past experiences, I know I can't handle a full season of college basketball.  I get too emotionally attached.  It's bad.  For these reasons, I decided to invest a little later in the game and just go hard as hell once March hits.  I start scouting teams, players, and coaches.  I give my money, time, and emotions, all in the name of filling out my brackets.

So, this two-week trip to SA completely ruined my whole game plan.  Never again.  I totally learned my lesson.  Returning from a trip of a lifetime to only have regrets that I missed a marathon game between Syracuse and UConn was not what's up and will NEVER happen again.

New Rule: From now on, I pledge to stick to the script.  March is officially reserved for Madness. March is reserved for devoting hours upon hours of watching nothing but college basketball.  March is reserved for cramming a season's worth of stats, analysis and info into 2 weeks.  March is reserved for skimming blogs and hoarding newspapers/magazines, searching for the inside scoop.  March is now and I'm ready!


photo credit:  Drew Litton

Not This Again...

Before I dive in, let me just say that part of me hates that I'm even drawing attention to this topic, but for some reason I felt like I needed to say something.  It could be because of the reaction I had when I read the comments related to Torii Hunter's recent quote at USA Today's roundtable discussions on ways to improve Major League Baseball.  I reflected on my own reaction for a minute and felt like I should share.

Torii Hunter, of the Anaheim Angels, was criticized for saying that Latino MLB players are "imposters", and not to be confused with Black American players.  For example, because Dominican and Black players are similar in complexion, fans often mistake a Dominican player for a Black player.  MLB lets this confusion ride because they've been criticized for the lack of Black Americans in the league.  Torii also went on to say that Latino players will accept less money than Black players.  Actually, he said they'll accept a bag of chips, which was completely inappropriate, offensive, and in poor taste.  Horrible choice of words.  Let the media frenzy ensue!

But first, let me ask this.  Is it just me or have we discussed this in the past?  Remember Gary Sheffield's GQ article from 2007?  Does the comment, "the MLB is filled with more Latino players because they're easier to control", sound familiar?  Yes, they're two different comments, but both raise the issue of race in MLB...more specifically, the reason the league is only filled with 10% of Black American players compared to almost 3 times that of "foreign" players. 

It's no secret that unlike the NFL and NBA, MLB has issues with recruiting African American players.   There are so many contributing factors, but one of the main reasons is because baseball is a more popular sport in the Caribbean. When scouts are searching for new talent, they go to the Caribbean due to a deeper pool to choose from.  No big deal.  If you want the best business minds, go to Harvard Business School.  Fish where the fish are.  Same principle.

I don't necessarily have an issue with that.  Although, in reading a lot of the comments in response to Torii's statement, I suddenly realized that many people don't think like me, which isn't totally surprising, lol.  I've always kind of done my own thing.  Regardless, I was still shocked by the amount of people that reacted negatively and suggested Torii was ignorant because he made a distinction between Latino and Black American players.

In a few weeks, you are all going to receive a 2010 census form that does the same thing.  In fact, when you fill out any type of application or form, you're requested to provide your race.  There's one box for Black Americans, another box for Latinos, and additional boxes for other races.  It's called labeling.  That's how we do things in America...single/married + gay/straight + male/female + employed/unemployed and so on and so forth.  So, I find it pretty hilarious (read: ridiculous) that all of a sudden people are so self-righteous and react in a way that suggests differentiating a Black person from a Latino person is somehow racist.  Give me a break.  They even went so far as providing a history lesson and sharing that Blacks and Latinos both came from Africa so there's no need to differentiate between the two.  Really?  Thanks for clearing that up for Torii and anyone else who was uninformed.  However, I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that Torii is very aware that both Latinos and Black Americans share roots that originated in Africa.

Let's give him a little more credit.  In fact, Torii agreed to participate in this roundtable discussion conducted by USA Today, a national newspaper.  Something that I'm sure a lot of other players declined to do.  He had to know that his comments would be shared with the public.  I commend Torii for agreeing to participate.  Too often, players are consumed with thoughts of how their peers will react.  They shy away from being vocal and expressing their thoughts on controversial subjects.  The only way we're going to move beyond these race issues is to have an open dialogue about it.  Fact.

I admit, Torii's comments will probably add fuel to the fire and heighten existing tensions (if there are any) among players, but at least he's speaking HIS truth.  If that's his reality, who's to judge?  And,  exposing the truth is the only way to get to the root of an issue before a resolution can be found.  Now that step one is taken care of, I expect Bud Selig and MLB execs to get busy.  Become more focused on solutions, rather than talk in circles about issues that have plagued the league for years. Oh right, this is MLB we're talking about.  Nevermind.

Lady Huskies Rewrite HERstory!

In honor of Women's History Month, I felt compelled to write about Women's sports.  It's only right.  I didn't really put any thought behind what the focus would be, but then the University of Connecticut's Lady Huskies won 71 consecutive games by defeating Notre Dame 59-44, today.  This was suddenly a no-brainer!

What's even more incredible is that they rewrote their own history!  Yep, they previously held the record for most consecutive victories with 70 wins from 2001-2003. Today, they're sitting pretty at the top of women's college basketball with 71 wins.  What other sport organizations, pro or collegiate can boast such an accomplishment?  OK, the '71-'74 UCLA Bruins, coached by Hall of Famer John Wooden, are still clutching to their 88 wins, but besides them?  What an amazing feat!

First of all, much respect to coach Geno Auriemma. The Lady Huskies have been under his leadership since 1985.  His resume is stacked with 6 National Championships, 10 Final Four appearances, and over 25 combined Big East Conference and Tournament Championships.  After 25 years, the University of Connecticut women's basketball program continues to dominate.  Whether it was Nykesha Sales, Rebecca Lobo, Diana Taurasi, or current team leaders Tina Charles and Maya Moore, the goal is always the same...WIN.  And, don't expect their program to fall off anytime soon.  They're constant success will only result in continuing to win over the top recruits in the country.  Get used to it!


I know I'll be rooting for them as they compete in the Big East tourney and move on to the NCAA Tournament.  My hope for them is to cut down the nets in April, lace up in November, and continue the streak.  Go after the Bruins record.  Let's get it!  Big East, stand up!

I'll Admit It: I Was Wrong!

It's March, so you know what's coming...MADNESS!  In thinking about what lies ahead for this year's tourney, I couldn't help but think about last year's college bball season.  While reminiscing, one person stuck out in my mind...Stephen Curry! 

Last year was baby faced Curry's year.  He led the nation in scoring with 26.8 points per game and broke damn near every record at Davidson College.  Even though the guard attended a mid-major, he had the attention of the whole country.  Remember when Loyola College double and triple-teamed him the whole game causing him to go scoreless for the first time in his career? Yeah, he was that big of a deal.  

Currently listed as 6'3 and 185 lbs. (he's bulked up since college), many critics (including me-- yes, I'm a self-anointed critic) didn't think the 21 year old had what it took to hang with the big boys in the League.  Don't get me wrong, I'd watched him play.  I knew that he could shoot and score.  After all, former NBA player and sharp-shooter, Dell Curry, is his father.  However, despite all of that, I still wasn't a believer.  From my small-minded perspective, there was no way that someone of Steph's small stature could compete with the big bodied players that dominate the league.  Yes, names like Isiah Thomas and Steve Nash ring a bell, but I still wasn't convinced that Steph's game could translate to success in the NBA.

Before Steph was selected seventh in last year's draft by the Golden State Warriors, I remember hearing chatter about the Knicks being interested in Curry.  I was adamantly against "us" selecting him.  I enjoyed watching him play, but I just didn't believe the hype.  

OK, fast forward to the second half of Curry's rookie season.   I WAS WRONG!   I am now a believer!  This boy can ball!  He'll drive to the basket, get popped, hit the shot, draw the foul, and bounce back up a la Allen Iverson. The no look passes, the long J's, and his quick hands make his game so thorough and fun to watch.  What excites me the most is that he's only a rookie.  He's going to continue to get better as he gains experience and gets stronger.  

Sad times for us now though because the Warriors have the third worst record in the NBA.  You know what that means...no national shine.  This is too bad because I think NBA fans would enjoy seeing more of Stephen's game.  Until then, we'll have to settle for this.

Upgrade!

Breaking News!!  The Jets acquired cornerback Antonio Cromartie, from the Chargers, for a 2011 draft pick.  Word.

And, earlier today the Jets released cornerback Lito Sheppard.  When I read that, I was like damn, we're releasing everybody!  I'm still not sure how I feel about Thomas Jones being released, but that's another entry for another day.  Anyway, Cromartie + Darrelle Revis in the secondary = beastly!  We already know how Revis gets down.  I still get upset that he wasn't selected as Defensive Player of the Year.  Can I get a recount!?!?  Just ask T.O., Marques Colston, Roddy White, Reggie Wayne, Randy Moss, Steve Smith, and the player formerly known as Chad Ochocinco about Revis Island.  They'll tell you who should've won!

Sorry, I lost focus for a second but I'm back now.  So, let's talk stats.  I'll admit, Sheppard and Cromartie's stats were pretty comparable for the '09-'10 season.  But when you look at '07-'08, Cromartie's breakout season with 10 interceptions, and '08-'09 with 61 tackles, there's no comparison.   Sheppard hasn't been as productive as Cromartie since '04-'05.  This is a major upgrade!

I'm amped about this move.  Just like that, we got three years younger.  You know that's major in football!  The Jets brass will just have to make sure that Cromartie stays focused.  Throughout his four year career, he's had a lot of baby mama drama swirling around him.  If he keeps his head in the game... game over!

No, KFC. You Get a Grip!

Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) + sports have a long history together.  It's a partnership that makes sense.  Watching sports and eating go hand in hand.  It's a ritual.

Earlier this week, KFC announced their new Boneless Filet Box.  As described by KFC, it's "a whole new way to eat chicken." They're continuing to challenge consumers to unthink outside-the-bucket.  I've always thought they were biting Taco Bells, "think outside the bun" campaign, but I digress.  So, the boneless filet comes in a fries like container which is supposed to allow customers to "Get a Grip" as they eat.
  
This leads me to their second announcement.  They've teamed up with Eagle's wide receiver Jason Avant, pro golfer J.B. Holmes and tennis star Devin Britton to help sell their "Get a Grip" concept.  The connection between the athletes and chicken is that in order to be a successful athlete, they have to "Get a Grip" to catch the ball and swing a golf club and tennis racket.  So, since the chicken is boneless, it's meatier and more cumbersome to hold and requires you to have a "good grip" in order to enjoy it.  Two syllables for you...REACH+ING!  Seriously, KFC? Are you really trying to get people to eat a chicken breast from a french fry container with their hands?  No thank you.  

I recognize that sports is the universal language of our society, and an effective form of communication, but KFC is relying on these athletes to do a lot of the heavy lifting (pun kinda intended).  I mean, I don't eat chicken (don't judge), but if I did, I know I would not embrace the idea of eating a chicken breast out of a french fry box.  A chicken sandwich, chicken tenders, chicken fingers...all acceptable to eat with your hands.  A chicken breast sans bread?  Not so much.  I'll have a plate, knife, and fork for $200, Alex.

KFC's media promoting the new Boneless Filet Box has already hit market.  I'm interested in seeing how they're going to integrate the athletes in their promotion, especially considering that the chosen athletes aren't generating tons of buzz because they're a) not household names and b) not currently in season.  

This is a sports + QSR partnership that I'm not a fan of, but I am interested to see how long the Boneless Filet Box gets love. My guess is that KFC will "Get a Grip" and recognize that nobody's checking for this.  Or, are you?

Welcome Sports Heads!!

OK, so this blog is long overdue.  Like years overdue.  But you know what they say, better late than never!  All Sports Everything, my (and soon to be your) new love, is exactly what it implies.  A blog about everything sports related...news + opinion + culture + advertising + sponsorships + endorsements + trades + anything else I feel like talking about, all in the name of sports.

I'm a proud Yankees fan + heartbroken Jets fan  + suffering Knicks fan with lots to say.  I'm a voice you want to hear.  Trust.  Welcome Sports heads!

Oh, and to my sneaker heads that also happen to rep the Yankees, Jets, and/or Knicks,  peep the kicks in the pic.  Fresh, uh!