With spring training getting underway for the 2009 Major League Baseball season, all the talk is on steroids. After the report coming out last week that in 2003, 2-time MLB MVP Alex Rodriguez tested positive for two banned substances that he took from 2001-2003 while with the Texas Rangers, that is all you hear about on SportsCenter every morning. Then, a couple days ago, former Oakland A, Baltimore Oriole, and present Houston Astro shortstop Miguel Tejada was said to have lied to congress about the same matter. After both players giving interviews in the last few days, and both relatively convincing that they are truly sorry for what they have done. What do we do next?
Is it really congress's job to police Major League Baseball? Isn't that why they have a commissioner, Bud Selig? Congress should be working on more pressing matters like fixing the economy and helping out the new President of the United States. Yes, baseball is America's past-time, but the government doesn't get involved in football, basketball or even hockey.
Alex Rodriguez has put up huge numbers throughout his career and was said to possibly even break the all-time homerun record, maybe even hit 800. Now we ask the question whether his numbers are legit? He was one of those players that many people love to hate, including myself. Is he even a Hall of Famer? If you take out those 3 years with the Rangers he still has been one of the greatest hitters of all time.
With fantasy baseball leagues heating up and the NBA All-Star game this weekend, the post Super Bowl layoff is just about over and ready for a long, hot summer of baseball.
In other news, Freestyle Motocross rider Jeremy Lusk has past away due to injuries sustained while attempting a Hart Attack Back flip.
In local news, Mr. Sloppy Seconds himself, Sean Avery has been assigned to the Hartford Wolfpack of the AHL on his way back to the NHL's New York Rangers after the crude comments made about a month or so ago about NHL players dating his ex-girlfriends. This has been the DTViper National Sports Report.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Im a east coast resider
Collaberating with kemp I will now do what the rap game would have been like if Biggie and Big L werent thoughtlessly taken away from us.
First off, the top rappers today would have never seen the light of day.
-Kanye would have stuck to producing
-T.I. would have been laughed out of the game after the relesase of TI VS TIP
-T-Pain would still be picking cotton (for wages of course)
-Bun B would have never let swishahouse become anything
- Weezy would have stayed almost unheard of but a legend in his own area
-Cam'ron wouldnt be such an asshole and dipset nonexistant
The Top Rappers We Would Be Talking About:
-Mase- Had ins with both Notorious and Big L, and personally, I beleive Mase left the rap game more because his brothers both got shot, and thus the reason he became a preacher. He would be huge rite now.
-Nas- Legend no matter what but he is not longer in the spotlight, with Biggie's influence on the game i think Nas' style would still be appealing to radios and common listeners.
-Cam'ron-Would have been popular especially on the east coast
-Busta Rhymes- Unique style but if the autotune never came in to popularity, which without T-pain, it wouldnt have, Busta would have gone back to being his insane self like in "Woo Hah!".
-McGruff- He was Big L's #2 man in Children Of The Corn. Signed alongside Big L, but when he died, McGruff decided to stay underground, only releasing one album to a major record company.
Eminem- Still would have been a breathe of fresh air to the industry and people love the whole "white rapper" thing for some reason.
Jay-Z-Of course he is in the same boat as Nas, but would be retired now and would have never had a reason to come out of retirement.
Of course Notorious B.I.G. and Big L would have been huge. I see Biggie releasing albums till like 2006 and then retiring and raising his family, while i see Big L still rapping with Mase, McGruff, and Cam'ron. D.I.T.C., you would have heard of them.
Other points: Crunk would have never had any spotlight outside of ATL, and I think rap would still be east coast, west coast, instead of the dirty south, houston, detroit, hyphy, etc... I just think only which of the country your're on would matter. Anyways, I'll prolly add on to this some more later, but I'm just shooting this stuff off from the top of my head.
First off, the top rappers today would have never seen the light of day.
-Kanye would have stuck to producing
-T.I. would have been laughed out of the game after the relesase of TI VS TIP
-T-Pain would still be picking cotton (for wages of course)
-Bun B would have never let swishahouse become anything
- Weezy would have stayed almost unheard of but a legend in his own area
-Cam'ron wouldnt be such an asshole and dipset nonexistant
The Top Rappers We Would Be Talking About:
-Mase- Had ins with both Notorious and Big L, and personally, I beleive Mase left the rap game more because his brothers both got shot, and thus the reason he became a preacher. He would be huge rite now.
-Nas- Legend no matter what but he is not longer in the spotlight, with Biggie's influence on the game i think Nas' style would still be appealing to radios and common listeners.
-Cam'ron-Would have been popular especially on the east coast
-Busta Rhymes- Unique style but if the autotune never came in to popularity, which without T-pain, it wouldnt have, Busta would have gone back to being his insane self like in "Woo Hah!".
-McGruff- He was Big L's #2 man in Children Of The Corn. Signed alongside Big L, but when he died, McGruff decided to stay underground, only releasing one album to a major record company.
Eminem- Still would have been a breathe of fresh air to the industry and people love the whole "white rapper" thing for some reason.
Jay-Z-Of course he is in the same boat as Nas, but would be retired now and would have never had a reason to come out of retirement.
Of course Notorious B.I.G. and Big L would have been huge. I see Biggie releasing albums till like 2006 and then retiring and raising his family, while i see Big L still rapping with Mase, McGruff, and Cam'ron. D.I.T.C., you would have heard of them.
Other points: Crunk would have never had any spotlight outside of ATL, and I think rap would still be east coast, west coast, instead of the dirty south, houston, detroit, hyphy, etc... I just think only which of the country your're on would matter. Anyways, I'll prolly add on to this some more later, but I'm just shooting this stuff off from the top of my head.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Writer's Block
What do you do when you have writer's block? What can you write about, if anything but? Thus, comes this entry. I wanted to write about the West Coast rap scene; in particular what would it be like if TuPac and Mac Dre were still alive.
In my opinion, both rappers would have gone on to have very fruitful careers, but at this point in the game, I'm sure both of them would have released their final albums, and be enjoying life. They would have passed the torch on to Mistah F.A.B., Husalah, and The Game; pretty much insert your favorite west coast rapper here. But the fact that this question get's talked about a lot brings up our obsession with the past.
But what is our obsession with the past? It's one thing to appreciate it, but to say that things won't ever get much better than that? That's an insult to both the past, and the future. Mac Dre and 2Pac wouldn't have gotten better with age? They would have never passed the torch on to other rappers? Come on, let's get serious. Soulja Boy still would have wrote the song "She Got Donk" and also invited Yung Joc to be on the remix of "She Got Donk" even if Mac Dre was still slaying beats.
So why do we cling so hard to the past? We don't have a positive outlook on the future. Why not? Why doesn't anyone ever have anything positive to say anymore? Is there really no ray of sunshine in the near future? Apparently not. Although Husalah get's out in December. Why do we put so much faith in our past; it's only a handful of memories. Memories we wouldn't even have if we were spending our time back then, looking back even further into the past.
I love to reminisce, but what's past is past, and we only have the future to look forward to. I can't say I've never complained about it; I can't say I won't ever again. However, what I think more people need to do, is stop longing for a resurgence of what was, and instead look towards what's on the horizon. I mean if everybody rapped like 2pac, Mac Dre, etc.; would they be as special as they are?
In my opinion, both rappers would have gone on to have very fruitful careers, but at this point in the game, I'm sure both of them would have released their final albums, and be enjoying life. They would have passed the torch on to Mistah F.A.B., Husalah, and The Game; pretty much insert your favorite west coast rapper here. But the fact that this question get's talked about a lot brings up our obsession with the past.
But what is our obsession with the past? It's one thing to appreciate it, but to say that things won't ever get much better than that? That's an insult to both the past, and the future. Mac Dre and 2Pac wouldn't have gotten better with age? They would have never passed the torch on to other rappers? Come on, let's get serious. Soulja Boy still would have wrote the song "She Got Donk" and also invited Yung Joc to be on the remix of "She Got Donk" even if Mac Dre was still slaying beats.
So why do we cling so hard to the past? We don't have a positive outlook on the future. Why not? Why doesn't anyone ever have anything positive to say anymore? Is there really no ray of sunshine in the near future? Apparently not. Although Husalah get's out in December. Why do we put so much faith in our past; it's only a handful of memories. Memories we wouldn't even have if we were spending our time back then, looking back even further into the past.
I love to reminisce, but what's past is past, and we only have the future to look forward to. I can't say I've never complained about it; I can't say I won't ever again. However, what I think more people need to do, is stop longing for a resurgence of what was, and instead look towards what's on the horizon. I mean if everybody rapped like 2pac, Mac Dre, etc.; would they be as special as they are?
Glad to join.
Welcome to a new segment of this blog, the DTViper National Sports Report. I, Derek, will be breaking down the latest and greatest achievements in the world of athletics when they happen, or at least whenever I get around to it.
As most of you know, Super Bowl XLIII was played this past Sunday with the Steel Curtain defense of the Pittsburgh Steelers facing off against the high flying offense of the Arizona Cardinals. When the season started the football world new that the Steelers would be good, but were overlooked by many who had their eyes on the New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers and the Indianapolis Colts. After Tom Brady tore his ACL and MCL 6 minutes into the season, LaDainian Tomlinson was never right and the Colts are aging, this made room for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They were never an offensively minded team, led by the leagues best defense, they rolled right through the playoffs en route to the big game.
On the other hand, no one in a million years would have predicted such a great season by the relatively young Cardinals led by their veteran quarterback Kurt Warner. Warner took the job from former USC hero, Matt Lienart. Armed with 2 of the best receivers in the league, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Bolden, the Cardinals easily won the lowly NFC West, but limped into the playoffs after a late season beat down by the New England Patriots in Foxboro, by a score of 47-7. They showed the league that they belong in the discussion easily running through their playoff schedule and earning a bid to the Super Bowl versus the vaunted Steeler defense.
Now about the game. The first 3 quarters were relatively boring, but that's why you play 60 minutes. The 2 biggest plays of the game happened in the last 3 minutes of the game. First, Kurt Warner hit Fitzgerald down the middle for a touchdown to put the Cardinals up, but there was just too much time left. Maybe one of the greatest big time plays you will ever see, Ben Roethlisberger slinged one to Santonio Holmes in the back right corner of the end zone, on his toes, with 35 seconds left in the game to put the Steelers on top and what turned out to be the winning touchdown. The Cardinals got the ball back for one last ditch effort which turned out to be a controversial play.
Kurt Warner dropped back, looked, looked, couldn't find anyone the went to release the ball while he was being sacked. Did he have control of the ball while his arm was going forward? The NFL doesn't care. Apparently the play was reviewed upstairs and that's it. The Steelers win the Super Bowl. Was this Kurt Warner's last game? Will Anquan Bolden stay with the Cardinals? How many more championships can the Steelers win with Big Ben? These questions will be answered this off season and for the rest of his great career.
I would like to thank Mr. Kemp for inviting me to join this blog and report the sports that everyone likes to hear. I promise not everything will be this long and in depth, just tell the sports how a true fan sees them.
As most of you know, Super Bowl XLIII was played this past Sunday with the Steel Curtain defense of the Pittsburgh Steelers facing off against the high flying offense of the Arizona Cardinals. When the season started the football world new that the Steelers would be good, but were overlooked by many who had their eyes on the New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers and the Indianapolis Colts. After Tom Brady tore his ACL and MCL 6 minutes into the season, LaDainian Tomlinson was never right and the Colts are aging, this made room for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They were never an offensively minded team, led by the leagues best defense, they rolled right through the playoffs en route to the big game.
On the other hand, no one in a million years would have predicted such a great season by the relatively young Cardinals led by their veteran quarterback Kurt Warner. Warner took the job from former USC hero, Matt Lienart. Armed with 2 of the best receivers in the league, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Bolden, the Cardinals easily won the lowly NFC West, but limped into the playoffs after a late season beat down by the New England Patriots in Foxboro, by a score of 47-7. They showed the league that they belong in the discussion easily running through their playoff schedule and earning a bid to the Super Bowl versus the vaunted Steeler defense.
Now about the game. The first 3 quarters were relatively boring, but that's why you play 60 minutes. The 2 biggest plays of the game happened in the last 3 minutes of the game. First, Kurt Warner hit Fitzgerald down the middle for a touchdown to put the Cardinals up, but there was just too much time left. Maybe one of the greatest big time plays you will ever see, Ben Roethlisberger slinged one to Santonio Holmes in the back right corner of the end zone, on his toes, with 35 seconds left in the game to put the Steelers on top and what turned out to be the winning touchdown. The Cardinals got the ball back for one last ditch effort which turned out to be a controversial play.
Kurt Warner dropped back, looked, looked, couldn't find anyone the went to release the ball while he was being sacked. Did he have control of the ball while his arm was going forward? The NFL doesn't care. Apparently the play was reviewed upstairs and that's it. The Steelers win the Super Bowl. Was this Kurt Warner's last game? Will Anquan Bolden stay with the Cardinals? How many more championships can the Steelers win with Big Ben? These questions will be answered this off season and for the rest of his great career.
I would like to thank Mr. Kemp for inviting me to join this blog and report the sports that everyone likes to hear. I promise not everything will be this long and in depth, just tell the sports how a true fan sees them.
Friday, January 30, 2009
I Need A Hot Reunion
With Turk's release from prison on the horizons, the Hot Boys will finally be back at full force. Honestly, with the state of hip hop today, the reunion is a blessing. B.G., Lil Wayne, and Juvenile have already been recording while they waitin on Turk. They have been working with Trey Songz but no word has been said if Mannie Fresh will produce any tracks. Here are some of their old shit from like when I was in Middle School.
Project Chick
http://www.zshare.net/audio/54882812bcb58d2f/
I Need A Hot Girl
http://www.zshare.net/audio/54883001d953ba3b/
Heres what Wayne, B.G., and Juvi just put out to start the new project.
If I Aint A Hot Boy
http://www.zshare.net/audio/54883086046645db/
just getting used to how everything works so just sit tight and i'll get the hang of dis
Project Chick
http://www.zshare.net/audio/54882812bcb58d2f/
I Need A Hot Girl
http://www.zshare.net/audio/54883001d953ba3b/
Heres what Wayne, B.G., and Juvi just put out to start the new project.
If I Aint A Hot Boy
http://www.zshare.net/audio/54883086046645db/
just getting used to how everything works so just sit tight and i'll get the hang of dis
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Busta Rhymes "Arab Money"; because everyone needs a friend.
The Video
Well, a lot has been said about this song. Many people have said it's offensive, and it's even resulted in a DJ in the UK getting suspended from his radio show over it.
But let's get to the heart of the matter; why did Busta Rhymes create this song? I have an idea, so let's start off with Busta Rhymes. After releasing his album the "Big Bang" which actually sold well in the age of illegal downloads(over 200k copies) Aftermath/Interscope decided to drop Busta Rhymes. Apparently Busta wasn't taking to kindly to a certain executive at the label, and an argument between the two lead to the end of their relationship. Universal/Motown picked up Busta, and his new album "Back on my B.S." is due out at the end of March.
With that little background, I think it would be safe to say that Busta Rhymes wasn't feeling like he got the respect he deserved. Another problem was he wasn't feeling the love from the fans. "Don't touch me now" and "We Made It" received airplay, but they never really made it into regular rotation. Busta feeling neglected, went on a search, on a quest for someone who would take him in with open arms;the people of the middle east. Thus, "Arab Money" was born. Not in any way meant to be a diss, but to pay homage to the people that Busta had come to know and respect.
With all that being said, the above written is meant to be light-hearted more than anything else, and not to be taken so seriously. However, in the context of the song, video, and timing that the song was released in Busta's career; it provokes a question, that "Arab Money" in Busta Rhymes' case answers. Why do we get out of bed every morning?
Notice the opening of the music video; Busta Rhymes and Spliff Star seem lost, searching for a place to call home. A label has dumped them last year, they were in the process of rebuilding. Thus far, they had been met with mild success, but they were searching for something more. Upon the discovery of the palace, they immediately make new friends. They put Busta into a new wardrobe upon arrival, and the owner of the Palace and Busta play golf together; other friends arrive, and they dance, having lots of fun. The conclusion I come to; we all just need a friend.
Why do we get out of bed every morning? To go out on a limb, I would even say For whom do we live for? I think the answer is, our family & friends. Cars are nice, and I'm sure Busta Rhymes enjoys all the money on that table, but if you notice, the time in the video when he is the MOST happy is at the very end, when it cuts to the live shot of the rather large crowd of HIS FANS singing along to the song.
"Arab Money" is our want for friends who love and respect us; human affection to generalize it a bit. That's why we love our friends so dearly; they interact with us in usually a positive manner, and who looks out for our best interest, as we look out for theirs; the definition of true friends. It's why people take it so hard when trust is broken between friends, because above all else, it's the twin qualities we seek most for in a friend; trust and character. Like Han in the critically acclaimed "The Fast and the Furious:Tokyo Drift" said “I have money. It’s trust and character I need around me. You know, who you choose to be around you lets you know who you are. And one car in exchange for knowing what a man’s made of, that’s a price I can live with.”
Busta Rhymes and Han, much like us, were searching for people who respected them and had integrity. Who wants any other kind of friend? Who wants to have friends that see them as less than equal, and cannot be trusted? We are all getting "Arab Money" one way or the other, and if not, maybe it's time to take the same journey that Busta and Spliff Star did; to find those whom you can surround yourself with that are true friends to you.
Well, we've reached the end of this small endeavor. I'm just typing hot air, I know, you'll have to forgive me. I'd like to know what you think though. So post comments about your thoughts about the song "Arab Money" or about other things you'd like to discuss.
Well, a lot has been said about this song. Many people have said it's offensive, and it's even resulted in a DJ in the UK getting suspended from his radio show over it.
But let's get to the heart of the matter; why did Busta Rhymes create this song? I have an idea, so let's start off with Busta Rhymes. After releasing his album the "Big Bang" which actually sold well in the age of illegal downloads(over 200k copies) Aftermath/Interscope decided to drop Busta Rhymes. Apparently Busta wasn't taking to kindly to a certain executive at the label, and an argument between the two lead to the end of their relationship. Universal/Motown picked up Busta, and his new album "Back on my B.S." is due out at the end of March.
With that little background, I think it would be safe to say that Busta Rhymes wasn't feeling like he got the respect he deserved. Another problem was he wasn't feeling the love from the fans. "Don't touch me now" and "We Made It" received airplay, but they never really made it into regular rotation. Busta feeling neglected, went on a search, on a quest for someone who would take him in with open arms;the people of the middle east. Thus, "Arab Money" was born. Not in any way meant to be a diss, but to pay homage to the people that Busta had come to know and respect.
With all that being said, the above written is meant to be light-hearted more than anything else, and not to be taken so seriously. However, in the context of the song, video, and timing that the song was released in Busta's career; it provokes a question, that "Arab Money" in Busta Rhymes' case answers. Why do we get out of bed every morning?
Notice the opening of the music video; Busta Rhymes and Spliff Star seem lost, searching for a place to call home. A label has dumped them last year, they were in the process of rebuilding. Thus far, they had been met with mild success, but they were searching for something more. Upon the discovery of the palace, they immediately make new friends. They put Busta into a new wardrobe upon arrival, and the owner of the Palace and Busta play golf together; other friends arrive, and they dance, having lots of fun. The conclusion I come to; we all just need a friend.
Why do we get out of bed every morning? To go out on a limb, I would even say For whom do we live for? I think the answer is, our family & friends. Cars are nice, and I'm sure Busta Rhymes enjoys all the money on that table, but if you notice, the time in the video when he is the MOST happy is at the very end, when it cuts to the live shot of the rather large crowd of HIS FANS singing along to the song.
"Arab Money" is our want for friends who love and respect us; human affection to generalize it a bit. That's why we love our friends so dearly; they interact with us in usually a positive manner, and who looks out for our best interest, as we look out for theirs; the definition of true friends. It's why people take it so hard when trust is broken between friends, because above all else, it's the twin qualities we seek most for in a friend; trust and character. Like Han in the critically acclaimed "The Fast and the Furious:Tokyo Drift" said “I have money. It’s trust and character I need around me. You know, who you choose to be around you lets you know who you are. And one car in exchange for knowing what a man’s made of, that’s a price I can live with.”
Busta Rhymes and Han, much like us, were searching for people who respected them and had integrity. Who wants any other kind of friend? Who wants to have friends that see them as less than equal, and cannot be trusted? We are all getting "Arab Money" one way or the other, and if not, maybe it's time to take the same journey that Busta and Spliff Star did; to find those whom you can surround yourself with that are true friends to you.
Well, we've reached the end of this small endeavor. I'm just typing hot air, I know, you'll have to forgive me. I'd like to know what you think though. So post comments about your thoughts about the song "Arab Money" or about other things you'd like to discuss.
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