Friday, November 30, 2012

Video: AFC Playoff predictions



1. New England Patriots
2. Baltimore Ravens
3. Cincinnati Bengals
4. Houston Texans
5. Indiannoplis Colts
6. Denver Broncos

Friday Mixers: Paul Pierce gets crossed

Fridays are typically reserved for facial dunks in the NBA, but this Joe Johnson highlight called for a Friday mix.
Don't reach young blood; don't do it. You reach, I teach.


Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Those that are great are misunderstood

That Cam Newton's style of play epitomizes flashiness and arrogance is nothing new. To one group, his game can be simply labeled as immature and selfish. While others sympathize with a young quarterback that broke a litany of records as an NFL rookie, but has had rough sophomore outing. Two unmatched mindsets, but few, if any, on the fence about where they stand.
The immediate reasoning that comes to mind for the dislike of the NFL star is his post-game sore loser attitude. Newton's posture is youthfulness at it's best stage. Saying he has a lot to learn is an understatement, but the chastising and admonishing came well before the young star threw his first professional pass. It permeated during his stint at Auburn. If there was a loophole in his college game, it was replete with venom.
All I would hear are his mechanics are this, his footwork is that and of course my favorite, this will never work in the NFL. But it did, and he did with swag and tons of it.
His numbers and impact on the game last year are quickly forgot because people want to brush it off as a fluke. In addition, everyone is discreetly rooting for Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck to blossom so Newton's rookie year can be revoked as the best. But I unlike others never forget the first.
Whether you like it or not, Newton will be one of the premier faces of this league. His ceiling is still just as high as Luck's and RG III. Not one of the current elite quarterbacks in this league were as good as Newton in his first two years. Not one. Not even the league's Golden Boy who's rookie record he smashed. That would be Peyton Manning if you were wondering, who also threw 28 interceptions that amazing rookie year. But no one ever brings up that nugget.
I told myself that this would be a short post, so I'll wrap it up by saying that just because Newton wears his heart on his sleeve every down shouldn't make him a bad guy. Yes, his mentality of losing must change. And without a doubt, he can improve on his leadership quality. But one thing that he shouldn't change is majoring in the art of excessive celebration. It's who he is.
Although I agree his celebrations sometimes have bad timing (Giants game is just one example of many this year), Newton should keep the stripes that molded him into being who he is.
Some players were made to be reticent. Others professionalize in showmanship like Newton. LeBron James was the same way (Oh did you forget about the dancing King James), and eventually matured. So don't tell me there is no hope for this young kid.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Watch: Blake Griffin's best commercial



I have to admit that these Blake Griffin commercials are getting better.
Advice of the day, don't wear jean shorts.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Facial Fridays: Iggy over AK



One man's thrash is another man's treasure. So long Philly, and welcome to Mile High Iggy.
I guess Andrei Kirilenko can label this one as wrong place, wrong time. 

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Watch: Les Miles loses his mind



You would think that LSU lost the game after this rant. But they didn't.
For the best quote of this soundbite, fast forward to the 1:20 mark.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

The real "Ocho"

The difference between those who dream and those who achieve has and will always come down to one thing: work ethic. It's not this esoteric happening of events or being "lucky." Just plain old work ethic.
I've been blessed to have some great friends that embody this standard, and I would like to feature of one of them today as SZG's Player of the Week.
Enter in Joseph "Ocho" Holder.
Six weeks ago Holder broke his leg and was told he would no longer be able to lace up his cleats to run routes and was done for the season. But today my good friend did the impossible and played in the Ivy clinching game against Cornell. Although his game stats against Cornell are nothing to vaunt about, I'm certain it meant the world to him to not only play, but catch a pass in the victory. 
Proving people wrong has been a common melody in Holder's life, and I know his journey to overcome doubters all began with one step. And how could I forget to mention that this is his third Ivy League Championship. So much for a walk-on...
In closing, enter next week with this in mind: you don't have to see the whole staircase to take the first step. 
Have a good weekend!

~~ J-Walt

Friday, November 16, 2012

Houston we have a problem



It's now clear to me why the Philadelphia Eagles continue to struggle this year. Johnny Manziel took Michael Vick's powers. Yes, EXACTLY like the movie Space Jam.
Okay, maybe my theory is a bit outlandish, but the Texas A&M freshman's unbridled energy reminds me of a younger Vick.


Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Watch: NFC Playoff Predictions



In no specific order, listed below are my NFC playoff predictions. Next week's video will feature the AFC.

1. Atlanta Falcons 

2. New Orleans Saints

3. Dallas Cowboys

4. Green Bay Packers

5. San Francisco 49ers

6. Chicago Bears 

Monday, November 12, 2012

Most used quotes

Other than my profession, I have a deep affinity for quotes. Whether it be poems or novels I delve into, I love to hear/use maxims and pertain them to my life I have a note on my phone replete of quotes, but you didn't hear that from me.
Because it would be impossible for me to rank my Top 10 revered quotes, I've listed 10 that I constantly use. 

1. Time itself is neutral; it can be used either destructively or constructively. ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

2. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit. ~ Aristotle

3. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. ~ Leonardo da Vinci

4. God sometimes puts scuff in your life that is not good to you, but for you. ~ Anonymous

5. It's fun to do the impossible. ~ Walt Disney

6.  Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. ~ Thomas A. Edison

7. Luck is where preparation meets opportunity. ~ Randy Pausch 

8. The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining. ~ JFK

9. This is chess, not checkers. ~ Denzel Washington

10. Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless. ~ Jamie Paolinetti


11. Once we understand that there is no ceiling for us, we will comprehend that we are all Giants. ~ Me


Sunday, November 11, 2012

Watch: Play of the Week



Now I've seen a lot of mesmerizing plays in football, but this one sits at top with the best of them (definitely the top "dog" in highschool).
Not only does the Bergen Catholic (New Jersey) player hang onto the ball, but successfully hands it off to his teammate for the score while the Collegiate Academy (Washington D.C.) player repeatedly tries to rip it away.
That's what you call SKILL.

Reconnecting with the word

Can't lie, I've been loafing on my Sunday sermons since I moved back to Philadelphia. But today that hiatus finally ended.
As usual, the service at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church was exquisite, so I figured I share an article that my classmate and I wrote last year for our Community Journalism class regarding their unprecedented growth.

At Enon: Sitting on an old mat while weaving a new one

Cars are lined up bumper-to-bumper down the street. Parking attendants are turning drivers around at the entrance gate. The immense parking lot is already full. Now both sides of the street are lined with parked vehicles. More and more people arrive, and so cars circle the block looking for anywhere to park. The families who have found a spot get out of their vehicles and begin the long trek on foot. Some carry their Bible as they approach the massive building that could be mistaken for a corporate center were it not for the cross at its peak.
For more, visit Germantown Beat

Friday, November 9, 2012

Facial Fridays: Jeremy Evans

A rising star in the league, and boy, can he rise. Can we he get much higher!

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

SZG history: Tiger Woods

On this day in 1999, Tiger Woods became the first golfer since Ben Hogan in 1953 to win four straight tournaments.
Although Woods has been on a bit of a decline since his cheating scandal, there is no questioning the Herculean impact he's had on this game. His statistics are self exclamatory, and the game of golf is more relevant when he's at top of the scoreboard.  It's that simple.
It's mirthful to think that the current media can impulsively utter at times that any current player on tour has a shot at accomplishing what Woods has.
With 14 professional major golf championships (2nd to Jack Nicklaus--18), accompanied by 74 PGA tour victories (2nd to Sam Snead (82)), there is not a modicum chance that anyone on tour can fill up one-fourth of Wood's footprint to this game.
With that being said, take a look at my favorite Wood's commercial. And sorry it's not the one when he effortlessly juggles the ball for a minute.

 

Video: BO back for four more

In the end, there could be only one, and President Barack Obama was the last man standing in this presidential bout race.
Signed, sealed, delivered, BO is back for another term.
Here's POTUS' victory speech if you missed it this early morning.




Monday, November 5, 2012

The domino effect of voting

Whether it be my casual banters with colleagues at the office or hearing college students voice their outlook on voting at forums, I’m dismayed by the lack of faith citizens have in their individual vote. Rather than bore you with “do you know how many courageous people fought and died for this right” rant, I would prefer to share my first ballot experience if you're still on the fence of voting.
So if I may, please watch your step as you enter into the time machine (seat-belts please...)
Back in 2008 as a freshman at La Salle University, I was young, spontaneous and gallant. But who wasn’t? It was college, and I thought I knew it all like most of my peers. A majority of my actions weren't thoroughly thought out. I was also unaware that once I began college, I would be judged as an adult, but I eventually adjusted and my life spiraled out quite fruitful through these learning experiences. 
Nevertheless, that's just the backdrop of the story, here's the anecdote.

During the spring semester of my freshman year, I was blessed with the opportunity to attend the University Presidential Inaugural Conference (UPIC). In hindsight, I’m still flabbergasted that I was fortunate enough to report at this historic convention. From participating in question and answers with keynote figures such as General Colin L. Powell and former Vice President Al Gore to networking with an influx of prodigious college students, I'm humbled that I was involved in a once-in-a-lifetime experience so early in my life.
When I learned I was accepted to the program, I was convinced that I was attending regardless who the next president was going to be let alone who would win the Democratic election. If elected, Barack Obama would be the first black President, Hilary Clinton would be the first woman or Sen. John McCain would have been the oldest. The simple idea of this is special in itself. It was a chance to witness history, and those opportunities are rare. 
To be surrounded by a surplus of first time voters was exhilarating. It was like we were in our own exclusive fraternity, but there was no bias among membership. We all presumed that our vote could change the state of the economy, and believed that if we didn’t vote, everyone else wouldn’t. It was an involuntary onus that shadowed over every young/first-time voter around election time. It was duty that I felt must be completed. 
Call me crazy, but I conjectured that my vote was the architect behind an increase of over 3 million voters under the age of 30 compared to 2000. Yes, I understand I didn't physically lead all these individuals to the polls like Moses, but to be part of that movement was priceless.   
I never undermined my vote, and you shouldn't either.
I vividly remember my peers and I marching dauntlessly up middle Broad Street after receiving the news of that Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in as the 44th president.
That night can never be duplicated because it was my first. I saw the happiness that resonated in each of my friend’s eyes. It was the joy of being able to be significant, and making a change.
For some odd reason, this sense of bliss dies as we get older. But as I enter my second election that I can vote, the same feelings from '08 rise.
Being part of something great is what voting means to me.
I also recall how cold it was in Washington, D.C. when President Obama was sworn in. My frosty trek during the UPIC came up a bit short because of frostbite, but what a memory I have under my belt (still wish my toes didn't give up on me). To see so many people camp out and walk millions of miles just to be part of history.
Life comes down to a few moments and this is one of them. See you at polls!

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Video: NFL Week 8 Breakdown



Tune in as I break down the Eagles Falcons game and weigh in on who should win Comeback Player of the Year.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Video: Uncle Drew Part Deux

Pepsi and Uncle Drew are back at again, and this time Kyrie Irving is on the mission to reunite his former squad after receiving advice from the old-head Bill Russell.
Enter in Wes aka Kevin Love...Still believe "White Men" can't jump?


TBT: Interviews gone wrong (Video)



Although my favorite heated interview didn't make this countdown (Jim Rome and Jim Chris Everett), I'm sure this clip will amuse most of you.