What Just Happened – NBA Trade Deadline

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The NBA is a business, it is ruthless and hypocritical. 

Players are expected to be “loyal” and stay with the team that’s drafted them but this generation is smarter with the two best players, LeBron controlling his destiny and Kevin Durant validating his move to Golden State with a Finals MVP and a championship. 

 

This particular shake up by the Cleveland Cavaliers shows the front office isn’t going to be held hostage and paralyzed by LeBron James’ moves.

It gives flexibility to look to the future, possibly without James, and also the chance to compete for a championship this season.

Black Future Month: Black Panther and the Unveiling of the Afrofuturist Frontier [Contributor: John Isadore]

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Black Panther is the perfect symbol of Black Future Month and Afrofuturism in a number of ways. While, yes, it was originally created by well-meaning Westerners, it has been adopted by Blacks as an aspirational, modern representation of us. It is a way for us to shed the trappings of European influence and build a superior society embracing African culture. Wakanda allows us to envision what might have been, or might even still be.  It is a future for us in a way that Star Wars and Star Trek, for their efforts, simply are not and cannot be. It is OUR science Fantasy.

Why I Love Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

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From the costuming and how the bountiful colors bounce off the screen to use of flashbacks to further a concept this show is brilliant and I’m glad it won the Golden Globe for Best Television Series in the comedy category.

 

If you haven’t seen it search for the pilot on YouTube and try out Amazon Prime to enjoy great writing played by terrific actors. 

500 Days of Ruby Sparks

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I feel there needs to be separate distinction with the MPDG trope.

I feel in film there are two categories with Manic Pixie Dream Girls, those who fit the trope and those who turn it on its head.

 

Though often lumped in with works like Elizabethtown and Garden State I believe that 500 Days of Summer is actually the later.

Summer is a reflection of Tom's thoughts and with Ruby Sparks the protagonist is literally a writer creating the one he loves.

Representation Is Important – How Ugly Betty succeed in creating LGBTQ characters

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In a world where marriage equality is recognized across the United States and transwomen like Janet Mock and Laverne Cox are being acclaimed, though nowhere near perfect, it's fascinating to look at media with a current perspective.

 

I truly believe representation is important and I believe Ugly Betty is a good example of this.

This America Ferrera led show takes a look at the inner workings of Mode magazine and the Shakespearean battle for power between the players.

Besides it being a great show in its own right one thing I felt was great about this show was how they dealt with LGBTQ issues.

Built For This – How LaVar Ball Can Change College Sports

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If JBA is successful in convincing a star recruit to forgo a Division 1 school the sports world will take notice.

NBA doesn’t allow high schoolers to join the draft so “prep to pro” programs aren’t available. 

And even their developmental G-League requires one year out of high school before being accepted.

This league gives players an opportunity to play stateside while making some real money and either become a professional player or use the money earned to start a life outside of schooling.

Kevin Hart: I Can’t Make This Up

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The reason I call him one of the masters of the pivot is his nonchalant but humble attitude leads to accepting where he is then working even harder to surpass others expectations.

His growth from working up the ranks as a shoe salesman for City Sports to sacrificing and studying his craft every night at various comedy clubs.

 

If you thought he was an overnight success when Think Like A Man hit or even if you’re annoyed that he is all over movie screens from Jumanji to his comedy specials this book shows the 16 plus year journey of being an overnight success.

Why I Love the music of The Greatest Showman

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This week I saw The Greatest Showman.

What pulled me in from the beginning was the music.

Knowing now that the composers were Benj Pasek and Justin Paul all made sense.

They are the industry's go to composers from their start on NBC's Smash to Oscar winning La La Land and Best Musical winning Dear Evan Hansen.

And the music supervisor was Alex Lacamore who is Tony award winner Lin Manuel Miranda right hand man.

 

If you love music and great performances then be prepare to be transformed to a place where the impossible is realized in a hyper realistic setting. This truly is the greatest show.

Why I Love Return Of The King – LeBron James, The Cavs & The Greatest Comeback In NBA History

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Now that I feel this era of LeBron James dominance and the Cavs winning championships is in danger, from losing in the last Finals decisively to Kyrie Irving leaving to a conference rival, it’s great to look back.

I love documentaries and though there’s Believeland and even the Cavs Championship documentary itself I feel this is the best resource to look back and remember that incredible run from initially showing an amazing resolve after losing both Kyrie and Kevin Love to injuries all the way to coming from the brink of elimination and becoming the first team to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a NBA championship.

Document Don’t Create – The Defiant Ones

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The Defiant Ones is a parallel look at Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre’s journey in the music business and how they got to where they are today.

 

There’s so many things I love about this episodic odyssey.

As a music lover there are interviews with those who created the soundtrack to so many people’s lives.

Jimmy Iovine worked at a studio and progressed to engineer then producer of such acts as Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and U2.

In my generation a lot has been made of Dr. Dre who has been proclaimed by many as the greatest hip hop producer of all time but Iovine’s work with Lennon and Stevie Nicks is very special.