The Westbrook Method (Death of a Dynasty III)
Russell Westbrook played basketball with an almost pathological belief in his ability. It made him an MVP, phenomenon, contradiction — and absolutely impossible to ignore.
The Pistons Won. Again.
Twenty years after the greatest regular season in franchise history and 22 since their last world title, this generation’s Stones are back in their familiar role as league spoilers.
To Willie Bell Gibson, Thanks for Everything!
Willie Bell did not abide cutting corners, and it’s that pride she demanded in both our output and overall character that I’ve strived towards since choosing this craft as my life’s passion.
The Truth Shall Make You Free
Since George Floyd’s murder caught national attention, discussions around issues of race and gender have suddenly become much more candid, and seemingly much less ephemeral. We may actually be our closest to finally getting that boulder over the hill than we’ve been in this nation’s history. Seriously.
The Philosopher & the Preacher
With vivid detail, enthusiastic candor, and — frankly — better philosophical fluidity than most of today’s elected officials, their bars provide a genuinely sound logic for everybody: for teenagers seeking their purpose, students struggling with academia, politicians trying to make the world a better place, and parents simply hoping to connect with their children.
I Hate Sam Presti (Death of a Dynasty II)
On October 27, 2012, around 6PM London time, I learned the Thunder traded James Harden to the Houston Rockets. The Thunder vaguely claimed they were unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension; James was seeking a maximum contract of $60 million over 4 years, which the Thunder countered by asking him to take a $4.5 million discount. The Thunder traded away their third head over a mid-level exception.
Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor, 10 Years Later
Food & Liquor quickly became the soundtrack of my freshman year of high school. I’m terrible at rapping, but I’ve always fancied myself a poet; I love crafting the perfect sentence, and it was clear this not-tough nerd from Chicago loved words just as much – if not more – than this not-tough nerd from the westside of Detroit.