Graffiti Written

(Podcast) #TheFlagrant. Episode #1

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 18:10:00 -0400

Kingdom Come... 2012 #NBAFinals Preview

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 21:00:00 -0400

Last year, I wrote an article about Lebron James. It was a story of triumph against all odds. The public backlash, the expectations, fulfilling his destiny and taking his rightful place as the best player in the league. They won early. They celebrated by shadowboxing. Then they crumbled. He faded from the picture. He ran from the spotlight. He watched the trophy he desired awarded to his opponents on his on floor. It's been a long, hot summer, a short season and an eventful spring. Now here we are. Back at one.

Lebron never called himself "King". He never compared himself to Micheal Jordan, Magic Johnson or Oscar Robinson. He didn't ask his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers to draft him. He has accepted criticism and deflected praise. He bragged about winning multiple rings and failed. He's been humbled. No other professional athlete has endured the public scrutiny he has for NOT winning his sports richest prize. His talent makes us expect more, demand the impossible and ignore the obvious....

Lebron plays for love. Not for money, fame or glory. He wants to be remembered, not for highlights, sneakers or tweets, but for winning. For being the best at what he does. The boy who never went to college has grown into the man some love to hate. He is envied, but he is also adored.

On June 12th, 2012, we will begin chapter 3 of his saga towards immortality. 2 trips to the Finals. 2 losses. Oklahoma City are phenomenal. They are young and hungry. Most believe they will present the biggest challenge for Lebron this spring. In reality, they are merely co-stars in a narrative that begins and ends with Lebron James. Its his story, his battle, his time.

Miami Memorial Weekend 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 29 May 2012 19:04:00 -0400

Wedding Proposal Of The Week: Flash Mob At Shopping Mall In Toronto! (To Chris Brown's Track)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 29 May 2012 18:52:00 -0400

Kevin Durant: "From My Hood To Your Hood" Documentary

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 29 May 2012 18:18:00 -0400

Summer in the City...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 20 May 2012 17:51:00 -0400

If you're on Queen Street West in Toronto this summer, check out this cool lil retro clothing spot.

Spring 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:12:00 -0400

The King is coming....

RIP Etta James

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:59:00 -0500

My City: "Sh!t #Toronto People Say" (Video)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:17:00 -0500

These are a couple homegrown versions of the popular web series...enjoy.

Fellas:

Chics
:

Pop the cap for more videos...

Fake Thugs:

Fellas (Ladies Perspective):

...and sh-t you'll never hear from the rest of the city:

#MLK: Was it all a dream?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:23:00 -0500

I walked into Tiffanys looking to buy my girlfriend a special birthday gift. It was August. The dog days of summer, as they say. I arrived at the downtown Toronto location straight from work, dressed in a shirt and tie combo. The salesman was extremely hospitable. My girl loved the ring and its was mission accomplished.

On Valentines Day, I decided to compliment her original ring with a pendant I saw in Tiffanys online catalog. This time, I was dressed in my regular street gear, since it was casual Friday @ work. I was immediately greeted by security, escorted swiftly to the appropriate department and received a detailed explanation of the return/exchange policy.

The time around, the salesperson made every attempt to process this transaction as quickly as possible and have me exit the store. That is, until he asked my name and noticed I was a returning customer. I was then showered with smiles and laughs as he cranked up the hospitality, much to my disinterest.

Systemic racism? Racial Profiling? Maybe. Maybe not. What's clear is that we all (Black, White, Asian, Muslim, Jew, etc) are guilty of not carrying the torch passed forward by Dr. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X and countless others from their civil rights generation.

We continue to judge others based on the color of their skin instead of the content of their character. As long as we continue to glorify ignorance, nothing will change. Dr. Kings efforts will be all in vain and it will truly be "just a dream".
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone powered by Mobilicity

My Favorite Moments of The 2011 NBA Playoffs & Finals (video)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:00:00 -0500

Part One

Part Two

My 2011 "HipHop Lives" Moment of the Year: @BET Shady 2.0 Cypher (video)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:00:00 -0500

My 2011 "Luv My City" Moment: Jane & Finch (#Toronto) Female Cypher

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 23:46:00 -0500

My #WTF Moments of 2011: The @TheRealTahiry Butt Cam (video)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 21:36:00 -0500

2011 @NBA Player of the Year: #DerrickRose: @RealDerrickRose

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:13:00 -0500

2011 @NFL player of the year: #AaronRodgers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:47:00 -0500

2011 Mixtape of The Year: The Soul Tape by @myfabolouslife

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:50:00 -0500

Download Mixtape | Free Mixtapes Powered by DatPiff.com

2011 Sports Clip of the Year: @NBA Forever (@NBAonTNT Intro)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:02:00 -0500

2011 Sneaker of The Year: #AirJordan 11 #Concord

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:18:00 -0500

15 years after its original release, The Air Jordan 11 (Concord) has created a historical buzz in the sneaker industry. Retailing for $180, the midnight release of the tuxedo inspired shoe resulted in near riot reactions from customers in Georgia and long-ass line ups in Indiana, Florida, Texas and Virginia. The concord has always been considered the best Air Jordan design of the entire series and is a must have for any true sneaker connoisseur. Last time I checked EBAY, an authentic pair of Concords were bidding for close to $500.

*Pictures Courtesy of SneakerFreaker.com

T'was The Night Before Christmas...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 20:34:00 -0500

See my expression as I sit on Santa's lap. Bored, tired and unimpressed by the "hoopla" surrounding good ol' St Nick. Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed an amazing run of expensive gifts, belt-busting plates of food and "Did ______ actually say that?" moments at the dinner table.

But, like most adults without kids, the excitement surround Christmas has changed. I'm no longer concerned about the value of the gifts I receive or the cost of those I chose to give. When the December calendar highlights the 25th, I think about those who have nothing to look forward to but yet another lonely day.

This year, as u hustle thru the last minute details of Christmas dinner and wrap package after package, take a moment to reflect and be gratefully for everything you've been blessed with.

Tonight, my thoughts are with those without friends and family to celebrate the holidays with. Those who've had to rely on Food banks, shelters and the kindness of strangers. Those who battle addictions and Mental illness. Those who suffer from physical and verbal abuse....

Enjoy the holidays and remember...Life is short, don't miss a day.

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone powered by Mobilicity

NBA Preview 2012: My Top Ten Love/Hate Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:31:00 -0500

A janitor walks into the New York Knicks home dressing room in Madison Square Garden and flicks the light switch, illuminating the newly renovated space. He smiles.

A restaurant owner in Boston, struggling to stay in business, purchases 2 Flat Screen monitors to promote "Celtics Nights" on Tuesdays. He is relieved.

On December 25th, The National Basketball Association will once again resume its place as the most captivating sport on television. As excited as I am to watch Kobe, Lebron and Derrick Rose display their superior talents, lets take a moment to reflect those who's minimum wage salary is directly affected by millionaires.

From the parking attendants to the concession workers, the effects of the lockout have been wide spread. So, while I'm happy to have the luxury of watching the greatest athletes in the world perform, I'd like to remind everyone that this is a sport. Life goes on when the ball isn't bouncing.

With that said, its time to count down my top 10 reasons to love/hate the upcoming season. Enjoy:

10. Will the fans come back?
With yet another global recession on the horizon, will the average 9-5er (the few lucky to be employed) still be willing to ignore the inflated ticket prices to enjoy NBA basketball?

9. The Fall of the Lakers:
Phil Jackson is gone. So is Lamar Odom. With the effects of father time becoming more apparent in Kobe Bryant's game, is the dynasty finally over?

8. Toronto's own Tristan Thompson's rookie season:
The young power forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers has the potential be the best player ever from Tdot.

7. Can Derrick Rose repeat as MVP?
After a magical, coming of age season, should we expect a repeat performance from Chi-towns finest?

6. Who will have Dwight Howard when the playoffs start?
Its clear that his days in Disney World are over, So who has the pockets and roster deep enough to satisfy Dwights lust for a title?

5. Is Kevin Durant ready to take The Thunder to the Finals?
He's the #1 ranked Fantasy Player and a scoring Champion. Can Kevin translate amazing stats to championship rings? Micheal Jordan did.

4. Can Chris Paul and Blake Griffin make The Clippers the new LA power?
With a new, All Star point guard and the most exciting player in the league, the Clippers may finally escape the Lake Show Shadow.

3. Has Time Run out on the Big 3 in Boston?
Time waits for no man. With questionable decisions from the front office, have Kevin, Paul and Ray seen their best days come and go?

2. Are The New York Knicks finally relevant?
Carmelo and Amare are still feeling the sting from The Celtic beat down in the playoffs. Can they take the Big Apple Knickerbokers over the top?

1. Will Lebron deliver in June and finally win a championship?
He's NBA Finals meltdown has been analyzed, scrutinized and well documented. Will King James finally sing his redemption song in June?

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone powered by Mobilicity

2011 #NBAFINALS: #Lebron's Redemption Song

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 31 May 2011 20:39:00 -0400

On the eve of the most important series of his career, I am proud to proclaim that I am a fan of Lebron James. From his celebrated entrance as a high school phenom, to his vilified 2010 season due to "The Decision", Kings James has never shied away from the spotlight. He is the undisputed MVP of the league (Respect D.Rose) and quite possibly… the most gifted player EVER since Earvin" Magic" Johnson introduced "Showtime" to our vocabulary.

Tonight, he is 4 wins away from completing a goal most don't want him to achieve. The memories of the 2007 Finals sweep at the hands of the Spurs will never go away. The embarrassment of surrendering to the Celtics in 2010 will always sting. The comparisons to Jordan and the pressure to deliver a championship to his Cleveland faithful weighed heavy on his young, broad shoulders.

Tonight, we may all witness the beginning of a dynasty. But for me, it will be the rightful coronation of the greatest player since Kobe Bryant to dominate our league for years to come.....

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone powered by Mobilicity

Spring Sneaker Preview: The Jordan Tokyo23

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:36:00 -0400

Sometimes, it honestly feels as though summer just doesn't exist in Canada. After a long, brutal Winter, we bask in the glory of an extended Spring, then get accosted by Fall and the cycle continues. If you're like me and wear dress shoes 4 days a week, the change in weather is sigh of relief for our aching soles. so, to help you break to bondage of corporate hard bottoms, lets take a mouth watering glance at these special releases....

*Having already stretched into the Chinese market with a number of exclusive drops, Jordan Brand are set to flex their global muscle with this Tokyo 23 pack, the brand's first ever Japanese joints! Featuring an Air Jordan 5 and the Gundam inspired CP3.IV, this safety yellow duo is dedicated to the popular street courts in Shibuya's Yoyogi park. Look out for them to drop with a commemorative tee on April 29. Thanks to Sneak-r for the news.*

*courtesy of sneakerfreaker.com*

Top 10 #BlakeGriffin Highlights of 2010-11

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 19:23:00 -0400

He's had a spectacular season playing for the "City Of Angels" other NBA squad. With the shadow of the Lakers championship banners looming large overhead, The Clippers introduced the world to their prized posession and revealed in his glory. Blake took the league by storm with an effortless display of atheletism, creativity and charisma not readily associated with his franchise. After 82 spectacular games, lets take a look at Blake Griffins top plays of the year.

Kobe Bryants MVP Performance @ The 2011 NBA Allstar Game...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 17:10:00 -0500

In league full of inflated egos, overpaid pre-madonnas and underachieving millionaires; he's the star of stars. The undisputed best basketball player in the world displayed why he's the king of the hill on Feb 20th, in Los Angeles. With his sights set on his 4th All-Star MVP award, The Black Mamba with a sense of purpose, aggression and focus not readily associated with the mid season exhibition. Scoring a game-high 37 points and holding off a ferocious 2nd half effort from the heir apparent (Lebron James scored the 2nd triple-double in all-star history), Kobe solidified his position as the NBA's Kingpin. Now, lets see what happens in the playoffs...