Ricky Rubio

The Timberwolves could have had Stephen Curry. They could have had Demar Derozan. They could have had Earl Clark. But instead, David Kahn went with Ricky Rubio, and now they won't even get him. I loved the Jonny Flynn pick, but leave it to a Minnesota GM to screw a chance at something positive up. I guess the more things change, the more they stay the same.

ESPN TrueHoop

A Career in Covers

The Life and Times of Jay-Z Cover Art

Add-2

Download Tale of 2 Cities Vol.3

The boy is nice. Chicago stand up!

Read the Book

Anything Martin Scorcese directs, I will watch. Including this.

"Men Who Stare at Goats"

For men(or women) who stare at movies.

Why didn't they invite me?

Maybe my two favorite people in the world.

J.Cole pt.2

He Came Up. He Warmed Up. And with a verse on BP3, he is about to blow up. J.Cole people. J.Cole.

If you ain't peeped the trim by now with each rap I go up...

Hi Greg

*enter funny caption here*

"Time" to blog

If I had $1,400, I would buy this clock. Well probably not but it's pretty cool.

"Forever"

Listen to Forever

NBA 2K10

Kobe Bryant playing to to the tunes of Kanye West

NBA 2K10 Tracklist

Lebron James

Lebron's life is "More than a Game"

Top Producers

XXL's rundown of hip-hop's top beat-makers. No Just Blaze?

Kobe turns 31

Photoshop at its finest

The Lakers will repeat, I just thought this shit was funny.

God MC

If you don't know by now, I fux' wit' Jay-Z. As seen above, he is on the new XXL. A couple songs have leaked from BP3(all Timbaland produced) and I haven't posted them because I want people to experience the album in its entirety, not just random songs that leak. Well, if I did that I would be a hypocrite because I have already listened to them. So, here they are:

"Off That" featuring Drake

"Reminder"

"Venus .vs. Mars"

Some people hate on Jay calling him old and bitter and not knowing when to leave. Point is, no one can tell him anything. He has earned his place and can do whatever the hell he wants to. 

Hov's a living legend and I'll tell you why, everybody wanna be Hov and Hov still alive...

Add-2

A former Valparaiso classmate of mine, give Chicago native Add-2 a listen or read an interview.

Be Easy

What is Michael Beasley's deal? I didn't think it was possible to be depressed when you are a millionaire former number 2 pick playing in the NBA. But, what do I know. Here is the infamous pic. Don't do drugs kids.

Come on man

If you got gender tested, what would the results be?

Since when did it become necessary to test someone's gender? Is it really that hard to know if you are male or female? At the World Championships, a supposedly female South African runner is undergoing gender-testing after winning the 800-meter. Juwanna Mann anyone?

The Roots

New Roots single titled, How I Got Over. There is something wrong with you if you don't like the Roots.

Wale

Good Wale interview. Self-aware person with real emotion.

The Grapes of Wrath

Imagine living in the 1920/30's, having a farm with vast acreage and sharecropping. Imagine being able to support your family with this farm, raising generation after generation happily without worry. Then one day it is all gone. Your farm has been been repossesed by contractors and you are forced to cross the country in a 25 dollar truck packed with 9 people in search of work, not knowing whether or not you will find any. The Grapes of Wrath was written in 1939 by John Steinbeck and later adapted to film by the legend John Ford. Knowing where we come from is essential to knowing where we want to go. For those interested in the Great Depression and its effect on the people of this country, please read this book or see this movie. The human spirit is a wonder to behold.

Drake

October's Own is a Killer...

Run This Town

Video for Run This Town- Jay-Z feat: Rihanna and Kanye West.

Joe Mauer

Maybe it is his quiet demeanor or his unassuming attitude. Or maybe it is just that he plays for the small-market Twins and I could get a hit off that pitching staff right now. But will someone please recognize the season this guy is having! He is on pace for the best hitting season ever for a catcher and still plays gold-glove defense every day. Not trying to jinx him but is .400 possible? Too bad it will all be lost unless the Twins go on a long winning streak. I am not holding my breath.

Blueprint 3

Official tracklist from Jay-Z.com. Album available 9/11.

No Nas feature?

Hi Brett

Mike at 46

At 46 years young, Michael Jordan still remembers how to hoop.

Felt

New Slug and Murs

Felt 3 Details

Brother Ali

A Twin Cities breath of Fresh Air

Pac Div

Pac Div is the name, good hip-hop's the game. Hailing from the West coast(Pac Div=Pacific Division), these dudes deserve some attention. Check out their website and listen to Whiplash. Download their Champion's League Mixtape or watch a good interview.

Brett Favre...again

According to FoxSports Jay Glazer, Brett Favre will be with the Vikings by the end of the preseason. Favre is a Diva, this is ridiculous.

The Tiger Slayer?

I didn't get to watch(stupid work), but apparently some Yang guy beat Tiger. I don't believe it. Hopefully I wake up tomorrow and find out it was a dream.

PGA Championship

I was tempted to write this yesterday after the first round, but the PGA Championship is over. Tiger is 8-0 when he leads a major after 36 holes, which is the case this week at beautiful Hazeltine. He will probably shoot 70-71 and walk away with it. Take pleasure in watching this guy while you can. Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer ever and we should be honored to be able to watch him. I know I am.

Rakim

The Microphone Fiend is back. Rakim's long-awaited return is finally here.

The Hurt Locker

The Hurt Locker is a strange title but don't let it get in the way of seeing this movie, it is outstanding. Focusing on the Bravo Company, a bomb squad section of the U.S. Army, The Hurt Locker recounts three soldiers last forty-five days in duty. The movie was written by Mark Boal, a journalist who was embedded in Iraq with a bomb squad. Needless to say it is a first hand account of what the the Iraqi war is like for certain soldiers. I have seen all the classic war movies, from Apocalypse Now to Saving Private Ryan, but this movie captivated me like no other. It is directed by Kathryn Bigelow and stars Jeremy Renner and Anthony Mackie with cameos from Guy Pierce and Ralph Fiennes. It is certified fresh and to quote a review I read earlier, "Are we sure this isn't actual footage from the war?" See this movie and you will understand.

Bad Sports Uniforms

Some pretty bad sports uniforms. I'd say the Bungals or the Canucks jersey's are the worst. Personally I like those Nuggets Jerseys, I'll rock that Dik throwback any day.  

If God Left Me One Album...

I remember it like it was yesterday. It was 2004 and I was a senior at Tartan High School. My music provider and friend Kyle handed me a CD and told me, "This is going to change the game." He could not have been more right. The CD was The College Dropout; Kanye West's classic debut album. The album patented the sped-up soul sample, which has since become played-out, and had Kanye, "Take Freeway throw him on tracks with Mos Def." In other words, Kanye West started doing things hip-hop had never seen or heard. He also had an all-star lineup consisting of Jay-Z, Talib Kweli, Common, Mos Def, Freeway, Syleena Johnson, Consequence, GLC, Twista, Jamie Foxx and Ludacris...Damn. Not to mention Kanye produced the entire album and had Jigga Man spit two of the best verses of his life on "Never Let Me Down." Hell, even my sister likes this album. From top to bottom, no album I have ever heard is more complete. If you haven't heard it, listen to it. If you have heard it, listen to it again. If you love this album, you have my respect. Here's to the ROC...

How come my coaches never did this?

Coach Pete Carrol and his USC Trojans.

Percy Harvin

An excerpt from SI's Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback:

Percy Harvin, split wide right outside the numbers, versus cornerback Marcus Walker, playing inches across the line from him, planning to get a bump on Harvin in the five-yard bump zone to knock him off his route. Harvin juked almost imperceptibly left-right-left at the snap of the ball. Walker lunged at him but only got a piece of him as Harvin got outside Walker's left shoulder at the line. NFL corners, and highlight producers in TV stations across the country, are going to see a lot of this. Harvin is so quick off the line, then so fast, that if you give him a half-step and don't have a safety over the top for double-coverage help, the Vikings are going to throw a lot of deep touchdowns to this man. On this play, Walker never caught up, and the deep throw nestled cleanly in Harvin's arms. Touchdown.

Kurt Rambis

After an elaborate and strenuous search for a new coach, Timberwolves General Manager David Kahn has agreed to a 4 year/$8 million dollar deal with Kurt Rambis. Known for his grit determination as a player (see pic above, yes that is former coach Kevin Mchale going WWE on Rambis), Rambis will try to instill this same type of play in his new team. I credit Kahn for leaving no stone unturned in his search for a new coach while eventually settling on Rambis. I am excited about the hire and the direction of the franchise.

David Ortiz

What else can go wrong in baseball? I mean seriously. Are we gonna find out Ken Griffey Junior used steroids (God Forbid)? Are we gonna find out Hank Aaron was on HGH? Is it possible that there are women playing in MLB that have taken truckloads of testosterone and became men? Maybe everyone that ever played baseball was on steroids. Maybe every single record that exists right now is due to "performance enhancers". Bonds was bitter, Sosa was obvious, Mcgwire was sad, Palmeiro was funny and now David Ortiz. To be honest, I did not see this one coming. As he says it, "I always tried to do things the right way." Can't these guys just not cheat. As a baseball fan and just a person, I would like to see these guys play by the rules for everyones sake. The game of baseball depends on it.

T-Wolves

Not sure if this is official or not, but word is Kurt Rambis will be the next coach of the T-Wolves. Personally, I think Mark Jackson would have done a great job of molding Jonny Flynn(and hopefully Rubio) into great NBA point guards. I can't argue with Rambis however. He has NBA playing experience, coached under Phil Jackson, and won rings both as a coach and player. We'll see what happens.

Jay-Z

Tracklist and cover art for Blueprint 3.