What up, what up…I hope everyone is having a great Sunday. To get the week started Creative Beach is going to bring you music and more music. First up is a great DJ and Creative Beach affiliate Miss DJ Gemz coming straight out of Maryland and reppin for the DMV. She put out a mixtape that is aptly titled for this time of year called “March Madness Mixtape”. The mixtape is upbeat it will either get you ready for a game or get you up and dancing(whatever situation fits). Since basketball is a definitely a part of me and definitely a part of Miss DJ Gemz(not sure if she wants to see me on the court) the video promo for the mixtape is 100% on point. I won’t delay, I’ll let famed Player and now coach Dawn Staley let you know what to do.
This documentary caught a lot of attention in 2010 and 2011 from the online hip hop community. The Ben Harper narrated, The Roots infused soundtrack and the topic was an instant magnet for the community. White Wash is about black surfers and the history behind the beaches in America and ‘Jim Crow’ laws and segregation. The documentary is now on Hulu and you all can watch it right now at the link below. Although if the documentary is new to you, check out the trailer.
This is a blog if ever the definition fit! I could not be happier right now as it refers to March Madness Basketball. Norfolk State is out of my college conference, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference(MEAC). The last and 4th time a 15 seed beat a #2 seed in the tournament was 2001 with Hampton University over Iowa State and I was cheering until I was hoarse and saw Hampton’s player explode with Joy over the win. Congrats and congrats to Norfolk State for the win. This is what the NCAA March Madness is all about.
Hey, hey January 1, 2012 continues, Jazz Sunday will be back next week, but there will be more features more culture just branching out in 2012. Well speaking of branching out you all will see more basketball(I mean sports, ok mostly basketball) this year. The NBA is back, college is in full swing what else is there right? Oh! There is more, much more. Let’s swing over to one of CB’s favorite cities and peep the basketball scene in the city of light. Stadium Paris wants you all to know that basketball shines in Paris and they did in in the form of 10 short films on some rising stars, innovators and legends of street and pro basketball. All 10 won’t be highlighted here but how about two, is that a deal? Cool! First up is the Quai 54 founder:
Today is veterans day and also the start of the college basketball season. You know Creative Beach had to jump on this one, a basketball game on a U.S. Aircraft Carrier!? Yep! The Quicken Loans Carrier classic is set to take place today at 7pm EST/4pm PST on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson. The basketball game is between the storied programs of Michigan State University Spartans and the North Carolina University Tarheels it is the first ever such game to take place. Basketball, the beautiful backdrop of San Diego and a salute to the U.S. men and women serving…Creative Beach supports 100%. It’s 11/11/11 basketball season let’s go!
Tune in to ESPN
*Oh! Big shout out to the United States Navy I have to represent for my father who proudly served for 15 years.*
Fresh off of the 2011 Women’s World Cup and a year after the historic World Cup held in South Africa, it’s time to focus on more soccer. FiFA announced earlier today(EST) the dates for the 2014 world cup.
“ FIFA World Cup will be held from 12 June to 13 July 2014.”
I don’t know about you all but Creative Beach plans to be in Brazil!! It is a definite focus, The sand, the sun, the soccer…yes! Obrigado Brasil.
In an hour the United States will play Brazil in the 2011 Women’s World Cup. It doesn’t matter if the event has been overlooked, underrated whatever the case may be, this match up is one of the great rivalries in sports. The United States may be an emerging contender on the men’s side but we are ranked #1 in the world on the women’s and have been for quite some time. Brazil? Well to channel Charlie Sheen “they just win” Whether it’s the men, women, the kids…they play soccer!! I feel the U.S. can match Brazil in style of play but that’s a whole other story for another time. Brazilian stand out and superstar who goes by the oh so Brazilian one name of just Marta(Born Marta Vieira da Silva) is a force unto herself. In the same vein of Pele’, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and shoot even Robinho she’s quick, can score and makes the game look so good!
ESPN put together a series of short documentaries focusing on women soccer players and one of the documentaries highlighted Marta’s journey from Brazil to her first pro team in Umea, Sweden. I am rooting for the United States 100% but as a player and a fan, the game is the game if respect is due, respect is given. So before the showdown begins watch this documentary on Marta, enjoy!
Bonus
This is the reason I connect Basketball and Soccer, oh the cross over
The 2011 NBA Draft took place last night and let’s just say the words ” international” and “team building” are probably the best way to sum up the evening. This year’s draft in a fitting way mirrored this years NBA season which concluded with a first ever championship win by the Dallas Mavericks who epitomized the word team in their style of play using almost every one of their players to clinch the title and be able to hold the trophy. The Mavericks stand out star was an international born player of course that being Dirk Nowitski.
The draft opened with the number one pick overall Kyrie Irving out of Duke University going to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kyrie holds dual U.S. and Australiancitizenship(yeah check the link). Kyrie was almost a must have as an overall player and as team’s develop and grow, a young and very talented point guard is a welcome edition to almost any roster. Out of the first 10 picks in this year’s NBA draft three players were foreign nationals including my hometown team’s selection with Jan Vesely going to the Washington Wizards.
This year’s draft didn’t have the overwhelming excitement of years past which is where the team building comes into play. Of course it is always about team building and playing chess to maneuver into the best possible position to at some point win a championship but the lack of Dick Vitale super college standouts or that one or two amazing high school senior left many doing research on players as their names were called, hats adorned and interviews given. I will say that despite of the lack of hype around the 2011 NBA draft, the 2011 class might turn out to be a quietly very effective class of players collectively. With the NBA season still up in the air as to when it’s going to start ; (it’s going to happen everybody, just a matter of when) the possible lock out became a much bigger story that everyone could sink their teeth into because after all we all have our teams we love to hate but why not turn that attention onto the entire NBA.
Another NBA draft is in the books, a very small fraternity of young men look forward to stepping onto the court and into the lime light of the world’s largest stage for basketball. The only thing I hope is that the 2011-2012 season is as exciting as the 2011 playoff season. I felt like a kid again watching for the past two months straight so take the summer, get adjusted to the new faces on your team and I’ll catch you all in October(hopefully)
