Like Miami Heat, Dolphins are fired up and down to squabble

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While [the] Miami Heat are poised to burn out OKC's thunder, it seems Miami might just be too-hot-too-handle, at least for the Dolphins.

 

According to South Florida Sun-Sentinel blogger - Omar Kelly, things got a little testy during mini camp practice this afternoon; a squabble broke out among the Big Fish! 

Left tackle - Jake Long took on defensive lineman - Olivier Vernon, while defensive lineman - Ryan Baker locked fins with guard - Richie Incognito. 

When it comes to sports, especially football, practices usually get and keep players on edge. But considering today's practice was no-contact, some believe the NFL may investigate today's incident, and 'put-the-smack-down' on the four linemen, who could easily blame their heightened passion(s) on the Miami Heat's explosive performance during the 2K12 NBA finals...or not.

But league involvement, and possible disciplinary action(s), isn't head coach - Joe Philbin's primary concern; he dislikes what this all means for players' who are unable to control their emotions, not only in practice, but moreover during [actual] game situations. 

"You have to be able to keep your poise and play. It’s great to be tough, it’s great to be physical. . . . It’s 15 yards, loss of down, clock, all those things. So yeah, there was good competitiveness, but you’ve got to be smart." -Coach Philbin

For those who've played the gridiron game, a lil' extra pushin'-n-shovin' is a harmless and inevitable occurrence. 

The NFL and Coach Philbin make an excellent point, however. Poor practice habits ultimately makes for bad business on the field. Maybe the Dolphins are just getting caught-up with all the hype in Miami, and their new celebrity -- Hard Knocks -- status on HBO. Hit em up!  

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Heat vs Thunder - 2012 NBA Finals: A 'Ballers' Battle

   

Who's Down to Ball?

 

This year's NBA 'b-ball' finals, between the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder, is all ball-n-swagg, baby! Finally the game 'b-ball' fans have been longing to see, a battle of young NBA greats and future champions will feature, arguably, the game's best two talents: 

  Lebron James and Kevin Durant!

While some odds and prediction makers seem eager to give Miami the nod in a seven game series, it might be a mistake to count OKC, the underdogs, out so soon and so easily. 

The Big3 in Miami -- King James, D. Wade and Bosh 
-- may be too hot to handle for the Boston Celtics, but getting into the paint won't be an acceptable proposition for the lengthy-likes of Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka, and a defiant Kendrick Perkins.

If OKC can keep, either, King James or D. Wade out of the box, forcing them to take perimeter shots, Oklahoma will likely earn their first NBA title. 

Considering Chris Bosh is just getting back to business, helping Miami advance to the finals with a solid performance against Boston in game seven, it's too soon to expect CB to remain healthy, as the series against the Thunder becomes more turbulent and physically challenging. 

The Thunder are a tight crew of young, hungry, athletic, fast, and way-too-talented bunch to be intimidated by Miami's brand of heat-game. No doubt, Batman and Robin (James and Wade) and the rest of the Heat can put-it-down with great athleticism and skill, too, but the bulk of Miami's "heat" is generated by these two heroic stars.

If just one of them, Bosh, James or Wade, isn't on-point throughout a series of fast-breaks served-up by OKC's thunder & lightening speed, the Heat's dynamic duo, along with their starting center, may just have to settle for champions of NBA-swagg-fashion.

And  the 'X' factor  no one seems to notice, except Oklahoma's coaching staff; the veteran leadership, experience, game I.Q., and poise of 5-Time NBA champ, Derek Fisher (aka: D-Fish), who is just as
determined to help his team earn [the] bling...and sport another NBA Championship ring on his 6th finger. 

Blame it on Kupchak, Kobe! 

Had it not been for Fisher's, "as usual", clutch play and court leadership, during an entire 4th quarter of game seven against the Spurs, the inexperienced Thunder were looking to self-destruct and possibly see another opportunity to be known as Kings of The Court, slip through their fingers.

Against a Miami offense fully heated and healthy, mental toughness and focus, fueled by a will-to-win and 'gotta-get-mine' attitude, must be OKC's most potent invisible weapon against  the 'zone' factor, or rhythm & flow of [the] D. Wade-King James connection.

Perhaps their "connection" will be disco'd by OKC's "quiet storm", represented by two young bolts of lightening:

Russell Westbrook and James Harden 

Hands down, Miami gets Ballerswagg's nod for Team with Most Swagg, but OKC...them boys look like they want it more, and could care less about swagg; they want that title. But to get it, they will have to take it from King James and Prince Wade -- who probably assume they deserve it more. Square Biz, Ballerswagg will be in the buildin'!

TicketFeeder - Basketball Tickets

  
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2K12 MIAMI HEAT

NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPS

2K12 NBA FINALS GAME SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES EASTERN):


G1: Miami @ Oklahoma City (Tues., June 12, 9p)

G2: Miami @ Oklahoma City (Thrs., June 14, 9p)

G3: Oklahoma City @ Miami (Sun., June 17, 8p)

G4: Oklahoma City @ Miami (Tues, June 19, 9p)

G5: Oklahoma City @ Miami (Thrs., June 21, 9p)

G6: Miami @ Oklahoma City (Sun., June 24, 9p)

G7: Miami @ Oklahoma City (Tues., June 26, 9p)

2K12 OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPS

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The Return of Allen Iverson to 'Philly Love' at Game 6 of NBA Playoff and Wants to 'Ball' Pro Again

   

Before game six of the 2K12 NBA playoffs, between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers, eleven-time All-Star, Allen Iverson (aka:  The Answer) returned to his court of greatness, in the City of Brotherly Love, to deliver the game ball and no-doubt a splash of good luck.

And that luck was bankable as the 76ers beat Boston and now look forward to game seven, and hopefully advancing to face their next opponent in the eastern conference. 

But the real story is 'The I' and his possible return to the NBA. Say what? Yes sir! According to reports, during an interview with Iverson, he said the following:

“I’m not using that word (retirement)…” he said. “The way it is right now, I’ve accepted the fact that (returning to play in the NBA) might not happen. But I still want to play basketball. If I can get an opportunity to where it’s going to make me happy at the end of my career, I’ll take that opportunity. But I just love to play and I want to have another opportunity to play on the professional level.” 

Although returning to the pro ranks of the NBA might not happen like 'The Answer' wants it to, as far as fans and ballers are concerned...

"'The I' gets much love in Philly!"

Jay-Z and Kanye: Top Nominees for 2K12 BET Awards

Jay-Z and Kanye West, post 5 and 7 -- leading BET Awards nominations for 2K12

Congratulations and big SWAGG shout-out to two of NYC's dope MC's:  Kanye West, who received 7 BET Award nominations, while Jay-Z earned 5 nods! Six of Kanye's nominations are for hits he and Jay-Z cooked-up for their  Watch the Throne  collabo.
 

Other nominees, for the category of Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, include:

Big Sean, Drake, J. Cole, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross and Young Jeezy. 


The nominees for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist are:

Diamond, Brianna Perry, Nicki Minaj and Trina.

For Best New Artist:

A$AP Rocky, Big Sean, Diggy, Future and Meek Mill get recognized for their contribution(s) to the game of 'spit-flow'.

See who gets props when the 2K12 BET Awards jumps-off live from the L.A. - Shrine Auditorium, this summer on July 1st! And for those who plan to travel and attend this 'ballerswagg' affair, make sure you check the vibe in support of the homie's - Tyrei (AKA: DJ Tee), one of L.A.'s dopest local deejay's, and  Mike~Dizzle, at The Game Sports Bar: Restaurant and Lounge.

DJ Tee, Puffy and Mike Dizzle @ G|S

It's 'sho-nuff' a fly-ass WestCoast function; so fly...G|S is the #1 Ciroc account in Cali!   

      

Andrew Bynum ties NBA record for most Blocks in playoff game!

 

 'Big Smack' was turnt-up against Nuggets in game 1 of NBA playoffs!

In the Laker's first game of the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Denver Nuggets, Lisa Leslie said of L.A. Laker's center: "Andrew was 'Bynumite'!" Leslie also said she "had to give 'props' to my twitter followers for that one", referring to Bynum's explosive play during the Laker's 103 - 88 victory over Denver.

 [Stat:  winner of game 1 wins series 78% of time]

And even though [the] 'Black Mamba' did his usual thang ('sho-nuff' cold as ice until the second half, scoring a total of 31pts), it was BIG Andrew Bynum who dominated and flossed hard in the paint, earning a triple-double, a first since Laker legend - Magic Johnson did it in the '91 NBA finals, with 10 big blocked shots, 10 points and 13 rebounds in game one against Denver!

With 30 points scored against the Nuggets on 4.13.2K12, in spite of his 10 buckets today, "his timing was impeccable", said Kobe about 'Big-Bang's' blocking and rebounding ability in today's game. According to Laker head coach - Mike Brown, "The difference in the game was Adrew Bynum."
 

"He was an absolute BEAST down there!" -Coach Mike Brown, L.A. Lakers

Talk about doggin'-um, number 17 caused Nuggets to crumble with just 16 of 44 shots scored in the paint; he was blocking, dunking and rebounding with high energy. Laker legend - Michael Cooper said, "his play was stellar"! 

The other 7 footer - Pau Gasol also put-in-work on 'D', as he almost triple doubled, too, but laced-up a nice set of digits to help his team secure the 'dub':

13 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks

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Once upon a time [young] Andrew Bynum
 

was harshly and just about routinely criticized for his perceived lack of will, strength and endurance. Many fans, critics and analysts forgot that although he joined the NBA in a mans frame, he was still a developing 'youngsta' trying to figure out how to run with the big doggs. 

With tutelage from The Cap (Kareem Abdul Jabbar), experience, growth, dedication to his craft,  and maintaining good health (*this year only one game missed due to injury) - he'll likely continue to reek havoc on the opposition! 

And as Bynum becomes more confident and settled in his physicality (coordination, reflexes, etc.), the evolution of his 'b-ball' I.Q. will allow him to continue to dominate the middle for seasons to come. 

Think about it:  Andrew Bynum has been playing pro ball for six years, most of which has been spent healing battle wounds his developing frame wasn't used to absorbing from more powerful and physically seasoned NBA centers. But at 25 years old, 'Big Drew' is poised to become one of the NBA's next [most] dominating 'Big Men' to play the game - go hard, 'Big Bang'!

Super Bowl XLVI - Sunday Showdown of Giants and Patriots

The game, players and comparison of this year's red, white and blue 'ballers', representing the New York Giants and New England Patriots, matters to those who cherish the celebrated tradition of watching professional championship football with good food, music, enthusiastic friends and fans, and big game plays; here we go again!

Whether witnessing America's greatest show at the house or tailgating at the stadium's parking lot, this year's 2012 showdown between the Patriots and Giants looks like it's going to be another gun-slinging battle between quarterbacks' Tom Brady and Eli Manning. 

So once the menu items and guests are considered and determined, the backyard is freshly manicured, and the deck, patio and bar-b-que pit is dusted off - drafting and printing the game-pool sheets, and gathering a few helpful pieces of game low-down intelligence would be the thing to do, for those hard core grid-iron gamers', who get-a-rush from having passionate arguments and debates about which team will be crowned champs of Super Bowl XLVI. 

  Regardless of the final score, a good contested battle is a must for dedicated, enthusiastic football fans who crave for brave and heroic athleticism. To help sort out a few facts and opinions in preparation for a fan's analysis, take a look at a few variables that may, or certainly will for some, impact the game's outcome (while keeping in mind..."any given Sunday" is subject to, like most of life's affairs,..."Murphy's Law" - a 'blues' the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens were, regretfully, unable to shake recently):

 

NEP vs NYG Season Productivity - By The Numbers:

Season Record:  13 - 3 - 0 (win % = .813)

Season Record:  9 - 7 - 0 (win % = .563) 

PTS:  32 (ranked 3rd)

PTS:  24.6 (ranked 9th)

YDS:  428 (ranked 2nd) 

YDS:  385.1 (ranked 8th)

Pass YDS:  317.8 (ranked 2nd)

Pass YDS:  295.9 (ranked 5th)

Rush YDS:  110.2 (ranked 20th)

Rush YDS:  89.2 (ranked 32nd)   

  

QB Rating - Brady:  (105.8) 

QB Rating - Manning:  (103.1)

Sacks:  (8, opponents 1)

Sacks:  (9, opponents 8)

Field Goals:  (4/4)

Field Goals:  (6/8)

Kick & Punt Return TD's:  (0)

Kick & Punt Return TD's:  (0)

Turnover Ratio:  (-3)

Turnover Ratio:  (+5)

So who's gonna "run this town" and earn the title...

the Giants...

or the Patriots?

On Sunday, Feb. 5, 2K12...we'll get our answer!

 

'SuperSwaggin' Cee Lo Green and Pop Diva Madonna to 'get-it-in' at NFL Superbowl XLVI - plus, Mike Epps Ambassador!

As far as NFL Superbowl halftime performances go, this year's 2012 show promises to be 'superswagged-out'!

No doubt, pop star - lady Madonna will bring her unique taste, talent and creativity to the stage, as expected, and all the swagg and extraordinary 'fantabulism', embodied in the personification of Cee Lo Green, 

could make for one of the most interesting and entertaining halftime performances, by a duo, in NFL history. Why? 

While it's not an unusual thing to witness performances by a duo during halftime shows, Superbowl XLVI promises to deliver "one of the biggest musical milestones this year!" 

Although hundreds of millions of viewers will witness America's biggest show on February 5, 2012 - this will be the first time the NFL's halftime production promises to be the "hype"; it will be imagined by Cirque du Soleil and Jamie King (Madonna's career choreographer).

And with a venue as large and accommodating as the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, besides the New York Giants and New England Patriots, Madonna, Cee Lo, and Cirque du Soleil will display quite an exciting, memorable, and spectacular array of talent.
 

Oh, and by the way...if you have any complaints about the show or wish to express your satisfaction, feel free to 'holla-atcha-boy'  --  comedian, actor, and this year's 2K12 NFL-SB ambassador 

Mike Epps 
(OA) Official Ambassador - Super Bowl XLVI 

 Yuh digg?

E-40: One of the most Prolific 'Spitters' and 'Game-Getters' in Hip-Hop talks Biz under the Radar

Big swagg in the house, Mr. E-40 - the Yay Area's (ghetto) multilingual, and one of rap's most prolific MC's - kicks game, under the Radar with Hip-Hop Official, about how to handle 'biz' and ensure longevity and prosperity in the rap industry. If you ball and go hard all day every day, that's on you, but the "life" does come with [huge] financial costs and consequences. The more you have, the more you consume, and the more you owe. Painting pictures that ain't real and, literally, paying for it on credit is one of the game's traps. When we borrow from the store (money for high-tech productions and exotic car rentals), we exercise the attitude of instant gratification. It's never what you have, or appear to have, but what you actually keep and grow over time; cause once you get it, then what? 

While most [new] rappers starve for the game so tough they neglect crossing 'T''s and dotting 'I''s, on contracts and written agreements with middle-men, legendary rap-vets like E-40 endure due to high business savvy IQ, creative ability and "true-to-the-game" swagg-appeal. 

Though the game is full of tight MC's and rappers, who flex and spit-it real on the mic, far too many fall as quickly out of the game as they once entered. 

Whatever is not already owned by an artist, and she or he requests it from the record label, if granted, it becomes a loan or advance to be later subtracted from future artist(s) earnings, revenue or royalties..."a gift to be taxed". No matter how many claim to know this golden-rule, in spite of common sense, they sign without regard to consequence.   

In the tradition of Yay Area/West Coast get-down, E-40 also realizes what his fellow soldiers, Too Short, Ice T, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Russell Simmons, and others put down years before; "success is gained by cooperation, but sustained and furthered by independent ingenuity."  ~author, T.F. Hodge

"They some funky  

'turf-head' babies. Can I get a lil' mo' of that, playa?"

that there is  
Earl Stevens 
aka: E-40

"In 2012, E-40 will release three solo albums: The Block Brochure series 1, 2, and 3, as well as a collaboration album with Too Short."   [Source:  wikipedia]

 Studio Albums

    Federal (1993)
    In a Major Way (1995)
    Tha Hall of Game (1996)
    The Element of Surprise (1998)
    Charlie Hustle: The Blueprint of a Self-Made Millionaire (1999)
    Loyalty & Betrayal (2000)
    Grit & Grind (2002)
    Breakin' News (2003)
    My Ghetto Report Card (2006)
    The Ball Street Journal (2008)
    Revenue Retrievin': Day Shift (2010)
    Revenue Retrievin': Night Shift (2010)
    Revenue Retrievin': Overtime Shift (2011)
    Revenue Retrievin': Graveyard Shift (2011)
    The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 1 (March 27, 2012)
    The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 2 (March 27, 2012)
    The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 3 (March 27, 2012)

Day of The Get-Down: 2012 NFL Conference Championships

Sunday, January 22, 2012 is a date reserved for the get-down:  
The NFL Conference Championships! 

Representing the AFC will be the Baltimore Ravens 

battling the New England Patriots, 

 while the New York Giants 

and San Francisco 49ers bang-hard for the NFC title.

As always, Baltimore looks good and ready to tear the roof down. But so many teams have felt this way when confronted with New England's gate keepers of the grid-iron. As good as the Ravens look, New England just might figure out, yet again, another way to SuperBowl majesty. 

The New York Giants, as do the Ravens, look as though they may blow right through the 9ers. This particular contest will come down to raw passion and emotion. In other words, this game will be determined before it begins. 

It's been many seasons since San Francisco has smelled and tasted victory on one of the world's finest stages. If they play as hungry as they should be for world football domination, the Giants are in for a long and frustrating end to a hard earned trip to the post season.  

Eric Stark and Mike Gross share their picks for this season's SuperBowl team finalists. What a post-season it has been!