Oh You Know I'm In!

With the upcoming end to the 2010-11 NBA regular season, comes the push for renewing and drumming up season tickets. Looks to me that the new owners of the Hornets (THE NBA) went ALL OUT [/sarcasm] with an ad campaign for next years ticket push. In the ad "noticable" New Orleanians and Gov. Bobby "Dumbass" Jindal are speaking on reason the city is so great and that they are behind the team and the city. The commercials start with the "Son of New Orleans" Drew Brees and ends with what seems to me to be the "Lil Brother" Chris Paul. Also in the spot are Mitch and Mary Landrieu, John Besh, Kermit Ruffins, Irvin Mayfield and even King Zulu 2011. The ads are everywhere... Billboards, Radio, and TV. Now! Here's the thing...

We all know how New Orleanians are... WE DON"T BACK SHIT RELATED TO SPORTS UNLESS THE TEAM IS WINNING! Now here is the twist... we can't win if we don't surround our best players with a better supporting cast, and we can't get a better supporting cast if we lose our best player. (Confused yet?) With last summer's Free Agency frenzy where we saw the "Decision" which led to LeBron James taking his talents to South Beach to join D. Wade and Chris Bosh...and the MeloDramatic trade of Carmelo to the Big Apple to form a union with Amare "The Knicks are Back" Stoudomire, (and what is suspected CP3 when he is eligible for free agency).

Aiight so what's the point in doin all this promotion and what nots to get "butts in the seats" when there is the possibility of Paul wanting to opt out of his contract, demand a trade, or pull a Baron Davis where he just doesnt want to play anymore and fakes an injury (not that its hard for lil man to get hurt...he plays so hard and intense that its inevitable). What needs to be done is to get the man some help. David West is done for the season and he was really (as much as I dont want to admit it) is the only other player that has stepped up to the plate. We made some moves that were condusive to us making a playoff push, but not necessarily the right moves. We picked up Trevor Ariza, Marco Bellinelli, Willie Green along with a great young coach in Monty Williams and an exec on the rise in Will Demps, BUT we lost a dynamic young player in Marcus Thornton in a trade deadline deal with Sacromento, that brought us power forward Carl Landry.

What we need is a compliment to Chris...(actually a few pieces to open up the floor and give us more options)...like a CENTER...a big man that is gonna defend the paint, rebound and bang with the big boys down low in the post. An active slasher shooting guard / small forward ala Scottie Pippin, but Ariza does a good job...he needs to up his scoring. I'm not a big David West fan cause he doesnt play his position like a prototypical power forward does... not saying that he isnt good, but when I think of power forwards cats like Dennis Rodman, Karl Malone, Horace Grant, Chris Webber and James Worthy come to mind. If you really IN...GET THIS MAN SOME HELP!!!!

Submitted from the upper deck from behind that damn post where you cant see shit...

Who Dat!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen, put your hands together for the most disrespected professional football team of all time. The 2009 NFC South Champions, New Orleans Saints. All the news media (except Jim Henderson and the locals) are giving more coverage to teams like Dallas, Minnesota, and New York Jets and mention the Saints as an after thought. ESPN gave the Cowgirls 10 minutes virtually crowning them the NFC representatives in the Super Bowl, and 3 minutes to the Black and Gold. WTF!!!

We have the highest ranked offense in the league. Have beaten the "best" of all teams and still get pushed to the side like a D2 college team. With weapons like Brees, Colston, Bush, Shockey, and Thomas, a bend but don't break defense, you GOTTA give them boys some respect. Fox analyst and former Giant defensive end Michael Strahan is the biggest Saints hater of ALL time. No matter who they play the gapped tooth wonder will pick against em. They could play against a Pop Warner team and he is gonna bet the farm against the boys.

I hope they get to Miami and drop kick the hell outta whomever. You better hope it don't happen, cause we gonna tear the city down. Me personally Ima camp out in front of foot locker on the corner of Canal and Bourbon streets, waitin for a "Do the Right Thing" garbage can through the window so I can hit somethin!

This goes out to Strahan and the Saints haters...
"We number 1-2, win (you), 3-4 (win some more), 5-6 (win again), 7-8 (win again), 9-10 (win again) win (again), win (again), win (again), win (again), win (again), win (again)" - Drew Brees

GEAUX SAINTS... LOL @ESPN

"Who dat said they gon beat dem Saints?" - Everybody in the city of New Orleans at some point today after the Black and Gold beat the Miami Dolphins 46-34

Alrighty, lets see who rode with the Saints today? Mike Ditka (former coach of the team, current ESPN analyst) NO... Marshall Faulk (former NFL MVP and NFL Network analyst, did I mention he is from New Orleans and prepped at GW Carver High School) NOPE... Michael Strahan ( Fox Sports analyst and former New York Giant who guaranteed that the GiANTS would beat the Saints two weeks ago) Hell naw! The only cat on television that has been riding with the Saints the entire season is Terry Bradshaw from Fox Sports. In his playing days he was considered a dumb quarterback, even tho he has won 4 Super Bowls, seems like an Einstein compared to his "smarter", more "knowledgeable" counterparts.

ESPN is dying over there in Bristol, Connecticut, cause they have not given the team its props at all. First it was they aint play nobody, then after they crushed Mark San"chise" and the Jets it was aiight they had a good game and the new poster boy for the NFL didnt have a good game. Then when we beat the snot out of the Giants, their number one ranked defense and homeboy Eli Manning, the excuse was we had a bye week and extra time to rest up and blah blah blah. This week they were talkin about how are they gonna stop the "Wildcat" offense, Ricky Williams, Ronnie Brown, and how Joey "Mr Big Mouth" Porter and the Miami defense was gonna shut us down. Well after a 24-10 first half, everyone wrote em off, except Bradshaw and the Saints came out and put on a show for the NFL and they better take notice, cause its on.

Drew Brees took care of business dispite throwing 3 interceptions and being sacked 5 times. Brees thew for almost 300 yards and ran for two scores. Reggie Bush ran a reverse and hurdled himself 7 yards for a touchdown. Jeremy Shockey (who played college ball at the University of Miami) had over a 100 yards receiving (first time in 3 years might I add), Mike Bell, Marques Colston, Devery Henderson and that awesome defense did their thing too. Darren Sharper and Tracy Porter both picked off Chad Henne and took em to the house for pick 6's. Sharper is one short of Hall of Famer Rod Woodson for the career lead in interception returns for touchdowns. What more can they do? Will they have to win two games in one day to get some respect from broadcast media?

Not even Reggie Bush's out the blue statement that theSaints could go undefeated, could get the team more than 2 minutes on PTI this afternoon. What is really goin on with the sports channels and my city? They spend more time talkin about Brett Favre goin back to Green Bay to play against the Vikings and Sherm Lewis calling plays for the Redskins 2 weeks after calling bingo numbers in a Detroit Retirement Center, than on possibly the team that can shatter all types of yardage and scoring records this season. I really hope that on February 7th they lift the Lombardi trophy in Miami and the renegade Jeremy Shockey shoots the bird at the camera while poppin a bottle.

Posted by the Insomniaq doin the Benson Boogie in the end zone

C'mon Son!

Aiight, I was tryin to blog last night, but there was an error (BLAME GOOGLE...wow that hurt my heart to say that). So at any rate I'mma give yall the rundown on some of the foolishness that has gone on during the past week. And taking a page out of the Ed Lover book...we gon rock the "C'mon Son".

First off in the world of Sports... Isiah Thomas gets called out by Magic Johnson (his close friend) because of some things that Zeke said about Magic in a new book by Jackie McMIllian. There was some conversation with Isiah and Thomas was said to have been spreading rumors that Magic was gay. C'MON SON! You kissed the man on the cheek in front of Michael Jordan, God, and the entire world at the 88 All Star game, that YOU lobbied to get Magic in...what a buster.

Richard Seymour of the Oakland Raiders went on record, during a Cincinnati radio show saying that the Raiders were gonna make the playoffs. Clearly he hit his head on something cause JaMarcus Russell is NOT Tom Brady, Tom Cable is NOT Bill Belichek, and they play in the AFC West where the Denver Broncos are 6-0. C'MON SON! You are not in Boston anymore. You not even the best defensive player on your team. So what you got rings, but that cat wearing number 21 is the TRUTH.

"The best rapper alive" Lil Wayne pled guilty to gun possession stemming from a 2007 arrest in New York city after his first headlining show in the big apple. His sentencing date is in February and it has been noted that as part of his plea agreement, he will do a year in prison. Sounds familiar, (sorta). C'MON SON...you are NOT T.I.! You got 4 months...get in the studio and put it down, of course you aint gonna lose any momentum. But just know that Jay is still out there and Blueprint 3 is still the hottest joint out right now...

Keepin with the hometown, Louisiana State Representative Austin Badon, is expected to drop OUT of the 2010 New Orleans Mayorial Race. Now here is the catch. He is expected to also announce he is going to run for New Orleans City Councilman for District E (New Orleans East)...C'MON SON! Make up your mind. I have on good authority that you arent the sharpest pencil in the box, but did you have to do it like that? What were you thinking about? Also Troy Henry has announced that he WILL throw his hat in the ring for the Mayor's race. Dude has NO political background...but as he puts it, his professional background and knowledge of corporate America will make him the obvious choice. (Sounds like Ray Nagin)...but dude C'MON SON! You used to work for Enron!

And just for the haters...The Saints are 5-0 and goin to Miami this weekend. They gonna win the game... I sure wish that ESPN would stop suckin up to Brett Favre and give Drew Brees and the Black and Gold some respect. And basketball season is a week awway...Let's GEAUX Hornets!

A true living legend... from New Orleans

Morning family,
Last night, I was witness to a true once in a lifetime event. Industry Influence 22 (aiight it happens once a month, but not like this) was totally off the chain. There was the usual hobknobbin and networking goin on, and Go DJ EF Cuttin on the ones and twos...but the moment of the night was when "The Biggest Mama" Mia X showed up and showed out for the spotlight section.

Mia (a personal friend for at least 21 years) told her story... from New York Inc. (Shout out to Denny, Mannie, Wop, and Shorty) to her recording The Payback with Diamond and DJ Bigg Cheez (Psychoward DJ's), to her non commital relationship with Master P and No Limit Records. Did you know that she was a major part in over 60 MILLION records sold worldwide? A true showstopper out that 7th Ward. How many female emcee's can say that huh?

She went on to discuss her future plans, she has a reality show with R&B Singer (and my cousin) Monica, a show of her own that she is developing where she goes out and finds those with talent. This isnt an American Idol type deal but the twist is... these folks are addicts. She wants to get them treatment, get em clean, and offer the oppty to record a song and maybe get outta that rut they are stuck in. She also, spoke on her activism as the need for Federal Aid for victims of Hurricane Katrina and the way tables turned when other tragedies in other parts of the country had "disasters" and what they felt like when they needed help...

Mia also spoke on her place in Hip Hop and how she and the genre broke up several times but she always went back to it..now thats love. My highlight of the event was photographing a mini No Limit Reunion with Mia, KLC and Moby Dick (from Beats by the Pound) and Mr. Serv On. And even though I have connections with all of them that span at least 15 years, its always like the first time with them. Now if I could only get them in front of my camera on a location and shoot some images, I can kick off this book project just the right way... Shouts out to Wild Wayne and Sess 4-5 for continuing to put on these events and helping in the progress and archiving of New Orleans music, culture, and legacies

At anyrate pictures to come...



photo courtesy of fotogrphx photography ©2009

In New Orleans Sports news...

Yesterday was a funny day in a sense sportswise, here in New Orleans. The Hornets traded (again) Tyson Chandler to the Charlotte Bobcats, for Emeka Okafor from the University of Conneticut. WOW! This guy, a year ago Okafor signed a 6 year extension that was worth $72 million, and now the Hornets have to pick up the tab. Not that I'm really concerned cause there is a possibility that the trade wont go through.. Last season, we tried to trade Tyson to Oklahoma City for the expiring contracts of Joe Smith and Chris Wilcox, but Tyson didnt pass the physical. A good thing right? I'm pretty sure that something similar may just happen again.

Either someone on the coaching staff or in the front office really have it out for Chandler. They really have their signals crossed up. TC is a pretty athletic type guy, I admit he's a lil frail and not bulky in the paint, but he does play some serious defense, and is good for at least 2 blocks and 3 dunks a night. I know I've said it

before, but the ones they should be tryin to get rid of is a combination of David West, Antonio Daniels, Peja Stojackavic, Morris Peterson, and / or Rasual Butler. Peja wont go cause his contract is far too big. Daniels and Peterson are both a waste of time if you ask me and West and Butler just rub me the wrong way. D. West doesnt play as big as he could (and he is a 2 time All Star...go figure) and Butler to me has focus issues....HE IS ALWAYS IN THE DAMN CLUB!

On the upside of this issue, I watched a Summer League game and was really impressed with the play of our draftees, Darren Collison (PG from UCLA) and Marcus Thorton (SG from LSU). They are both athletic, hustle and have great court vision. Most importantly they can shoot the ball and defend. Only time will tell if they actually fit into Coach Byron Scott's scheme of things. Not saying that they are or they arent, but you gotta sorta look at his history with young players...i.e. J.R.Smith and Chris "Birdman" Anderson. They have made major contributions to the Nuggets and their playoff run. TC wrote on his blog...I just want to thank the city of New Orleans, the Hornets organization for the opportunity and for the great couple of years that I had there. I also want to thank my Hornets teammates for everything they've done for me. I had great time in New Orleans being able to enjoy the game again, with them. I'm just glad that he aint bitter and was gonna pop off about doin the Bee's dirty when the Bobcats come to town...LOL. I thought Mo Pete was gonna cry cause he knows if Tyson is gone from here, he's so next...

In other sports news...well it aint really sports and it aint really news, but appease me for the moment why dont you. New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush and his TV Reality Show star girlfriend Kim Kardashian have called it quits. The news on the street is that Reg was gettin ready to go to camp and wanted her to come with, but she declined. She is getting ready to shoot yet another season of "Keeping up with the Kardashians" on E!TV and doing whatever it is these celebrity types do. Well maybe thats a good thing, cause now maybe, just maybe Reg can concentrate on football, and I know that wants to play well and make a lil noise. Here's lookin at you kiddo.

Also in NFL news, Commissioner Roger Goodell has conditionally reinstated former Falcon quarterback Michael Vick and he is now able to sign a deal with a team (whomever will have him) and participate in training camp and also possibly play in the last two exhibition games before having to sit out anywhere between 2 to 6 weeks of the regular season. This is good for him, because whoever picks him up (i wish the Saints would pick him up, but you never know) will have a quality backup quarterback (yes, I'm still on that) and he has time to get the playbook down in his head. There is also the option of the wildcat formation situations, where you never really know what he is gonna do, he may throw or ruyn the ball....this makes him more of a threat on the field than just thinkin you gonna have him returning punts or kicks or even playing running back. Oh well, its good to see he is gonna be able to earn a living and not have to keep working that construction job. And Antonio Pierce, Linebacker for the New York Giants is expected to be indicted in conjunction with the Plaxico Burress shooting incident in November...more details to follow....

"Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?" - Louis Armstrong

OK family,
I came home from Atlanta yesterday, and I dont care where I have been over the country, there is no place like home. The homies, the atmosphere, the damn raggedy ass streets and most importantly...the fam. I got to the crib, unpacked my clothes and went straight to the fridge...STUPID MOVE KILLA, you been gone a month. So what do I do? What any other red blooded American boy would. Go get something to eat. After a steady diet of gyros, chicken wings, and pizza ,I was somewhat conflicted about what it was that was gonna die a miserable death, cause whatever it is will get banged up.

Do I want Popeye's, Seafood or a Po Boy? Clearly I want a po boy sammich of the OYSTER variety, and thats what I get. So I go to the neighborhood Daquiri Shop and place my order...Oyster on french fried hard dressed with cheese, lemon juice, and HOT SAUCE! Coupled with a Barq's Root Beer and beaucoup napkins...it was good and I have the belly to prove it.

Gotta run, shooting a party tonight, but first I gotta get my money from this character for this wedding and if he aint got it, there's gonna be trouble...trouble...

Posted by the Insomniaq, belchin and wanting another sammich

R.I.P. to a New Orleans Legend

"March 8 to 5...aw ya damn bastards" - Edwin H. Hampton

Today is a sad day in the city of New Orleans, one of its greatest Mardi Gras legends is no more... Edwin H. Hampton, founder of the St. Aug Marching 100 has passed away at the age of 81 after a lengthy illness. He has been the band director at St Aug since 1952 the year after the school opened.

I personally didnt go to the Aug (even though I always get associated with them), but my younger brother did and played in the band, So in an indirect way I had some interaction with him. "Hamp" as he was affectionately known has lead the band in the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in New York, the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, California. The band played at Pope John Paul's visit to New Orleans in 1987, at least 8 US Presidents and numerous Super Bowl appearences. But most importantly (to New Orleanians) the big boy Mardi Gras parades...Endymion, Bacchus, and Rex...

My fondest memories of Hamp were definitely the Good Friday fish fry at the school. It was always crowded and he always took the time out to speak to everyone there, even if you had a mouth full of food (or vice versa). He will definetly be missed by the Saint Augustine High School family, alumni, his beloved band members, and the 7th ward. He will miss all of them too. Its gonna be kinda strange goin to the Aug / 35 football game in a couple of weeks and not see him with that scowl on his face, but the legacy of Hamp will live on... This second line may be bigger than the one for Michael Jackson...LOL. I gotta be there for that one, and I dont even much like second lines like all that.

Posted by the Insomniaq..i might have to pick up my horn to see if I still got it

THE ASSOCIATION...Free Agency Southwest Division Moves

The NBA Free Agency signing period has started and there are some good / bad things goin on.... I am gonna give my personal opinons on whats goin on and what my damn Hornets need to get a ring...

Today's big news is the 4 team deal (between the Mavs, Magic, Raptors, and the Grizzlies) that sent Shawn Marion to the Dallas Mavericks. This a day after Jason Kidd decided to stay with the team. These moves are gonna make it really hard to beat Dallas (even though the Bees will find a way)... They got rid of Jerry Crackhouse, Deavon George, Antoine Wright and a couple of after thought players, so there starting line up should be kinda hot (on paper).

• Jason Kidd at the point
• Josh Howard at the off guard position
• Shawn Marion actually playing the small forward position
• Dirk Nowitzki playing power forward
• Erick Dampier at center... WOWZERS this cat still has a job in the league? LOL

And dont forget they got Marcin Gortat from Orlando so they got some horses to do damage in the Southwest...and 3 point shooter Quinton Ross a Dallas native, just what Dallas needs is another cat that can light up from downtown. They are also tryin to hold on to Brandon Bass and James Singleton

The San Antonio Spurs are set to sign free agent forward/center Antonio McDyss, who may step into the starting line up with the departure of Oberto (or whatever his name is) who went to Milwaukee, I believe when they got Richard Jefferson (wow...it just gets deeper in the SW). These two cats right here are gonna take a lot of pressure of Pepe LeParker, Tim Duncan, and Mano Ginobli and put another scorer (Jefferson) and defender / board banger (McDyss) another move that looks to make the Spurs a hard team to beat...yet again

The Houston Rockets though seem to be in a lil trouble... They lose Ron Artest to the Lakers and has already "hoodalized" Sportscenter so who knows what he might do in the City of Angels. Yao Ming's broken foot will more than likely sit him down for the entire season and the league gave him the injury exemption so that also tends to lead that he aint playing. Dikembe Mutumbo retired after tearin his knee up in the playoffs, Tracy McGrady is a question mark cause he is soft as tissue paper and just as likely to tear up. So in essence all they have left to rely on from last season is Super Midget Aaron Brooks and Captain Shane Battier...but to the rescue fresh off winning the World Championship with the Lakers is Trevor Ariza (oh I'm dying laughin over here if they think thats the answer), who has already blamed his agent for landing him in Houston, been shunned by LeBron James who said he didnt really want him to come to Cleveland, and is really kickin himself in the ass for leaving LA for the same amount of money to play with the walkin wounded.

This brings us to the Memphis Grizzlies... They got a young team with Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo (who I thought shoulda been Rookie of the Year, but thats just me, I like his game), Mike Conley, and Marc Gasol. They picked up Darko Milicic...you know the cat that got drafter between LeBron and Melo (I didnt think you remembered) They are said to be making a run at "The Answer" Allen Iverson, who has fallen out of the graces of Philly, Denver, and Detroit. It seems like the future Hall of Famer will be added to the list of great players (at their position) to NOT win a championship, not to mention a 15 million dollar paycut (OUCH!). Other than that the Grizz aint making no noise so they gonna be content being cella dwellaz until Rudy and O.J. get pissed and want out.

Finally we get to the New Orleans Hornets (da home team...)
Even though we have the best point guard in the universe in CP3 (Chris Paul for you that have been under a rock the last 3 years), and 2 time All Star David West, Tyson Chandler and wonder sub James Posey after that the Hornets roster looks like some vagabons IMO.

• Rasual Butler - If this guy can stay out the club on Wednesday night he might be about something instead of the last minute prayer shooter
• Morris Peterson - Get the hell outta here with that one, I was mad when we signed him from Toronto
• Devin Brown - Dude hustles but aint worth two dead flies
• Antonio Daniels - Its not serious, he coulda stayed in D.C.
• Peja Stojakavic - Is the Hornets T-Mac, he can shoot the lights out but damn he's fragile...

The Bees tried to send Chandler to Oklahoma City, which I thought was a bad move in the first place but luckily (if there is such a case) he failed the physical and came back. Then sent Mike James who I thought was a solid back up to the Wizards for Daniels who hasnt impressed me at all. The problem is not money, it cant be when we turned down state money due to the increase in ticket sales. The Shinn's need to open that checkbook and make some moves before erybody get gone. Talks of Amari Stoudemire coming to the city are crazy cause he makes too much money. We drafter Darren Collison from UCLA who is gonna be a solid back up to Paul, and acquired Marcus Thorton (former LSU Tiger) via trade at the draft, but we need to get bigger up front...Chandler is slim even though his defense is decent and his Crescent City Connection with Paul are electrofying. David West NEEDS TO GO, yeah I said it. He plays soft relys on his mid range jumper, when he needs to be on the block banging cats. He is NOT the solution, I dont even see how he even made the All Star team twice (the first time he made it cause the game was in New Orleans and Byron Scott was the coach of the West).

There are free agents out there...I dont know how receptive they are to playing in New Orleans, but...

• Lamar Odom is there, but I seriously doubt the Lakers are gonna give him up
  
• David Lee the Knicks forward can jump out the gym (well he used to) and is a banger
  
• Former LSU Tiger and former Hornet Brandon Bass who actually played like a beast against us

This just in...The Hornets are set to pull the trigger on a trade with Phoenix which would send Chandler to the Suns for Ben Wallace. This is some bull, Wallace is talkin bout retiring and if he does then we not gonna have anything. They better go sit down, Big Ben is a shell of his former self and is now a fill in, but shit he could be a better filler than some of them other cats we got...

Anyway GEAUX HORNETS!!!!

Urban Decay...a photo essay