ESPN Turns 10 (and parties in LA)

ESPN Turns 10
Then, Now and Next
By, N’neka Hite


Kobe Bryant was 19 years old and the first issue of ESPN The Magazine dubbed him as the NEXT big thing in sports. Ten years later they’ve proven to be the authority on sports conversation and the world of athletics.

To celebrate the conversion of television and print, The Magazine hosted a party on each coast; last week in New York and on Tuesday the West Coast brought out the biggest names in sports and entertainment to recount the history, savior the moment, and prepare for the future of a mulit-billion dollar industry.

The scene was set at Area night club in Los Angeles, with drinks flowing\and athletic enthusiasts letting their hair down for a night of partying. DJ D-Nice kept the hits in heavy rotation as tennis stars Venus and Serena posted up in their booth with friends in complete party mode.

Among the attendees were Jerry Rice, who rocked his superbowl ring around his neck, Steve Smith, San Diego Chargers Shawn Merriman fell through larger than life and even Kendra Wilkinson came out to play.

The celebratory issue follows a decade for The Magazine and this latest issue hit newsstands last week featuring ten athletes and ten covers. Five of the athletes, Ichiro Suzuki, LaDaninian Tomlinson, Tim Duncan, Venus & Serena Williams and Shaun White represent the past ten years and the other half LeBron James, Sidney Crosby, Alex Rodriguez, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Vince Young represent the future.

Even the newest prospects to the world of pro-sports joined in on the party. Tyson Jackson who was rated one of the nation’s top Defensive Ends was in attendance along with fellow LSU player Chevis Jackson who are said to have heavy stock in the future NFL draft. Who knows, maybe they will be featured as The Magazine’s NEXT big thing in sports.

Trey Songs and J. Holiday at the House of Blues

Friday Night at the House of Blues was packed. There were roughly eight women to every man and each chick brought her A game. I don’t know if the exuberant dresses and needle thin pumps were for the small percentage of male attendees or for that fine ass J-Holiday.

Now don’t get me wrong. I have always taken to Trey Song’s melodic sound. He hit hard with his first album. It was actually the first show that I reviewed while interning at Vibe in 2006. But this time, he seemed a little played and old school opening up for what I would like to call, "The One."

J-Holiday came out on stage and his presence blew me away. First off his skin was as smooth as butter and slightly tinted with a glow. His pants were glittery, but not in the early 80’s Michael Jackson way. No, these pants were like sexy baggy jeans with magic glitter on them. The glitter flickered in the dark room and along the zipper there was even more glitter sparkling seeming to call out my name. It probably sounds weird, but it wasn’t. This cat pulled off wearing glittery jeans that had every woman in the house swooning over him.

I realized that night, after four shots of Patron, J-Holiday is truly sexy and maybe, just maybe, his song Bed is justified.

Snowboarding For the First Time

Thank god I brought my savvy little sister with me because I wouldn’t have had anyone to affectionately choke while riding on the ski lift. Yes folks, I did it, I actually rode on a ski lift and jumped off the wobbly hanging bench and at top speed banked down snow summit’s bunny slopes. It was my first time snowboarding and what a time it was. I grabbed my sister and close girlfriend Chris and we traveled deep into the San Bernardino Mountains to spend the day with nature.

I’ve always loved the snow. The way you feel when you’re in it makes you feel like a kid again, or at least that’s the way it effects me.

Arriving at the mountain I wondered how hard it would be to snowboard for the first time. But as soon as I got my ski tag and looked into his eyes, I knew it would be a day I wouldn’t soon forget.

His name was Chris. He was 28, stood about 6’2 and had the most piercing blue eyes I’d ever seen in the snow. His hair was unkept and curly and he wore a yellow instructor jacket. Chris invited me and my friends to his snowboarding course that was to take place in the next fifteen minutes. I politely declined but found myself standing along side his eager-to-learn students twenty minutes later. I didn’t think much of the fact that the hottest guy on the slopes was actually my instructor, but as the day went on, it was apparent that he was the one...for that day at least.



After a couple of Jager shots I took back to the slopes. This time bouncing on my ass trying to balance. But every time I fell, like an angel of sunshine that yellow jacket appeared and Chris rose me to my feet and guided me down the mountain hand and hand. Looking into his eyes as we slid across the ice made me sure that he thought I was the most special student he’d ever encountered.


Thank you Chris for making my first time memorable, unlike the jerks before you.

Heineken Red Star Tour

Heineken’s Independent Achiever award is back for the second year with the Red Star Soul tour. This year, urban cities can expect a power line-up fueled by some of soul music’s most brilliant acts.

Mr. Number One on the Billboard spot, Common, kicked off the tour in Los Angeles performing hits off of his new album Finding Forever (G.O.O.D Music/Geffen Records), to a mellowed out head-bobbing crowd.

“I love it,” Common tells King-mag.com with a bright smile, still dripping with sweat from his electrifying performance. “It’s a great chance for us to tour in all these different cities. They put together and recognize great artists.”

Heineken isn’t the only mainstream source taking notice to the impact of soul music and its icons. Common is also starring in an upcoming blockbuster film with Denzel Washington entitled American Gangster. Despite his sliver screen success he says he’ll never leave hip-hop.

Kenny Burns, most noted for his signing of O.D.B. after his stint in the pen, is a driving force behind the tour. “Last year was my first year hosting and we broke acts like Emily King, Chrisette Michelle and Rahim Devon,” Burns said. I’m very proud of because all of them are doing great now. We have Chrisette coming back on a few dates, Common, Erykah Badu, Alicia Keyes, Rafael Saddiq and of course Rahim.”

Burns gave props to Heineken for making an award that holds as much relevancy as any other musical honor. “The independent achiever awards was created to recognize people in the market that don’t normally get recognized,” Burns said. “All these people who trail blazed in their own way but they’re not at the Grammy’s getting awards. The award is beautiful, they’re heavy, beautiful awards you want on your mantelpiece.”

This years recipients boast some of music’s most valuable contributors. Eddie Levert was in perfect attendance to acknowledge the award for his late son, soul great Gerald. DJ Jazzy Jeff, for revolutionizing Philly’s music scene introducing heavy hitters like Musiq and Jill Scott. Music Producer and Sony A&R No ID also received an award. Producing for artists in the likes of Jay Z, Bow Wow, Toni Braxton, Jamie Foxx and Common, Heineken took notice.

“I did Common’s first three albums,” No ID says. ID was clear that he likes to stay low key but may not be able to avoid the shine now. Kanye shouts him out, along with Jay Z on his most humble track “Big Brother” off the forthcoming album, Graduation. He speaks highly of the Chi-town trio. “Right now it’s just a good time for us. A lot of times its so many ups and downs getting there a lot of people don’t even be friends. [Now] we can all sit around and laugh because all of us are doing what we wanted to do.” No ID is currently an A&R rep for Sony.

Each city on the tour stop is in for a real treat. Live music, good crowds, and hit after hit after hit is a complete run-down of this year’s Red Soul Concert series.

I'm Back, I'm Back, I'm Back, I'm Back

It's been forever since I last posted. I think its been a good 10 months, but I'm so busy and I'm finding very little time to get online and post. But, today I made the decision to begin blogging again. Now with a bit more stability under my belt, I have so much more to share and so much on the horizon.

To catch you up I've graduated with my BA in Journalism. I've landed a job with an upstart preps sports website as Regional Director. I have posted several articles on line and now review for All Hip Hop.com.

I have a new nephew, Amari Isaiah. I am still single. I just got my own office. And I paid off my mustang.

Talk to you later.

The Happiest Day of my Life

Two days ago I celebrated a milestone in my life. I earned my Bachelors degree in Journalism. I participated in the 20th Annual Cultural Graduation ceremony at CSULB. The pyramid is a huge arena and to see it packed out with families there to support the acomplishments of the graduates was a sight to see. I could not believe the beauty in the African American students who shared that day with me.

Happy New Year!!!

I love it!!! It's 2007 and life has given us a new leash!

http://www.smartenupnas.com

The Rainbow Coalition is Talking...but will we listen?

Jessie Jackson has stepped his game up again calling for a ban on the infamous (and thanks to Michael "Kramer" Richards with the helping hand of the many African Americans and others) famous n-word. I didn't want to touch this subject in my blogs for fear of an outrageous rant on my part. I can get quite emotional on subjects and incidents such as the Laugh Factory debacle so this time in order to keep my blood pressure down, I just laid in wait to see what the American backlash would be. While every news outlet found it necessary to play the racist rant while trying to rationalize the incident, there were very little suggestions for reconciliation, until now.

Jessie Jackson invited Richards on his show to discuss the incident. He has now called for a constitutional ban on the n-word. In addition he is calling for entertainers, comedians, musicians and the like to refrain from using the negative and painful word. The Laugh Factory is the first to fall in line with Jackson's request. They have place a ban on the word at the comedy venue which has been the birthplace of many African American comics we all love today. As we know, comedians and rappers use the word heavily in their art form, but the question now is whether they can find an alternative way to express themselves for the sake of respect for the nation and their own race.

I don't think a lot of the younger generation take this issue as seriously as it is. We have lived in an integrated society where racism is hidden behind every corner and we choose to ignore the little things. Hopefully we can come together and put our chests out and take a stand. I know I'm going to try, what about you.