TOP 5 REASONS (young people) PEOPLE CHEAT.

5. Social Media

I know what you’re thinking, Facebook or Twitter or G-Chat or whatever can’t make someone cheat. Au Contraire mon Frère. These places have become breeding grounds for some sultry suspect behavior. All starts with the friendly out in the open comment or tweet which is not serious at all. Those little blips turn into playful banter which turns into private messages, which leads to the social media stalk. It begins with late night photo gawking, asking yourself, “Hmm, I wonder how she would look with me? Or Wow I never knew he had such a nice smile. After the back and forth flirting comes the texting. After the texting comes the potential phone call. After the phone call comes “let’s do lunch.” After lunch you both are still eating and thus cheating. Game Over.

4. Only Way Out

There comes a time where the relationship has to end but you have no clue how to get out. The exit strategy is to cheat. Who wants to be known as the person who dates a cheater? Not me. This is the optimum get out of jail free card. Had the US cheated on Iraq or Afghanistan maybe this war would’ve been over a long time ago. I kid, I kid. Or am I?

3. Case of the Ex

The ex is the most dangerous factor. Here’s some advice I received from a wise friend: Stay away from the Ex! If it ends well that only makes the cheating more inevitable. Sure it’s all over and yeah we’re just friends. Suddenly the next morning you wake up looking at each other asking how we got back here. But of course this magical experience was only one time and it didn’t mean anything. My friends, don’t get it twisted the EX is not safe. Even in the cases of a messy breakup, the first time you run into the EX with a hotter, cooler, lover, FINNITO

2. Definition

Girlfriend, My Man, Friends with Benefits, My Homie, all poppycot! I can’t think of how many times I’ve met two folks whose definition is unclear. One is saying how much they are feeling their girlfriend/boyfriend and how things are going so well. The other is hitting me with I hope they don’t think we’re serious. Her Facbook says “IN A RELATIONSHIP” and his says “IT’S COMPLICATED.” I present to you the infamous undefined. If we don’t know than it can

1. Boredom.

Excitement keeps every relationship alive. The lack thereof will likely lead to a break up or yup you guessed it, Cheating. If you were taking me out to the great shows and theater and now we’re watching one of these Tyler Perry programs, this may lead to cheating. If we were having great dinners and now we’re grilling up some cheese sandwiches that ans issue that may lead to cheating. If it goes from toe sucking to toenail clipping, that too may lead to cheating. If the sparks that lit up the relationship dim out well you get the point.

For the Record I’ve Never Cheated…well all depends on your definition of cheating of course!

My beloved Knickerbockers beat the Suns last night who also happened to have the best record in the NBA. We’ve been trash for so long that this  game caused for a little reminiscing. I remember when my starting five was Ewing, Oakley, Mason, Starks and Harper! With those memories vivid in my brain, allow me to take you back to the TOP 5 MOMENTS OF THE NEW YORK KNICKS (90’s edition)

5. The Dunk
Arguably the most famous dunk in Knicks history, there was no way it could be kept off of the list. I will say that the legend of the dunk has outgrown the actual play. Honestly it happened so fast that I barely remember it. I do remember a few things though. I remember having that poster in the room and I remember the fact that Jordan also got dunked on!

4. Chris Childs Snuffs Kobe Bryant
Now if you are a true 90s or early 2000s Knicks fan, you shall remember this play and might even remember where you were. I recall it was an afternoon game that Knicks were losing. I believe Chris Dudley had got dunked on something ugly and things were getting testy. As soon as Kobe got two pieced, I called my fellow Knick fans and we all celebrated a good laugh!

3.Larry Johnson 4 Point Play
Whether you were there, at home or at your local sports bar, it doesn’t matter. This has the makings of a number 1 play. The dramatics, the impossibility and LJ’s beard made this moment an unforgettable one. The overhead shot of the Garden celebrating is one that is now used for big plays all across the basketball coverage. LJ had definitely hit his militant stage at this point and this militant led a community of fans to the promise land or at least to the next round of the playoffs. Peep the post game interview and how Larry bigs up his islamic faith as well.

2. Allan Houston Gamewinner
Allan Houston is often remembered for his unsuccessful 6 year 100 million dollar contract. I remember his sweet jumper, his deadly triple threat and of course one of the biggest shots in Knicks history. The game winner helped the Knicks become only the second #8 seed to beat a #1 seed in the playoffs. What I remember most is me literally jumping on my bed and breaking it, as I celebrated. The bed never recovered. Game Over!

1. Patrick Ewing dunks on Zo
I may be a little biased on this one, but I shall not have Patrick Ewing off of the list. This was huge because it was perhaps the last great highlight of this NYK warrior’s career. Taking place in the Eastern Conference finals against the hated Miami Heat, Ewing would not be able to play in the finals due to injury but this dunk or his Hoya comrade was a memorable one.

5. Ernest Givens-Houston Oilers
Jerry Rice was easily the best WR in the game but Givens was my favorite. With an equally superb Warren Moon at QB one could rack up huge numbers with this guy. I challenge anyone out there to stop my Houston Oilers passing game! I guarantee 300 yards.


4. QB Eagles- “Randall Cunnigham”
Before Michael Vick in Madden 2004 there was QB Eagles aka Randall Cunnigham. Of course he had the great Keith Jackson to throw to but the fun part was the running! Like some crook running through Center City in Downtown Philly, QB Eagles was always out and was not getting caught.

3. Christian Okoye -Kansas City Chiefs
Bo Jackson and Barry Sanders are the popular picks for best running backs in this game. The Nigerian Nightmare should definitely be added on that short list. There was no tackle that this man could not break. Dude would shed defenders like he was Keanu Reeves fighting some suits in the Matrix. Okoye dominated like Kimbo Slice would in backyards. This guy put Nigerians on the sport map in my book. Tecmo Legend.

2. Lawrence Taylor- New York Giants
The fact that he’s the only defensive player on this list should say something. LT was fast, strong and his tackles would never be broken. He played on another level, as if he was high on coke or something. Throw Taylor in the right position and he was blocking FG’s and extra points with ease. Sacks, interceptions you name it LT did it.


1. Bo Jackson Oakland Raiders
Anyone who’s every played video game knew this was coming. I am convinced that whatever God you believe in, took part in creating this 8 bit monster. There has never been a more dominating sports star in a game and maybe real life for that matter. Bo Jackson was literally unfair if you had an ounce of skills. We’ve all been a part of majestic runs like this one below before:

5. lew alcindor not trying out for the 1968 olympic games
at this point in his career lew straight outta nyc was the most dominant and impressive college basketball player in the nation. he was a straight lock but chose not to try out for the team due the treatment of the black community. these olympic games are often remembered by john carlos’ and tommie smith’s black fist in the air, but we forget to about young kareem. now the fact that i had to use lew’s example shows how much nba players over the last few years have not made moves.

4. ron artest fighting fans
now many look at this moment as a pure act of thuggery. i on the other hand look at this a the disgruntled slave having enough. he was being taunted, cursed at and these mofos were even throwing things at this dude. they were sitting there with their expensive tickets, yelling out all types of disturbing shit but they can do so because the nba allows. god forbid a player or coach criticize the hierarchy of the nba. right into the pockets. now i think ron ron is indeed a lil crazy, but what he did was show the people that he’d had enough. i bet you fans won’t be throwing things at his ass again. if you taunt the oppressed long enough, one day they are gonna break free and bust your shit. see ron artest

3.craig hodges calls a spade a spade
so the bulls win the title and craig visits the white house. craig throws on a dashiki. craig slides president bush the first, a note that expresses how tight he was about the administration’s treatment of the poor and the minorities.
a few years later craig goes at mj. he calls out mike for not taking more of a stand on particular social and political issues. i’m with craig on this one.

2. larry johnson and slavery
one of my favorite knicks over the years was my man lj. larry johnson was no longer grandmama by the time he came to the knicks and especially wasn’t grandmama during his last years. fast forward to nba finals 1999. “what we have is a lot of rebellious slaves on this team” and when bill walton called him a disgrace lj would go on to say “damn bill walton. tell him to trace his history and see how many slaves his ancestors had.”
larry had his full beard and hair grown out. he was not playin and in doing so provided one of the most poignant and i believe advanced statements involving black athletes in a long time.

1. mahmoud abdul-rauf and old glory
now we’ve all been to an event where the national anthem has played. sometimes we don’t take our hat off, sometimes we talk during the playing or singing and sometimes we are singing the theme to “fame” in our heads. that last one may only be me but whatever. regardless we always stand. not mahmoud. he didn’t stand, no hand over heart and back to the flag. he stated the flag represented tyranny which conflicted with his islamic beliefs. reckless? i say revolutionary. he eventually compromised and stood up but prayed during the anthem. big boy moves and oh yeah he could ball!

balllinnnn!
peace.love.funk.

5. chris brown and rihanna – the lost performance doing perhaps their ike and tina impression, apparently chris brown is gully or actually not gully at all. apparently rihanna wasn’t the victim but it looks as if the lovable mr. brown assaulted a woman on his way from a party. so no chris and no rihanna but what did we get instead: al green!!!!!!!!!

4. swagger like us so m.i.a. comes out in black and white colored television and yes pregnant! 9 months pregnant! despite this she still killed. dancing, moving, grooving, im sorry haters she looked great. then the fellas come out and i must say they straight rocked. this was the first time they did this live so i actually wanted a lil more swag but maybe i just wasn’t ready. kanye’s black mullet =swag. jay’s turning his back to the audience=swag. lil wayne’s height=swag. t.i. no swag. sorry im just not a big fan of him live. dope overall show though i was a little hyped i won’t lie.

3. neil diamond doing sweet caroline i am a hip hop head through and through. but then there are those songs that cross all boundaries. songs that a young black man from queens only learns at such corner bars possibly named gantry’s. we all know that type of bar. the black folks only show up on the crazed college night (wed or thurs). when there they drink beer that never would, holla at white folks they never would and sing songs that they never would. one of those songs was sweet caroline by mr. neil diamond. we have all caught ourselves doing the OH OH OHHHHHH” part of that song and so did the grammy audience. neil diamond was havin a blast and so was i. feelin so good so good so goooood

2. lil wayne’s performance the band the dancers alan toussiant i loved his love for new orleans. i loved how he didn’t hit ya with the cliché hip hop performance at the grammy’s (see t.i.). i love his song selection with Robin thicke and not tpain. no lollip or a milli which i enjoyed but i think he took to chance and succeeded. hate it or love lil wayne is dope.

p.s. did we peep, “shawty get low” being played to introduce tpain and will. i. am. right after? we’ll never escape it those apple bottom jeans or those boots with fur.

1.presentation of r&b album of the year what a way to open the show! newarks finest herself ms. whitney houston shows up. now i must say i was very impressed with whitney’s look. she showed some leg looked healthy a little too much makeup but overall was killing it. then she spoke. she started talking bout how she should’ve worn her boots. then came the slurring and the light stumble in speech. (__insert crack joke here____). then jennifer hudson won and we all knew she would. there’s no way the grammy’s wouldn’t give it to her after her terrible tragedy. she did have a dope album but the competitors had no chance. my fav moment though of this part though was being able to see dave (aka punk from the infamous “i love new york”). jennifer is a long way, long long long way from ms. new york and the grammy’s are a long way from vh1 reality.

as cool as this show was nothing beats my favorite grammy moment of all time:

i recently made a trip to capetown south africa. it was a gorgeous city and i most def recommend that if you ever have chance to pay it a visit.

part of my trip though was the 14 hour flight to my layover destination of dubai. we took air emirates and flew on their a380 airbus. comparing the airbus to any american airline is like comparing beyonce to rupaul, soul plane to roots, the cosby show to malcolm and eddie, illmatic to any coolio album. ok you get the point. to catch my drift i present to you the top 5 reasons to fly on the air emirates a380 airbus

5. flight pack
this flight pack includes the most comfortable pair of socks. you can walk around the whole plane in comfort. now granted the stinky foot folk take full advantage but its worth it. pack includes a portable toothbrush and ill be the first to let you know that i did brush my teeth after enjoying a complimentary twix. gotta watch those cavities kid. and my personal fave the sleep mask. you haven’t slept until you sleep with a mask on. i brought mine home and i’m totally sleeping on a new level

4. in flight phone
each seat has a phone. you pick up. you dial a seat number. you call your homies or perhaps that sweet honey in seat 36A. “hey girl turn around i’m in seat 75c. i see you!”

3.liquor
now i’m no lush but i do enjoy a lovely spirit here and there. air emirates is going free alcoholic beverages the entire flight! now it was actually $8 for champagne. but jack daniels free. absolute free. i had some sweet merlot with dinner. some of that free pinot with lunch. a little delay and a little more pinot. little kid crying a little more pinot. poppin miniature bottles in all time zones.

2.food
the food was remarkable.
appetizer: smoked turkey accompanied by marinated corn
main course: chicken curry with biryani rice. mixed veggies and potatoes
dessert: sweet ass cake
midway snack: tuna wrap or mozarella sandwich
yup there was brunch…scrambled eggs. sausage. bacon. biscuits.

1. the playlist
they have this entertainment system that includes great movies and tv shows but the best part was the music. you can create a playlist from over 1000 songs from almost any genre. on thing missing was rap but here’s a sample of my artists
prince. michael jackson. hendrix. coltrane. miles. dizzy. aretha. estelle. adele. chris brown. mia. beyonce. stevie wonder. bob dylan. same cooke. marvin gaye.bill withers. sinatra. ellington. queen. les miserables soundtrack and more. close your eyes, put on your socks and mask and let the music play folks.

oh and by the way first class gets individual showers! damn.

happy flyin!
peace.love.funk.

5. orange banana republic cashmere v neck sweater.
this was my first step to a much needed style upgrade. my sister got this for me. i don’t know if she was giving me a hint or help or both. regardless i wore this thing like it was a uniform. i rocked it jeans, slacks, ties, v neck tees, button downs, fitted caps, kangols, dunks, timbs, hard bottoms even basketball shorts on those slow days. the sweater is long gone and actually i recently purchased another one but its just not the same.
4. b- in literary theory course
the hardest course in my college career was literary theory. i took it with the department chair who was a brilliant man and let me say this: he was no joke. i was a young sophomore struggling mightily to understand derrida, deconstruction and différance (not difference). I knew a C was the absolute best i could get in the course. i took that final like it was a playoff game. i was sweating all types precipitation. when all said and done merry christmas to me mofo’s! b-!!!

3. talking thriller view master
now this was truly the gift and the curse. i was a youngin when this item first touched my eyes. if you were a child when this classic video came out then you knew the fear that it evoked. i loved view masters, still do for that matter so when i first saw this gift one could only imagine the excitement. it was like watching a car accident. the images pained me so much but i couldn’t take my eyes away. yo and the thing talked! imagine vincent price straight talking to you as child. see what i mean by gift and curse. i don’t remember if mike spoke but he didn’t have to. michael jackson plus view master equals visionary goodness!

2. my first bear bubble coat
the parental units were very protective of their youngest and only son. that meant no involvement in any activity of thuggery proportions. that included among many things bubble coats. it took a while but my folks finally gave in and copped me a bubble coat. only two bubble’s mattered at the time bear and north face. bear was more popular at the time if i recall and my parents got it right. i was in high school but with that coat i truly became a man.

1. nintendo
as if there was ever a doubt. i was late in coppin my nintendo. i was about 3 to 4 years late but did i ever catch up. i played my fingers to the white meat. i’m talking contra, double dragon, tetris, teenage mutant ninja turtles, duck hunt and tecmo bowl. till this day i am nasty on tecmo bowl. bo jackson is untouchable. i would sing that tetris theme song in my sleep. there were dreams about me and the duck hunt dog straight chillin on the block. still my favorite system to date. love at first site. when the game didn’t work i just put my lips together and blew! not if that isn’t love i don’t know what is.

and finally number 1
O
watch as a young prince shakes up the political world. he faces the evil witch turned good witch. he battles the old dirty wizard and cooky court jester in a final round to change the world and become king!
Music by the Roots
you all know we need that obama play to be on and poppinand the tony goes to…yayo for “g unit the musical
peace.love.funk.

with that said here is the list of the top five players in the nba today as in RIGHT NOW. not all time, not throughout their career, not who will be the best. as of this snowy night who is the best player right now

5. Dwight Howard 20.8ppg, 14rpg
As a big man there is none more dominant. he will bang on anyone’s head at anytime (ask tim duncan 2 nights ago.) he’s strong on the glass and blocks shot with ease. he’s tied for the lead in double doubles and oh yeah also leads in rebounds and blocks. this guy also has patrick ewing back there teaching him some lovely footwork in the post. so look out below big men.

4. chris paul 19.7ppg 11.9apg
let me start by saying that the best point guard argument starts and stops here. I don’t wanna hear these deron williams comparisons anyomore. but let’s talk about mr. paul. remember that double double list guess who’s up there with dwight howard. yup chris paul. he leads the league in assists and carries his team almost like no other. he has that steve nash and jkidd in their prime factor. makes some semi talented guys look nice. (see kenyon martin and shawn marion and now tyson chandler). ah yes he also just broke the record for most games with at least one steal. all around phenomenal player with crazy eyebrows.

3. dwayne wade 28.ppg 5.1rpg 7.2apg.
this season only one person may be better than mr. wade. thus making it tough to put him here. but he has to be here. the nba’s league leading scorer is back. this man gets to the paint as a guard better than anyone else. he’s carrying a subpar team to a possible playoff spot. miami just beat the mighty lakers and that is simply because of wade. he has the most 30 point games this season and leads his team in blocks. and not to mention his dominant olympic performance. dwayne wade is back.

2. kobe bryant 25ppg 5.4 rpg 4.3apg
let the drama begin. kobe’s skill cannot be denied. he can make any shot on the court, is reigning league mvp and his team has the third best record in the league and are defending western conference champs. ask me this question 2 years ago and it’s not a discussion. even last year i’d probably have kobe at the top spot. he is still the most clutch player in the league. i was one who said that as soon as kobe signed on we were gonna get the olympic gold. late in the gold medal match he hit a four point play that was a dagger. his killer instinct is best in the league.although his numbers are down he is still dominant. he plays excellent defense and guards the best wing player on the other team late in games.he is probably the best wing man since jordan. he has the total package and has almost without any argument been the best player in the league over the last 4 to five years without doubt.

until now…
1. lebron james 27.3 ppg 6.7 rpg 6,3 apg
i shall start with the numbers. at 27pts 6rebs and 6 ast this season he is in the company of jordan, west, and oscar robertson. he shut down carmelo tonight and was 2 assists shy of a triple double. lebron gets better every year and after takin his bum ass team to within one game of the nba finals last year with a 49 point perfomance he has finally in my mind surpassed kobe bryant as the best. they said he couldn’t shoot, now he hits jumpers. they said he doesn’t play defense well please watch the games, its more than just playing the passing lanes for this guy. he too now guards the best wing guys. 80% from the line now too another place he struggled. they say he’s not clutch well let’s ask detroit two years ago. he makes his squad better than almost anyone not named wade and paul, and the cavs are even better than them.his team has the second best record in the league and it’s all on his back. nobody has had better numbers over the last two years. he does it ALLLLLL. hopefully in 2010 he does it in an nyk jersey.

and no! none of these guys are better than jordan.
peace.love.funk.