16 years later, ‘B-Ball’s Best Kept Secret’ has remained a secret

Back when I was in seventh grade, a kid in one of my classes told me of an album called B-Ball’s Best Kept Secret. Obviously, the best kept secret in the NBA is players’ ability to rap, considering we haven’t seen many that can actually do it, or at least do it well. When he told me of this CD, he knew that he was going to get eight bucks out of me, and that he did. I bought it off of him the next day when he brought it into school.

Since that moment in 1995, the album has been a part of my life. The songs have been a part of my iPod, but unfortunately most of my friends and most people in the world don’t know that this gem exists.

The album contains 16 tracks, 11 of which have NBA players rapping. This 1994 disc has songs by former NBAers like Dana Barros, Cedric Ceballos and even the late Malik Sealy, along with a cast of others. Even the league’s current old men, Jason Kidd and Shaquille O’Neal drop some rhymes. It’s only fitting that Shaq has a joint on this, he’s the best NBA rapper ever.

The most notable tracks on the album are Chris Mills’ ”Sumptin to Groove To,” Brian Shaw’s ”Anything Can Happen” and Ceballos’ “Flow On.” If I was going to tell you to avoid a track, it’d be JR Rider’s “Funk in the Trunk.” All in all, it’s not that bad of an album and more importantly if you’re a hoops fan, it’s a must listen. The songs have that mid-90′s hip-hop feel to them and most of these songs are better than the crap they play on the radio today.

Want the tracklisting along with YouTube links to each song? Check the jump.

Patrick Ewing and Webster were tight

Patrick Ewing is to knee pads, what former child actor Emmanuel Lewis is to cuteness.

Notice I say is, because even though you may think it sounds creepy, Lewis still looks like a cute kid at 39 years old.

Lewis played Webster on one of the greatest shows of the 80′s, Webster — at the time of this picture, and I’m totally guessing, I wouldn’t be surprised if Lewis was about 13 years old.

Ewing played center on the second greatest team of 1994, the New York Knicks — this was before the knee pads thing though.

Props, The Hightop Fadeaway

Video Heaven: Rodman interviews and The Admiral crashes

I’m making this post about me. Why? Because two of my favorite players ever are in this clip, and I was not expecting this when I began to watch it.

Two weeks back Dennis Rodman was interviewed at the Hall of Fame Ceremony by CBS 3 in Springfield. I will watch anything with Rodman, he’s an icon and the greatest defender of all-time. Rodman is always entertaining, and most importantly, the guy was a great teammate. This year Rodman showed up to support his former teammate Scottie Pippen and last year he came through for both Michael Jordan and David Robinson.

This interview went from great to legendary when Robinson crashes and the two begin to reminisce on their relationship and time together in San Antonio. I honestly almost began to breathe heavy, that’s how excited I was. My two favorite players ever (along with Ben Wallace) in one interview, unexpectedly.

Seriously, the only way this interview could be better is if Wallace, Bill Cosby, Will Smith, Hulk Hogan and Kanye West showed up — seriously.

Kevin Malone from “The Office,” Charles Barkley sing Bon Jovi

If someone were to come up to me and say that there is a video of Karl Malone and Charles Barkley singing Bon Jovi, I wouldn’t believe them. Even more strange and less probable would be a video of  Kevin Malone, from NBC’s “The Office,” and Charles Barkley.

One of these two videos does exist and as Kevin Garnett says, “Anything is possiblllleeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!“

A couple of weeks ago at the American Century Golf Tournament in Lake Tahoe, Brian Baumgartner, who plays Malone, took the stage to belt out some “Livin’ on a Prayer.” Fortunately, Barkley was nearby. Granted Barkley wouldn’t grab on stage and grab the mic, it’s still one of the oddest pairings to even be that close to each other for that particular moment in time.

I think golf is kind of stupid, but if it really has the power to bring these types of groupings together, then we need more golf outings, quick.

Of course, I wish a better version of the video existed, but taking in mind that it’s low quality just proves to you how rare of a moment this was.

Props, The NBA Lottery Pick and NESW

Rony Seikaly releasing his first single

Rony Seikaly played in the NBA for 11 seasons, having quite a solid career with the Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors and Orlando Magic. His career came to an end after a brief stint with the New Jersey Nets in 1999. During his career Seiklay posted career averages of 14.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, in today’s game, Seikaly is an All-Star Center every season with those types of numbers.

Hailing from Beruit, Lebanon, Seikaly is the only Lebanese-born player in league history.

After his career, Seikaly made Miami his home and has played a role in a lot of the nightlife in South Beach. Seikaly invests in numerous bars down in South Beach and is also a DJ. I’m sure if LeBron James and Chris Bosh haven’t met Seikaly yet, Dwyane Wade will be introducing them

Seikaly is currently on an international tour DJing around the world, and on Aug. 3, he’ll be releasing his first single, “Come With Me,” which feature vocals by Polina (not sure who she is). The song has a nice groove to it, I can see it being played at upscale martini lounges where I wouldn’t be allowed to wear my throwback Seikaly jersey.

I’ve been known to tell DJ’s that they suck, but seeing that Seikaly is 6-foot-11, even if I didn’t like the song, I’d keep my mouth shut.

Nice work Rony, keep the jams coming.

Props, Ball Don’t Lie

Michael Jordan in NBA 2K11

Please Penny, don’t do it.

I’m trying to avoid the fact that Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway says he wants to come back to the league and join the Miami Heat. Penny is a staple to guys in my age group who grew up watching the game of basketball. He killed it on the court, his shoe game was right up there with Jordan, and he’s responsible for the greatest basketball commercials ever.

Unfortunately, injuries changed things for Penny and his career was hindered. His last attempt to play in the NBA fell short with the Miami Heat, when he reunited with Shaquille O’Neal for the early part of the 2007-08 season. Hardaway played in 16 games that season for the Heat, but was released by the team before midseason. He hasn’t played in an NBA game since 2007.

As much as I’d love to see Hardaway return to the game, odds are if he went to the Heat to chase a ring with their “big three,” he’d probably just embarrass himself. Well, maybe embarrass is a harsh word, but I just don’t want to see Penny coming off the bench averaging four points and three assists on a championship caliber team.

My memories of him dominating still outweigh the injuries, unlike many, and I want to keep it that way.

My message to Penny:

“Penny, you’re a legend in so many of our eyes. You have nothing to prove and I hate the fact that you are saying you want a minimal role with this team, don’t chase the ring. Injuries stole your career, but when you were at your best, there weren’t many players in that era that out-shined you, let’s just leave it at that.”

If he does come back, then I guess I will somewhat be rooting for the Heat, and most importantly maybe it means Lil’ Penny will meet LeBron and Big Z’s puppets, if that’s the case and it means Lil’ Penny is returning, then I’m game.

Manute Bol, 1962-2010

A Manute Bol write-up is coming, probably more than one. If you know me, if you know this site at all, then you know I was a huge fan. As the upcoming bachelor party pics will show you, I wore a Bol Sixers shirt on the day of his death. It wasn’t planned, it was actually planned as a tribute to him in hopes that he’d be getting better while recovering in the hospital.

Bol was one of a kind, and I will get into all that later. For right now, I just had to jump on here real quick and give my quick heartfelt sentiments to all of Bol’s family, friends, fans and the people of Sudan. Bol was truly an inspiration and really showed a prime example of how athletes should live their lives, along with people in general.

Manute, rest in peace, we love you.

Vintage NBA.com commercial with Penny Hardaway and others

The first thing you might notice when watching this NBA.com commercial is how cheesy the internet looks. The page looks awful. Terrible and boring, with gawdy fonts. Well, that part comes a little later so maybe the first thing you’ll notice is Penny Hardaway or Mitch Richmond. If not, maybe you’ll finally pick up on things when you spot Sam Mitchell in his T-Wolves gear, or Antoine Walker rocking the Celtics’ green.

What a fantastic time this was.

This is before my family had the internet, so back then I used to go to other people’s houses and beg for them to let me go on NBA.com (shouts out to Jeff Long), or I’d even ask the library at school if I could stay after and use the internet to go on NBA.com. Then my mom would pick me up at around 3:00 p.m. It was awesome and it probably explains why I sucked with girls in high school.

Back in the day, them good ol’ days.

Now all we do is sit online, tweet and stalk girls’ Facebook pages.