Lack of Inspiration

The Sports Vitamin has been a little quiet lately.  We have been watching too much basketball.  And we are not sorry about it!  We hope to have a few MLB posts soon!

We are an NBA nation!

BREAKING: Rondo’s Game 1 Chest Bump News!

By now, we’ve all seen the Rajon Rondo Chest Bump of NBA official Marc Davis.  If you haven’t, you can see it in The Sports Vitamin’s “Game 1’s Highlight” video we posted Monday.

Here’s a quick recap:  With approximately 41 seconds remaining in the 4th quarter, Rondo was issued a technical foul by Mr. Davis for arguing a foul called on teammate Brandon Bass. Rondo then bumped Davis with his chest, and was ejected from the game. Rondo’s response as to why he did it?

“As I was walking I thought [Davis] stopped, my momentum carried me into him,” pleading innocence. “I even think I tripped on his foot. I didn’t intentionally chest bump him, but that’s what it appears to be.”

In Rondo’s defense, he did somewhat trip, simply using his chest and the official to keep him from falling.  But the NBA did not accept his explanation. Rondo served his 1 game suspension during Tuesday’s Eastern Conference quarterfinal Game 2 in Atlanta. The Celtics won the game regardless of his absence, but I’m not done discussing this particular chest bump.

Giving Rondo the benefit of the doubt, I decided to research the event further and try and come up with a reasoning as to why the chest was thrown toward the official.  And, interestingly enough, after researching the tape and pictures I caught something on the back of Davis.  Look here.

Marc Davis, Zoomed In 25X

I noticed the sticker on the back of Davis’s wired mic, so I zoomed in and noticed it clearly said “Chest Bump Me!!!”  Apparently, many NBA officials personalize their gear, and Davis apparently meant this as a metaphor and not to be taken literally.

 

Analysis by CHANCE SMITH

 

Game 1 HIGHLIGHTS!

Oh, what a weekend in the NBA as the 2012 NBA playoffs officially kicked off.  Game winners, suspensions, injuries, and lots of excitement all over the place.  LUCKILY, The Sports Vitamin has put together a highlight tape of ALL the biggest moments of each and every game 1 over the weekend.  SO check it out!  IT’S PLAYOFF TIME!

 

Video courtesy of NBA.com, 2012

Music courtesy of Warner Brothers, 2011, Theophilus London – “All Around the World”

Brooklyn Nets New Logo Leaked

Nets Logo?

The Net will be leaving their old town, New Jersey, and hopefully their losing ways behind for the 2012-13 season to head to Brooklyn.  The website DeadSpin.com released a possibly “leaked” photo of the Brooklyn Nets new logo this past week.  There are no colors in the logo in the image, so it is still unknown what colors the Nets will be rocking.  What is also unknown is whether or not all-star PG Darren Williams will stick around to sport the new unis and logo, or whether he’s be playing somewhere else.  However, Brooklyn Nets fans can take some solice knowing that their new logo looks pretty fresh.

Kevin Durant Game 1 winner

If you didn’t see this shot because you were downloading Doodle Jump, here it is.  The NBA’s leading scorer put in 2 more points in a BIG way.

 

The New Shaq Fu

Shaq Fu

 

Clearly, we all remember NBA greats like Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson, and Ron Artest Metta World Peace for one reason: They were incredible rappers.

Okay, so maybe not.  Shaq Fu wasn’t exactly Straight Outta Compton.  Nonetheless, The Sports Vitamin decided to take a look at this generation of NBA superstars, and decide who could be the league’s next hot, er, well, “attempted” musical artists.

1.     Kevin Durant:  Durant is already sort of doing his rap thing.  He’s been featured on songs such as “Wired” by OKC local rapper Privaledge, and he has his own home music studio, Trey5 Studios, where, according to his blog, he makes his own beats and music.  His lyrics aren’t exactly as smooth as his jump shot just yet, but I give Durantula the best chance to make it in the music biz.

Rap Name: Durantula                                     First Single:  Russell, Stop Shootin’

Compare To:  Wiz Khalifa (minus all of the pot)

2.    Metta World Peace:  After the Lakers won the NBA Finals in 2010, Ron Ron released the track “Champion”, which wasn’t too bad.  It held no mention of him thanking his therapist, and it was even on the soundtrack for NBA 2k11.  Now, you think Nicki Minaj has the “Split-Personality” thing down?  Ron Artest/Metta World Peace INVENTED it!  One minute, he’s giving money to charity, the next minute, he’s giving elbows to the back of James Harden’s head.

Rap Name: Metta World Peace                 First Single:  It Was Unintentional

Compare To: Nicki Minaj (But a little wackier)

3.    Dwight Howard:  Look, we know the guy is creative.  He basically invented having props in the dunk contest.  The Superman booth and cape?  Now that’s stage presence!  He a goofy, fun guy.  But, as we’ve found out this past season with the whole “Trade me!” situation, he has a little bit of a dark, ugly side.  He sort of followed Shaq’s footsteps in being the young, athletic stud center for the Magic, using the “Superman” thing all the time, and who knows, he may be a Laker someday.  So will he follow in Shaq daddy’s path in the rap game?

Rap Name: Superman                                    First Single:  I’ll Never Leave You (Maybe)

Compare To:  Shock G (Sings “The Humpty Dance)

4.    Kevin Garnett:  I feel as if people forget how much of a beast Garnett was in his early years, and how amazing of a year he’s had this year.  But, really, the only reason I’m picking Garnett here is because he yells SO much, he must have good vocals to always want to show them off to everyone.

Rap Name:  The Big Ticket                            First Single:  Anything Is Possible

Compare To:  (Looks like) Snoop Dogg, (Sounds like) Mystikal

5.     LeBron James:  Okay, sort of a controversial pick here.  But this guy is SO good at everything else, how could he not be good at rapping, right?  Also, think of the deep psychological problems this guy could talk about in his songs!  He’s had half of the world hate him since he was 18 or so.  We’ve already seen that he’s musical:  He played the world’s smallest violin so well in that State Farm commercial!  Anyway, I’m a huge LeBron fan, and this is my list, so get over it.  Oh, and also, Jay-Z is his best friend.  So I think Bron Bron could get a little help.  HOV!

Rap Name:  King James                              First Single:  75 Cents ft. Jay-Z

Compare to:  Kanye West (Due to cockiness)

6.    Brian Scalabrine:  Just kidding…

The NBA Playoffs

It’s that time again, my personal favorite time of the year, the NBA Playoffs!  NCAA basketball has March Madness, so what does the NBA have?  April Awesomeness?  I don’t know, but either way, NBA fans can watch the games without having Greg Anthony ask us if it’s “March Monotony” 50 times.  That’s enough to get excited about.  So shut up Greg, it’s PLAYOFF time!

Me and “The Sports Vitamin” co-founder Chance Smith made our yearly NBA Playoff brackets below, so check ‘em out.

ALEX’S PICKS

In 2006, against all odds, I picked Shaquille O’Neal and the #2 seed Miami Heat to win the NBA Championship.  This year, the Heat will make me right again!  LeBron James, the “should-be” 2012 NBA MVP, has had one of the best season’s, statistically, in NBA history.  And also has managed to stay out of the negative limelight a little more than last season.  Expect the Heat to pick up steam after a tough first round with the Knicks, and roll through the rest of the playoffs, allowing King James to win his first crown.

I’ve got the Spurs doing big things in the Western Conference.  They should have no trouble with the Jazz and still young Clippers.  Beating the Thunder will be tough, but having home court will be enough for the Spurs to make it to the Finals.  Once they’re there, expect Tim Duncan and company to be worn out from beating young and emotional OKC in the previous round, and fall to the Heat 4-2.

Tony Parker is playing at an MVP level, but LeBron James IS the MVP.  So look for the Spurs to get knocked out of the Finals like they took a Metta World Peace elbow to the back of the head, as James will be looking for a little personal NBA Finals revenge against the Spurs.   I may be wrong, but I doubt it!

 

CHANCE’S PICKS

Well, I made my NBA Playoffs bracket, Sports Vitamin Fans.  Hopefully, it’s better than my NCAA bracket.  But seriously, I do have some thought and more knowledge with the NBA, and I will be right. So go on down to your local bookie and place your bets according to THE bracket.*

Some crazy good match-ups this year! Yes, I do have the Clippers beating the Spurs.  But listen: CP3 and the “Biracial Facial” (a.k.a. Blake Griffin) are going to bring it each and every game! The Spurs will fight, but this one goes all seven games, with the Clips taking the series.  Oh, and the Thunder/Lakers matchup in the semifinals with Metta back in the lineup should be very interesting.

It is Miami’s year, and LeBron will remember last year and start attacking the lane to get his first ring.

*NOTE: The Sports Vitamin will not cover any bets made with a bookie based on this bracket.  Also, we will not cover any hospital bills due to injuries from unpaid bets to said bookie.

 

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