…questo è il blog della Gold Communication, azienda che si occupa di grafica ed editoria nel territorio di Ragusa.

Qui troverete in sacco di articoli giornalistici interessanti, riguardanti il nostro bel territorio, redatti dal giornalista pubblicista Carmelo Riccotti La Rocca. Carmelo collabora attualmente con l’agenzia di stampa Italpress, con la testata Il Quotidiano di Sicilia e  con il giornale online NuovaScicli Ondaiblea, oltre che di tanto in tanto con testate a carattere nazionale. Ma troverete tanto altro!!!

…buona lettura…

¡Bonitas piernas! ¿A que hora abren?

Este post es algo tramposo pues no se trata de alsun asunto o tema particular. Solamente encontre esta buena foto y quise compartirlas con ustedes.  ¿ A poco la zorrita de la foto tiene un par de piernotas capaz de provocar infartos? Sin embargo, a la que le debemos dar las gracias es a su amiga de rosita (que se ve que tambien esta potable), la cual, segun se ve, fue la que animo a su amiga carnosa a mostrar su fenomenal par de apendices. ¡Gracias por ser tan cooperativa, ojala hubiera mas mujeres como tu… la neta!

Melyssa Ford es una verdadera diosa, ante cuya sobrenatural presencia una no puede mas que caer de rodillas. Un verdadero monumento a la belleza y la cachonderia. Un arma letal que causa estragos en cuerpo, mente y alma de los hombres. Una sucubo de piel oscura capaz de dejarte seco en medio de una llameante inferno de los mas reconditos placeres. Un angel de eterea hermosura que te promete llevarte al mas perverso de los paraisos. Piel, carne, curvas, redondeces… todo lo tiene justo en su lugar.

De rodillas, tiranetas, adoren a esta deidad de fuego

Y aqui les va la biografia…

La carrera de Melyssa Ford y su belleza la han llevado rapidamente al reconocimiento no solo como una Hip Hop Honey sino como uno de los ultimos iconos Sex Symbol en la industria del entretenimiento.

Esta belleza llamada Melissa Ford ademas concurre a la Universidad York en Toronto y estudia Psicologia . Melyssa Ford eligio su camino educacional pensando en que un dia ella trabajaria para atender casos de ofensas sexuales e investigar reseñas criminales. Sin embargo, mientras todavia esta en Toronto, Melyssa Ford fue descubierta por el director Little X. Melyssa Ford luego recibio la oferta de poder protagonizar muchos videos musicales los cuales le han dado mucho reconocimiento en MTV y BET, convirtiendose en una de las Hip Hop Honeys mas reconocidas.

 Debido a sus grandes exposiciones, Melyssa Ford comenzo a tener muchas ofertas de conocidas revistas como XXL Magazine. Melyssa Ford hizo una participacion en XXL y esta le dio la oportunidad de conducir un show de su website,’ Lifestyles of the Phat and the Phabulous’, bajo la produccion del Vice-Presidente de Bad Boy Entertainment. Esta fue una gran oportunidad para Melyssa Ford asi que ella dejo la escuela y se fue hacia New York con un par de valijas y $25 para conducir el show.

Melyssa Ford fue pronto reconocida como una de las mas importantes de la y tuvo otro gran impulso en su carrera como Modelo y Hip Hop Honey cuando la revista Black Men’s Magazine cuando la eligio en 2001 para el numero de trajes de baño. La sesion de fotos salio tan bien que la revista le dio a Melyssa Ford la tapa. Melyssa Ford posteriormente aparecio en la tapa de Black Men’s Magazine tres veces mas lo cual la puso en la categoria de ‘la chica de tapa mas popular’ para la revista. Melyssa Ford tambien aparecio en la portada de 2002 del calendario Ebony Rider el cual puso sus ventas por el cielo sobrepasando en un año la cantidad de ventas de 5 años juntos.

 Smooth Magazine quizo que Melyssa Ford apareciera como una modelo pero pronto la incorporaron para escribir un una columna mensual de consejos luego de conocer sus estudios de Literatura Inglesa transformandose asi en la estrella de la casa.

La carrera de Melyssa Ford ha tenido muchos logros incluyendo su propio calendario y DVD, los cuales siguen teniendo muchas ventas.

Fuente: www.doggshiphop.com

¿Que opinaria tu novia de Melysaa?

“¡Naaaa! No se que tanto le ven, ni esta tan buena (yo estoy mejor)”

Oye… ¿si te esta circulando la sangre?

Aunque la cantante Jojo no ha dado de que hablar unicamente, aqui no la olvidamos y no tenemos mejor manera de recordarla que mirando esta fotillo donde nos muestra su esplendido fisico, coronado por ese suculento trasero; todo empacado en un vestido verde que mas bien parece que se lo pintaron encima, de tan untado que esta.Entre las mujeres no importa que no puedan ni respirar con esa ropa tan entallada, lo que importa en enseñar que tan buenas estan y humillar a las otras. Pero… ¡que chigados! sigan asi, nos vale verga lo que tengan que sufrir, mientras nos provoquen majestuosas erecciones ¿a poco no?

Rihanna se ha convertido en una de las morenitas mas deseadas de la farandula, desde que aparecio moviendo ese apetecible traserito que tan bien sacude. Convirtiendose en la competencia directa de Beyonce, ha cosechado bastante exito en el mundo del pop, en el cual, pese al despecho de las rubias, las afroamericanas se estan posicionando en las nuevas mandamas de la industria. Pero basta de palabreria, vayamos a lo que a todos nos interesa. Y lo que mas nos interesa de la bella Rihanna es su fisico y por eso todos vamos a disfrutar las imagenes en las que la morenita se le ocurrio ponerse una ¿vestido? practicamente inexistente, del cual sus suculentas tetas color chocolate pareciann escaparsele en todo instante. Bien, muy bien mamacita, a todos nos gusto tu modelito y esperamos que se haga muy popular… la neta!!!

Ya se te hizo costrumbre ¿verdad?… pero se te agradece

¡Ah, parece que ya es obligatorio! La zorrita Allen no pude dar un concierto sin que le paso algo sexoso. O le metan el dedo en aquellito o ya bien,  se le sale un pezoncito. Pero, nosotros no nos quejamos ¿verdad?

¡Colosal, simplemente colosal! No hay mejor forma de describir a esta enorme y suculente hembra, que muy generosamente muestra con orgullo sus gigantesco ataque frontal. No cabe duda de que las emos han dejado atras a cualquier otro “movimiento urbano” a la hora de enseñar, borrando de paso, a las goticas, punks, death rockers, hippies, etc. de la memoria colectiva masculina. La emos vinieron a esta mundo a enseñar ¡y vaya que los estan haciendo… la neta!

Querida niña, en nuestra sucia mente ya te tenemos un trabajito listo para ese par de melones…

… creemos que tiene una gran potencial

Uno de los mejores inventos actuales es la camara web. Gracias a este milagroso aparato podemos verle la jeta a quien sea en cualquier parte del mundo. Pero lo mejor de todo, es que gracias a ello, a que estan lejos, la morras se han desinhibido mas y ya no le ponen pedos a andar enseñando todas sus carnes a un cabron anonimo, solo por el placer de saberse vistas, deseadas y admiradas, amen de estar seguras de ser las musas inspiradoras de feroces puñetas.  Las niñas, como ya habiamos dicho, cada vez mas frecuentemente encuentras una fuente de placer al sentirse “sucias y degradadas” , como una vulgar puta que se entrega a quien sea por el mero gusto de hacerlo, sin recibir siquiera recompenza (lo que las diferencia de las prostitutas profesionales y que,  de hecho, las hace caer mas bajo)

Y, como muestra basta un pezon, digo, boton, aqui les tenemos estas grandiosas fotos de una recontratetona emo adolescente, que sin ningun empacho mostro esas suculentas montañas carnosas que con orgullo porta, coronadas con un rosado pezon (tan rosado, que casi no se nota, je). Sin embargo, al que debemos dar las gracias es al wey que  grabo el glorioso acto y que, como buen tiranetero, fue muy generoso al compartir esta joya con nosotros. Quien  quiera que seas, ¡gracias man!

Esto es lo primero que se me viene a la mente al ver a la tetona de arriba, no se a ustedes

Aunque tambien esta es una buena idea, ¿no creen?

Asi se veria la emo si viniera hacia nosotros, los cuales la recibiriamos con los brazos abiertos y la… pupila bien parada (piquenle a la imagen para ver)

Good deeds Carmelo Antony+LaLa and 50 Cent have both made some big donations to help familes in need this holiday season…

What LaLa had to say about the event

Yesterday we had our annual “Feed the Children” food drive. What an amazing event! So many families came out and collected food for Thanksgiving. It was such a great feeling to make a difference in someone’s holiday. No matter how big or small, giving back is what it’s all about. I’m looking forward to the Christmas holiday to do it all again! Thanks to the Boys and Girls club and all the volunteers for making this event a huge success! We could not have did it without you guys.-LaLa

 

Yestserday 50’s G-Unity Foundation gave out 300 turkeys at the Church of God in Christ Jesus of the Apostles Faith located in South Jamaica, in the neighborhood where 50 threw Forever Young Day in September.
Wednesday November 18th G-Unity will be serving food to homeless shelters that will be bused in by a local church.
Saturday November 21st G-Unity will be at another local church handing out 500 turkeys to families in need as well.

50 aslo donated $25,000.00 to the “You Can Go To College Committee”. The Queens based nonprofit organization was established in 1996 to ensure a smooth transition from high school to college for students. The program includes college tours in state and an annual black historical college bus tour, PSAT and SAT preparation courses, parents financial aid workshops, paid and non paid internships, scholarships and help finding financial assistance programs. In the last 12 years, “The You Can Go To College Committee” has been responsible for over 3000 students enrolled in colleges and universities and more than 1000 graduates all across the country.-Thisis50.com

]]> http://thatswhatimsayingguy.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/gameday-raptors-nuggets/ Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:11:54 +0000 Jeremy http://thatswhatimsayingguy.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/gameday-raptors-nuggets/

The Raps have their hands full tonight

Coming off a tight loss in Phoenix Sunday, the Raptors are in Denver tonight to face the Nuggets — never a fun task, but we might as well get this one over with. As always, a full preview over at Raptors Republic, featuring my NBA 2K10 game simulation.

Last year Toronto was pasted in Denver 132-93 in early December — Sam Mitchell’s last game as head coach. The Nuggets come into this one 7-3 and tied with Portland atop the Northwest Division, undefeated at home and coming off a 105-79 romp of the Lakers on Friday. They didn’t do much to upgrade in the summer, but last November’s addition of Chauncey Billups transformed them into a top-five team in the league, where I believe they still stand. A couple keys tonight will be to keep Billups in check and keep Carmelo Anthony completely going off — he’s currently tied for second in the league at 29.7 points per game. Denver also got a boost last week with the return of suspended guard J.R. Smith, who’s averaged 14.3 points in three games. Smith is talented but extremely shot-happy, and has proven capable of shooting the Nuggets out of games on off-nights. Let’s hope tonight is one of them.

Chris Bosh should be able to have his way in the paint with Kenyon Martin and Nene, though Birdman Andersen will bring some shot-blocking punch off the bench. I’m not sure what else Toronto can do to come out on top tonight other than to cross their fingers and hope for a miracle, though.

The Raptors and Nuggets get going at nine.

How about some love for the greatest practice player of all-time? Joey Graham is actually now a member of the Nuggets, who the Raps face Tuesday night in Denver. He’s averaging just 3.7 points in seven games, but believe me, he runs Carmelo Anthony ragged every morning at shootaround.

For more Random Raptors Moments, check the archive here.

El miércoles 4 de noviembre, a las 12 horas, en el salón de grados de la Facultad de Ciencias Jurídicas y Sociales del Campus de Vicálvaro, se va a desarrollar el seminario ‘Responsabilidad social: nuevos desafíos’. El seminario, dirigido por el profesor Carmelo Mercado, está organizado por el Departamento de Economía de la Empresa y el Foro Ecuménico y Social.

http://www.urjc.es/z_files/ai_noti/previsiones_files/responsabilidad%20social.pdf

Carmelo Anthony YAMS it on Paul Milsap opening night in Denver

Adaptado de Frei Giribone, OCD, por Luiz Beltrão

O ponto-chave na vida de Santa Teresa de Ávila foi, sem dúvida alguma, a oração, definida por ela como “um trato de amizade, estando muitas vezes a sós com quem sabemos que nos ama”.

Para Teresa, oração é relação vivida com intimidade. O Ato de Oração tem como função realizar a presença, por isso é uma exigência intrínseca da amizade, não uma questão jurídica ou contratual. “De acordo com teu amor, se fará presente a pessoa amiga”, disse Teresa. O Ato de Oração, ou de presença, vem de acordo com o amor que busca presença. A oração é antes uma forma de ser do que algo para se fazer.

Mas esse relacionamento amoroso e amadurecido não foi conquistado de maneira fácil. Muitas vezes, Santa Teresa foi tentada a se afastar da oração, seja por falso orgulho ou por falsa humildade. Mas insistiu, pois estava convencida de que a oração era o meio eficaz para sua transformação. Assim, ensina a nunca desistir da oração, ainda que mal feita, distraída, em cansaço ou em desolação. A oração mais mal feita é a que não fazemos.

Teresa nos faz ver que todos somos dotados com o amor de Deus, amor gratuito e imerecido. Reconhecermo-nos amados assim é a força dinamizadora de nossa vida. Por isso, oração é afetividade (deixar-se afetar) integral com aquele que nos ama e nos aceita em gratuidade. Disso resulta que, para mantermos esse relacionamento, não importará nossa situação moral ou nossos supostos méritos diante de Deus. Lamentavelmente, a tendência de muitos de nós é querermos negociar com Deus e, por esta razão, logo desistimos da oração, entendida como uma relação desinteressada e aberta.

A matéria da oração deve ser a própria vida, a mesma realidade histórica e concreta vivenciada por quem ora. “Converter-se é voltar à oração”. Para Teresa a oração não é uma prática isolada, mas consequência de toda uma vivência cristã. A oração deve falar da vida, para que a vida fale da oração. Pois, a vida é o termômetro da oração que existe ou falta na vida do cristão.

Oração pressupõe verdade, auto-enfrentamento e transformação, movimentos que, não raro, trazem desconforto, dor e sofrimento. Vida espiritual não é alienação, mas compromisso com uma realidade que necessita ser transformada. De fato, difícil é alguém permanecer o mesmo diante do encontro com o Absoluto. Deus nos desestabiliza, nos convida a deixarmos nossa zona de conforto e nossa comodidade para avançarmos para águas mais profundas. O encontro com a nossa verdade, com suas mesquinharias, apegos e sensibilidades, faz-nos sofrer, assim como esta saída de nós mesmos. Isto exige de nossa parte uma profunda experiência de perdão e aceitação da misericórdia de Deus que ama nossa verdade e nos transforma, aos poucos, no melhor de nós mesmos.

O mesmo ocorreu com Teresa. Em sua caminhada, ela teve que se vencer, se enfrentar várias vezes, o que não foi fácil e menos ainda, cômodo. A partir desta realidade, Santa Teresa nos fala da necessidade de uma firme determinação para nunca deixarmos de lado a tentativa de progredir na vida espiritual. Muitas pessoas se afastam da oração porque se baseiam nos resultados imediatos ou nos sentimentos que ela produz. Teresa nos ensina a perseverarmos sempre, independentemente de nossos sentimentos ou dos aparentes insucessos de frutos espirituais.

Se nossa relação com Deus é de amizade, ela deve ser sustentada pelo diálogo. A novidade teresiana vai por esta linha: é preciso dar atenção, atitude de escuta, para se enamorar da vida do amigo; à medida que cresce o amor, passo a me interessar por tudo aquilo que faz parte de sua vida (seus valores, seus critérios, suas escolhas) para, enfim, abraçar, como minha própria, a sua causa. E, como a causa de Deus é que toda a criação exista sob o imperativo da Palavra, pela oração o meu amor particularizado (manchado pelo egoísmo) se torna universal, alcança cada homem e cada mulher, dos quais me sinto irmanado e de quem me interessa a sorte.

O amor sedutor de Deus, cultivado em um relacionamento maduro e experimentado, nos arranca desde nossa mais radical liberdade, e vai nos identificando, Amado em Amante, tornando-nos cada vez mais semelhantes. Assim amadurecido, o orar se torna ação, or-ação, realidades indissociáveis, porque provém da mesma fonte que é o Deus Transcendente que se Encarna em nossa realidade para assumi-la e levá-la à sua plena expressão de comunhão e participação na própria divindade.

O desafio teresiano para nós hoje é fundamental. Qual é o tempo que estou dedicando ao diálogo com Deus? Que tempo e com que qualidade alimento esse relacionamento amoroso de escuta, atenção e identificação? Em suma, como estou vivendo o carisma teresiano (vida de oração e comunidade), dentro da realidade que vivo?

A perfeição na oração não está no pensar muito, senão no amar muito.
4M 1, 7

We breezed through an informal customs check and received sloppy stamps on our passports at Paysandu, our entry point into western Uruguay.  Shoddy weather made us hasten our pace and skip a few small river towns we had initially planned on exploring, so our day was composed of four different buses to the south shores: Colón to Mercedes, Mercedes to Nueva Palmira, and Nueva Palmira to Colonia del Sacramento.  All this done with the remaining pocket change we pooled together, arriving in Colonia at night with under a dollar in cash leftover.

Colonia is an old Portuguese colonial town, a smugglers port and fortified seaside citadel.  It is very cool.  Streets are narrow and cobbled; colonial buildings have a rural Uruguayan feel but they are saline, humbled by the ocean.  Or river?  Technically the broad body of water is the Rio de la Plata, officially the widest river in the world, but it feels like the ocean.  The horizon is flat, the lights of Buenos Aires are just barely visible illuminating the clouds from below.  Here in the low season, the town is quiet; we have free run of exploring the ruins and wandering the alleys.  The shorefront is rocky, blustery winds batter the trees and summer cottages.  Hidden coves look perfect for pirated goods.  Fortifications are deteriorating, but you can still climb the high walls, pet the cannon, and cross the moat via drawbridge.  The overcast skies feel right for such a place; it is Edward Gorey or Jonathan Strange.

Uruguayans look the same as Argentines, but carry themselves in a friendlier and more relaxed manner.  Colonia quickly becomes the first stop on our entire trip where an automobile stops to allow us to cross the street; sometimes they’d stop if we were close to the curb but not looking to cross at all.  Uruguay doesn’t seem to take itself too seriously, though how can it with juggernauts Argentina and Brazil next door.  The food here is about the same, except a bit cheaper; there are parrillas and pastas and plenty of yerba mate.  The dish of choice is chivito, which differs from Argentine chivito: there it’s goat, here it’s beef, served in a sandwich or al plato with papas fritas.  Alfajores make for an excellent dessert or full meal.

Outside the colonial old town, we caught a local rugby match at the town’s small stadium and rented broken bikes for $1 to ride up the coast a few miles to check out the ruins of a hundred-year-old recreation complex, including a deteriorating bullfighting arena, an in-use and likely unsafe horseracing track, and a giant fronton, a court and arena for the Basque sport of jai alai.  Okay.

We didn’t go any further in Uruguay and are saving Montevideo and the eastern shore for another visit, likely to coincide with a trip to Brazil, whenever that might be.  The season wasn’t right for visiting the legendary beach hamlets, and without a visa for Brazil, we’d just reach the border and have to turn back around.

The traditional way of leaving Colonia is to take an expensive ferry directly to Buenos Aires; most people visit Colonia in a daytrip and don’t spend the night, so ferry schedules cater to the very early morning and late afternoon traveller.  Price and timetables inconvenient, and not wanting to dwell too long at Retiro waiting for an overnight bus to the Andes, we jumped a cheap local bus west, out of the clouds, through Uruguayan farmlands to the coastal town of Carmelo.  Again, scraping together all our assorted monies, using Argentine pesos, Uruguayan pesos, and American dollars, we were able to purchase three much cheaper ferry tickets to Tigre and still have about $10 left for lunch for three.  Plus a couples hours to explore a new town.  A pair of stray dogs, one looking like a lion and his smaller girlfriend covered in feces, accompanied us throughout our entire stay in Carmelo.  They walked us to the central plaza, waited for us outside the cafe as we ate, and rejoined us for the walk back to the ferry, running to our aid from across the plaza when another dog began barking at us.  They run this town, see.  Locals seem to know them well; they are the most respected creatures in Carmelo and can roll in shit if they damn well please.  Other dogs literally had their tails between their legs when they saw us.  Once they safely deposited us at the ferry, they sat outside the ticket office awaiting the next gringos.  I miss them already.

The ferry ride was smooth and sunny; the delta islands were dotted with birdlife and the views back to Uruguay and ahead to Argentina were soothing.  A couple hours later we arrived in the polluted canals of Tigre, collected a second set of entry stamps, and caught a local train to Buenos Aires in time for an overnight bus to the Andes, where we’ll slow our vicious pace and rest up before the jump back to the Pacific.

Carmelo Anthony waves to fans at Wilson Park in Syracuse

By Stephanie Claytor

Syracuse, New York—Denver Nuggets basketball player and former Syracuse University star Carmelo Anthony visited Syracuse’s southside on Monday to show off a new basketball court in Wilson Park. Anthony

Anthony was supposed to watch young players compete in a basketball tournament on the new court. But, due to an  extreme lack of planning and security, that was quite impossible.

Carmelo Anthony's vehicle trying to get to basketball court

Anthony’s vehicle couldn’t even get in the parking lot before the fans mobbed him. They screamed at him, shouting demands for him to roll down the Escalade window. 

Once Anthony exited the vehicle, the fans ran towards him and followed him onto the court. The kids were jumping up and down, cameras in hand, some shouting out ob centities,  demanding an autograph. The four police officers tried but they couldn’t hold off the crowd as the mob pushed towards him. Even his bodyguard was helpless.   

Carmelo was able to say a few words, mainly that he was happy to be able to re-do the basketball court and he thanked his fans and former teammates. It was also mentioned that Anthony will continue the Courts for Kids program in Puerto Rico, where Anthony says his family is from. 

On that note, while Carmelo Anthony was signing autographs in the crowd, we asked him to speak in Spanish. He smiled and didn’t say a word. Hmmm sounds like he needs to go back to Puerto Rico, show off the new court and get a Spanish lesson while he is there. 

After saying a few words, Carmelo pushed his way through the crowd and got back in his Escalade. He signed a few autographs through the window, and left. 

Also in attendance were Coach Jim Boeheim, and former NFL star Dorsey Levens. Levens says he will be back in Syracuse in the spring, around May or June, to dedicate another basketball court in Thornden Park in Syracuse. 

It’s a shame. There was such chaos that Carmelo Anthony didn’t get to see the youngsters play. And the kids didn’t get to show off their skills. Maybe next time.

LaLa Vasquez, the ex MTV VJ who has a baby from basketball player, Carmelo was out and about this weekend making her rounds. LaLa was spotted at Ludacris’ charity event on Saturday.

You see LaLa is obviously working on her image since she is hanging out with Kim Whoredashian, Ciara, and Solange Knowles just to name a few.La La twittered that she was exhausted from her publicity rounds and that she was going to stop by and visit her friend, Ciara in the studio later that night.

Fast forward to yesterday. Ciara put LaLa on blast over twitter for standing her up! I guess LaLa never made it to the studio. ja ha ha Ciara nobody wants to hang out with you, duh!

Dangit, people, I’m sorry to do this. Its not that I don’t care about music anymore, its just that I’m not actively thinking about it lately. But the brain never stops thinking about basketball, and this topic has really been occupying whatever leftover space I have after subtracting thoughts of moving and finding a new job.

Over on FreeDarko, there was a pretty good discussion going about Allen Iverson and what he means, both in relation to new media (eh) and the new basketball landscape. I’m interested in both of these somewhat (the latter more than the former), but what nobody seemed to be talking about, aside from maybe Shoals in a vague way, was how Iverson’s passing as a relevant player aligns perfectly against the new cultural-political landscape.

I recently finished reading Young, Black, Rich and Famous: The Rise of the NBA, The Hip Hop Invasion and the Transformation of American Culture by Todd Boyd, and Iverson is somewhat of the central figure in the narrative that traces the evolution of the black nba player from magic to isaiah to jordan and back to AI. On this arc, we see how Magic marked the beginning of racial barriers breaking, but still the prevailing attitude was that he was lucky to be there. Isaiah smoldered and was deeply resented for it, and Jordan was seen as the perfect anoydyne antidote. Plenty of style to go around, but not enough to freak out the mainstream. Iverson brought the hip-hop style and attitude finally to the fore, and his style was unapologetic. However, as the book ends there, we are now left to write the next chapter and it seems clear to me where it has gone.

If we look at the idea of Iverson as he stands from both his own creation and the media’s, what we’re usually talking about is a self-made, extremely self-determined and possibly self-centered player. He is legendarily tough for a guy his size, and has professed both a belief in his own abilities such that he did not feel the need for practice. Also, he was the most identifiably “hip-hop” player in the nba until Carmelo (more on this soon).  All this seems to add up to a player that should still be relevant, right? I mean, America hasn’t become less hip-hop, has it? If anything, we are knee-deep in it.

But I think the Obama era has fully eclipsed the Iverson era, and there was no more illustrative moment than when Obama won and Carmelo shaved his rows in celebration and a toast to responsibility. Shortly thereafter, AI was traded away from the Nugs and Carmelo and Chauncey went on a tear playing a much more balanced, team ball. No one feels that they can build a team with Iverson anymore and perhaps that is because it is clear in the NBA and perhaps also in America that there is shared responsibility in winning. Self-reliance is wonderful, but the Obama’s message has been more like “We’re all in this together.”

The sad irony is that the very people who are most often praising self-reliance and responsibility and personal liberty are the same ones that were blasting Iverson when he was playing. He was one of the best players of all time and was often genuinely funny and thoughtful. But unfortunately, Iverson’s time has passed.

Photographer Derek Blanks has been working on his Alter Ego photo shoot project. Derek tweeted a few weeks back, that La La was the best Alter Ego to work with! Here is a face shot of her make-up as a flapper girl. La La looks flawless! loves it!!!

It seems that the 2010 Free Agency summer that’s been talked about nearly more than the presumably prophetic Mayan Calendar seems to be as much a myth as December 21, 2012 itself.

Something that may come and go with as much a yawn as the Y2K prophecies – wait and wait and … nothing.

Why?

Thank the flailing economy which, believe it or not, is felt in the pockets and bottom lines of NBA owners and teams alike. The concession workers, obviously looked at as the expendables – but certainly the foundation of many teams’ operations, are already feeling the effects, having had their hours cut or been laid off outright as the first casualties.

But consider the news trickling out of NBA Commissioner David Stern’s offices about the impending salary cap reduction.

Teams are already exceeding the cap to try and win an NBA Championship, scrambling to nab free agents THIS SUMMER versus next in a Steinbrenner-esque frenzy, to ‘buy’ themselves a title before Stern tightens the collective belt.

What will happen next summer is more gloom and doom than euphoria … for numerous teams, and players alike.

A strike is more likely than the aforementioned free agency bonanza, which many expected to have the buzz and feel of a fire sale on Rolls Royces; the San Jose Flea Market will have more activity than July 1, 2010.

Sure, there will be the Dwyane Wades, the LeBron Jameses, the Chris Boshes, the Carmelo Anthonys, and the Amar’e Stoudemires … but, really, that’s about it. The 2009 NBA Draft may have had more drama …

Teams will have to outright liquidate certain players to get the iconic names listed above … assuming their respective teams don’t (intelligently) lock them up before July 1, 2010. And be assured, the Cavs, Heat, Raptors, and Nuggets are surely looking to do just that.

So could Stoudemire be the biggest free agent name available at 12:01 a.m. on July 1, 2010?

Likely not, but the Suns would be just as wise, as any other team with a franchise player about to be on the block, to retain their core player(s).

Because the people that still have a few extra benjamins in their pockets to come to games, buy concessions (despite the longer lines), and put on the team’s colors from their respectively over-priced Team Shops are the ones who will decide whether owners are still able to operate.

Ask the Vancouver/Memphis/potentially Seattle Grizzlies what it’s like to operate in the red – it simply cannot be done … for very long. Check with the Maloof Brothers, who have a seeming endless stream of money thanks to their patrons in Las Vegas (read not Sacramento, where they can’t even seem to get enough funding or support for a new arena).

Red is red … not everyone is a Mark Cuban, a Joe or Gavin Maloof, or a George Steinbrenner. The Robert Sarvers, Michael Heisleys, and Robert Johnsons of the world are realizing that and either trying to sell their teams and/or cutting salaries to get below the luxury tax, never mind the impending, shrinking salary cap.

And if teams alienate their fan base(s) in the process of chasing a 1 in 30 shot at a championship or by being so frugal that they field a 38-44 team every year, the will suffer in the long term – not just a couple or three seasons.

Irreparable damage.

As will the players, should they decide to rebuff the new cap and Collective Bargaining Agreement.

In this economy, people are slowly drifting back to being loyal to their wallet, to a sense of comfort in their slimmed-down way of life, and hopefully to what’s more important than any player’s jersey or status level of being seen at an NBA game … their family.

No matter how much we idolize, or even write about NBA players, teams, and/or owners … not one of them is putting food on our tables or paying our house notes.

Which brings about loyalty …

2009 will tell if players and teams are loyal to one another.

What happens between now and July 1, 2010 will tell if fans remain loyal to teams and players.

2010 is nothing more than a hyped mirage … that may never materialize as advertised.

Unless you’re a Los Angeles Laker looking to repeat.