The 24 best players to don a Raptors uniform. Toronto Raptors who were All Stars or great players during their careers or played a strong role with the Toronto Raptors. * means NBA All-Star, ^ means NBA Rookie of the Year, $ means NBA Scoring Leader, italics means NBA MVP, & means Olympic Gold medallist and ~ means NBA Champion.

PG: Chauncey Billups~*, Jose Calderon, T.J. Ford, Mark Jackson*^, Damon Stoudamire^, Alvin Williams

SG: Vince Carter*^&, Doug Christie, Jason Kapono, Tracy McGrady$*, Morris Peterson

SF: Jalen Rose, Hedo Turkoglu, Shawn Marion*

PF: Chris Bosh*&, Donyell Marshall, Charlie Villanueva, Charles Oakley*

C: Jermaine O’Neal*, Andrea Bargnani, Marcus Camby, Antonio Davis*, Hakeem Olajuwon~*&, Kevin Willis~*

Never played: Antawn Jamison*, Alonzo Mourning~*&

Here is a personal favorite simply because he was a very underrated dunker. Tom Chambers with a high flying rise on Mark Jackson.

Investing in real estate is one of the most lucrative ways to earn money amid the ongoing financial crisis. However, with so many people wanting to take the plunge and become real estate investors, the competition has become tougher. The only “weapon” an investor can use against the competition is the amount of real estate knowledge he possess.

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For instance, if you’re new to the business of wholesaling houses and want to learn how you can get your hands on a steady supply of properties that you can flip, you can watch videos by the great “Wholesaling Guru” himself, Mike Collins. And if you want to try a different approach to the wholesaling business, you can learn from Preston Ely, who is probably one of the biggest names in the housing business for his ability to earn thousands of dollars a month without leaving his penthouse. Preston Ely is the classic example of not needing a college degree to succeed in the real estate industry.

REIWired.com also has something for those who want to know the secrets to automating their business and hiring the right people who can help you grow as a real estate investor. Videos featuring NFL player-turned-investor Than Merrill, Chris Chico, and Tim Mai are great reference materials.
Having trouble finding deals or creating good marketing strategies? Don’t worry because real estate marketing experts Dan Stojadinovic, Mark Jackson, and Brenda Ayala will share their secrets on using the right marketing tools to find great deals and generating good leads.

If you are the type who prefers reading written materials instead of watching videos, REIWired can provide you with quality articles written by the experts themselves. And if you want to give your eyes a rest after a day of reading write-ups and watching videos, you can listen to audio streaming of tele-seminars conducted by seasoned investors.

With all the quality real estate content being offered by REIWired.com, you can definitely have an edge over your competitors. So join the growing number of real estate investors who are signing up with REIWired’s training program and climb your way to the top of the success ladder.

Watched the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs last night on ESPN and was able to catch the end of the Blazers-Pistons game on Fox Detroit live from Portland; this after doing some advance scouting at Lansing Community College (The Stars played the Mott Bears) two tough teams that we have to play against twice this year.

Dirk Nowitzki went off for 41 points last night in leading the Mavs to a 99-94 overtime win. (Dirk dropped 11 of the Mavs 15 points in the extra session)  The one area that caught my eye after reading the boxscore was in 44 minutes of burn, Dirk didn’t record a single assist.  Maybe it was because Jason Terry and Jason Kidd shot a combined 5-25. Upon further review, when you can score like that, who needs to share the ball.  Dirk likes to catch the ball on the high post, face up to the basket and score on his man.  At times he will take the ball to the basket and finish with either hand. I’ve never been a big Nowitzki fan in the past but after watching him the past few nights, I’m starting to warm up to him.  It boggles my mind as to why the Spurs didn’t double team him more often? Make someone else beat you.  If the Mavs only had a decent center, they would make a run at the Western conference championship.

(Courtesy of NBA.Com)

Dallas only turned the ball over five times in the game; as opposed to Richard Jefferson of the Spurs who committed five himself.  Spurs coach Greg Popovich was calling for more ball movement and people movement in the huddle.  That makes sense.  You get the defense moving and possibly breaking down.

Is the Mavs shooting coach on vacation? They shot 3-17 from distance last night. Time to get some extra shots up…

ESPN’s Mark Jackson made a good point during the telecast, ‘You’re the fastest player on the floor, act like it.” Not really sure who is was talking about though.  Speaking of Action Jackson, the former Loughlin Lion CHSAA all-star, seems out of place without his buddy Jeff Van Gundy.

I noticed Monte Mathis behind Mavs bench, clipboard in hand.  Mathis used to be a college assistant and one day we were sitting together at the Nike camp watching high school players go through drills in Indy. While Herb Livsey (NBA scout and basketball trainer) was lecturing the kids on footwork, Monte was a bit too loud for Herb, who proceeded to yell at us…Sorry Herb.

This has nothing to do with the game but why must ESPN show Mark Cuban after every single play? Does he really make a difference? He’s got some entourage huh? Does he get his t-shirts at baby Gap?

Brandon Roy had a great comment last night after Portland’s win over Detroit.  He was asked about his team, “Our defense is better, we’re making the effort on defense.”

Interesting question asked during Pistons telecast on Fox last night during game about Blazers center Greg Oden’s future. 12% of Pistons fans said he is going to the Hall of Fame. Huh?

Pistons assistant coach Darryl Walker was a good defensive player in his day-Quick hands, got down in a stance and was a tough son-of-a-bitch. Did you know he was one of Hubie Brown’s favorite players in New York when Hubie was the coach?

Memo to NBA Marketing people; If there happen to be open seats courtside, and by half-time those ‘rich’ folks have not arrived, teams should send their interns up (or even Dance squads) top and bring down the real fans to fill them at half-time. Can you imagine how a father of two kids would feel sitting way up top in the nose bleed seats to be asked to come down to courtside and get a close up look of their favorite players? Which takes me back to the 80’s when I would buy a ticket at Madison Square Garden to see the Knicks for $4 only to sneak way down to courtside and listen to Hubie Brown coach his team. “POWER RIGHT, POWER RIGHT!”, was the usual call coming from the Knicks bench.

For what it’s worth, Lebron James WOULD make a very good NFL player despite what Jeremy Shockey thinks/says…James has strength, speed and most of all, courage.  If Antonio Gates can be a success in the NFL after playing college basketball, James would be all-pro.

-Coach Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com

I’m on Facebook and you can follow me on Twitter: @CoachFinamore

New Video Follow the RockStar Movement… Shout to @Yamoney1 @JostunnAH @Mositos_Way @MarktheMogul @Djtayjames @GradeACertified

Las 12 pérdidas de balón de Gilbert Arenas anoche suponen un récord negativo tanto para el jugador como para la franquicia de los Wizards, pero por increíble que parezca, no suponen un récord negativo en la liga. No, hay gente que ha perdido más balones todavía. Así que aprovechando la coyuntura, vamos a repasar los “momentos mantequilla”, o “butter moments“, más insignes de la liga…

Así es, el récord de balones perdidos en un partido de liga no está en 12. De hecho, perder 10 balones en un partido es bastante más habitual de lo que se podría imaginar. Personalidades tan ilustres como Karl Malone o Charles Barkley, o tan actuales como Allen Iverson, lo han hecho en más de una ocasión. 11 pérdidas en un partido es una meta algo más complicada, pero también hay quien lo ha logrado, y no hablamos de medianías: Magic Johnson, Hakeem Olajuwon o… Allen Iverson, sí, lo lograron en alguna ocasión.

Los 12 balones perdidos del Agente 0 son una marca algo más selecta. Sólo siete jugadores lo han logrado, pero Arenas no puede acercarse al nivel de Scottie Pippen o de Jason Kidd, que no lo lograron una, sino dos veces a lo largo de su carrera. (El caso de Kidd es especialmente hiriente, ya que ambos butter moments se produjeron en un espacio de dos meses, allá por 2003). ¿Os he dicho que Allen Iverson también ha cosechado 12 pérdidas en una ocasión? Sí, The Answer es una auténtica máquina de perder balones… pero siempre lo ha sido, así que tampoco descubro el Orinoco.

¿13 balones? Sí, alguien lo ha logrado (y no, no fue Iverson). El amigo Chris Mullin logró tan épico despropósito hace ya más de 20 añitos, un día de marzo de 1988, en las filas de los Golden State Warriors y ante los Utah Jazz. Por lo menos Mullin tuvo el decoro de “disimular” su festival de pérdidas enchufando 31 puntos, incluidos 4/5 triples. (Al parecer sólo tenía las manos de mantequilla al mover el balón, no al ejecutar el movimiento del tiro). Los Warriors, por cierto, cayeron por 23 puntos de diferencia y perdieron nada menos que 32 balones. Winston Garland intentó emular a Mullin, pero se quedó en 8 pérdidas, que tampoco está nada mal.

Pero incluso el insigne Mullin se ha visto superado en una única, inolvidable ocasión. Sí, ha habido alguien que ha perdido más de 13 balones en un partido. Allá por noviembre de 2000, cuando  jugaba en los Phoenix Suns a las órdenes de Scott Skiles, Jason Kidd cometió la tropelía de perder 14, sí, 14 balones. Fue el butter moment por antonomasia: nadie hasta entonces había logrado nada así, y nadie desde entonces se ha vuelto a acercar a esa cifra. Los Suns también perdieron ese partido, ante los Knicks, por 90-85.

(Para los interesados, Kidd ha perdido 14 balones una vez, 12 dos veces y 10 otras dos veces, y también es el jugador en activo con más pérdidas, lo cual no deja de sorprenderme teniendo en cuenta que Iverson sigue dando la lata por la liga. AI está en segunda posición en pérdidas totales, a 280 de Kidd, pero si nos guiamos por promedios, Iverson es peor: 3,6 pérdidas por encuentro, por 3,1 de Kidd.)

Pero intentemos ver estos números desde un punto de vista positivo. Cuando un jugador consigue llegar a las dos cifras en su casillero de pérdidas, lo mínimo que puede hacer es rendir en otros aspectos del juego. Así, aquel día aciago de noviembre de 2000, por lo menos Kidd se portó y también contribuyó con 18 puntos, 12 rebotes y 10 asistencias, consiguiendo un atípico cuádruple doble de puntos, asistencias, rebotes y pérdidas, lo que podríamos denominar un “cuádruple doble basurilla”. Es algo que sólo otros dos hombres han conseguido a lo largo de la historia: lo logró Lafayette “Fat” Lever en 1986, en un Nuggets-Kings en el que terminó con 17 puntos, 11 rebotes, 14 asistencias y 11 pérdidas. Por si fuera poco, Lever añadió 6 robos a su estadística (qué tipo…). El otro hombre que ha alcanzado un cuádruple doble de esas características ha sido Charles Barkley, que en 1987 firmó 28 puntos, 15 rebotes, 10 asistencias y 10 pérdidas. Era cuando Sir Charles lo era todo en Philadelphia, claro…

Otros dos jugadores han estado a punto de lograr esos números: Andre Miller rozó la “hazaña” en 2005, firmando 14 puntos, 10 pérdidas, 10 rebotes y 9 asistencias, y Richard Jefferson estuvo a punto de hacer historia en 2004. Ojo a su estadística: 26 puntos, 21 rebotes, 10 pérdidas y 9 asistencias. Un pase de canasta más y habría logrado una marca difícil de igualar: un cuádruple doble basurilla con más de 20 en dos categorías diferentes.

En el otro extremo del espectro tenemos a quienes no sólo pierden infinidad de balones sino que además no aportan demasiado en otros aspectos del juego. Ciñéndonos, por ejemplo, a quienes terminaron con menos puntos que pérdidas, nos damos cuenta de que ni las leyendas se salvan: Ralph Samson o John Lucas firmaron 8 y 9 puntos el día en que perdieron 10 balones, aunque el primero capturó 14 rebotes y el segundo dio 9 asistencias. El día que perdió 11 balones, Magic se quedó en 7 puntos pero se salió repartiendo juego, dando hasta 19 asistencias. Pero sin duda el momento más aciago para un jugador sumido en un butter moment llegó el 12 de abril de 1998, cuando los Indiana Pacers se enfrentaban a los Boston Celtics. En aquel encuentro, Mark Jackson perdió 10 balones y se quedó en 2 tristes puntos. Ni siquiera le quedó la excusa de las asistencias, ya que dio 8, cifra que para él era bastante normal, la verdad. Eso sí, los Pacers ganaron 93-87.

Así que como veis lo de las pérdidas en la NBA es el pan nuestro de cada día. Gilbert Arenas puede estar tranquilo, hay gente que lo ha hecho peor de lo que él lo hizo esta pasada madrugada. Ahora sólo queda esperar unos meses a ver si Iverson coge a Kidd en el liderato de esta curiosa clasificación. (¿Por cierto, he dicho que el tercero en esa lista es Shaquille O’Neal…?).

Y con esto termino una nueva entrada “patrocinada” por esa joya de Internet que es Basketball-Reference…

My main criteria for Random Raptors Moments: Obscurity. I wanna find stuff that I didn’t even know happened. For example, did you know Mark Jackson moved into fifth in all-time assists in his half season in Toronto and even grabbed a standing ovation from the ACC crowd? Could’ve fooled me…

Knicks fans, fasten your metaphorical crash helmet because, on the evidence of the four games over the last seven days, this season is shaping up to be a true test of faith and loyalty. This season is going to hurt and, most of the time, it is going to be embarassing.

It is two hours after the Knicks walked off the court at the Bradley Center after a truly humiliating 102-87 defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks. They conceded 40 first quarter points to a team averaging 87 a game. Their offense was putrid. They turned the ball over repeatedly. The defence was so poor it was inexcusable. In short, the Knicks didn’t even look good enough to be considered an NBA team. They played so badly in this game that Walt Frazier could be heard laughing in disbelief at their collective ineptitude.

The Milwaukee massacre provided a sad end to a week that had begun brightly. Monday night’s game against New Orleans finally gave the Knicks their first win of the season. They appeared to have learned the lessons handed down in their opening three defeats. Gone was the over-reliance on the three, the lack of ball movement and the absence of team defence replaced by Al Harrington slashing his way to the basket, Danilo Gallinari faking threes and creating easy baskets inside for David Lee and, (at times) a swarming defensive effort that forced Chris Paul and Co into bad shots and turnovers. Instead of the sluggish starts that hindered their progress in the season’s opening week, the Knicks came out sharp and slick with Larry Hughes hitting shots propelling the home team into a 12-point lead. When the Hornets made a third quarter run to briefly retake the lead, the Knicks, led by Lee (28 points) and Harrington (24 points), put the game away with a 40-point fourth quarter. They ran out convincing winners 117-111.

Mike D’Antoni described the Knicks’ first win of the season as “a massive step forward” but, as has happened many times, was made to eat his words by his team’s feeble efforts in their next match-up against the Indiana Pacers. A lethargic defensive display and thoroughly anti-clutch 0 for 10 shooting in the game’s final nine minutes resulted in a humbling 101-89 defeat to a severely depleted and previously winless Pacers team playing its second game in two nights. Even though Danny Grainger fouled out with four minutes remaining, the Knicks could not keep up with the Jonses, Dahntay and Solomon.

Fans will accept losing to the likes of the Celtics, the Lakers, the Magic and the Cavs. What will infuriate them is losing badly at home to teams in the bottom halves of their conferences. If the Knicks aspire to respectability, games in the Garden against the likes of the Pacers are games they simply must win.

Being blighted by inconsistency is no way to prepare for the Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The return of the King threatened to be a blow out on paper and so it proved. The game was over was as a contest after one quarter after 19 points from Lebron secured a 40-21 lead. Despite the Knicks playing decent defence in the game’s opening possessions,  the Cavs still started seven for seven. James drained three pointers, created two easy baskets with quality passing, made a buzzer beater and even found time to pat Larry Hughes on the arse after successfully launching a three in his face.

Aside from a couple of mini-runs, the Knicks fell listless for the remainder of the game. Unhappy with the lack of heart and passion shown by his experienced players, Mike D’Antoni gave second quarter minutes to rookie Jordan Hill who made an energetic five-minute cameo during which he made three of five field goals and turned the ball over twice.

As the game meandered to its inevitable conclusion, former Knicks-turned-TV-commentators Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy lamented the Knicks’ ongoing “talent issues” and agreed that their failure to establish a low post and/or pick and roll game was the primary cause of the long periods of offensive stagnation and their field goal and three point shooting percentages. The Knicks reduced the Cavs’ 20 point lead to single figures in the dying minutes of the game to make the final score a semi-respectable 100-91 but that masks how inferior they were to their opponents. James’ 33 point, nine assist, eight rebound performance showed the Knicks everything they are missing. The man is supremely skilled but he is also a fine team mate and leader, revelling in the atmosphere at MSG and enjoying his team mates’ successes. As Chris Rock suggested when he was interviewed courtside, “when Al Harrington is your go-to guy, you know you are in trouble”.

Twenty-four hours later, the Knicks were thoroughly dissected in Milwaukee. After hitting their first four shots, they totally and utterly capitulated to trail the Bucks 66-35 at the half. Don’t bother with the box score for this game. Instead, ask yourself this question. How on earth has D’Antoni avoided criticism for the sad state of his team? His over-hyped, one-dimensional offense only splutters sporadically into life. His team play no defence at all and are regularly out of games by half time. His players amble through increasingly heavier defeats making basic mistakes and looking like they couldn’t care less. There’s no team work, especially on the defensive end.

When is someone going to ask why this team have quit on the coach seven miserable games into a new season? If there’s truth to the rumour that the players are insulted by the New York media’s focus on Lebron and have decided to sleepwalk through the season, that’s as big an indictment on the coach as anything that happened in the Isiah era. And remember, thanks to Mr Thomas, even if the Knicks tank the entire season there’s no draft pick at the end of it. Donnie Walsh will argue that this current Knicks squad have little bearing on his long term vision for the team. Next year’s roster will bear little resemblance to the one currently embarrassing the Big Apple. It is too much to ask the MSG faithful to sit through performances this bad on the promise of a better tomorrow. While everyone expected the Knicks to be mediocre this year, nobody was prepared for them being this poor. If he cannot coax better effort from his team, Mike D’Antoni will need to grow a thick skin if he is to make it to Walsh’s promised land of free agent nirvana in the summer of 2010.

On this week’s evidence, the NBA’s most popular coach is looking more and more like a fraud. On this week’s evidence, the Knicks are still a total mess. On this week’s evidence, there’s no way Lebron James will be caught dead in a blue and orange uniform next season.

Jo StunnAH ft. Mark Jackson & Blake Kelly

Blossom…the flower of a plant, esp. of one producing an edible fruit….to flourish; develop

“I want you to Blossom…..On Me”

DOWNLOAD>>>> HERE

So much going on in the world of sports.  Baseball play-offs, college and pro football, and of course the start of the NBA regular season is Tuesday.

California Angels (I can’t bring myself to type Los Angeles) and New York Yankees play Game 6 tonight in the Boogie Down. NY leads 3-2 in the best of seven.  Boy I’ve never heard so much criticisim over the manager’s decisions.  I even went out and questioned the moves by Yankees skipper Joe Girardi.  And how about the umpires? These guys have been terrible.

This Tuesday night we have the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers opening up the season.  I see those two and the Orlando Magic coming out of the East.  As for the West, I really like the Denver Nuggets.  But of course the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers will have something to say as well as the San Antonio Spurs and watch out for the Portland TrailBlazers.

I was watching the Nuggets and Lakers finishing out the preseason Friday night on ESPN. Lamar Odom and Chris Anderson got into a small argument; both players had to be separated.  Kenyon Martin jumped in and threw Odom aside.  I don’t get these guys trying to be tough guys during the games?  Why in the world do they shake hands, hug and do little dances before each game only to get into fights with each other during the game? Odom had mentioned he took up boxing in the off-season; OK Lamar, now you’re ready to get into the ring.

I get a kick out of listening to Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson announce games on ESPN.  Van Gundy said he didn’t think Nuggets rookie Ty Lawson was ‘Athletic’. Obviously JVG never saw Lawson play for Carolina the past couple of years.  JVG said that Lawson pushes the ball up the court but doesn’t elevate to the rim.  Huh? How many 5′11″ guys are skywalkers?  Lawson has blinding speed and is strong, that qualifies for being athletic. Lawson managed 29 points in 29 minutes.

Jackson mentioned during the broadcast Lawson’s college teammate Tyler Hansbrough as being one of the greatest college players of all-time.

JVG disagreed.

I enjoy listening to these guys for this kind of banter.  They know the game and aren’t afraid of speaking their mind; too many guys are worried about upsetting people. Speak the truth!  Jackson played at the highest level and of course JVG has been coaching for a long time.

The NBA officials are back.  This means the replacement officials are out.  After watching a few games the past couple of weeks I thought these guys did a good job.

I’m really starting to ‘feel’ the plus/minus stat the NBA utilizes.

-Coach Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com

I’m on Facebook and follow me on Twitter: @CoachFinamore

Here it is. The highly anticipated Mixtape cover. If you ask me, this is crack. Big shouts to Somos for the Design. The Tape drops this Thursday, October 1st. **If you just can’t wait until tommorow, then download the sampler** If you’re in the VA area then head out to Mojo’s for the release party. Holla at Mark Jackson cause its ALOT of ways to get in free. I know it’s college students free with college I.D. before 12 and a few other discounts. We want everybody to come out and show love. So be there!

CLICK FOR DETAILS

**BLAC LABEL..HD MEDIA COVERAGE..PRESS BOOTH..AND RED CARPET WILL BE IN EFFECT
LOOK YOUR BEST…
MUSIC WILL BE PROVIDED BY ROCKSTAR MUSIC GROUP’S OWN…DJ TAY JAMES
HOSTED BY MARK “THE MOGUL” JACKSON*

In the second installment of my new series of bloody Aussie ledgends I will like to welcome the real “wacko Jacko” here who is Mark Jacko Jackson “oi” “Oi”. Jacko is best remembered in footy circles for running circles around crosse eyed collingwood player Billy Picken spinning him into circles, for giving magnificent Bombers legend and most feared tough man Ronnie Andrews a clip over the cauliflower ears in the gaol square (Ronnie later gave jacko a few straight rights in the boxing ring) and then threw a beer can at Ronnies head but it landed in the crowd. Ronnies son helped his dad out one day during a petrol strike and filled the Holden up with the garden hose.

Jacko did all sorts of crazy things on the field including hand stands and strutting up and down in front of the oppostion cheer squads. Jacko went on to do many Magificent things and kick many magnificent goals for many footy teams and he became a star in the states.

Mark “Jacko” Jackson was best known for his musical talents and a magificent song he realised called “I’m an Individual You can’t fool me”.

Here is Jacko’s song which is just as good as my other bloody Aussie Legend James Reyne and Jackos dance moves that are copied in dance floors still today.

Ronan Harris of VNV Nation

I have a very definite opinion about music. Mainly, that it should make you feel something, anything. This is clearly an opinion shared by the members of VNV Nation; the duo being the Irish born Ronan Harris and Mark Jackson of Great Britian. Together they’ve become the most popular creators of a music genre called “futurepop”. For them, it’s not about the money, the fame, or even the art of creating the music itself; it’s about how that art can make people feel and that’s exactly why they’ve been so successful. It also doesn’t hurt that they make music almost certain to get you moving; losing yourself you feel inspired by the hope that Ronan’s voice and lyrics bring.

Excitement for the show officially hit me when I finally found myself in front of the Nokia Theatre in good ol’ Times Sq. I had seen VNV for the first time almost 2 years ago and that experience had left me hungry for more. The venue was filled with Goths of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities and attire interacting as if they were among family, because that’s just how this band brings people together. We were all eager for the main act but, alas, it was time for what I call the “fluffers” aka the opening acts. First up was Ayria, a Canadian band consisting of Jennifer Parkin (vocals), Mike Wimer (live electric drums), and Jeff M. (live keyboard). They were okay but I felt they could’ve been better. A couple of their songs did manage to get the crowd going though it seemed the rest of their songs were somewhat formulaic in their industrial sound.

Jennifer Parkin

Jeff M.

Next was War Tapes. Ahh, War Tapes with their slightly 80s rock sound that induces thoughts of driving with the top down, Wayfarers on. Their sound is smooth and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed what they brought to the stage, especially as it was in preparation for the sort of show the headliner puts on. They’re an LA based band with Neil Popkin on vox and rhythm guitar, Matt Bennett on lead guitar, William Mohler on drums, and Becca Popkin (Neil’s sister) bringing up the rear as bassist. These guys were energetic i.e. all over the place and the crowd loved it. Neil definitely has the front man thing down pat and I was impressed by their overall ease on stage. I’m actually looking forward to seeing around for a long time, curious as to how they’ll grow. Be sure to check out “Always Falling” and “Dreaming of You”.

Neil Popkin of War Tapes

William Mohler

l-r: Matt, Neil, and Becca giving us what we want.

Anticipation was incredibly high by the time VNV took the stage. Naturally, they had to make a big production of their entrance, inciting us all into a frenzy. This despite the fact that going to a VNV show is more like partying with a few hundred of your closest friends, band members included. This is the North American leg of the “Faith, Power, and Glory” tour and this band isn’t one to entitle an album as such unless they plan to deliver those very things.

They opened with the new track, “Pro Victoria”, and that was the official beginning of a 2 hr. set that Ronan, himself, proclaimed to be the longest on this tour so far. It should be made clear that a VNV show is NOT one for spectators. In fact, it’s strictly verboten. Ronan and Mark will point to a whole section of attendees and demand that they dance/sing because, as they say, “this is YOUR show” which only serves to make each and every fan’s experience different yet unforgettable. Thankfully, the amazing beats of this EBM (electro-body music) make this sort of playful scolding rare.

Mark on Fire

Ronan, leading the charge

Front row fans

Performed were the classics from their 10 yr. back-catalog such as “Further”, “Farthest Star”, and “Dark Angel” as well as the necessary few from the new album (“Sentinel” and “In Defiance”). Being as loved a city as we are, Ronan also decided to grace us with a song that had never been performed live but happened to be inspired by our very own Manhattan. The song was “Still Waters” and, even though he joked about being nervous and needing the lyrics in front of him, they still pulled it off with pinache. Certain songs like “Solitary” drove the crowd wild since they hadn’t been done in concert in 5 yrs! As for encores? Well, never let it be said that VNV Nation lets their fans down! Out came Joe Letz of Combichrist to join in on drums for several of these encores including the song “Nemesis”, a guaranteed crowd pleaser. And it was no surprise when the show was stopped mid-way through so that Ronan and Mark could autograph a loyal fan’s vinyl record; in typically humorous VNV style, it was signed with, “Sorry about last night, it’s never happened before”.

A memory made

When it comes down to it, VNV Nation is a band that’s all about love. Love for the music, love for the fans, and love for the interaction between the artists and said fans. I have no doubt that, if all these things were unavailable, they wouldn’t bother doing what they do. So there’s a huge amount of gratitude us fans have for these individuals. After all, we brought the FAITH, through it had POWER, and together…created GLORY.

• VNV Nation Myspace
• VNV Nation Home
• War Tapes Myspace
• War Tapes Home
• Purchase War Tapes Music!
• Ayria Myspace
• Ayria Home

More videos…

Proof that white men CAN jump! Tom Chambers of the Phoenix Suns over Mark “Momma, there goes that man!” Jackson. If you’re still skeptical of the dunk’s authencity, watch the slow-motion replay. There are no strings attached.

Rutgers dorm life, circa freshman year. Reese’s Unforgivable.

Our golden goose Tay Zonday had to make another appearance.  This time with a random reading from The Things They Carried, remixed. “Martha’s Foxhole”

Don’t get us wrong. We are definitely supporters of President Obama, but he too makes mistakes. Look at what happens during this teleprompter gaffe. Caution: This video is excruciating to watch.

You may have heard of the youtube phenomenon ‘Been Had’ series. Or maybe you haven’t. So check out Jose Hustle in “Been Had Vitamin Water.”

Enjoy.