Throwback Thursday: Johnny Sample

 

Johnny the Jet

TSF will document extraordinary moments and outstanding persons in history with Throwback Thursday. This Thursday TBR highlights Johnny Sample.

Friday Fire: Can Kobe Bryant And The Los Angeles Lakers Win The NBA Championship?

Run by the Commission for Old School Friday.

Fallin’ from the roof. Thanks Coach Lynam

It’s simple. Can the Lakers do this? If not, what’s holding them back?

Happy New Year 2008!!

Happy New Year! For those brave enough to venture out into the skreets, hope you found your way home safe and sound.

Thank you for putting TSF on the map in 2007. Let’s go all the way live in 2008 in everything we do in every single moment of every single day!

Lets Get It!

Thank again!

The Starting Five

Friday Fire: How Do You Want Your Sports Reporting? Mistaken or Blurrrrred?

(NBA.com)

The future of sports reporting?

More and more athletes are using their individual voices to connect with fans. The negative effect of money only cultured reporting has created an athlete backlash. Seemingly, pros are growing weary of journalists having control over their athletic legacies and are doing something about it. Gilbert Arenas has one of the best blogs around because of his cool wit and unapologetic sense of straight up realness. His words will not be spoken or written out of context because he alone–at least through his blog–controls what we will and will not know.

I love it.

What’s next? Is it time to “blow up the spot”?

Interview With Sacramento Kings Forward Ron Artest: “I Keep It 100%”

There is no denying Ron’s positive effect on Queensbridge

This interview was conducted this summer in Long Island as Ron was getting ready for the season–just days after the referee gambling scandal hit the press.

Friday Fire 2: The Mitchell Report: What Does It All Mean?

Roid Rage or frustrated concern?

 

Here’s a list of names:

The Mitchell Report: Absolving the Owners By Dave Zirin

(Illustrations by Steve Brodner)

DZ is quick with his ish….
Thanks DZ.
-Mizzo

Ever had someone spit in your face and tell you it’s raining? That’show it felt watching former Sen. George Mitchell’s press conference onsteroid use in Major League Baseball. The former Senate MajorityLeader unleashed his “investigative findings” speaking with the somber, deliberate tones of an exhausted undertaker. Mitchell strained to convey scorn upon both baseball owners and the union for being “slow to act.” Yet beneath the surface, his report is ugly sanctimonious fraud, meant to absolve those at the top and pin blame on a motley crew of retired players, trainers, and clubhouse attendants. This is truly the old saw of the magical fishing net that captures minnows but lets the whales swim free.

TSF Interview: New England Patriots Defensive End Jarvis Green

Not many players around the league have a thirst for helping his fellow man like Jarvis Green. With the passing this off season of his good friend Marquise Hill to a freak water accident, Jarvis has refocused his goals to make sure Marquise’s son Ma’shy is taken care of mentally and financially through his foundation.

There’s a certain humility the New England Patriots possess as they try to get back to the Super Bowl and Jarvis is no different. He’s not only a football player, he’s an entrepreneur making sure he and his are well taken care of after retirement.

This is not just a football interview. There are more important things than going 16-0.

Vick Behind Bars: By Dave Zirin

*Thestartingfive.net should be online Wednesday. We’ll keep you posted.

Contemplation?

TSF buddy Dave Zirin hits us off with another piece that’s Louder Than a Bomb.

Update: THESTARTINGFIVE.NET Live By Tuesday, December 18th

Folks TSF will be going through some cosmetic changes exclusive of WordPress. You’ll be able to access the site as usual. It’s still up in the air when the domain name will be active. We’ll add to this post when you can change your RSS feeds and how your permalinks will be affected. The community within TSF–both pro and con–will be more able to take advantage of their respective voices with these changes. We know that sounds vague, but we don’t want to let the cat out of the bag just yet. We appreciate all the comments, but a special thanks goes out to those who have been there and offer incredible knowledge, insight and wisdom that helps us judge ourselves accordingly and be inspired to reach higher and higher. If any of you have any suggestions, please let us know.

Thanks.

Old School Friday the R.I.P. version

And Still We Weep: The Death of Sean Taylor By Dave Zirin

(Getty Images)

We are gonna miss you brotha

Young and old, in burgundy and gold, they have gathered in Redskin Park today, huddled around a parking spot adorned with the number 21. Players are trickling in. No one is saying a word because no one has to. All throughout Washington, D.C. there are signs of remembrance. At one high school, there are scores of people decked out in burgundy and gold. The sky couldn’t be a more threatening shade of grey today, but no one hurries.

TSF NFL Picks Week 10

First off let Diallo Tyson and The Commission take you back

See ya boy getting slammed D?

Last Week: 7-7

Season: 7-7

Interview with ESPN.com Editor In Chief Rob King

 

Simply put, the reason why there is a TSF is because of ESPN.com. There’s no denying such a significant fact. In saying that, we also want an alternative to what has become almost a singular voice in sports. ESPN has a stranglehold on the way sports is packaged and the only way that grip changes is for sites like TSF and others to consistently speak out and offer a substantive check and balance. ESPN has hired numerous minorities as of late and Rob King is most likely ESPN’s most significant addition in quite some time. Just as some of you have questioned ESPN.com’s writers I’m sure some of you will question the hire mainly because of King’s graphic artist background. I had the same question and when contacting ESPN, John Kosner Sr., Vice President and General Manager, ESPN Digital Media responded with this statement via email: “Rob is a true leader. He is uniquely qualified to take ESPN.com to the next level bringing together a talented team to serve sports fans with the best in sports writing and reporting, audio, video and photography. It’s a dream assignment and he was born to do it.” Judge for yourselves what type of impact Rob King will have on MSM. He holds the keys to an organization that shapes the way we visualize and read sports. I must say that Rob King is one of the most intelligent people I have ever come across. The way we view sports is morphing just as fast as the technology that’s readily available. What’s your opinion and where do you see sports heading?

Read very carefully.