Gender Equality of the Future

By: Jimbo Brown

            I usually have an intro for you guys but today I had to get straight to the point. Over the weekend in the Alaska, a transgender teen was able to compete in the state championship track meet against the girls. Nattaphon Wangyot (have fun pronouncing that) who was born male and now identifies as a female was allowed to place 5^th in the 100m and 3^rd in the 200m dashes. The fact he didn’t dominate these races is the most disturbing. Back to the real problem is gender equality.

“I’m glad that this person is comfortable with who they are and they’re able to be happy in who they are, but I don’t think it’s competitively completely 100 percent fair,” Hutchison High School senior Saskia Harrison told a local CBS affiliate.

Gender equality has been a battle for our country since its birth in the yester years. Women are now seeing the success of their efforts throughout the history of sports. The battle is far from over. Over the years, we have added a new gender into the equation of life. The Transgendered. I have no problems with anyone who feels the need to change their gender. I believe one solution with solve this problem. For sports and in life we have to treat them as separate genders.

You will have Transgendered males and females. Requiring them to be recognized on official documents, exclusive restrooms and separate teams in sports. This will consider them independent and have the privacy of any male or female would have. This will keep the competitive advantages equal. Even though you may have the make-up of a male/female you have may have took hormones and PEDs given you another advantage that male/female get punished for.

The US government has to change their traditional ways of thinking and move into this new world we live in. The world has changed and if our mindset doesn’t change we will be doomed in the future. 

Muhammad Ali: Great Man, Even Greater Cause

Where ever you are right now, sit back and close your eyes. I want you to think of a hobby or talent you are very good at. You are professional at doing whatever that hobby/talent is and you’re the best at what you do. As a human you evolve and find a religion that prohibits you from fighting in a controversial foreign war. Your government strips away all your accolades and imprisons you. Now imagine overcoming all odds and returning to being the GOAT of your industry. Wouldn’t you be a cocky/confident person when interviewed by the media about your life’s trials and tribulations?  Now think of a sports hero, who resembles this scenario. You guessed it, Muhammad Ali.

Muhammad Ali, one of the greatest athletes to grace this earth with his self-awareness, charisma, hard work and dedication. Growing up in the era when boxing was on the decline, I only knew of Ali as being a great boxer. After searching YouTube for videos about Ali, I was enlightened to know he was much more impactful after his fall from the top. He became more self-conscious and transformed into a figure that his people can aspire to emulate. He was quoted saying "A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” Everyone should grow and gain new perspectives throughout life; this will keep you from becoming stagnated. During his interviews he spoke about life, religion and racism.

Ali never was the type of person to hold his tongue on topics he may have the unpopular opinion about.  As we all know he followed the teachings of Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam. In those times it was referred to as the black mans religion.  He became a minister of the Nation that turned him into a more polished man. Ali believed his journey of life was bigger than him; he went through situations to better his life and the lives of black Americans.

I have gained a great amount of appreciation for Muhammad Ali. His death caused me to learn more about him besides the athletic accomplishments he achieved. He showed me that you could be confident in your greatness especially if you prepare enough to have great results. Most people felt he was a cocky asshole that hated all whites. In my eyes, the Nation taught him the truth behind racism using the reality for black Americans as the examples to justify it.

Ali speaks: "Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing."

Muhammad Ali has laid the foundation for athletes of all racists throughout the world. You can be a great professional athlete while following your ambitions.  He was able to hold intelligent conversations with the media, while voicing his beliefs whether he offended people or not. He stood behind his beliefs and the will to better the lives of generations to come.

Deeper Than Sports!

Athletes have become more than just players on the field or court. We grew up wanting to shoot, catch, and run like them for years, now we can even dream to emulate them off the playing field. Athletes are proving themselves to be more human than ever pushing for more success just as do we. Aside from the die-hard dedication given to their own devoted sport they are making plays in the board rooms.

Once I saw Serena Williams “twerking” in Beyonce’s new anthem video “Sorry”. I knew there was nothing she couldn’t do. Seriously, we are coming to see more and more athletes venturing into other avenues and we’re here for it! Of course a feature in a video has been done this not her only endeavor.  Williams has been serious about branding herself. Delving in fashion she has her own clothing line and her collections have been seen at critically acclaimed fashion shows.  She is part owner of the Miami Dolphins and has done voice overs and appearances on multiple television shows. All while dominating the tennis court. See any signs of Serena Williams slowing up? …. 

Boy BYE!

Serena is not the only athlete that we know holding it down on and off the court. Many athletes are using their initial sports recognition to take them down other paths.

 I asked Siri how many sources of income the average millionaire had and dozens of articles read "seven or more". I think some of these athletes asked Siri the same question and got the memo. Endorsements are nothing new to the sports world but they are not relying on those alone.

Sports do not last forever and though the case may be true for former Laker Kobe Bryant, he’s not done working. It is said that he will be trademarking the name “Black Mamba” and has founded Kobe Studios. He intends to bring the story of others’ to life through an assortment of media outlets. 

Stories of athletes going further and pushing the limits are important because they are idolized by our youth. Kids want to be like Lebron or Curry more than they do FAMU graduate and Microsoft Chairmen, John Thompson. 

Having any of those individuals as an idol is great but letting the youth know not to set limitations on themselves is the ultimate lesson and best example they could give. 

Lets talk about athletes doing more than just their first job and show the world brains and bronze can be the perfect recipe. The boundaries to our creativity and passions can be endless so why limit ourselves? Athletes have shown us how perfecting our craft can take us to higher places but once your there the climb does not end. We have to strive to be better and allow ourselves the opportunity to manifest multiple opportunities and showcase all of the many talents we possess. Challenge yourself to be more than just enough. I'm more than a striving college student. What are you more than?  

"Keep The Main Thang The Main Thang" Athlete Talk Edition

1936 Long Jump Gold Medalist

"The battles that count aren't the ones for gold medals. The struggles within yourself--the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us--that's where it's at." - Jesse Owens (Four-time Olympic gold medalist.)

Growing up, Jesse Owens was one of the most used in school for your yearly Black History Project. Every year all the basics will be covered, he was the first African American Olympian to win 4 Gold Medals. One major detail is always glossed over; he accomplished this magnificent feat in 1936 at the start Hitler’s reign. He defeated hatred filled Nazi Germany, where Africans was portrayed as inferior to the more superior Aryans. Breaking world records on the way to four gold medals he continues to inspire generations now to aspire. Against all odds, Owens broke thru segregation and racism not just in America but miles away in Germany.

Women Tee, designed by @LSDoomGFX.

Mens Tee, designed by @LSDoomGFX.

This month Athlete Talk wants to highlight Blue Chip Collection celebration of Black History Month. In preparation, the concept “Keep The Main Thang The Main Thang” was born. The phrase was made legendary by Walt “Diesel” Frazier and resonated with his players at 

Miami Carol City High School. BCC takes this time to remind us that we have to remain focused on our dream. To push the culture forward we first have to become the best version of ourselves before we can impact the culture as a whole. At some point Jesse Owens had to do what was best for him to elevate his talents to impact Black History.

For more information, log on to BlueChipCollection.net. Use the pre-sale code "BLACKCHIP" to receive $15 percent off. 

University of Oregon Double Up

Oregon Men Celebrate after Wining National Title

With the collegiate track & field season officially over, we would like to send a huge congratulations to the University of Oregon’s men’s and women’s track teams for winning the NCAA Outdoor Championship! After catching all of the talent at the preliminaries a few weeks back, it is absolutely no surprise at the records and stats broken at the historic Hayward Field this past weekend. While we had our eyes set on the Gators taking home the big win, they still had some stellar performances. That really goes for a lot of the schools that came out to compete. Just a few weeks ago, professional sprinter Justin Gatlin set the Hayward record for the 200 meter with his 19.68 finish at the Prefontaine Classic. That record has since been broken with the University of Southern California’s Andre De Grasse took the first place win with a 19.58 finish! And he wasn’t the only sprinter to hit a sub-20 run this weekend! Baylor University’s Trayvon Bromell and Florida’s very own Dedric Dukes closed the race in 19.86, with fraction of a second between their third and second place wins respectively. De Grasse also took home the title for the 100-meter sprint, finishing in just 9.75 seconds and breaking the collegiate, NCAA meet, and Hayward Field records all at once. Jumper Marquis Dendy successfully defended both of his titles in the long and triple jump! Go Gators! And of course, we can’t forget about the most exciting events, the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see our Gators take the title, but Arkansas took home a win for the first time which helped them finish the meet in third place, just behind our Gators in second.

Andre De Grasse winner of the 100 & 200m

                Although they didn’t win the meet, University of Kentucky’s women’s squad pulled a close runner up to Oregon. Their most notable performances came from sprinter Dezerea Bryant and hurdler Kendra Harrison. Dez is one of my personal favorites on the track and definitely left all her troubles on the track as she went 22.18 in the last 200-meter sprint of her collegiate career. In the short-hurdles, Kendra Harrison finished both the indoor and outdoor seasons undefeated! An elite hurdler, Harrison’s winning time of 12.55 was just another contribution to her title as the third-fastest hurdler in NCAA history. Of course, we can’t forget about Jenna Prandini, one of Oregon’s top performers, taking the 100-meter title, securing her teams lead in the meet. Also contributing the Lady Duck, distance runner Raevyn Rogers took the win with a 1:59.71 finish in the 800-meter race. Although our Lady Gators did not come out on top in the individual events, they managed to pull of two championship wins in both the 4x1 and 4x4 relays.

Women National Champ: Oregon Ducks

                With the season now over, the NCAA’s elite athletes will prepare for their final bid at the USA Outdoor Championships back in Eugene, Oregon at end of the month. Big congratulations to all of the athletes finishing their collegiate careers and graduating from college! To the seniors, best of luck in your endeavors as we look forward to the 2016 Summer Olympic Games!

           --solementality

Athlete Talk Mock Draft 1.0

By: Jimbo Brown 

1. Tampa Bay: Jameis Winston, QB,  Florida State-- They need a quarterback and he's #1 on the board. Take EM!
2. Tennessee Titans: Leonard Williams, DT/DE, USC-- They will pass on a QB right now and get the best player in the draft.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dante Fowler Jr., DE/OLB, UF--I'm a gator and the Jags need a game changer to come off the edge. He will give them a Jamie Collins type hybrid player.
4. Oakland Raiders: Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska-- HE will join a talented front seven with Justin Tuck and Khalil Mack. Immediate impact because those two can demand double teams at any time. 
5. Washington Redskins: Shane Ray, DE, Missouri-- With Brian Orakpo entering free agency, they will need a pass rusher to step in and Shane was very productive for multiple years in the SEC.
6. New York Jets: Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson-- With Revis and Cro returning back to New Tork, a dynamic pass rusher will make them a force in the AFC East.
7. Chicago Bears: Alvin "Bud" Dupre, DE, Kentucky-- With a great resume as a Wildcat, he will bring that toughness and talent of the SEC to the bears. Who need to add more pieces to a depleted defense.
8. Atlants Falcons: Lando Collins, SS, Alabama-- An All-American wit the Rolling Tide. He was a playmaker throughout his career; know for big hits and causing mayhem. 
9. New York Giants: Ereck Flowers' OT' Miami-- I'm  not going to lie I got a text message telling me that Flowers will be drafted by the giants. He will be a great addition because they need to protect Eli to have any chance in the NFC East.
10. St. Louis Rams: Kevin White, WR, WVU-- Another West V receiver that has the size, speed and ability to be a #1 receiver. The have a good possession receivers and White will be the deep threat to make the defense "Kiss the Baby"  Chad Johnson voice.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama--Coop will be reunited with the doctor Teddy B and be the playmaker to compliment Adrian Peteson. He will get immediate separation due to his crisp routes.
12. Cleveland Browns: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon-- Even though I got a feeling that Chip is going to make a way to get Marcus, Cleveland needs a back-up plan incase Johnny doesn't be fully rehabilitated. Marcus will be a project but they have a good defense to protect him earl in his career.
13. New Orleans Saints: Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota-- With the departure of pro bowler Jimmy Graham, you have to get first round potential to replace em. 
14. Miami Dolphins: Devante Parker, WR, Louisville--With Mike Wallace not living up to his potential and the lost of productive veterans. He will be a vertical threat early in his career. He is arguably the best receiver in the draft if he was healthy throughout his career.
15. San Francisco 49ers: Eddie Goldman, DT, FSU-- With the lost of Justin Smith , they need a good interior d-linemen. Goldman is a run-stopper and can put pressure on the quarterback. 
16. Houston Texans: Malcolm Brown, DT, Texas-- You add this talent with Watt and Clowney and be one of the best defensive lineman in the NFL. 
17. San Diego Chargers: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin-- Ryan Matthews leaves to Philly, so this is a excellent replacement. Melvin is the best running back in this drive. He does have fumbling issues.  
18. Kansas City Chiefs: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Missouri/Oklahoma-- A big receiver that KC need to be more effective on offensive. He has some red flags but he will be a red zone threat early similar to Mike Evans this past season.
19. Cleveland Browns: Cameron Erving, OL, FSU-- Lets protect whoever is the starting QB next season , whether its Mariota or Manziel. Erving is a great talent who protected Winston for two years and looked good doing it. 
20. Philadelphia Eagles: Trae Wayans, CB, MSU-- A long, fast lock down corner who has an incredibly high ceiling. This will allow the Eagles to push Thurmond into the inside and like Maxwell and Wayans handle the outside. 
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford-- A former five-star recruit who has major potential, he had some lapses during his career but with the right coaching he will be a great professional.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers: P.J. Williams, CB, FSU-- A 2-year starter at Florida State, who is talented enough to upgrade the Steelers secondary who desperately need corners. It will be interesting to see P.J's game translate to the next level.
23. Detroit Lions: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington-- Sometimes you have to take the best available. 
24. Arizona Cardinals: Danielle Hunter, DE, LSU-- With his lanky build, he brings strength and agility to this team. In this pass happy league he will fit i. 
25. Carolina Panther: DJ Humpries, OT, UF-- An outstanding player for the Gators. He will be a starting RT but needs to be groomed into a LT. 
26. Baltimore Ravens: Todd Gurley, RB, UGA-- Even though they need a corner back and maybe a interior d-linemen, I believe you have to take the best available prospect. Especially when healthy fits the culture that's already in Baltimore.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Arik Armstead, DT, Oregon-- He will bring size and athleticism to a Cowboys defensive that will have to get better now that DeMarco is gone now. 
28. Denver Broncos: Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma--With the lost of Knighton they will need first-round talent to fill his shoes. 
29. Indianapolis Colts: Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA-- A fast linebacker who can play sideline to sideline. He is alittle undersized but can make big plays all over the field. His big brother being in the NFL already, he have someone to show him how to represent himself on and off the field.
30. Green Bay Packers: Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington-- Former safety with the Huskies, he will transition into the NFL perfectly. He has the skill set to be that hybrid safety that can play in the box and cover RB's and TE's.
31. Seattle Seahawks: Jaelen Strong, WR, ASU-- He will add to the recievers corp they already have. HE is big, fast strong and will win on most 50/50 balls.
32. New England Patriots: Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest-- Will be an immediate starter due to the lost of Darelle Revis. He has the talent to survive in the AFC East. 

Best Point Guard in the NBA?

By: Candy Man 

Russell Westbrook is making his case as the best point guard in the league. He’s had to carry his team with Kevin Durant in & out of the lineup and he has been very productive doing so. People are wondering whether Westbrook might be more valuable to his team than Durant. There are also questions if he could possibly have more success if he was the leading man on his own squad. Just take a look at his numbers from this month alone & you can see why Westbrook’s name has been gaining momentum around the league…he’s been averaging about 30 points, 10 assists & 8 rebounds and has been putting up monster stats with Durant out of the lineup. The most explosive playmaker in the NBA, he’s also been more efficient, posting those numbers while only playing under 30 minutes on some nights. I’m calling it now that Westbrook will win an MVP trophy in the next few seasons.

Other names that are brought up in the best point guard conversation are Chris Paul, Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving & John Wall. Paul has been considered the best point guard because he is the prototypical guard with a pass-first, shoot-second mentality. He puts up high assist numbers and gets his teammates involved in the game, while being one of the most efficient players in the league. The only knock against Paul is that he hasn’t gotten deep into the playoffs. His teams have been disappointing in the playoffs, coming in with high expectations but consistently getting knocked out in the first & second rounds. He has cost the Clippers late in games with dumb mistakes & turnovers and he should be more aggressive in scoring as I feel he could score more than 20 a night if he really wanted to. Steph Curry, the best 3-point shooter in the game today, probably has taken the best PG title from Paul this season. He’s elevated his game and improved on much criticized areas such as defense & passing. Curry is the most exciting player in the NBA to watch and is deadly from anywhere on the court. From pulling up for the 3 to swerving through traffic down the lane with his fancy ball handling, he can get any shot he wants and hit it with pinpoint accuracy. John Wall is one of the best finishers in the league and is having a career season. He leads the NBA in assists with over 10 a game and he’s been the key piece to the Wizards getting back into the playoffs. Kyrie Irving is another point guard with a shoot first mentality. He’s not much of a facilitator, isn’t impressive on defense but is a lethal scorer and probably has the best handles out of anybody. With LeBron James & a better supporting cast, he has the potential to be a more all-around guard in the next couple years.

The talent at the point guard position is probably the deepest it has ever been. In addition to the first five, you also have Damian Lillard, Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose, Kyle Lowry, Mike Conley, Goran Dragic, Tony Parker, Kemba Walker, Brandon Knight, & Eric Bledsoe. In my opinion, Lillard has the potential to be the biggest star out of all those I just named. He’s still young (3^rd year in the league) and is far from reaching his prime. If this was a list of the top 5 offensive point guards, he would definitely be in there without a question. He’s one of the most clutch players in the NBA, hitting big shots for the Trailblazers late in games. The man hit one of the best buzzer-beaters I’ve ever seen when he sent Houston home last year in the 1^st round of the playoffs. This season, he’s averaging over 21 points, 6 assists & 4 rebounds a game.

The way Stephen Curry & Russell Westbrook are playing, they’ll be considered for the MVP trophy at the end of the season. Steph most likely is going down as the best 3 point shooter ever along with Ray Allen & Reggie Miller. It seems like Westbrook has gotten even better & more explosive since his torn meniscus injury in the 2013 playoffs and arthroscopic surgery last year. I feel like Westbrook is the player Derrick Rose was supposed to be before his knee injuries. With Steph & Westbrook in my top 2, the rest of my top 5 in no order would be Paul, Kyrie & Wall with Dame not too far behind them at 6th.

Outlook on the 2014-2015 NBA Season

By: @yachtclubrandy aka Candy Man

About 2 weeks into the NBA season and the Golden State Warriors were the last undefeated team at 5-0 but recently lost to Phoenix. The Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, & Toronto Raptors all have the best record tied at 6-1. Chris Bosh & Klay Thompson have been named players of the first week. And a few teams are already dealing with major injuries; most significant are the OKC Thunder with Kevin Durant & Russell Westbrook out more than a month, the Lakers losing both Steve Nash & Julius Randle for the year, & the Pacers without Paul George.

There are interesting headlines all over the NBA & the championship will be wide open this season with multiple teams looking like viable contenders to win it all. King James returned to Cleveland to bring his city its first ever championship along with Kevin Love & Kyrie Irving and a host of other teammates that LeBron brought with him from Miami. Despite minor ankle sprains to both ankles, Chicago finally has Derrick Rose back and a new addition in Pau Gasol so they’ll be a top pick to get to the Finals. The Heat are off to a great start with Chris Bosh averaging over 23 points & 10 rebounds, a healthy Dwyane Wade, and contributions from new teammates including Luol Deng, Shawne Williams, James Ennis, Shabazz Napier, & Justin Hamilton. The Knicks hope to have a better season with Phil Jackson hired into the front office & Derek Fisher as the new head coach. The Wizards have a solid team coming off a 44-38 record last season looking to aspire for 50 wins and then some with Paul Pierce, John Wall, former Gator Bradley Beal, & Marcin Gortat. Charlotte has a young playoff team, add in Lance Stephenson & they should make bigger noise in the East. Indiana will suffer without Paul George so it’ll be interesting to see how much of a setback his loss will be & who will step up in his place. Despite losing Paul Pierce, Brooklyn will be right in the middle of the pack & should finish with at least 42 wins. Atlanta is an average team with just enough young talent & depth to either finish as a #8 seed or be out of the playoffs.

Things are just as exciting and maybe even more competitive in the Western Conference. As good as the Spurs are with Greg Popovich and their core players, I believe the Spurs will always be in the race but they’ll take a backseat this season to a new Western Conference champ. If I could bet my money on any team to come out the West, it would be the L.A. Clippers. They have the leadership to get it done with a coach that won the 2008 NBA Finals, one of the league’s best point guards in Chris Paul, an even better Blake Griffin, a big threat in the paint with DeAndre Jordan, and reliable depth coming off the bench. They have all the pieces in place to get to the Finals. Golden State is another popular pick. The Splash brothers are wet from anywhere on the court but how will the team play under Steve Kerr after Mark Jackson got the pink slip? The chemistry seems good as they pulled off 5 straight wins to start the season. The Rockets should achieve another 50+ win season. They have 2 of the best players in the league in James Harden & Dwight Howard and look to get past the 1^st round after getting beat on a buzzer beater last season from Damian Lillard. Portland got to the 2^nd round last year and has the talent to compete with anybody. Memphis is the same ol’ gritty team with stingy defense but suspect offense. Zach Randolph & Marc Gasol will play their parts but who will be the consistent go-to scorer when they need it? OKC will struggle early without Durant & Westbrook but will be alright in the second half of the season if they can stay healthy. Kobe will carry the Lakers without Nash & Randle but don’t expect them to win more than 30 games. Dallas looks like a better team than last year’s 49 win season and will surprise a lot of people. My sleeper team is the New Orleans Hornets. They’ll be the most improved team from last year and Anthony Davis will carry them to just enough wins to compete for the #8 seed in the playoffs along with Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans.