The announcement arrived today. NYC native and one of the illest, most unique talents to ever rise from the city asphalt, Chris Mullin, has been elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. In lieu of the great news, I’m rewinding this selection from a couple of years back, as we celebrate Mo’s achievement.

Christopher Paul Mullin was a simple, neighborhood guy from Troy Avenue in the Flatlands section of Brooklyn. The love affair with hoops was a multi-generational thing that began in the driveway of the family’s small row house. Read More »

photo: msg photos/msg photo services

GET THERE!

Rolling Stone named Robert Randolph one of the 100 greatest guitar players of all-time. His genius on the pedal steel guitar is something to behold and if you’ve been watching the NY Knicks on the MSG television network over the past year, you’ve already been sprinkled by the musical magic the team is incorporating into the fan experience, thanks to the incredible classic funk, R&B and rock talents of Robert Randolph and the Family Band.

Robert and I have something in common in that we’re both passionate, diehard Knicks fans. The serendipitous laws of the Spike Lee universe brought us together for a recent conversation, some of which is shared with you below. Read More »

March 8, 2010. 40 days left to the Jordan All-American Game at Madison Square Garden. Four Elite 24 Rucker Park MVP’s are playing: #5 Tobias Harris [has an NBA skill-set already], #7 Josh Selby, #8 C.J. Leslie, and # 25 Doron Lamb.

The top-10 ranked high school players, according to ESPNU, have all been given the Jordan All-American shine but which one is ready though, for the hot ESPN lights, the Spike Lee scrutiny and the New York City critique. Who’s your early MVP favorite? Read More »

Dante’s Divine Comedy – “The Inferno” – was required reading for me as a student at Columbia University. The author’s mythological depiction of a descent into hell was played out through visions of farcical talk and physical absurdities. That was the feeling I came away with after viewing “Winning Time,” director Dan Klores’ “baska-comedy” that brilliantly captures the heated NBA playoff battles between Reggie Miller’s Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks during the ‘94 and ‘95 seasons.

The film is an extraordinary display of classic storytelling, opening with Miller’s verbal and physical machinations set to an operatic track. New York Knick John Starks – as the tragic hero – falls prey to his emotions and commits the basketball sin of the ’90s: getting ejected from a playoff game for a head butt. Read More »

Last night, I had the great fortune of being invited to the world premiere Tribeca Film Festival screening of Spike Lee’s new documentary Kobe Doin’ Work which will air live on ESPN on May 16th at 7:30 p.m.

I’ve worked with Spike three times. First, he cast me to portray a DJ in his epic flick Summer of Sam. Next, he had me do music consulting for 25th Hour. More recently, he and I collabed on the Nate Robinson commercial for the Knicks which ran during the Slam Dunk champion’s rookie season. I have mad respect for cool Spike. He’s even come down to hear me spin at my VINYL IS FOREVER @ APT party on occasion. Word.

Most of you already know that Kobe Bryant and I share the same alma mater in Lower Merion HS. I was there quite a few years before him (I was class of ‘84), and even though he plays on the opposite side of the Knicks, I root for the brother regardless. (I’d love a pair of his new kicks, too, if anyone at Nike is reading this! haha!)

So while I was getting interviewed on the red carpet prior to the screening, you know I was amped cuz it’s two peoples whose work ethics I crazy respect. When the curtain rolled up, I leaned forward on the edge of my seat, almost assuming a defensive stance . . . Read More »