Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Monday, June 10, 2013
Friday, April 26, 2013
Robert Woods: NFL Draft 2013
Congratulations to fellow Trojan Robert "Woody" Woods as he was the first Trojan to be selected in this years NFL draft. Woody was picked as the 41st overall pick to the Buffalo Bills. Fight On Robert and get bundeled up for the cold weather!
We are still awaiting for the second round to close out for the selection of many talented Trojans including Matt Barkley. Barkley is one of the more "celebrity" college athletes and it is to much surprise his name has not been called yet. Last year he was predicted to potentially be the first overall pick in the draft, but due to a disappointing season and an injury towards the end, Barkley has been facing the most setbacks he had ever seen the last 4 years.
We are sending positive spirits to all the athletes waiting to realize a childhood dream!
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Check This Out
http://www.vanssyndicatezine.com/2013/02/sydney-australia-february-252013-last.html?m=1
CicLaVia Update!
Hey guys!
Just a quick update that I am ditching the Lakers game to go run some of the CicLaVia course. I will make sure I take loads of pictures and videos, maybe a few interviews and catch up with you guys later. I promise to cover today's playoff game, CicLaVia and the rest of SLS at X Games Brazil later on! You will not be disappointed!
Be Well!
Just a quick update that I am ditching the Lakers game to go run some of the CicLaVia course. I will make sure I take loads of pictures and videos, maybe a few interviews and catch up with you guys later. I promise to cover today's playoff game, CicLaVia and the rest of SLS at X Games Brazil later on! You will not be disappointed!
Be Well!
SLS Brazil GoPro Course Preview with Ryan Sheckler
Hi there Outliers!
So much has been going on in the world, and unfortunately my cable provider did not offer many of the programs I wanted to check out. Right now I am watching the Lakers vs Spurs game and catching up on all the action from Brazil. Unfortunately I am missing cicLAvia today (shed a tear for me) because I did not have the proper equipment. I am really bummed out about it but I am promising myself some eventful rides to make up for it.
Anyways, here are some links I found to catch up on some of the SLS action
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=9192890
Enjoy!
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
SLS Off Season Review
As we get ready to kick off X Games Brazil I want to share this off season preview of the top contest skaters on the planet.
Taken from www.streetleague.com
______________________________________________________________________________________
As we approach the first showdown of 2013, we take a look at how the SLS Top 20 put in work this off-season, analyzing how their latest footage will translate to the 2013 SLS Nike SB World Tour. —Leland Ware
Nyjah Huston
Nyjah is clearly the man to beat. He destroyed Street League last year, losing only one contest to Paul Rodriguez on his path the overall championship. Huston is one of those rare skaters that never seems to slow down or rest. If his off-season is any indication of what we can expect, other competitors have their work cut out for them.
In November, he dropped a Thrasher Last Call part that was nothing short of intense. If hardflip 5-0′s down San Francisco’s infamous Clipper Ledge and noseblunt slides down eighteen-stair rails are Nyjah’s internet throwaways, one can only imagine what his A-game is looking like. Huston’s ability to comfortably throw down on big ledges and rails could prove to be a serious advantage on this year’s Street League course.
As if topping off his street cred wasn’t enough, Nyjah has also been setting it off on the contest circuit so far in 2013, taking second at the Tampa Pro in March. Most impressive about Nyjah’s Tampa performance was his jaw-dropping Caballerial kickflip to late shove-it on a bump to flat, which won the Best Trick contest. It was clearly a shot across the bow and into the mental game of his competitors. The combination of uncanny technical ability, raw power, and cat-like finesse that goes into that sort of trick is a strong indication that Nyjah is once again going to up the ante in Street League this year. Smart money would not bet against another championship ring on his
Paul Rodriguez
Never, ever sleep on P-Rod. He was the only one that was able to upset Nyjah Huston in last year’s competition, and in 2013 Paul is already proving to be a fierce competitor with a respectable fourth place at Tampa Pro. Paul obviously has his game face on and is gearing up for a solid performance in Street League.
One word that always comes to mind when you think of P-Rod is consistency. Paul is the type of skater that has his tricks on lock and can do them on command at any given time. Nothing illustrates this point better than the project he took on at the beginning of the year, which was refilming his City Stars Street Cinema video part from 2001. Typically once a skater films a trick, they move on and focus on other tricks that they haven’t done. While they may not lose the trick completely, it probably doesn’t come as easilyy for them as when they were working on it for their part. The fact that Paul has his entire bag of tricks dialed in 10 years later says a lot. If he can translate that on-command ability onto the Street League course this year, he’s definitely going to be a contender for the top spot again.
Another indication of Rodriguez’s performance this year is his Bangin’ part that was released on The Berrics at the beginning of April. His style, power, and bag of tricks seem to be particularly on point leading into this year’s contest series and the new Berrics park is similar to what we’ve seen on the Street League courses in scope and scale. Perhaps this Bangin’ is a bit of foreshadowing on Paul’s part as to what he’s got up his sleeve for Street League this year. Only time will tell, but P-Rod’s game definitely seems to be fully intact right now, making him particularly dangerous.
Ryan Sheckler
What more can you say about Sheckler? The guy has been on fire for the past few years. He silenced all of his critics with his skating, and turned just about everyone into an overnight fan. One would have to be foolish not to think he’s a serious threat to all competition in Street League. He’s clearly been putting in work on the streets.
Ryan’s recent Plan B teaser clip illustrates that he is more than capable of taking home the championship ring in 2013. A 10-15 foot tall kickflip out of a driveway bump into one of San Francisco’s most brutal hills is never something to be taken lightly. In fact, it’s safe to say that’s something not many skateboarders would not ever think about trying at all—but Sheckler handled it with ease! It’s that type of raw power and grace under pressure that will make him a force to be reckoned with this year. We can’t help but anticipate the type of high-flying antics that we will see from Ryan.
Sheckler’s ender in the recent Red Bull Perspective video further supports the hypothesis that he is into going big. His backside flip over a picnic table propped up on it’s side out of a bank is unheard of. I don’t think many skaters could jump that high, or even ollie it—how Ryan managed to flip his board over that monster pretty much defies logic. Sheckler’s obviously floating higher than ever, and if he goes as big as he has been during the contest, he’s definitely walking away with even more more respect and prize money in 2013.
Sean Malto
The Street League Overall Champion of 2011, Sean Malto could very well wind up taking it all again. He’s been heavily influenced by one of the masters of skateboarding and Street League alumni Eric Koston, as evidenced in his Inspired By Koston Nike SB commercial. That influence definitely shows in Malto’s skating and with perfect nollie noseblunts down rails, you an see why there’s a good chance that Sean could pull off a repeat.
The influence from greatness is not the only reason to keep an eye on Malto. His patience and perseverance are two qualities that are sure to take him far in Street League. Looking back on a young Malto’s sponsorship quest, it’s clear that Sean had what it takes to succeed from an early age. What stands out even more is that he was sitting on that level of skill for over two years while getting offers from other big brands, but patiently waited until he got fully hooked up from the sponsor that he truly wanted. If he keeps it that cool under pressure on the Street League course this year, he should have no problem advancing to the finals.
The final thing working to Sean’s advantage this year is that he’s coming in hot on the heels of a new video part in Girl and Chocolate’s Pretty Sweet. After going all out in crunch time for the video, you have to assume that Malto is primed and ready to attack the Street League course. It should also be mentioned that Pretty Sweet won Transworld’s 2012 video of the year in February—more validation of Malto’s level of skill.
Taken from www.streetleague.com
______________________________________________________________________________________
As we approach the first showdown of 2013, we take a look at how the SLS Top 20 put in work this off-season, analyzing how their latest footage will translate to the 2013 SLS Nike SB World Tour. —Leland Ware
Nyjah Huston
Nyjah is clearly the man to beat. He destroyed Street League last year, losing only one contest to Paul Rodriguez on his path the overall championship. Huston is one of those rare skaters that never seems to slow down or rest. If his off-season is any indication of what we can expect, other competitors have their work cut out for them.
In November, he dropped a Thrasher Last Call part that was nothing short of intense. If hardflip 5-0′s down San Francisco’s infamous Clipper Ledge and noseblunt slides down eighteen-stair rails are Nyjah’s internet throwaways, one can only imagine what his A-game is looking like. Huston’s ability to comfortably throw down on big ledges and rails could prove to be a serious advantage on this year’s Street League course.
As if topping off his street cred wasn’t enough, Nyjah has also been setting it off on the contest circuit so far in 2013, taking second at the Tampa Pro in March. Most impressive about Nyjah’s Tampa performance was his jaw-dropping Caballerial kickflip to late shove-it on a bump to flat, which won the Best Trick contest. It was clearly a shot across the bow and into the mental game of his competitors. The combination of uncanny technical ability, raw power, and cat-like finesse that goes into that sort of trick is a strong indication that Nyjah is once again going to up the ante in Street League this year. Smart money would not bet against another championship ring on his
Paul Rodriguez
Never, ever sleep on P-Rod. He was the only one that was able to upset Nyjah Huston in last year’s competition, and in 2013 Paul is already proving to be a fierce competitor with a respectable fourth place at Tampa Pro. Paul obviously has his game face on and is gearing up for a solid performance in Street League.
One word that always comes to mind when you think of P-Rod is consistency. Paul is the type of skater that has his tricks on lock and can do them on command at any given time. Nothing illustrates this point better than the project he took on at the beginning of the year, which was refilming his City Stars Street Cinema video part from 2001. Typically once a skater films a trick, they move on and focus on other tricks that they haven’t done. While they may not lose the trick completely, it probably doesn’t come as easilyy for them as when they were working on it for their part. The fact that Paul has his entire bag of tricks dialed in 10 years later says a lot. If he can translate that on-command ability onto the Street League course this year, he’s definitely going to be a contender for the top spot again.
Another indication of Rodriguez’s performance this year is his Bangin’ part that was released on The Berrics at the beginning of April. His style, power, and bag of tricks seem to be particularly on point leading into this year’s contest series and the new Berrics park is similar to what we’ve seen on the Street League courses in scope and scale. Perhaps this Bangin’ is a bit of foreshadowing on Paul’s part as to what he’s got up his sleeve for Street League this year. Only time will tell, but P-Rod’s game definitely seems to be fully intact right now, making him particularly dangerous.
Ryan Sheckler
What more can you say about Sheckler? The guy has been on fire for the past few years. He silenced all of his critics with his skating, and turned just about everyone into an overnight fan. One would have to be foolish not to think he’s a serious threat to all competition in Street League. He’s clearly been putting in work on the streets.
Ryan’s recent Plan B teaser clip illustrates that he is more than capable of taking home the championship ring in 2013. A 10-15 foot tall kickflip out of a driveway bump into one of San Francisco’s most brutal hills is never something to be taken lightly. In fact, it’s safe to say that’s something not many skateboarders would not ever think about trying at all—but Sheckler handled it with ease! It’s that type of raw power and grace under pressure that will make him a force to be reckoned with this year. We can’t help but anticipate the type of high-flying antics that we will see from Ryan.
Sheckler’s ender in the recent Red Bull Perspective video further supports the hypothesis that he is into going big. His backside flip over a picnic table propped up on it’s side out of a bank is unheard of. I don’t think many skaters could jump that high, or even ollie it—how Ryan managed to flip his board over that monster pretty much defies logic. Sheckler’s obviously floating higher than ever, and if he goes as big as he has been during the contest, he’s definitely walking away with even more more respect and prize money in 2013.
Sean Malto
The Street League Overall Champion of 2011, Sean Malto could very well wind up taking it all again. He’s been heavily influenced by one of the masters of skateboarding and Street League alumni Eric Koston, as evidenced in his Inspired By Koston Nike SB commercial. That influence definitely shows in Malto’s skating and with perfect nollie noseblunts down rails, you an see why there’s a good chance that Sean could pull off a repeat.
The influence from greatness is not the only reason to keep an eye on Malto. His patience and perseverance are two qualities that are sure to take him far in Street League. Looking back on a young Malto’s sponsorship quest, it’s clear that Sean had what it takes to succeed from an early age. What stands out even more is that he was sitting on that level of skill for over two years while getting offers from other big brands, but patiently waited until he got fully hooked up from the sponsor that he truly wanted. If he keeps it that cool under pressure on the Street League course this year, he should have no problem advancing to the finals.
The final thing working to Sean’s advantage this year is that he’s coming in hot on the heels of a new video part in Girl and Chocolate’s Pretty Sweet. After going all out in crunch time for the video, you have to assume that Malto is primed and ready to attack the Street League course. It should also be mentioned that Pretty Sweet won Transworld’s 2012 video of the year in February—more validation of Malto’s level of skill.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Outlier Physical Fitness: Killer Six Pack Ab Pyramid
Hello Outliers!
I want to share a killer ab routine that has been keeping my entire core strong, and of course getting me sexy for the summer.
10 Leg Lifts
20 Supermen
30 Scissor Kicks
40 Bicycles
50 Flutter Kicks
60 Russian Twist
60 Second Plank
60 Russian Twist
50 Flutter Kicks
40 Bicycles
30 Scissor Kicks
20 Supermen
10 Leg Lifts
For Beginners: Try getting up to the 60 Second plank. Try not to take no more than two min rest in between each exercise.
Intermediate: Here you have two options. You can work up to the 60 second plank, taking no more than one min rest. OR- Work through the entire pyramid keeping two min rest in between exercises.
Advanced: work through the entire pyramid with one min rest in between exercises.
Let me know how you enjoy the pyramid! It is a great way to work every section of your core, and of course get you that sexy six pack you've been wanting to show off this summer!
Be Well Outliers!!!!
I want to share a killer ab routine that has been keeping my entire core strong, and of course getting me sexy for the summer.
10 Leg Lifts
20 Supermen
30 Scissor Kicks
40 Bicycles
50 Flutter Kicks
60 Russian Twist
60 Second Plank
60 Russian Twist
50 Flutter Kicks
40 Bicycles
30 Scissor Kicks
20 Supermen
10 Leg Lifts
For Beginners: Try getting up to the 60 Second plank. Try not to take no more than two min rest in between each exercise.
Intermediate: Here you have two options. You can work up to the 60 second plank, taking no more than one min rest. OR- Work through the entire pyramid keeping two min rest in between exercises.
Advanced: work through the entire pyramid with one min rest in between exercises.
Let me know how you enjoy the pyramid! It is a great way to work every section of your core, and of course get you that sexy six pack you've been wanting to show off this summer!
Be Well Outliers!!!!
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Movie Review: Hardflip
I just had the pleasure of viewing the film "Hardflip," starring Randy Wayne, and John Schneider. It is a story about teenager Caleb Jones as he uses skateboarding to guide him through difficult periods of his life. It was a very motivating film as I have personally always used a multitude of athletics to make it through difficult periods in my own life.
During the film, the lead character Caleb struggles to balance skateboarding as he experiences the death of his mother, and trying to build a relationship with his father whom he has just met for the first time after 18 years. What makes this such a great film is the message of embracing forgiveness and faith in order to let go of fear and pain. Too often I see my peers using alcohol and other drugs to escape from hard times because they are not aware of the tools necessary that will give them the inner strength to work out their trials and tribulations. As someone who has struggled with facing my mental and emotional challenges in the past, I have recently been working on my spiritual wellness through prayer and meditation and I would like to encourage my fellow outliers to never give up on believing in something that is bigger than yourself. Having a spiritual relationship in whatever you choose to believe in is important to achieving complete wellness. One thing this movie emphasized for me is that there is no right way to have a spiritual connection with something or someone. In the film, several characters used God to help them better connect with skateboarding and the world. This is such an encouragement to myself as I have truely seen how believing in yourself and focusing my energy towards positivity can not only change your personal outlook on life, but it can greatly help others around you. As with faith, the only correct way to do anything in the world is to do it the way you see most positive. That is something that I have always loved about sports and something this film does a beautiful job showing.
Outliers, never be afraid to have faith in how much sports, creativity, and positivity can affect yourself and the world around you. You are never alone with faith in something bigger than yourself, and faith in that alone will bring you the physical and emotional comfort in whatever you are needing at the time. In the film, Caleb's faith in skateboarding brought him closer to God, his family, friends, and ultimately made him a better skateboarder. In my personal life, I believe my faith in God and spreading wellness amongst my peers will bring me closer to my own overall wellness, and has already allowed me to connect with people I wish I would have met a decade ago. It is never too late to reach out for that spiritual connection, as it lives within us all. It is just our jobs to decide how we are going to tap into that inner spirit and let it guide us to true wellness and happiness.
The movie "Hardflip" is available for instant watch on Netflix in the independent movies category. If you like skateboaring, beautiful scenery, or would like to see how to begin your own spiritual journey, this is a great movie to check out.
Until next time
Intellectual Wellness: Angela Davis Documentary Review
Outliers-
Continuing on our intellectual nourishment, I would like to share a special review by my friend Muriana who recently was one of the few people to view the new Angela Davis documentary entitled " Free Angela Davis and All Political Prisoners". I will not give too much away as I would love for you all to read her experience of the film first hand.
Muriana is an amazing freelance writer from the Maryland/D.C area and her blog focuses on race, cultural, and political awareness around the world. Save it to your favorites and check it weekly as she is constantly updating it with relevant current events that are often ignored in our mainstream media.
“Free Angela Davis and All Political Prisoners” | Race,Cultural & World awareness for your Soul
Intellectual Wellness: Writer Nathalie Martinez
Hey everyone!
To be an Outlier means to strive to achieve wellness in every aspect of life, meaning that nourishing your mind is just as important as nourishing your body. With that being said, I am excited to share my friend and fellow Alumni website. Nathalie is an award winning writer currently pursuing her masters at USC in professional writing. She has a bachelors in narrative studies from USC, and works as a writer for the Disney corporation. She is an amazing person, friend and the epitome of someone who strives to achieve overall wellness each day of her life.
Check out her website as she is constantly updating it with amazing short stories. I cannot wait to see her name on bookshelves and movies screens in the very near future!
Raw Food Diet Conversion Chart
I found a great resource courtesy of "The Best of Raw Foods" on transitioning from cooked to raw food. The best thing about this chart is that it can be used as a general chart for healthy eating. Whether you decide to do a 180 with your diet or not, this is a great resource to replacing some of the processed foods you eat with healthier and more natural options.
Majority of todays illnesses can be directly linked to the foods we CHOOSE to put in our bodies. This chart is a great aid in helping to choose better products. Remember, eating healthier, does not mean sacrificing taste. In fact, from my personal experience in eating organic and high quality natural products, my pallet has become more satisfied after every meal I eat.
Enjoy the chart and explore the rest of the site for more resources and grwat recipes.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Ryan Sheckler Road to Recovery
Check out Ryan Sheckler as he rehabs his foot in preparation for Xgames Brazil
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Boo Johnson Interrogated: By The Berrics
Check out the follow up interview to Boo Johnson's Berrics recruit video part
*Note all content taken from theberrics.com*
Boo Johnson Berrics Recruit
One of my favorite amateur skaters right now, I cannot wait for Mr. Johnson to go pro and bless the world with his first pro video part. Last month, he became the first berrics recruit for the 2013 year. If you all have followed the berrics and their other recruited skaters, many have gone on to go pro not long after. Already having top notch sponsors such as Supra, Kr3w Denim, Diamond Supply, Grizzly Grip, and RAW rolling papers, he is sure to appeal to not only the existing skate market with his skills, but the urban youth market as well with his style and laid back personality. Check out his video part at the link below.
Nigel Alexander "Stay Young Forever" Series
Nigel, is a skateboarder and filmer that has produced some amazing videos and pictures for the skate and sports industry as a whole. I've always looked up to him as an athlete an artist, as he has a keen eye for getring the angles the viewer wants to see. I was browsing his YouTube channel for fun, and ram across his Stay Young Forever videos. This is Nigels way of giving back to the world by sharing his journey in achieving a healthier lifestyle. I think it is amazing and important that people like Nigel continue to realize the influence they have with the youth and action sports fans everywhere.
No matter if you are an athlete or spectator, you can stay young forever by watching what you put in your body. You do not have to use the specific products Nigel is using, but the awareness that there is knowledge available to everyone is the point I would like to make by supporting his videos.
Great Videos Nigel! Stay Young!
Watch "STAY YOUNG FOREVER ???? -" on YouTube
*I will post the other videos in the series as seperate posts. -ENJOY!
Poler Stuff Adventures
Check out this dope website and all their photo adventures. It is great motivation to get out and explore the world especially with warmer weather approaching.
Look out for exclusive Outlier Adventures coming as early as June 2013!
http://www.polerstuff.com/collections/types?q=Adventure
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Rick Simpson and The "secret" Benefits of Hemp Oil
Hello Outliers!
After the success of our February challenge I have been doing a lot of research on the direction I want to take with this blog. As we are all about the elements of wellness, it is important to me that I share the philosophies behind my posts.
I have recently learned about the "Rick Simpson" story and have been incredibly inspired to continue to encourage my readers to adapt a plant based diet. There is so much that the government chooses to hide from us, in order to continue the billion dollar cancer industry that contributes to 16% of our GDP. Being an Outlier is about stepping outside of the norm, and finding ways not to become a statistic that contributes to our economy by unhealthiness and ignorance.
The Rick Simpson Story:
After a serious head injury, Rick Simpson sought relief from his medical condition through the usage of medicinal hemp oil. He discovered that the high concentration of THC cured cancer and other illnesses, in which he tried to spread this knowledge with as many people possible, free of charge. He cured and controlled hundreds of people's illnesses, but when the story went public, the government snatched the medicine, leaving thousands of people without treatment, and Rick with the unconstitutional charges of possessing and trafficking marijuana. Hemp till this day, is still known as the most medicinal and versatile plant in the world.
To watch the documentary of Rick's story, free of charge, search " Run From The Cure The Rick Simpson Story" on YouTube.
After the success of our February challenge I have been doing a lot of research on the direction I want to take with this blog. As we are all about the elements of wellness, it is important to me that I share the philosophies behind my posts.
I have recently learned about the "Rick Simpson" story and have been incredibly inspired to continue to encourage my readers to adapt a plant based diet. There is so much that the government chooses to hide from us, in order to continue the billion dollar cancer industry that contributes to 16% of our GDP. Being an Outlier is about stepping outside of the norm, and finding ways not to become a statistic that contributes to our economy by unhealthiness and ignorance.
The Rick Simpson Story:
After a serious head injury, Rick Simpson sought relief from his medical condition through the usage of medicinal hemp oil. He discovered that the high concentration of THC cured cancer and other illnesses, in which he tried to spread this knowledge with as many people possible, free of charge. He cured and controlled hundreds of people's illnesses, but when the story went public, the government snatched the medicine, leaving thousands of people without treatment, and Rick with the unconstitutional charges of possessing and trafficking marijuana. Hemp till this day, is still known as the most medicinal and versatile plant in the world.
To watch the documentary of Rick's story, free of charge, search " Run From The Cure The Rick Simpson Story" on YouTube.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Mayweather 30 Days in May Parts 1-5
For those of you who do not have access to premium channels, here is an opportunity to catch up on the latest Floyd Mayweather series, " 30 Days In May."
Enjoy!
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuZgmqPV40I
Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjt_kkIxA0U&noredirect=1
Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA78hwwNqpg
Thursday, February 28, 2013
USC Trojans at the 2013 NFL Combine
Matt Barkley: http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/matt-barkley?id=2539308
Khaled Holmes: http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/khaled-holmes?id=2539307
T.J McDonald: http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/t.j.-mcdonald?id=2539309
Nickell Robey: http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/nickell-robey?id=2540197
Jawanza Starling: http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/jawanza-starling?id=2540289
No included bottom line from the NFL website :-(
Robert Woods: http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/robert-woods?id=2540169
BOTTOM LINE
Expect Barkley to be the fourth first-round passer Southern California has produced since 2003 (Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Mark Sanchez). Though not elite in terms of his height, arm strength, or mobility, he will capably move an NFL offense with accurate short throws possessing sufficient zip (69.1 percent completion rate in 2011), solid decision-making ability, and enough downfield touch to take advantage of a talented receiving corps. Although it ended disappointingly, the fact he decided to return to school for 2012 to help his team compete for a national championship after being on a postseason ban is just one measure of his intangibles.Khaled Holmes: http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/khaled-holmes?id=2539307
BOTTOM LINE
This tall, physical, mobile, and intelligent interior lineman first snapped for quarterback Matt Barkley first at Mater Dei High School in California, and then for the Trojans in 2011 and 2012 after starting at guard as a sophomore. Holmes dealt with ankle and leg injuries all season, and the Trojans interior offensive line took a huge step back without him. The senior will need to prove his health since he projects best to a heavy zone blocking scheme.T.J McDonald: http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/t.j.-mcdonald?id=2539309
BOTTOM LINE
The son of NFL Pro Bowl safety Tim McDonald and brother of UCLA safety Tevin earned All-American recognition for his big hits and hands in coverage (six interceptions in 2010-2011). However, his lack of agility and instincts could limit his ability to be a reliable starting contributor in a league that is becoming more wide-open. He will probably be best served as a sub-package defender who plays near the line of scrimmage.Nickell Robey: http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/nickell-robey?id=2540197
BOTTOM LINE
Robey is tremendously undersized, but he's been one of the better cover cornerbacks in the NCAA the past few seasons. Despite his size, Robey is willing to be physical, and he has a good athletic skill set. However, his limitations will likely keep him on the board until the middle of the draft.Jawanza Starling: http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/jawanza-starling?id=2540289
No included bottom line from the NFL website :-(
Robert Woods: http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/robert-woods?id=2540169
BOTTOM LINE
The Trojans receiver racked up big numbers throughout his career with quarterback Matt Barkley due to his foot quickness and burst after the catch, though the right ankle that bothered him at multiple parts of his career must continue to stay healthy. Woods needs to catch the ball more consistently downfield if he wants to be a top receiver for a team in the NFL, but right now the junior thrives on short to intermediate patterns.Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
Jordan Campbell NFL Draft 2013 Prospect LB/RB Combine Drills
Check out friend and fellow Trojan Jordan Campbell, as he shows us some footwork in preparation for the upcoming 2013 NFL draft
Fight On Jordan
Fight On Jordan
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Floyd Mayweather inks new PPV deal
VIA ESPN
________________________________________
________________________________________
Floyd Mayweather inks new PPV deal
Dan Rafael
Pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. made two announcements on Tuesday, one expected and another rather surprising one that will change the landscape of the boxing business.
The expected: Mayweather will return to the ring on May 4 -- one day short of a year since his last fight -- to defend his welterweight world title against interim titlist Robert Guerrero at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, where Mayweather will be fighting for the seventh consecutive time.
Since Mayweather first announced in December that he would fight on May 4, Guerrero was the leading candidate to get the fight.
The unexpected element of Mayweather's announcement: He is leaving HBO/Time Warner, his television home for virtually his entire career, to move to rival Showtime/CBS for the pay-per-view fight.
But Mayweather is not just going to Showtime PPV for one fight, like Manny Pacquiao did when Top Rank promoter Bob Arum took him from HBO to Showtime to face Shane Mosley in a 2011 pay-per-view fight. Arum ultimately brought Pacquiao back after HBO Sports' Ross Greenburg was forced to resign, in large part for losing Pacquiao to Showtime.
Ken Hershman, who left as head of Showtime Sports to replace Greenburg as HBO Sports president, wound up losing Mayweather long term.
Mayweather (43-0, 26 KOs), the five-division champion who turns 36 on Sunday, signed a six-fight, 30-month deal with Showtime/CBS, effectively ending his career at HBO.
"Floyd has signed a record-breaking deal with Showtime PPV/CBS, and Floyd is ecstatic," Leonard Ellerbe, one of Mayweather's top advisers, told ESPN.com. "This historic deal reflects a global superstar who is head and shoulders above his peers. HBO, they made a great offer, but the Showtime PPV/CBS offer was substantially greater in every facet, from top to bottom.
"So bottom line, HBO was outgunned. They came to a gun fight with a knife. At the end of the day, it's business. Floyd has had a fantastic relationship over the last (16) years with HBO but he's moving on. He made the decision based on what was best for him and his family. Showtime/CBS really stepped up and made it crystal clear that they wanted Floyd Mayweather. This is a tremendous platform, and Floyd's looking forward to putting his talents in front of a much larger worldwide audience."
Ellerbe said the details of the deal were confidential but that Mayweather had every intention of fighting all six bouts under the deal.
"The first fight is Guerrero, 'The Ghost,' the boogey man," Ellerbe said. "Floyd's going to line all these guys up and he's going to whup their asses one by one."
Showtime Sports general manager Stephen Espinoza had hoped to sign Mayweather before his last fight and lost out to HBO. This time, he got his man after weeks of tough negotiations.
"It was a very detailed process," Espinoza told ESPN.com. "We put forth a very aggressive offer, and I know Floyd spent a lot of time with (adviser) Al Haymon poring over the details. Ultimately, I was able to bring a lot of the (Showtime and CBS) assets to the table, and with so many of our platforms stepping forward to support it, this was a deal he couldn't refuse."
The fight will receive heavy promotion on various CBS outlets, including during the NCAA tournament and Final Four.
Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer, who promotes Guerrero and has promoted all of Mayweather's fights since 2007 on a fight-by-fight basis, told ESPN.com that the kickoff news conference for the fight, which hasn't been scheduled yet, will be nationally televised on CBS on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, when the network televises most of its sports fare.
"This will redefine the way boxing press conferences are done," Schaefer said. "The traveling to different cities maybe was the most effective thing at a time when you had in each city a half dozen writers. Now it's driven by different platforms and we are looking at putting together a press conference similar to the way you see a presidential debate -- a moderator, a live audience and journalists can submit questions that will then be read and it will televised nationwide on CBS."
Junior middleweight titleholder Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (41-0-1, 30 KOs), the 22-year-old Mexican star and a big draw for the card on Cinco de Mayo weekend, is expected to fight on the undercard, possibly in a unification fight with Austin Trout (26-0, 14 KOs), who upset Miguel Cotto in a December title defense.
But Schaefer said that deal is not done.
"First we needed to get (Mayweather-Guerrero and the TV deal) done and now, within the next 24 or 48 hours, I am trying to see if in fact we can get a fight done between Canelo and Trout," he said. "It is not done, it is not signed. There are other possibilities we are looking at for Canelo.
"But as I have said all along, we have every intention to have Canelo fight on this card. As for the matchup, that is my next task."
Guerrero (31-1-1, 18 KOs), 29, of Gilroy, Calif., has won titles at featherweight and junior lightweight plus interim belts at lightweight and welterweight. He is a southpaw in his prime and coming off his two most significant victories, both coming last year after skipping over the junior welterweight division and moving into the 147-pound welterweight division.
Guerrero was out of action for 15 months because of a serious shoulder injury that required surgery on his rotator cuff. But he returned in July to hand top-10 welterweight contender Selcuk Aydin his first defeat in a clear decision to win a vacant interim belt.
Guerrero made an even bigger statement in November by punishing former welterweight titlist Andre Berto in an explosive fight. He dropped Berto twice, beat him up and won a unanimous decision, paving the way for him to get the fight with Mayweather that he had been campaigning for.
"I think it's a fantastic matchup. Robert is one tough competitor," Schaefer said. "He hasn't lost (since 2006) and that loss was to a fighter (Orlando Salido in a featherweight title fight) who tested positive for steroids after the fight (and the decision was changed to a no contest). He's a multiple-weight world champion. He actively campaigned for this fight, and a lot of media people say he has earned the fight if you look at what he's done in the last 12 months.
"He's young, he's been active, he's coming off the biggest wins of his career and he showed he is a real welterweight against Berto and Aydin. This is a hell of a challenge for Floyd, and Robert as well. At 147, he is the most dangerous opponent Floyd could have picked, end of story."
Said Ellerbe: "Guerrero thinks he's a badass and come May 4, Floyd is going to show him why he is the top dog and why he's been world champion for 15 years."
With Showtime signing Mayweather long-term, it shifts the power of the boxing business from HBO to Showtime after decades of HBO dominance.
Mayweather made his first appearance on HBO in 1997 (in his 10th pro fight) and has been a network cornerstone since, including having nine of his 10 fights on HBO PPV and generating hundreds of millions of dollars. Now he's going to the archrival.
Hershman was informed of Mayweather's decision on Tuesday morning. The network tried to sign Mayweather but was rebuffed.
"We made an aggressive and responsible pay-per-view offer," HBO said in a statement given to ESPN.com. "Now we move on. We are focused on the best boxing franchise in the television business. We are proud of the roster of superstar fighters and emerging stars who are scheduled to appear on the multiple HBO television platforms this year."
Mayweather, the world's highest-paid athlete according to Forbes magazine, will be fighting for first time since outpointing Cotto to win a version of the junior middleweight title for the second time last May.
A month after the fight, Mayweather reported to county jail in Las Vegas, where he was incarcerated for two months following a domestic abuse conviction.
Cotto hit Mayweather more than he had been tagged in years, and it remains to be seen if Mayweather will still be the same following that physical fight and a jail term, especially against a young, hungry Guerrero.
"Robert can box, he can punch, he has a chin," Schaefer said. "He has a hell of a chance to win this fight. When you look at Floyd Mayweather, he's the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. He's the most skilled fighter out there, but at the same time he's getting older and hasn't fought for a year. Not fighting for a year when you are in your 20s is one thing, but in your 30s, fighting once a year is not the best setup.
"His body went through a grueling fight with Cotto, and he was in jail. Who knows what all that has done to him? There are a lot of interesting aspects which make this fight high-stakes."
Monday, February 18, 2013
Teyana Taylor X Adidas Harlem Good Luck Charm (GLC)
African Americans and African American women have again made history, and during black history month! Teyana Taylor teamed up with Adidas to create her own Harlem Good Luck Charms. Seem to be inspired by the 2013 Chinese New Year, the shoe features bronze and black snake skin, gladiator type ribs, and a rugged sole that is a shoe collectors dream. In the video below from HHS1987 Teyana discusses growing up in Harlem as well as her motivation and involvement for creating a womens basketball shoe that would be desired by men.
The shoe, released during the 2013 NBA All- Star weekend in Houston, is the fastest selling Adidas Original shoe to date.
The shoe, released during the 2013 NBA All- Star weekend in Houston, is the fastest selling Adidas Original shoe to date.
Michael Jordan 50: The Sports Illustrated Legacy
The Sports Illustrated Legacy
Pictures can be worth 1,000 words...
History of Air Jordan: Michael Jordan 50
Wanted to share this complex article on Jordan's she franchise to commemorate 50 years of the G.O.A.T
What are you favorite Jordan releases?
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The Shoe Franchise
What are you favorite Jordan releases?
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The Shoe Franchise
Before the AIR JORDAN, all basketball shoes were white. This simple statement only begins to describe the sheer magnitude of the changes that were about to occur to the sport of basketball and to the athletic footwear industry once Michael Jordan entered the league. Since Michael’s arrival and the launch of the AIR JORDAN franchise, both the game and the industry have been utterly transformed.
Each year, a new AIR JORDAN is unveiled. An annual event since its debut in 1985, each unveiling has been met with ever-increasing anticipation from the media, the industry, and the buying public. AIR JORDANs perennially dominate the market in sales and demand, establishing with each year’s model higher benchmark standards in design, innovation and performance for the entire athletic footwear industry. At the heart of the franchise is the perfect synergy between athlete and technology – Michael Jordan, the greatest player in the history of basketball, and the shoes he’s worn throughout his illustrious career that epitomize his relentless dedication to performance, innovation and achievement.
Today’s AIR JORDANs continue to build on the franchise’s rich history of innovative design and uncompromising performance. Inspired by the greatest to ever play the game, the franchise continues to lead and shape the athletic footwear industry into the future. As Michael’s legend continues to grow, his legacy in the AIR JORDAN franchise lives on.
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