Award Tour: How The Low End Theory Changed Hip-Hop

Image via atribecalledquest.com

The early 1990’s is regard by many music historians as one of the most brilliant era in the history of rap music. You have the west coast G-funk scene headlined by Dr. Dre, Tupac and Snoop Dogg and are also juxtaposed with the likes of New York mainstays, Wu-Tang Clan, Beastie Boys and Public Enemy. However, one of the most seminal albums of this time period emerged from a Queens Hip-Hop group by the name of A Tribe Called Quest. Released in September of 1991, The Low End Theory was a smash hit and helped propel ATCQ to lasting success as a hip-hop group for the majority of 1990’s. While there a ton of great tracks off of this album, I wanted to talk more about the impactful ways it changed hip-hop during their decade from a business and cultural standpoint.

The Low End Theory album cover. Image via emusician.com.

Bridging the gap between Jazz and Hip-Hop: Thanks to magnificent production work from Q-Tip, The Low End Theory was a sonic masterpiece in terms of sampling songs and creating new sounds. Tunes like “Check the Rhime” and “Award Tour” are certified classic party tracks along with more slower songs like “Jazz (We’ve Got)” and “Buggin’ Out” give the album a balanced feel. Thanks to his excellent production work, Q-Tip and ATACQ have inspired a slew of musicians over time including the likes of Kanye West and Pharrell and were one of the forefathers of alternative hip-hop. Indeed, a marvelous fusion of of sounds is what makes The Low End Theory a standout and must-listen album.

The Emergence of Busta Rhymes: Featured prominently on one of the album’s stand out hits, “Scenario,” a young Busta Rhymes made his mark on the landmark track that featured a slew of other artists. Rhymes would go onto to have a successful solo career and is listed as one of the greatest 50 MC’s of the last 20 years. As an original member of Leaders of The New School, Rhymes is a huge influence on hip-hop to this day and one of the genre’s greatest visual artists. Indeed his cameo on Scenario is one of the most iconic in hip-hop history.

Historical Impact on Hip-Hop: With ATCQ coming off of one of hip-hop’s greatest debut albums ( People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm), The Low End Theory had a huge bar to cross over to make its own impact on hip-hop culture. The album is regarded as Phife Dawg’s lyrical breakout, as he established himself as a formidable MC. The group is credited with showcasing how hip hop was made before commercial success influenced many rappers’ creativity, and for challenging the “macho posturing” of hardcore and gangsta rap. Rolling Stone ranked the album at number 153 on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, stating that people “connected the dots between hip-hop and jazz”, as both were revolutionary forms of black music based on improvisation and flow, however, “this LP drew the entire picture.”

So tell me your favorite song from The Low End Theory either in the comments below or on Twitter and make sure to have a safe and peaceful weekend!

Must Be The Money: Pro Wrestlers with Best Business Gimmicks

Image via WWE.com

In the pantheon of pro wrestling, there has always been the haves and have-nots. Whether it is the grimy underbelly of Extreme Championship Wrestling (or the even grimier backyard wrestling scene) to the sparkling spectacle that is Wrestlemania, pro wrestling has had its share of colorful financial personalities over time. So with the stock market a hot topic day in and day out in our climate, I wanted to take a look back at some of the biggest wrestling personalities ever that made it a point to showcase how well off they were. This list is in no particular order and is meant to spotlight the superstars who have showed crowds around the world what it really means to live the “high life”. So without further ado let’s get into our list.

Known as one of the greatest heels of his time, DiBiase would regularly use underhanded tactics to win his matches. Image via. SI.com

“Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase: As one of the greatest villians in pro wrestling history, DiBiase is also noted by many as one of the greatest technical wrestlers in WWE history. With his sidekick (and noted Twitter personality) Virgil by his side, the Million Dollar Man was a thorn in the side of both Hulk Hogan and the “Macho Man” Randy Savage. As his name would suggest, DiBiase was not bullish about his wealth — from his iconic “Million Dollar Championship” to his flashy ring entrances, DiBiase was a great heel for the 1980’s. Later on in life, DiBiase would become an ordained minister and would hold multiple championship belts in his career. DiBiase also headlined the 2010 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, being inducted by his sons.

Ric Flair: As potentially the greatest World Heavyweight Champion of all time, Ric Flair made a name for himself by showing off his lavish lifestyle and his ability to not only look the best but be the best. His famous quote “the stylin’, profilin’, limousine riding, jet flying, kiss-stealing, wheelin’ and dealin’ son of a gun,” is famous in wrestling lore. As one of the co-founders of both the Four Horseman and Evolution, Flair’s legacy is one of the greatest of all time. Also special consideration needs to be given for his love of sneakers and his cameo on Complex’s Sneaker Shopping.

John “Bradshaw” Layfield: As a former member of both the APA and the Acolytes (don’t forget about The New Blackjacks as well), Bradshaw changed his image in a major way in 2004 when he transitioned to J.B.L. Billed as a Texas millionaire, J.B.L. ran roughshod over the heavyweight division for one of the longest championship reigns in the company’s history. His feuds with Eddie Guerrero, the Undertaker and Booker T were solid battles all throughout this period. His persona rubbed plenty of people the wrong way, but his time as one of the greatest heels of the 2000’s left a memorable mark on the company.

Honorable mention, The McMahon Family: This is more of an honorary induction because it really goes without saying that the McMahons are the epitome of wealth and power in wrestling lore. As the ruling family of the WWE, Vince and Co. are the strongest powerhouse in the wrestling world especially with son-in-law and COO Triple H in tow. However, the most special kudos need to go to son Shane’s entrance music video during his time as a competitor. Now if you are a fan of wrestling drop a comment below with your favorite of the above group.

He’s Going To Take You Back to The Past: The Angry Video Game Nerd’s lasting Appeal

Image via Medium.com

As many YouTube personalities have come and gone over the years, a handful have seemed to have some lasting staying power. One of those strong personalities has been James Rolfe aka “The Angry Video Game Nerd”. What started as a passion project has blossomed into a YouTube page with 3.2 million subscribers and hundreds of videos to choose from. Indeed his Cinemassacre website has a plethora of information and videos to choose from that should engage most of the gaming community. So what does AVGN have to do with business? Well his look backs at various video game consoles and games over time have spotlighted how much the video game industry has grown.

In one of his famous tirades, The Angry Video Game Nerd loses his mind in one of his early videos. AVGN has amassed over 3.2 million subscribers since 2006 and is still producing tons of content today. Image via YouTube.com

Starting back in 2006 with his famous review of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” on the Nintendo Entertainment System, AVGN has steadily grown his fan base over time as he has spotlighted a plethora of awful games from various consoles throughout history. His reviews of the Atari Jaguar to the Sega 32X have all shown that video game companies have the capacity to make colossal financial blunders over time that have cost them millions of dollars. With AVGN or “the Nerd” spotlighting these over time, it is really easy to see why these companies lost a lot of money, because these consoles and games were garbage! With millions of followers, the Nerd has stayed true to his base by pumping out content to this day as we are nearly in the era of the next generation of consoles.

What has also made AVGN a solid YouTube business model is his commitment to his brand and craft. He shares a lot of his videos with his friend and business partner Mike Matei and has still prominently featured Kyle Justin as the intro music to his videos for almost 15 years. His original partnership with ScrewAttack.com allowed him to spin off into his own website with Cinemassacre which has even branched off into reviews of horror movies, Godzilla and all kinds of different forms of media. As both a critic and businessman, the Nerd has found a variety of ways to reinvent his niche and making sure he is always serving his fans as they grow older over time, like myself.

In closing, AVGN will always be close to my heart thanks to his staying power and his ability to always make something new. No one on YouTube has done video game history quite as much justice as Rolfe and his Cinemassacre and for that we should all be thankful. That being said, one could even use Rolfe as a standard for harnessing your passion and turning it into a viable business model. Rolfe has found numerous ways over time to dig deep and turn deeper into his content library and make it a successful and strong product for his viewers and for that I salute you Nerd. So go check out one of AVGN’s famous videos and leave a comment with the one you like best.

“I Ain’t No (Joe)ke” – Is Joe Exotic the true everyman’s businessman?

Image via People.com

Well here we are at the beginning of April and things are much more different than they were at the beginning of this year. Yes, I am sure you are aware of what kind of circumstances we are under because it is all over the media and in our personal lives, but there has been one hero to emerge from all of this. While society is much more gloomy these days than before the beginning of this new decade, the world has been blessed with a personality to fill up an entire zoo. The man’s name is Joe Exotic and he has been the underdog hero the world needs as it reels from COVID-19. As the former owner of the G.W. Zoo in the middle of Oklahoma, Exotic has illustrated a few do’s and a ton of don’t’s as a business owner that might need a deeper dive on this blog.

In Netflix’s “Tiger King” anthology, Exotic is the main character amongst a cacophony of larger than life characters at his large cat zoo in Oklahoma. As the former main proprietor of the zoo, Exotic illustrated a certain charisma and knack for finding employees from all over the state that were at the proverbial “end of their ropes”. Indeed his ability to lead a group of park employees over time to work as a unit was one of his main strong suits. Exotic also illustrated his ability to leverage social media in a way that many parks were not doing at the time. Of course, he mainly used it to mock and threaten his rival Carole Baskin of Big Cat Rescue down in Tampa, Florida, but his ability to galvanize new forms of advertising at their advent is a tactic that many business owners can pull from in tasteful way of course.

Joe Exotic’s most recent mugshot from 2019. Exotic recently asked for a pardon from President Trump. Image via The Sun.com

While Exotic did certainly have some business school highlights in the show, he had certainly had a ton of “what not to do” in running his business. “I’m never gonna financially recover from this,” Exotic bemoans after one of his zoo employees has their arm accidentally torn off from a tiger cage. Truly a human resources nightmare, Exotic somehow recovers thanks to the truly tough as nails personality and his ability to circumvent conventional laws. Okay that might not be the case, but he certainly has illustrated a couple hard earned lessons over time. Also his eccentricity has come to bite him in the rear multiple times.

While I am by no means endorsing Exotic’s various flaws, it has to be acknowledged that his initial mission of trying to save and help rehabilitate these wild animals was at first a noble one. Also as some sources have acknowledged, he is also in some ways a “tragic hero” and in today’s modern society, a self-admitted “broke as shit”, polygamist, gun-toting man, is as relatable to anybody as it ever has been. Sure Exotic might be incarcerated right now, but his lessons on the show could be applied to what to do for your company and also certainly what NOT to do. Indeed his entrepreneurial nature and enthusiasm as a business owner could be quite successful if captured and projected in the right way. Especially when it comes to country music videos.

While I type this article, Exotic has asked for a pardon for his crimes from President Trump and some sources are saying it is being considered by the president. With the new roaring 20’s off to a very strange and bizarre start, who is not to say that Exotic could be walking free to ride off into the Oklahoma sunset once again? It will remain to be seen if he ever starts another business but his dealings with nefarious characters are a lesson to any business owner to always vet your connections and make sure you know who you are dealing with. Exotic’s journey can in some ways be seen as a cautionary tale, but in other ways can be seen that most anything is possible if you put your mind to it and also install multiple piercings on your body. So please below drop me a comment with your favorite scene from “Tiger King” or a line on Twitter @CDBoline.

”All That Power” – A tip of my hat to Mr. Dave Ramsey

Image via dailyjournalonline.com

In an era of get-rich-quick social media entrepreneurs and schemers, one man has stood above the rest and appealed to the common person. This man’s name is Dave Ramsey and he is here to tell you you are stupid you bought that $50,000 truck with a household income of $40,000 per year. As a financial guru that has survived bankruptcy and helped thousands of people, Dave Ramsey is not for those that need coddling at every turn. His profound insistence on his financial “baby steps” and also utilizing the debt snowball method has helped to carve a very lucrative career in many spaces from radio shows to being a best-selling author. As a fairly new listener to Mr. Ramsey, his tools and methodologies have even helped me in my young business career.

Since Ramsey started broadcasting a radio show back in 1992, he has grown his financial following into the thousands and has pioneered a new way at looking at debt. His seven baby steps are:1. Save a $1,000 beginner emergency fund ,2. Get out of debt using the debt snowball, 3. Building a fully funded emergency fund, 4. Invest 15% of household income for retirement, 5. Save for children’s college,6. Pay off your home early, and 7. Build wealth and be generous. Indeed while this might be preposterous to some, it is solid financial advice that coupled with the debt snowball method (where debtors pay off their lowest balance debt first instead of paying off their highest interest rate debt first) can be surprisingly effective. While this approach has been criticized by some, research done by the Kellogg School of Management has found that the debt snowball method is generally effective, because it helps debtors become motivated by the small victories.

Financial guru Dave Ramsey first started a radio show back in 1992 and now has thousands of listeners that use his financial tactics to obliterate debt. Image via abcnews.com

Since surviving bankruptcy back in 1988, Ramsey has espoused his values to thousands of viewers across the world. As a young adult in the professional world, his advice has always stuck out as practical and pragmatic. It is easy to keep up with “the Joneses” but sticking to your core fundamental financial values can help you dramatically in the long run. His direct and candid demeanor is a much-needed outlet for listeners that need to be told the honest truth and also for those that just need a guide in their journey. Sure he is not perfect by any means, but his methods to help curb debt and build financial freedom is a welcome voice for many.

Over the past year or so that I have listened to Mr. Ramsey, I have found numerous ways to shoring up my own spending habits. From using my credit card less and less to paying off my undergraduate student loans earlier this year (the biggest brag on this blog, I promise), Mr. Ramsey has made me more stoked about personal finances than ever before. His blunt straight talk about incurring as little debt as possible and always paying for things in cash, would make even the Cash Money Records crew blush. Also as a rabid Tennessee Vols fan, his talks relating to sports have a certain level of relatability around him as does his own personal story.

Indeed while I might not agree with everything Mr. Ramsey says, his policies have a certain level of candidness needed in this day and age. Plus who does not want to have your virtual finance “dad” yell at you or somewhere else when you do something stupid? If he doesn’t do it, there might not be any others who will. As always, drop me a comment below with your favorite finance story and how you have bounced back from it!

“Musings on Madden”-What a Legendary Game Has Taught Me About Business

As the cover athlete of Madden NFL 20, Patrick Mahomes was the first Kansas City Chiefs player to grace the cover. Image via Polygon.com

In the modern era of video games, one has stayed a fairly constant presence in my life: Madden NFL. John Madden Football as it was originally called in 1988, has been a game I have played regularly since 2005 and have almost every year since. It is a game that is truly a cruel mistress in the sense that it is unforgiving when you lose and so sweet when you win. While many video games have unforgiving curves, Madden has been the game that I have played consistently over the years that has me yearning for more. Of course, there are categorically stronger titles in the pantheon of great games (Super Mario 64, Bioshock, etc.), but Madden in my mind is the game that has taught me the hardest lessons about business and bouncing back.

In the years I have played, I have applied many of the ideals and features of the game into my life in some form or another. Since it is a competitive sports game, I thought it contained a handful of parallels to the business world. In many ways, Madden has taught me some of the hardest lessons that I would apply later on in my professional career. Things like bouncing back (losing to your girlfriend’s 15-year old brother), practice makes perfect (I cannot tell you the hours I have spent on franchise mode in Madden 2005), and having the grit to persevere (breaking a PlayStation controller of mine in 6th grade was not my best moment) all have come from playing Madden. Indeed I am fortunate to have had some of these lessons early and apply them later on.

In Madden 2004, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was a virtual cheat code and able to score all over the field. Many players were banned from using the Falcons and his video game avatar is touted as the great Madden player of all time. Image via The Undefeated.com

While Madden is by no means a perfect game (how does Titans wide receiver Corey Davis break three tackles and score a 65-yard touchdown to win a game I will never know), but it has had the staying power to stay in front of TV screens all over the world. Since its introduction back in 1988, Madden has at least had a yearly release every year and has featured a multitude of NFL stars. Also as of 2013, Electronic Arts has sold more than 100 million copies of Madden NFL, and more than five million in one year, for more than $4 billion in total sales. This has number grown quite a bit over time and has also illustrated how EA’s monopoly over 2K Sports gave it a huge financial surplus in the polygon video game realm.

As a franchise, Madden is in many ways also the standard bearer for iconic video game franchises. Aside from Mario, no other franchise has pumped out a yearly installment quite like Madden. Additionally, the franchise has spun off into a television show (Road to Madden Nation), video game winner take-all tournaments for both professional gamers and athletes, a strong streaming presence on Twitch and YouTube and has illustrated a strong staying power in the pantheon of yearly must-buys. Indeed there are detractors that say the game does not change much year over year, but the franchise still has found ways to re-invent itself with options like Madden Ultimate Team. Even as businesses now, we must find ways to become adaptable to changing with the times, just like Madden has done over the year with each new generation of video game consoles coming out.

As I think about my interactions with Madden and the nights and days I have spent playing a game I will never be at the mountaintop of, I am thankful it has brought me so much joy. While I might never catch that figurative dragon and be the best like Eric “Problem” Wright or Michael Skimbo, it has always been a treat to play year over year. Like in business, Madden does not always have a formula to win at the highest level, but it does reward those who have created opportunities for themselves by putting themselves in situations to succeed. So as always drop me your favorite Madden memory below or tweet me at @CDBoline.

“How the Turntables Have Turned” – A Look at Which “The Office” Characters Would Fare Best as CEO

Image via NBC Universal

In times like this, shows like “The Office” have become integral part of how many people live their lives when they are sheltering in their homes looking for a bright light during the day. While “The Office” has certainly earned its title in the pantheon of most binge-worthy shows, it has also shed a light on numerous corporate and business policies that are part of everyday life for some. From Michael Scott providing his own HR training (“Prison Mike”) to Jim Halpert slinging paper with the best of them, “The Office” really has a little bit of something for everyone in a corporate setting. So the impetus of this article is trying to find out who would be the best CEO of a giant company, and all bets are off the table at this point. While I can include mainstays like Dwight Schrute, Michael, and Jim, I wanted to give a spotlight to some of the lesser-known characters in this race.

Ryan Howard aka “The Temp”: Ryan actually got a shot at a higher up gig in Dundler Mifflin when he was promoted to help spearhead “Dunder Mifflin Infinity” as Jan Levinson’s replacement in season four. However, his own narcissism and hard-partying ways got the best of him and he was outed from his new illustrious position soon after. Howard has mostly displayed a cool temperament other than his egregious promotion, but has mostly sat on the sidelines during major events. His relationship to one Kelly Kapoor is also troublesome as well since Howard folds under pressure and thus would not be a good candidate to help the company through uncertain times.

Not much is know about Creed or his origins, but he has many of the intangible qualities one could want in a leader according to also unknown sources. Image via bustle.com

Creed Bratton: The dark horse in this race, not much is known about Creed or what he does at the office. Creed is a man with unknown origins whose interests include being a cult leader, both as a follower and a leader, so we know that he has been a somewhat of an authority figure in the past. Truly someone who you have to keep an eye on, Creed does also have the ability to blend in but also stand out when he needs. Indeed he might actually be our favorite at this point in the way that he attacks situations and makes a lasting impression, time will tell if this pays off in the end.

Kelly Kapoor: Now if there is someone in this race that best embodies the notion of “getting what you want” there might not be a better candidate than Kelly. Her office romance with Ryan aside, she adds in necessary input when called upon and is one of the strongest female voices in the entire show. While her and Ryan’s relationship has been cantankerous at times, it has also illustrated how powerful she can be at changing the outcomes of situations and getting what she wants. Of course this is somewhat of a stretch candidate at this juncture, but Kelly’s tenacity could make her a favorite in the overall race.

Well with a top three of candidates to narrow down to, the overall winner really has come to heated conclusion. While both Kelly and Ryan have shown leadership abilities in the past, their communication skills have not always been the most progressive and effective. Additionally, their respective track records of having abrasive arguments throws them out of the running which leaves only one viable candidate. Creed has never been the character that jumps off the page to anyone, but his ability to command a room and operate from the shadows makes him a dark horse leader that many can rally around. So with our list concluded, drop me a comment below or let me know who your favorite candidate to be CEO from “The Office” would be.

“I Love The Dough” – Hip Hop’s Top 3 Songs Relating to Business

Image courtesy of http://www.consequenceofsound.net

In the pantheon of hip-hop history, the rap game is closely intertwined to not only the economics of the streets, but also the ups and downs of the business world. An incredibly diverse and rich genre, hip-hop has the ability to touch all walks of life. Whether you appreciate it for its raucous anthems (Digital Underground, DMX, Souls of Mischief) or its down to earth flows (A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul), rap music has a little bit of something for everyone. In this case we are going over how hip-hop can tie back to business and economic themes and the top three songs (in my opinion) in the history of the genre.

For this list, we are mainly going to focus on songs from the 1990’s. While there are certainly many jams that go over the up and down times of the business world, this list is my personal top three. While there are plenty of excellent choices to choose from, especially as the 1990’s transitioned from the gangster rap earlier in the decade to the decadent high-spending times to open up the 21st century, there can only be room for a top three. So without further ado, let’s get into the list, which is in no particular order.

Jay-Z performs during the “Dead Presidents II” music video. Jay-Z released his
debut album “Reasonable Doubt” back in 1996 and it almost immediately
became a hip-hop instant classic. Image courtesy of YouTube.com

“Dead Presidents II” by Jay-Z : Released in the summer of 1996, Jay-Z’s debut album “Reasonable Doubt” is regarded by many in the entertainment industry as one of the greatest rap debut albums of all time. Spearheaded by a slew of expertly crafted hits, including “Can’t Knock the Hustle”, “Cashmere Thoughts” and “D’Evils”, the album is a masterpiece and has stood the test of time in terms of influencing the generations after him. However, the key headliner from this album has to be “Dead Presidents II” which is slang for every president that appears on U.S. dollar bills. The song is an ode to Jay-Z’s time on the streets and featured sampled backing vocals from Nas that became a key element of their famous feud later on in the decade. “Dead Presidents II” is a key song to listen to if you are ever in the mood to learn more about the origins of one of hip-hop’s greatest performers of all time.

“Juicy” by The Notorious B.I.G.: In terms of rags-to-riches stories, “Juicy” is probably is one of the most under-appreciated inspiration songs of the 20th century. In the song, Biggie details his humble and dangerous upbringings in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn and how he has achieved everything he has wanted after leaving the drug trade. This includes everything from “money green leather sofas” to the illustrious duo of the “Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis”, which of course are things we all want to aspire to. While also serving as an incredible pump-up anthem, “Juicy” is an incredible tale that is really “The American Dream” for many people in a nutshell.

“C.R.E.A.M.” By Wu-Tang Clan: Wrapping up our list we have Staten Island’s own Wu-Tang Clan bringing arguably their most classic track from their debut album to the table. In a list that is really become dominated by the east coast rap scene, Wu-Tang stood out for their giant ensemble group and their varied lyrics and themes in their songs. The eighth track from “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)”, “C.R.E.A.M.” is short for “cash rules everything around me” and with a diverse street upbringing ever present in their lyrics, Wu-Tang brings their economic street sense. While not the most feel-good song, and not that it has to be, “C.R.E.A.M.” is the Wu’s ode to cash flow and how it dominates the street culture where they are from. With their iconic Wu-Wear brand and almost each member of the group spinning off to a successful solo career, “C.R.E.A.M.” was really a sign of things to come.

Thanks as always for taking the time to read this post and please drop a comment or tweet me @CDBoline with your favorite hip-hop song from the 1990’s.

Powder Blue and Yellow- Why L.T. was the biggest unsung star of the NFL in the 2000’s

Image courtesy of Bleacher Report

In terms of sheer grace and ferocity, no one ran the football quite like LaDainian Tomlinson back in the 2000’s. Tomlinson, or L.T. for short, (no not that L.T.) was one of the most dynamic stars of the 2000’s and was the main engine behind a San Diego Chargers offense that racked up five division titles during the decade. In addition to his prowess running the football, Tomlinson was a dynamic receiver out of the backfield and also a secret weapon as a passer for the Bolts. His drive and ambition helped to bring the Bolts to arguably their most impressive and lucrative stretch in franchise history and earned him a ticket to the NFL Hall of Fame as a first ballot member in 2017.

TCU running back LaDainian Tomlinson scores a touchdown at Mackay Stadium during a game against the Wolf Pack in 2000. Image via the Reno Gazette-Journal

His impact on the Bolts started early on as a first round pick out of TCU in the 2001 NFL draft. Tomlinson was selected as a consensus All-American and also the winner of the Doak Walker Award as the best running back in college football. After a brilliant college career (including three touchdowns in the Horned Frogs 41-10 win over Nevada in 2000), Tomlinson was selected with the fifth overall pick by the Chargers. His rookie year saw him rush for over 1,200 yards and in 2003, he became the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards and record 100 receptions in the same season. L.T. galvanized fans in the greater San Diego area and was elected to the Pro Bowl five times in his career.

During the peak of his career, no season better defined his legacy with the Bolts than his MVP campaign in 2006. This season saw Tomlinson set league records for both rushing touchdowns in a year (28) and also total touchdowns in a season (31) as he led the 14-2 Chargers to a No.1 seed in the AFC playoffs. While the Bolts fell short in a divisional heartbreaker to the Patriots, Tomlinson’s campaign forever established him as an icon in San Diego. He was named NFL Most Valuable Player for his efforts in 2006 and also ended up leading the league in rushing yards and touchdowns in 2007.

As the decade drew to a close, Tomlinson still had a handful of tricks left in his bag. As one of finest trick-play specialists in league history, Tomlinson threw for eight touchdown passes and is only behind Walter Payton in league history for non-quarterback players throwing for touchdowns. Powered by L.T. and quarterback Philip Rivers, the Chargers advanced to the AFC title game in 2008, but were ousted by the Patriots yet again. His next two seasons were again effective and he ended the decade dominating most major statistical categories. Tomlinson led the NFL with 12,490 rushing yards in the 2000s, 1,897 more than runner-up Edgerring James and his 138 rushing touchdowns during the decade set an NFL record for any decade, and were 38 more than any other player in the 2000s.Tomlinson also dominated the Bolts’ main rival, the Oakland Raiders, by going 14-4 against the Raiders as a Charger, with 22 rushing touchdowns, three scoring receptions and three touchdown passes.

While L.T. was never able to capture that elusive Super Bowl title, his impact on the franchise was immense. He was named to the NFL 2000’s All-Decade Team and eventually inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as his playing career ended. Since his time leaving the Chargers, Tomlinson has been a focal point in the community and is still employed by the team as a special assistant to owner Dean Spanos. While the Chargers no longer reside in San Diego, Tomlinson has always been an advocate for a club that gave him his start in the NFL and where he delivered a truly thunderous performance over the decade.

With it almost being Friday, leave a comment below with your favorite player from the 2000’s.

Must be the Shoes: The Top 3 OG Air Jordan’s of the 2010’s

Image courtesy of SneakerBarDetroit.com.

In these uncertain times, I can take solace in the fact that retro Air Jordans will still be released and scooped up by the masses in hopefully the near future. Well, maybe not all the time (apologies to the Jordan 4 Retro ‘What The’), but Jordans are still a coveted item for sneaker enthusiasts, especially around the holiday season. With the dawn of a new decade upon us, and what a start to the decade it has been, I wanted to take a small tour down memory lane and go over my top three favorite OG Air Jordan releases of the 2010’s. A couple notes though before we get into it: a) the shoes must have been an original release colorway, (ex. the red/black 1’s from 1985), b) the shoe must have been released in the 2010’s and c) must not be a collaboration (Travis Scott, Virgil Abloh, etc.)

With those rules in mind let’s go over some honorable mention favorites of mine from the last 10 years.

Jordan 5 Retro Grape (2013): Made famous by Will Smith on the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, the Grape 5’s have been a staple of most sneakerhead collections. With a colorway that invokes a very 90’s era feel (Larry Johnson and the Charlotte Hornets anyone?), the Grapes are an essential piece for most collections. Also special salute to Chris Rock for rocking a pair of these on the cover for his comedy album, “Born Suspect”. Jordan 3 Retro Black Cement (2018): Pencilled by many as the greatest Air Jordan of all time, the Black Cement 3 is an iconic colorway on an iconic silhouette. Made famous by Michael Jordan during the 1988 All-Star game and in a series of ads with Spike Lee, the Black Cement 3 is an excellent shoe and also one of the staple pieces of any collection. Now with those two out of the way, let’s roll onto the top three.

3. Jordan 11 Retro Space Jam (2016): The original pair of “Space Jams” were debuted back in the 1995 NBA playoffs by Michael Jordan against the Orlando Magic. Led by Penny Hardaway and Shaquille O’Neal, the upstart Magic were able to topple the mighty Chicago Bulls 4-2 in Jordan’s return from baseball. However, the legacy of the shoes only grew from there when they were later featured in the iconic “Space Jam” film alongside a slew of classic Looney Tunes characters. When this pair re-released back in 2016, it actually featured the number 45 on the back as opposed to MJ’s original 23 which was a feature that was present on the original model back in 1995. Additionally, back in 2016, the Space Jam re-launch was Nike’s “largest and most successful shoe launch in the history of the company” according to president Trevor Edwards.

2. Jordan 11 Retro Concord (2018): Man, in terms of sheer boldness, there might not be a better silhouette and color combination than the Air Jordan 11 “Concord”. Released around the same time as the “Space Jams”, the Concords (named after the purple-ish hits on the bottom of the sneaker), are an absolute masterpiece. The re-release in 2018 also featured the number 45 on the back of the sneaker and was an immediate sell-out upon release. While Jordan Brand has had to fend off the likes of Adidas’ Yeezy line the past couple of years, the holiday releases of Jordan 11’s have always been an immediate hit. Also continuing the trend of outstanding holiday releases, the 2018 version of the Concord was supposedly Nike’s biggest release ever.

The 2016 version of the Jordan 4 White Cement tops our list of most iconic Jordan sneakers of the 2010’s. Image courtesy of NiceKicks.com.

1. Jordan 4 Retro White Cement (2016): Finally to round out our list, Jordan Brand released an all-time classic just in in time for NBA All-Star weekend 2016 complete with iconic “Nike Air” branding. To me, the white cement 4 is not only an iconic sneaker of the 2010’s, but also one of the most iconic sneakers of the late 80’s and early 90’s. With it wing-like straps, grey and black cement speckles and vibrant red Jumpman logo, this is truly one of my favorite sneakers of all time. It really is a perfect shoe from feel to look and that is why it tops my list for best Jordan retro of the 2010’s.

Well that does it for my personal top three list of Jordans from the 2010’s, leave me a comment below with your favorite! Stay safe and stay fly out there y’all.

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