Brooklyn

Brooklyn , Dodgers

Brooklyn community seeks “landmark” status on the Jackie Robinson House

Posted on: April 13th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian No Comments

 

With Jackie Robinson in the spotlight thanks to the release of the movie "42," community leaders in Brooklyn, including councilman Jumaane D. Williams, have begun to seek "landmark" status on 5224 Tilden Avenue in Brooklyn, better known as the Jackie Robinson House. Robinson lived in the house from 1947 to 1949.

Council Member Williams declared that achieving city landmark status for the property would help safeguard the house's historic, aesthetic, and cultural heritage, help stabilize and improve property values in the surrounding area, and encourage civic pride. The news comes a day before the theatrical release of "42", a biographical film about the life of the baseball great and civil rights pioneer.

"Heroes like Jackie Robinson come from East Flatbush, and we need to treasure and preserve that history," said Council Member Williams. "This house is proof of the rich culture that exists south of Eastern Parkway. Jackie had an impact on the lives of every member of this community through his bravery on and off the field. We must protect that legacy for future generations to learn from and appreciate.

The landmark status has been backed by Brooklyn borough President Marty Markowitz and numerous community leaders throughout Brooklyn.
Read More: Brooklyn Eagle -- Effort underway to landmark Jackie Robinson house

Barclays Center , Brooklyn

Is Jay-Z Sliding Toward Donald Trumpiness?

Posted on: April 11th, 2013 by Rick Barry1971 1 Comment

 

There's some debate about the precise words in the new Jay-Z song, especially in terms of who, exactly, he was calling an effing dweeb. Devin heard it as:

"Would've brought the Nets to Brooklyn for free. Except, I made millions off of you f***ing dweeb. I still own the building, I'm still keeping my seats, you buy that bulls***, you better keep your receipts.

Some heard it as made millions off "it" instead of "of."  Either way, at the risk of over-interpreting a bunch of rap lyrics, it sounds like Jay-Z thinks:

a) He single-handedly brought the Nets to Brooklyn.  I guess Bruce Ratner, Mikhail Prokhorov, Marty Markowitz and the many other people who have been agitating for a Brooklyn team for years, were irrelevant.  The Nets came to Brooklyn because Jay-Z decided it should be so. And, "I still own the building."   He was no doubt very important in creating the brand but even accounting for normal celebrity trash talk, this sounds a bit too much like The Donald.

b) Nets are suckers.  Whether he's mocking a particular Nets executive or the entire deal, he's saying the Nets  could have gotten his help for free but they paid him!  Ha ha ha ha.  (By the way, the Nets did just fine in this relationship: whatever they paid, they probably got their money's worth in terms of brand-buffing and publicity.)

It's quite possible that Jay-Z was mostly intending to push back at those who made fun of him for having a small stake in the team.  That seems to have really gotten under his skin, which is a weird thing to care about.  So he's saying, "you think I had a small stake!  Well then how come I made millions!  Still think I was used??"

But whatever his motivation, the combination of him selling his shares to go off and make some more money as an agent and this Nets-whack makes it slightly harder to think of him as the Nets Number One Fan in quite the same way.  He was supposed to be our Spike Lee. This week, at least, he's sounding more like our Donald Trump.

Brooklyn

Jay-Z’s new song “Open Letter” addresses selling the Nets: “I made millions off (?) you f***ing dweeb” (AUDIO)

Posted on: April 11th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian 3 Comments

 

Jay-Z

Jay-Z, playing at Barclays Center (AP)

Amidst the information leaking that Jay-Z, AKA Shawn Carter, is divesting his shares in the Brooklyn Nets to begin the sports agency "Roc Nation Sports," Jay-Z recorded a pissed-off song titled "Open Letter" addressing the sale and the reaction to it, including attacking an unnamed person -- presumably a member of the Nets organization. Audio and lyrics after the jump.... MORE →

Brooklyn

The 10 Best High School Basketball Prospects in Brooklyn

Posted on: April 8th, 2013 by raya lim No Comments

 

Gothamhoops.com, the ultimate source for New York college basketball, has compiled this list of the best Brooklynite high school prospects.

Isaiah Whitehead

Abraham Lincoln High School, Junior. Whitehead, a nationally-ranked recruit, is touted as "next in line" for the Lincoln Railsplitters. Following in the footsteps of those before him such as Stephon Marbury, Sebastian Telfair and Lance Stephenson, Whitehead led Lincoln to the 2012-13 PSAL 'AA' Championship.

Visit GothamHoops.com for more.

Brooklyn , Nets

Jay-Z would need to renounce Nets ownership to become basketball agent

Posted on: April 4th, 2013 by William Rausch 1 Comment

 

Earlier this week, Jay-Z's entertainment company, Roc Nation, announced the launch of a sports agency, Roc Nation Sports, and made an immediate splash by signing Yankees star infielder Robinson Cano. For an encore (do you want more?), the fledging agency signed Giants free-agent wide receiver Victor Cruz on Wednesday.

If that wasn't enough, Jay-Z has reportedly expressed interest in becoming an agent himself; first in baseball, then in football and basketball. In order to become an NBA agent... MORE →

Brooklyn

Jay-Z launches sports agency, signs Yankees’ Robinson Cano

Posted on: April 2nd, 2013 by William Rausch No Comments

 

Shawn Carter, aka Jay-Z, has started a sports agency group, Roc Nation Sports, and has announced the signing of Yankees All-Star infielder Robinson Cano as the venture's first client, because Jay-Z.

Ever the master of image cultivation,  Jay-z has gotten CAA Sports, a division of Creative Artists Agency (CAA), a leading entertainment and sports agency, to co-represent Cano with Roc Nation Sports.  Here's Jay-Z's thoughts on his latest entrepreneurial adventure:

“Because of my love of sports, it was a natural progression to form a company where we can help top athletes in various sports the same way we have been helping artists in the music industry for years.”

In order to sign with Roc Nation Sports, the 30 year old four time All-Star left MLB super agent Scott Boras. Cano, who is named after baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson, wears number 24 in honor of the Brooklyn Dodger great's  number 42, which had been retired by the time Cano entered the league. In yet another sign that Jay-Z has his tenticles all over pop culture, the rapper-turned-Nets-minority owner's "Brooklyn We Go Hard" has been used heavily in TV spots for the upcoming biopic on Jackie Robinson's life, 42: The True Story of an American Legend.

“At this point in my career, I am ready to take a more active role in my endeavors both on and off the field,” said Cano. “I am confident that the pairing of Roc Nation Sports and CAA Sports will be essential in helping me accomplish my short- and long-term goals. I am making this important decision now so I can keep my focus on helping the Yankees succeed in 2013, while minimizing any distractions for me and my teammates.”

For baseball purposes, Cano will be represented by  a team of agents led by CAA Sports’ Brodie Van Wagenen. But don't rule out Jay-Z in the future. According to Buster Olney and Darren Rovell of ESPN:

"Sources say Jay-Z himself is planning to be a certified agent, first in baseball and eventually in basketball and football. In order to represent clients in basketball, he would have to give up his small share of the Brooklyn Nets."

If Jay-Z does give up his tiny share of the Nets, would he be able to sway clients to come to Brooklyn as an agent? Then again, Jay-Z probably wouldn't  let his considerable Brooklyn pride and former ties to the Nets get in the way of getting the best deal for his client, wherever that may come from. After all, Jay-Z isn't a businessman. He's a business, man. So let him handle his business, damn.

Read More: RocNation - -  Roc Nation Launches Roc Nation Sports + Signs New York Yankees All-Star Robinson Cano

Read More: ESPN Buster Olney and Darren Rovell  - - Robinson Cano hires Jay-Z  

Brooklyn , Nets

Well, this is pretty cool

Posted on: March 26th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian 1 Comment

 

Yup: a Nets chant, in TD Garden, while the Knicks are playing the Celtics.

Before the Nets moved to Brooklyn, one of their official slogans was "It's All New." It always rung hollow, because the team was awful and the overall mood was dominated by the simple fact that the franchise never cared about New Jersey. But now? It really is. And that's awesome.

Edit: an earlier version of this listed the game at Madison Square Garden. That was incorrect. My apologies for being an idiot. I am still excited about this.

Brooklyn , Nets

Brooklyn Nets to dedicate Nets-themed Gym in Fort Greene

Posted on: March 26th, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian 1 Comment

 

The Brooklyn Nets, in their tireless effort to get involved in the Brooklyn community, are dedicating a Brooklyn Nets-themed renovated gym Wednesday in Brooklyn. The project is spearheaded by Brooklyn Nets CEO Brett Yormark, and officially from the Yormark Family Foundation. The Nets will dedicate the gym to the Navy Yard Clubhouse at the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club at 240 Nassau Street in the Fort Greene Neighborhood.

Some info on the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club, courtesy of... well, the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club:

Since 1884, Madison has been saving and enhancing the lives of youth by providing after-school and summer programs for children in New York City’s most disadvantaged communities. Programs are engineered to empower each member to achieve three priority outcomes: Academic Success, Good Character and Citizenship, and the adoption of a Healthy Lifestyle. Every day, Madison provides thousands of children with a safe and positive environment, one where fun is encouraged and positive role models are plentiful. A founding member of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Madison currently serves more than 5,000 youth, ages 6 to 18, at seven sites throughout Brooklyn and the Bronx as well as at Camp Madison in Kingston, New York.

According to the Nets, the Brooklynnettes will be in attendance, as well as the BrooklyKnight and 100 Madison Square Boys & Girls Club kids. Be careful, kids.

Brooklyn , Photos , slideshow

Best Brooklyn-Born NBA Players of All Time

Posted on: March 25th, 2013 by Rick Barry1971 11 Comments

 

Bernard King

The former Nets and Knicks superstar -- 19,655 points lifetime -- attended Ft. Hamilton High School in Bay Ridge.

Barclays Center , Brooklyn

Barclays Center to host MTV Video Music Awards

Posted on: March 25th, 2013 by William Rausch No Comments

 

Barclays Center

Barclays Center (AP)

Since opening in September 2012 with a series of Jay-Z concerts, Brooklyn's Barclays Center has hosted such music visionaries as Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and Israeli violinist Itzhak Perlman. In August, Barclays Center will continue its dedication to the aural arts when it hosts its first major cultural awards show.

M.T.V. announced today that The Black House will host the 30th installment of the MTV Video Music Awards (or VMAs) on August 25th, because Jay-Z. ... MORE →

Barclays Center , Brooklyn

Labor Dispute, Animal Cruelty Protests surround Barclays Center

Posted on: March 21st, 2013 by Devin Kharpertian 1 Comment

 

Barclays Center Labor Dispute

The labor dispute protest sign in front of Barclays Center. Rat at left.

The Brooklyn Nets are on an eight-game, 17-day road trip, and it's no accident: Barclays Center has welcomed the circus to town, hosting Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey while the Nets travel to Detroit, Dallas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, Denver, Utah, and Cleveland.

The circus coming to town doesn't just bring a show: it also brings controversy... MORE →

Brooklyn

After Deejay Brown’s Nightmare, Will His Trip from the Brooklyn Projects Have a Happy Ending?

Posted on: March 20th, 2013 by Guest Post No Comments

 


Brooklynite high school basketball star Deejay Brown with coach Rich Endres. (Credit: Steve Ames)

By WAYNE BOKAT

For Brooklyn native Deejay Brown, the place where he is the most safe in the world is on the basketball court.

That’s what makes it so sad that he hasn’t been allowed to play for the past two seasons for his team at Thousand Oaks High School in California. Brown was ruled ineligible to play after moving in to live with the family of Rich Endres, his coach –- and surrogate father.

Last year's decision was based upon the principals' conclusion that Brown, Endres and Thousand Oaks didn't prove Brown's hardship case. Endres thinks Brown should have been allowed to play last year, if not both years.

"How many kids get stabbed in the face in an attempted murder? That’s an extreme hardship. And what would it have hurt if you would have allowed him to play? Who would that have harmed?"... MORE →