Monday, February 18, 2013

Dr. Jerry Buss: The Sport Illustrator


This was originally going to be typed up into a two paragraph post about why the NBA All Star game this past weekend was unanimous every year and with "God's gift to earth" Kate Upton being on the cover of the Sports Illustrated: Swimsuit Issue again, but I had to suspend those plans after I found out that Los Angeles Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss has passed away at Cedars-Siani hospital earlier today from cancer.

I'm not going to say much other than that I was very fortunate to see him and photograph him in person at two separate occasions. As a matter a fact, his Hollywood Walk Of Fame ceremony from October 2006 was not only the first of many Walk Of Fame events that I've attended, but it was the VERY first event that I got to see many celebrities and entertainers in person who were also in attendance on that day, such as Tom Arnold, Snoop Dogg, Paris Hilton (when she was still friends with Kim Kardashian before her sex tape was released leaked) and Paula Abdul as well since she was a former Lakers Girl back in the day. Shit, I even first saw Kobe Bryant there and the Lakers team of that time. I skipped class that day at Los Angeles Valley College to not miss this event.

That just shows the type of style that Dr. Buss was in this city. The last I saw him was at Game 1 of the 2010 NBA Finals outside Staples Center, when he pulled up to the Valet parking  in his Rolls Royce Phantom with some young fine lady, and the best part was that his team won that season, which was one of the best moments in my life, yet, Dr Buss had several of those moments in his life. Much condolences and many thanks to the Buss family and the Lakers organization.



Wednesday, February 13, 2013

All About Those Lives

I gave the Davidson family the signed portraits of Ashley over the weekend at the memorial service for her. That part wasn't easy, emotional wise. Rest in Paradise Ashley Davidson and my condolences to the Davidson family.

And during the upcoming NBA All-Star Weekend, Michael Jordan will , coincidentally, turn half a century this Sunday. The day before that His 28th edition Air Jordan basketball sneaker that nobody will buy will be released at the same time his first sneaker from 1985 in the Black/Royal blue colorway will drop, which everyone and their girlfriends mothers will buy.



The 1985 joints releasing only at House of Hoops Foot Lockers (Westfield Topanga, Beverly Center) for $140


The 2013 Air Jordan XX8 releasing at every foot wear store you can think of.


Finally, this fool right here....


his life is like a 15 minute movie this past week. If it were a reality show, than LL Cool J should play as him (yes, I'm a few days late on that joke, and I think the Huffington Post did this page on purpose). 

Anyway thanks for your time reading this, and spoil your girl tomorrow. 

Friday, February 8, 2013

The Years of Wonders

I was given age: 17

I lived in: Granada Hills
I was married to: wasn't married then, but does a 1 and a half month relationship in high school count?
I drove: A Lexus LS, a Ford Explorer and a Nissan Sentra with a learners permit (didn't have a license yet)
I feared: parents coming into my classroom during school hours and taking to my friends
I worked at: my high school during the summer (got paid to do nothing really) and DCI/HD Staffing (those people who hold twirl the big-ass signs out on the street)
I wanted to be: a filmmaker/cinematographer in NFL Films or to start an independent production company

Now I'm: 24 (turning 25 in 25 days)

I live in: Sylmar
I am married to: N/A
I drive: temporarily my brother's Ford Taurus when he's not using it
I fear: today's youth
I work at: Photographer for JustForSneaks Ent.
I want to be: ^ see previous statement above  ^

Yeah, this is unusual and Myspace-ish, but I figured, what the hell. Have a nice, safe weekend.


Monday, February 4, 2013

Super Bowl Son-Day

That game was fucking weird. If not, the whole entire Sunday.

I was watching it at the De La Torre's place as I always do whenever a championship sporting event is taking place. For the past two years, I witnessed Green Bay Packers winning over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Superbowl XLV, the Dallas Mavericks getting their revenge against the Miami Heat in that Game 6 of the Finals, that crazy ass walk-off home run by David Freese of the St. Louis Cardinals that forced a Game 7 in the World Series that year, and obviously that Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals when the LA Kings shocked the universe by bringing the Stanley Cup all over the town. But this past Sunday was my second time watching a Super Bowl there, and after a long stressful month of January, just being with some homies and their families and their kids made me feel more comfortable.

As for the game, man, fuck it. That shit looked like it was commissioned and produced by a fifteen-year-old who spent his whole life playing Madden '96 off his pop's Sega Saturn. I mean, it was great to see Ray Lewis getting his second ring at his final game (which is the same way that Jerome Bettis and John Elway finish their careers). The actual game itself felt like I was watching a regular season game and that fucking 35 minutes blackout had to be fixed (as in rigged not repairable) cause, shit, IT WAS THE SUPER BOWL. At a Saints game, yeah, but not during the big dance where a over 100 million people are watching it in their 90"  Samsung (I'll get to those fools later) HDTVs that they just spent their tax refund money on. Happened right after that insane 108 yard kick off return that gave Baltimore another touchdown, which made the San Francisco 49ers way out of reach as the score was 28 Ravens- 6 Niners at that point. After the power was restored, San Francisco regained the upper hand by scoring several touchdown to get very close to Baltimore, scoring wise. But after some, literally, last minute chances to get the lead that didn't work out, the Ravens got the win, as well as the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the second time in 12 years for their first Super Bowl win. It would've been epic and much more interesting if San Francisco won, even though I don't like that city's sports teams, yet unfortunately, it didn't happen.

Unlike the previous Super Bowls that I've been watching for almost 10 years, I didn't seen to have that hyped up style feeling. Maybe it cause I'm getting older or is because the players are getting younger. I still find it coincidental that the head coaches for San Francisco and Baltimore were are siblings, which its probably another reason that garners interest for the game just like John Gruden's old team versus his new team back in 2003. The advertisements they aired this year was bullshit and predictable. All of them. There wasn't one I really saw amusement and entertainment in. Also, that Samsung Galaxy commercial they aired that day? Shit, I honestly thought that it was never going to end. No disrespect to Seth Rogen and Judd Apathow, but it was long as fuck. I thought that Samsung had to give up a shit load of money to Apple from that settlement shit last year, but it looked like they wounded up spending about 100 Million bucks for that ad now that this year's commercials are 40 Million dollars just for 30 seconds of air time.  The only best part of the whole entire Super Bowl broadcast was not the halftime show (I wish I was kidding), but Kat Dennings cleavage during the promos for her show 2 Broke Girls on CBS, who also happened to telecast this years Super Bowl (Fox has it for next year).

What sucked the most about this years game was that this was the very first Super Bowl without the late Steve Sabol of NFL Films being present at the game. Like I said during his tribute that I typed up after his passing last year, he's one the only few people in the world that has gone to every Super Bowl since the inaugural game at the LA Coliseum back in 1967, and I've seem to imagine how the film crew is capturing the game without Steve Sabol giving the commands and directions for that day as he's done in the past. I don't even know if his name will be in the credits of the Ravens Super Bowl XLVII highlight video. but I'm sure they'll do a "In Memory of" type tribute. Probably another reason why my excitement for that championship game on Sunday felt out of place.

Anyway, that's it for the recap. Yeah, I know its kinda somewhat biased but that's how I really thought about the game that Sunday. It really felt like a regular game. Thanks again to the De La Torre's as always for hosting this Super Bowl gathering. Probably the only decent thing that I did so far, while the rest of the past few weeks have been personal stuff with the family and shit. I'm just glad I went there yesterday so that I can feel relaxed and stress free for once instead of driving around from The Valley to LA and answering phone calls that you don't want to answer. The only thing now I'm looking forward to is Primitive's Spring '13 line this month and any other surprises that they have. I know I talk about Primitive alot, but its one of the only decent independent sneaker/skateboarding/apparel boutiques that I really like and I support it alot on instagram and Facebook since the store is based in the Valley, as well as their clothing. Plus, its also owned by Paul Rodriguez, a well known professional skateboarder and a son of a famous latin comedian with the same name. Click on the link on the top right to check out their goods and apparel they offer.

Speaking of Primitive, thanks again to the gorgeous Shay Maria for uploading a photo on her Tumbr page that I took of her rockin' the Air Jordan VII "Playoffs" (not Raptors) during the store's four year anniversary Barbecue last summer. That photo got reblogged and favorited over 400 times. Does this mean that I finally consider myself "Tumblr famous"?



Thanks for your time reading this. Stay blessed.