(Photo:Matt Slocum, AP)
All you haters….
Think to yourselves and make a list of the current ten best players in the National Football League. Rationally cast aside group thought and realize there is no criteria where a quarterback has to be number one. Is your opinion based on individual or team loyalty and therefore biased? Who is at the top? Tom Brady? Peyton Manning? Tony Romo? Brett Favre? LaDanian Tomlinson, Adrian Peterson?
Where does Randy Moss fall on your list?
Covering Sixers games you come across all kinds of Philly luminaries inside and out of sports. Sitting in press row, you might see legendary journalists like David Aldridge or Phil Jasner doing their thing any given night. Since I live in the Philly area, I get a chance to see their local news stations and there’s nothing like Action News. I grew up watching professionals like Vernon Odom, Jim O’Brien (Sportscaster turned comedic weatherman who tragically died in a parachuting accident helping someone parachute to safety) and the beautiful Lisa Thomas-Laury. So one day to my surprise, I saw Keith Russell anchoring sports on 6-ABC. I was shocked being that he was one of my favorite ESPN News anchors because of his quick wit, chemistry with other anchors and funny as hell facial expressions. My sister, Gina, does the best Keith Russell impression…Has me rollin’ just thinking about it. Simply put, Keith is a natural and one of the best. I wanted to do something different (type of journalist) and get the perspective of a sports anchor to give everyone an idea of what it takes to be one of the elite. Keith’s dedication to Philly sports as well as his craft goes unparalleled. Enjoy, but more importantly pass this interview to a talented youngster who has a dream of doing what Keith does so well.
I’m goin’ with Nia, Theresa Randle or Alicia Keys
What’s your definition of perfection? Does it personally imply or conjure a sight, sound or taste?
How about a remarkable movie production of your favorite book or having the perfect steak during the easiness of a chill summer night on a newly stained deck with choice companionship?
Does a night of jazzy piano keys while sitting across from crystal candlelit eyes signifying the start of a torrid love affair fit the bill?
Not many players around the league have a thirst for helping his fellow man like Jarvis Green. With the passing this off season of his good friend Marquise Hill to a freak water accident, Jarvis has refocused his goals to make sure Marquise’s son Ma’shy is taken care of mentally and financially through his foundation.
There’s a certain humility the New England Patriots possess as they try to get back to the Super Bowl and Jarvis is no different. He’s not only a football player, he’s an entrepreneur making sure he and his are well taken care of after retirement.
This is not just a football interview. There are more important things than going 16-0.
Hines has a huge day as Steelers will topple Pats
Week 13: 8-8
Season: 36-37
The Pats have shown the last couple of weeks they are serious in their quest to shut everyone up. It ain’t happening this week. The Steelers will put constant pressure on Brady in true Blitzburgh fashion. The Steelers have a chip on their shoulder as well and will leave Tom Brady battered and beaten.
Michael Smith is mos def a rising star in today’s media. He brings a very informed and easy style that is refreshing in this age of talking heads screaming and hollering NFL points so irrelevant and utterly ridiculous. Mike’s cool. The following conversation is reminiscent of the one Scoop, Dwil and I had in Vantage Point. It’s not as political, but it definitely lends itself to the constant and ever evolving discussion about the current tenor of sports reporting. Coming out of Loyola University (LA), Mike migrated north to the Boston Globe after interning there two previous summers. This was during the time the New England Patriots franchise initialized stamping the bully presence it now has on the NFL and Michael Smith was there to document it all. His attention then shifted to ESPN to realize a dream. The interview itself is a monster in size because Mike and I touch on a variety of subjects. As Mike calls, I am just finishing Bill Rhoden’s 40 Million Dollar Slaves for the third time (Go get it!). I thought it was apropos to ask Mike what Mr. Rhoden means to him personally. Enjoy.
Michael Tillery: Do you consider Bill Rhoden an inspiration?
The Starting Five 
