Goodbye Entourage

 Couple of weeks ago was the last episode of Entourage on HBO after 8 long years and 96 episodes.  I had mixed emotions when the show ended, I was very disappointed in season 8 by far the shows worst one. But I’m not going to harp on that just sad to see it go off the air I got on the Entourage bandwagon a little late during season one after watching the first season I became a fan. The show had its ups and downs but the two characters that really stood out for me was Ari Gold and Johnny Drama.

Watching Entourage was about more than just the money, and the flashy cars, and celebrity guest appearances. It was about friendship, and male camaraderie. It was about loyalty, and reliability. Eric Murphy was blindly loyal to Vince, and despite not always seeing eye to eye, they both knew that ultimately they had one another’s interests at heart.

It was also possibly for most people to relate to the range of characters, because of how different they all are. They all attempted to become something, and did it in their own ways. None of us can ever know what it feels like to be best friends with a multi millionaire film star, but we can all empathize with struggle and challenges. The characters dealt with these issues in the same way that you or I would, with their closest friends around them.

It’s a shame such an influential show had to come to an end, but sometimes it's better to end something too soon, rather than let it drag on and become stale. Most characters had found their calling, with only a few loose ends to be tied up, will Jonny Bananas be as successful as everyone thinks? Will Ari take his dream job after barely rescuing his marriage, can Vince be faithful, and will Turtle and Drama hook up with someone? And also, how short will Eric and Sloan’s baby be? A lot of questions still need to be answered, roll on the movie.

Victory!!!!!!

T33SSIDE86

Why Three Lions always fail

England introduced the world to football but other countries have mastered the game.  When ever tournaments come in the summer there is a media frenzy predicting England to win the whole thing. But every time England always falls short. And we ask ourselves why they didn’t succeed or who to point the blame at. Take a look at England take a deep hard look at English football currently we are ranked 4^th in the world but I’m having trouble seeing why we are rank that high after that terrible World Cup performance in South Africa. It’s been since 1966 England last won a major tournament which is 45 years ago that’s a long time for a country that invented the sport to not win anything since than. Most of the blame and rightfully so should be placed on the FA. They have bundled every major decision to take England to the next level. 

One major reason why they are the reason to blame is England has failed to consistently develop top footballers over the years compare to their counterparts like France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Holland. It’s an easy explanation to why England doesn’t produce; if you take a look at our youth development you’ll see the harsh reality of why we are so behind. We teach the kids at a young age too hoof the ball up field and chase it. If we’ve learn anything in international football is you can’t play that way; international football is all and about retention and penetrating football. Our kids are being taught to play football the wrong way by the coaches who want to win and the overbearing parent who never made it in football, kids are playing in full size fields and goals. Instead they should be playing small size fields and goals. Trevor Brooking is the Director of Football Development who has been urging The FA to overhaul grassroots football in the country.

Since England’s World Cup failure Brooking has made 25 recommendations on how to improve football at every level from grassroots to England setup. 

Now one of Brooking’s recommendations is to have mandatory release of players for international duty on all England level. This recommendation is a problem which will continue the club vs. country debate. The problem is English players are playing a lot of football without any rests compare to other countries (checkout Saaceybill post for why English Football needs a winter break). Injuries have robbed England plenty of times leading up to a major tournament and during the tournament. I believe Trevor Brooking has the right intention to improve English football and is the man to bring change. But I have several concerns where were these recommendations after England failed to qualify for Euro 2008 and will The FA dropped the ball on these recommendations like it did the new Wembley stadium and St George’s Park the national football center.

The current landscape of English football is not a good one English player’s transfer market value is over inflated. Players are only concern about collecting wages getting drunk, and you have the players WAGS who want to make the front pages of newspapers and magazines.  English players are too comfortable playing in England only a few would go overseas to play and others would rather stay in England sit on the bench and collect their wages.

The only way English football ever improves is when The FA finally wakes up and makes the right decision.  Four Steps that can help the Three Lions can improve:

1.       Revamp grassroots football make the pitch and goals smaller and the game smaller so kids can actually develop technique, instead of  hoofing the ball up field

2.     Introduce a winter break, all major European league have one trust me it does make a difference can prevent a lot of wear and tear on the players

3.      Revamp The FA Board of Directors most of the director’s work for clubs so when it comes down to a major decision whose interest are they really protecting?

4.       Revamp coaching development in England 

Up and Coming Stars In 2011 Part Two

Kendrick Lamar- Is the first rapper in our Up and Coming series to make the list is an artist you have to watch out for. Lamar states that his influences growing up were Tupac Shukar, DMX, Nas, and Kanye West. This year has been a busy year for Lamar who made the XXL coveted freshman cover as well as appear on few tracks where he steals the show on Jay Rock ‘Hood Gon Love This and Game’s The City.  As well as appearing on Dr. Dre Detox album (if that album ever comes out). Also this year Lamar released a digital album Section.80 which was well received by critics.  Lamar is also working on a joint project with another XXL freshman cover alumni J. Cole. Known for his deep subject matters and complex rhymes Lamar is one of the many new talents emerging from the West Coast.

If that wasn't enough check out the YouTube clip when Game and Snoop Dogg passes the torch to Lamar

If you haven’t already go check out Section.80 which is one of the best rap album this year available on ITunes

Twitter.com/kendrick_Lamar

The Weeknd- Up and coming R&B singer Abel Tesfaye is another emerging talent coming from Canada who goes by the stage name The Weeknd has caught a lot of people’s attention with the release of ‘House of Balloons’ and just recently ‘Thursday’ which are part of a trilogy with the final mixtape being’ Echoes of Silence’ expected to be released in the Fall. The Weeknd has received a co-sign from Drake which has gotten him more exposure lately. Drake also mentions that The Weeknd will be on his next album Take Care coming out in October. With an wide open and ever changing R&B scene The Weeknd will be a major player in R&B this year.

Cope The Weeknd mixtape from his website:

The-weeknd.com

Twitter.com/theweekndxo

Welcome Back DMX

Music invokes memories and emotions for most people the music they listen to are their own personal soundtrack to their life. With that being said one of my favorite artists listening to growing up was DMX. I can remember the first time I remember hearing DMX it was back in 1998 while I was in middle school (damn that long ago). Now back than a lot of my friends I grew up with listen to a range of music from Jay-Z to Master P lol yes Master P was relevant once a upon a time. What caught my attention about DMX was his fourth single Ruff Ryders’ Anthem from his debut album It’s Dark and Hell is Hot I went and bought  his  album and been a fan ever since than.

 Fast Forward to the present as many of you have known DMX has had some run in with the law and a drug addiction. It came to my attention DMX was doing a show in Dallas at the House of Blues his first show after being released from prison. Now the week leading up to the show DMX gets in trouble with the law for speeding. In my head I was like here we go again is he going to get arrested? Is he back in drugs again? I still went through to go check him out and man I’m glad I didn’t back out. Check out the video below of DMX performance at House of Blues.