“It costs too much to keep you alive and we’re not willing to pay for it.”

Those cold, harsh words (or at least something to that effect) were told to former NBA coach Kim Hughes by L.A. Clippers upper management. Hughes was suffering from prostate cancer at the time, about seven years ago, and needed an operation to save his life.

From what we already know about the world of professional sports, the people involved (owners, coaches, players, etc.) can be very arrogant and self-centered. Instead, a few Clippers players chose to handle it, right then and  there.

The operation, which had a price tag of about $70,000, was picked up by Elton Brand, Corey Maggete, Chris Kaman, and Marko Jaric. Please take note: They didn’t try to “raise” the money by lending their time or their talent. They simply reached into their pockets or bank accounts and came up with the money  (which is really chump change for these guys—and the coaches for that matter when you consider the size or their contracts—anyway).

We can talk about how selfish players are on the court, or how they lack the type of work ethic which matches the big numbers of their paychecks, but it’s nice to know that when your life is literally on the line, you can count on your team.

Too often in professional sports (and life in general), we allow love of what we do to override the support we show from one another. Here’s an example where the home team got it right. Not only did they get the actual monetary part right, but the way they handled it shows them to be a classy cast full of character. Here are Hughes’s thoughts.

“Those guys saved my life. They paid the whole medical bill. It was like $70,000 or more. It wasn’t cheap. It showed you what classy people they are. They didn’t want me talking about it; they didn’t want the recognition because they simply felt it was the right thing to do.”

Hughes has not stopped thanking the players when he sees them, something player Corey Maggette pointed out.

“Kim thanks me every time he sees me; he does that every single time. I’ve said to him, ‘Kim, come on. You don’t have to do that. You’re good.’”

Of course, Hughes is good—thanks to four players who truly understand the meaning of the word team.

SOURCE: http://live.drjays.com/index.php/2011/03/19/l-a-clippers-the-best-sports-story-never-told/

JUST RIGHT ON TIME!!

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Celebrity clothing lines are a dime a dozen, but there are some we’d still be curious to see. We’re talking stars who are known for their unique, superb and ever-changing personal styles. The ones who keep you guessing, set trends and often shock the world with their get-ups. We have compiled a list of 10 celebrities who need to quit playing and release their own clothing lines!

10. AMBER ROSE

She has her own eyewear line, Behind Her Shades, but wouldn’t you love to see perhaps a legging line from this lovely lady? Amber’s mix of feminine and masculine style would surely make for an interesting clothing collection.

9. DAVID BECKHAM

While his wife, Victoria, has a successful womenswear collection, David Beckham has only been in talks to have his own. With his blend of dapper and athletic looks—and hopefully his own sexy self modeling for it—we’re sure it would be a hit.

8. CHRIS BROWN

Chris Brown has always had fun with fashion, but in recent years his love for skate/street brands like The Hundreds and Vans has really surfaced. We picture a colorful skate-inspired collection full of skinny jeans, loud hoodies and tees from this young man.

7. WILLOW SMITH

Wouldn’t little girls everywhere just eat up a wild collection by Willow Smith? Imagine, her own versions of those super high-top Converse sneakers, capes and neon accessories. We smell a cash cow!

6. BLAKE LIVELY

She is hailed as one of the best dressed women around today by the high fashion world, with features in Chanel ad campaigns. We think it’s time for Blake to bring that laid back glamour to a mass market.

5. USHER

Usher’s fashion sense has definitely sharpened in the past couple of years. He’s stepped out on the red carpet with polished tailored suits, and then on stage in futuristic ensembles. His casual looks are rugged, well put together and adventurous. We envision a super high-end line that could stand alone without having his face all over it.

4. NICKI MINAJ

Ok, don’t be mad at us for this one. But can you imagine an outrageous Barbie-inspired collection for young girls? Lots of pink, leopard print, lace…think  Madonna‘s Material Girl collection on steroids. Or a moderately priced version of Gwen Stefani‘s L.A.M.B.? All the little Barbies out there would lose their minds. Nicki may just have to throw in some of those wigs, too.

3. LADY GAGA

Now this would be a crazy one. Sharp over-the-top shoulders, bodysuits, larger-than-life headgear, fetish-inspired and 3-D pieces with lots of glitter. One request: No meat dresses, please.

2. KANYE WEST

Whatever happened to Kanye’s Pastel line? Who knows. All we know is that ‘Ye should realize how important he is to the fashion industry—from Louis Vuitton to BAPE—and get the ball rolling already!

1. RIHANNA

This one is a no-brainer. Rihanna has already set off so many trends, from spikes to eye patches. When we just got used to her hardcore rocker look, she switched it up by going a little sweeter with her bright red locks. We love the unpredictability, the courage and the unbelievable looks this good girl gone bad pulls off.

SOURCE: http://live.drjays.com/index.php/2011/03/14/10-celebrities-who-need-to-release-clothing-lines/

While urban/streetwear seems to be steadily headed in a cleaner, more mature direction, it seems business attire is becoming more relaxed. The lines are getting blurry between dress codes in the streets, the nightclubs and the office. Sneakers are being worn with suits, chinos and denim are replacing dress pants, blazers are translating into streetwear or being replaced completely by cardigans, and ties are being ditched.

Michael Bastian

Many may be counting their blessings with this transition: being more comfortable on the job, not having to go home to change after work before going out, saving money on two wardrobes. But is this shift doing more damage than good? Should dress codes be more segregated so we’ll take that lawyer in a suit we’re shaking hands with more seriously than the trendy unemployed dude who rode by us on his bike?

The economic downturn of recent years is said to be the blame for more casual attire. David Wolfe, creative director at the Doneger Group consulting firm, told cnbc.com: “There’s such an awareness that we need to be more realistic because of the economy. No matter what comes down the runway, it can look fabulous, but there is just the reality that we are a very comfort-driven society.”  It’s safe to say both men and women are looking for simpler pieces that can be worn in different ways and layered instead of obviously blatant styles that cannot easily be recycled into their wardrobe.

Simon Spurr

In a way, this is all a breath of fresh air, as it allows people to express themselves more freely than being stuck in a stuffy suit. It’s fun to allow for experimentation with fashion. Plus there are those guys that just can’t seem to get their suits right—they opt for cheap ill-fitting tacky designs often paired with even tackier dress shoes.

Gant

Men—keep it polished, neat, respectable and educate yourself on fashion. Try fun fabrics like seersucker in the summer and tweed in the fall. It’s hard to argue with someone who looks as on point in a pair of modern moccasins as the guy next to him in fancy wingtip shoes.

Today marks 14 years since we lost the Notorious B.I.G. and his loss still affects hip-hop to this day. Biggie’s music influences many of today’s artists and his songs are still in regular rotation. Biggie had so many hits in his short career—his legacy is undeniable. There is so much I could say about the great Notorious B.I.G. but I’m going to let his music speaks for itself. Take a listen to some of his classics.

“Party & Bullshit”

“Juicy”

“Warning”

“One More Chance”

“The What” featuring Method Man

“Hypnotize”

“Fuck You Tonight”

“Ten Crack Commandments”

“The Sky Is The Limit” featuring 112

“Notorious B.I.G.” featuring Lil’ Kim, Puff Daddy

“Dead Wrong” featuring Eminem

“Get Money” featuring Junior Mafia

“Who Shot Ya”

SOURCE: http://live.drjays.com/index.php/2011/03/09/r-i-p-we-remember-the-many-hits-of-the-notorious-b-i-g/

“A good man’s hard to find, that’s one of y’all favorite lines.” – Bobby Valentino

Ask statisticians, sociologists, and women about relationships and you’ll find one thing in common. It’s taking longer and longer for young bachelors to become “grown ass men.” In fact, many of these people would argue that young men (more specifically, men in their 20s) are caught in limbo, a sort of no-man’s land between adolescence and adulthood.

What are the reasons for this shift from the well-defined man’s man of yesteryear and the twenty-something of the present who needs everything short of a babysitter ?

For one, there is a totally different job market out there. Technical skills are not nearly as sought as they once were, so there is a rush to graduate school for specialized training in the most valuable disciplines. To put it simply, it takes a lot longer to find that career path than it used to. The lack of job security may be contributing to the lack of willingness to settle down or commit. Furthermore, ladies are more likely to get college degrees, graduate degrees, and high-earning jobs than their male counterparts as they seem to show more drive and ambition than ever before.

It should also be considered there is quite a large dating pool out there for today’s bachelor. To put it simply, many of us just don’t seem to be ready to banish away all of the potential hook-ups. When moving up the corporate ladder today means exhibiting more flexibility and mobility than ever before for both sexes, we seem to realize we no longer have to give up the practice of frolicking with frequency, either.

Outside of the economy and job market, men have—in many ways—become nearly obsolete in society, or so it seems. Single mothers have become infamous for raising children without the help of unwilling men who abandon their responsibilities. Men are no longer even needed to procreate. Single women who want children can take a trip to the clinic and be mothers all on their own.

Finally, men don’t seem to want to grow up and be men because, well, they don’t have to. Their relationship prospects don’t seem to require it, so they choose not to. Today’s woman doesn’t need the mature adult who is ready for marriage and fatherhood, so many of us no longer offer that option. For most men (especially bachelors), attracting women is the primary motivating force behind many of the decisions we make. If this can be executed without half of the work it used to take, most won’t bother to go any further. Here is comedian Dave Chappelle‘s hilarious, yet poignant take on the subject.

For the longest time, our roles as men in society were well-defined. A man was the provider and protector of the family, period. Nowadays, these definitions of manhood are literally vanishing, giving way to the more indecisive and immature recent college graduate who still lives like a college student and retains the same mentality.

While we may lack the same material and sociological motivations men once had, we must still recognize the inherent honor in propriety, maturity, and responsibility. No matter how much things have changed, at some point we still have to become men and put away childish things.

SOURCE: http://live.drjays.com/index.php/2011/03/03/have-men-lost-their-place-in-society/