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While You Wait For The NBA Trade Deadline, Crank Up Michael Jackson's 'Jam'

Posted 2/24/11 12:30 pm EST by in Music


Has there ever been a more hotly-anticipated NBA trade deadline than this year's? In the midst of one of the greatest seasons in the history of the National Basketball Association (with as a dozen teams who could make a legitimate claim on the championship this year), there have already been a handful of blockbuster deals that have sent top-level superstars to new locales. So far, the centerpiece deal sent Carmelo Anthony (and a host of others, including point guard Chauncey Billups) to the New York Knicks, but there are still a number of deals that are happening or could happen before the door closes on all trade activity at 3 p.m. Eastern.

In a somewhat shocking move, the Los Angeles Clippers shipped Baron Davis to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Mo Williams late Wednesday night (February 23). And though they lost out on their quest to get Anthony, the New Jersey Nets still walked away with a superstar in Deron Williams. Plenty of other teams are in talks to make a big deal before the deadline to shore up their rosters for a run at the playoffs, including three of the elite teams in the Eastern Conference (the Boston Celtics, the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat). The Celtics could use an extra big man or help on the perimeter, the Bulls need some size and the Heat could do with a guard to back up the injury-prone Dwayne Wade. There are plenty of rumors flying around about names that are on the table (Shane Battier, Nate Robinson, Gerald Wallace, Kirk Hinrich, Jonny Flynn, Raja Bell and a host of other role players could all have new homes by this evening), but there are so many variables that go into NBA trades that it's possible none of those deals could actually happen between now and the deadline.

So while you chew your nails wondering if your favorite team is going to pick up a name for the future or deal away the player you love the most, crank up Michael Jackson's "Jam," which features a visit from Michael Jordan (who never lost any sleep on trade deadline day) and as insistent a beat as Teddy Riley ever constructed. It's the sound of the hardwood, and the sound of getting dunked on. Jam!

Who made the best trade deal in the NBA? Let us know in the comments!

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LeBron James Wants You To Meet 'The Heatles'

Posted 1/5/11 2:30 pm EST by in Music


Over the summer, when the Miami Heat were in the process of bringing together one of the greatest trios in NBA history in LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, a big argument erupted surrounding the league's new superpower. It wasn't over the size of their contracts or the effect on the city of Cleveland (whose team James was leaving behind). Rather, it was about a nickname. Now that the three had gotten together, what would we call this new team?

A number of ideas were kicked around, though just about all of them were terrible. "The Big Three" seemed way too generic, while "Miami Thrice" had both cultural relevance and grammar problems. "The Superfriends" was a little more on the ball, but it still felt strangely generic. All transcendent basketball teams need a great nickname, and it would be a crime if the Heat won the NBA championship without one.

But apparently James wants to solve the problem himself. In an interview with Fox Sports after the team's game in Charlotte on Monday night (January 3), James said that he calls his little group "The Heatles," comparing his arena-filling team to the Beatles.

While the Beatles were certainly gigantic (and able to fill arenas all across the country, just like the Heat), they were never quite as polarizing as this basketball team. Still, the personalities of the individual players do match up relatively well.

LeBron James is Paul McCartney
Like Paul, LeBron is the group's most popular member and generally responsible for their crowd-pleasing hugeness. Also, on a long enough timeline, LeBron would probably write "Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time."

Chris Bosh is John Lennon
While Bosh has never quite had the kind of adoration enjoyed by James and Wade, he is still capable of greatness. He's not unlike a post-Beatles Lennon, who was not quite as successful as McCartney but had a handful of truly transcendent moments. He also seems most likely to marry a woman who would completely change the course of his career.

Dwayne Wade is George Harrison
Like Harrison, Wade is the very picture of consistency. Though he is no longer the go-to guy in Miami, Wade continues to put up solid numbers and create for the players around him. Harrison rarely got the opportunity to shine in the Beatles, but when he did punch through, it was usually jaw-dropping.

Juwan Howard is Ringo Starr
Because seriously, what is that guy even doing back there? Howard is also going through Starr's career in reverse, as the Fab Five might as well have been his All-Starr Band.

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Spotted: Zack De La Rocha And Will Ferrell High Five In Los Angeles

Posted 11/15/10 3:30 pm EST by in Music


Every day a multitude of stars wander through the halls of MTV News to talk about their latest projects and goof around with our intrepid correspondents. But sometimes we catch stars elsewhere, and that's why we put together Spotted!, a daily compendium of stars in the wild.

There was a stretch of time during the middle part of the decade when seeing Rage Against the Machine frontman Zack De La Rocha was akin to spotting Sasquatch. His band had broken up and supposedly he was working on a solo album (which, it should be noted, still has yet to see a proper release), but mostly he seemed to shuttle between Los Angeles and Mexico, only occasionally showing up in public to go to church or buy cigarettes. But since the return of Rage Against the Machine, the feisty vocalist has lead a much more public life. A few years ago, an appearance at a Lakers game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles would have been unlikely, but now he can high five comedy superstar Will Ferrell while the Lakers lose to the Phoenix Suns. Anthony Kiedis, David Arquette, Steve Carell and a Kardashian or two also took in the game on Sunday (November 14), representing the Lakers second straight loss.

They weren't the only stars in play over the weekend, as Taylor Swift passed through Heathrow Airport in London and Damon Albarn's Gorillaz tore the house down at the O2 Arena in London. Click here for these photos as well as the entire "Spotted" archive, which features over 500 candid shots of stars like Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Jay-Z, Lady Gaga, Adam Lambert, Katy Perry, Eminem, Rihanna, Shakira, Madonna, the Jonas Brothers and Mariah Carey!

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Justin Bieber Helps The Los Angeles Lakers Celebrate Their Championship Ring Ceremony

Posted 10/27/10 1:30 pm EST by in Music


Is there a little more spring in your step this morning? Does everything feel just a little less heavy? Is the world generally brighter? That's probably because the NBA season got started last night, and any time there is meaningful basketball in the universe, everything gets better. The NBA kicked off on Tuesday night (October 26) with a trio of great games. The big match-up boasted the regular season debut of the new "Big Three" in Miami as the Heat took on the Boston Celtics. Though LeBron James dropped in 31 points (and went on a very LeBron-esque tear in the second half), the Heat couldn't overcome the sharp shooting of Ray Allen and the swarming, aggressive defense of Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett and new Celtic Shaquille O'Neal. Boston ended up taking the victory on their home court in a sloppy game by a score of 88-80.

In Portland, the Trail Blazers put down the visiting Phoenix Suns by a score of 106-92. It represented another great breakout performance for Trail Blazers star Brandon Roy, who scored 24 points and added six assists to his team's effort. The game was a microcosm of two teams in transition, as the Blazers are on their way to becoming a top-tier, elite power in the league while the aging Suns seem to be on the last fumes of the Steve Nash era.

But the real headline-grabber of the night (and also the most thrilling game) was the throwdown between the Lakers and the Houston Rockets in Los Angeles. The teams went blow-for-blow for most of the game, and though the Rockets looked like they were in control at the end of the game, but a bit of late-game heroics courtesy of new Laker Steve Blake put the defending champions over the top by a score of 112-110. Kobe Bryant had a typical night (27 points, seven assists) and managed to overcome some strong performances from Rockets sharpshooter Shannon Brown.

Before the game, the Lakers raised their championship banner (the 16th in the franchise's history) and received their blingtastic championship rings. In typical Lakers fashion, plenty of stars were in attendance, including Denzel Washington, Snoop Dogg, David Beckham, Jaden Smith and Justin Bieber (who showed off one of the rings himself).

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Gatorade Honors High School Athletes Of The Year Brandon Knight And Chiney Ogwumike

Posted 7/15/10 2:00 pm EST by in Sports


At Wednesday night's (July 14) ESPY Awards, a cavalcade of famous athletes received awards for excellence in their respective sports. They included Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, World Cup hero Landon Donovan and Olympic skiing sensation Lindsey Vonn. But there were a pair of elite competitors who walked the red carpet last night who had already received their awards. And though you may not recognize their names now, you're sure to hear more about them in the future.

Brandon Knight and Chiney Ogwumike were the male and female winners of the 2010 Gatorade Athlete of the Year Award, which they scored at a special luncheon on Wednesday afternoon. They were joined by the other 10 finalists for the prize as well as great stars like Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love and WNBA legend Lisa Leslie.

Knight, a basketball star at Pine Crest High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida who is headed to the University of Kentucky in the fall, joins greats like LeBron James and Greg Oden as the only player to be named Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year twice, which puts him in awfully exclusive company. That doesn't intimidate Knight — in fact, it empowers him. "I don't think it's intimidating," Knight told MTV News. "I feel like if you do what you're supposed to do and work hard, then some day you'll achieve the status they have worked to achieve also. It could be intimidating, but it's really a motivational thing, to be honest." Knight, who considers himself a big fan of Drake and a devotee of the Miami Heat, not only put up insane numbers during his high school career (he averaged 32 points and nine rebounds while taking his team to the finals in his senior year) but also managed to maintain a 4.0 GPA and give back to his community through service at school and church.

Ogwumike's resumé is no less impressive. Also a basketball player, she lead her squad at Cy-Fair High School in Cypress, Texas to a state championship while averaging 23 points and 13 rebounds (including 31 points and 18 boards in the state finals). In addition to the rest of the prizes and accolades she has received for her skills on the court, she managed to maintain a 4.0 GPA while also serving as Student Body President, vice president of her school's Civil Rights Club and giving back to her community through her church. While she appreciates the basketball accolades, it's the recognition of her service that really makes her proud. "This award honors academic excellence, athletic success and character. I think the character part is where I truly found myself," she told MTV News. "The charity work that I have done has really become a part of me, and I think it's wonderful that they recognize that as part of my success. That really has meant the most to me." Ogwumike is headed to Stanford to play basketball (in fact, she is already there at summer school) and was excited about meeting some of her idols. "On the court, I look up to Lisa Leslie, and she was actually seated right next to me at the luncheon. It was crazy!" she said.

Both of the young stars then walked the red carpet at the ESPY Awards and were honored guests at the ceremony. They haven't won any national championships or owned any college basketball records, but hoops fans will certainly be hearing their names for years to come.

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Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls Make Big Moves, But Who Will Get LeBron James?

Posted 7/7/10 5:30 pm EST by in Music


The past week has been truly intense for fans of the NBA, as the free agency market has been the most intense it has ever been. A number of top-tier players are in search of new contracts (and in many cases, new surroundings), which means that the entire league could be completely re-arranged for the next decade (and beyond). So far, the New York Knicks have invested in Amar'e Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitzki has re-signed with the Dallas Mavericks, Joe Johnson is staying with the Atlanta Hawks and Drew Gooden will be looking for real estate in Milwaukee, because he's now a Buck.

Today brought two new huge headlines. The Chicago Bulls have signed a deal with Carlos Boozer and the Miami Heat announced that they have reached agreements with both Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. That sets up Thursday night's big announcement, which will see LeBron James tell the world where he will be playing basketball for the foreseeable future. It appears as though the Knicks, Bulls and Heat all seem to be still in the running, and they have all signed complimentary stars to play off of James' greatness on the court. Boozer would provide a strong presence under the hoop for James, and he would almost certainly be more comfortable being a secondary threat rather than having to be the man every night (as he was while he played with the Utah Jazz). Stoudamire can be a dominant player and is used to New York Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni's system, but his health problems and attitude issues make him something of a liability (especially in a high-pressure situation like New York).

Though we won't know until King James tells us, it seems like Miami is going to be LeBron's best chance to win multiple championships and to also enjoy a life of business and leisure. Cue up the LMFAO, because a whole bunch of people are going to be in Miami, trick.

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NBA Free Agency Features LeBron James, Friend Of Musical Free Agency All-Star Drake

Posted 7/1/10 1:30 pm EST by in Music


Not only is today Canada Day, but it also represents the first day of the free agency period in the NBA. Under normal circumstances, that's not such a big deal, as it just means that dudes who were already rich are going to get more money for wearing a different shirt in a different city. But this year is different because the crop of available free agents is the greatest it has ever been, and the contract decisions made over the next month could drastically change the face of the NBA for the next decade. The crop of players seeking new contracts includes LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Dirk Nowitzki, Joe Johnson, Amare Stoudemire and Paul Pierce. Even the second-tier players available (dudes like David Lee, Carlos Boozer, Richard Jefferson, Rudy Gay and Ray Allen) could change the complexion of a team on the brink or a squad looking to rebuild.

Of course, the big story surrounds the final destination of James, the league's most marketable player and arguably the most talented. Only a handful of teams are bidding for James' services, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks. There are all sorts of rumors flying around about where James will end up, though the most popular is the idea that he would sign with Miami (who would also sign Bosh and Wade to create a killer core). But no matter where James ends up, there are plenty of other story lines to follow, including the future of the Knicks, whether or not Nowitzki will re-sign with the Mavericks and who will take flyers on aging stars like Allen, Derek Fisher and Shaquille O'Neal.

Since this group of NBA free agents is the greatest of all time, it made us think about the list of the greatest music free agents of all time. Check out this all-star team of talent who flew high without signing a deal.

Drake
The be-all and end-all of musical free agents, Drake's mixtape So Far Gone was considered one of the best albums of 2009 and the single "Best I Ever Had" was a smash success well before the rapper finally aligned himself with Lil Wayne's Young Money label.

Lisa Loeb
Before there was Drake, there was this singer/songwriter from Texas who became the first unsigned artist to ever put a song on top of the Billboard Hot 100. "Stay (I Missed You)," her plaintive, folksy ballad from the soundtrack to the 1994 film "Reality Bites," turned her into an instant radio and video sensation. She later signed a deal with Geffen and dropped her proper debut Tails in 1995.
Read More...

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The Lakers Still Have Ice Cube's Support: The MTV News Quote Of The Day

Posted 6/7/10 4:30 pm EST by in Music


You sound like you got some doubt. Let me put that to rest. We got the team to win it all this year. Put your money on the Lakers."

-Legendary rapper Ice Cube, remarking to MTV News' Shaheem Reid that he is absolutely sure that his hometown team is going to win the NBA Finals. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics are tied at one game apiece after Sunday night's (June 6) victory by the Celtics. The series now moves to Boston, where the Celtics will try to repeat the dominance they showed back when they won the NBA championship in 2008. Then again, the Lakers remain the defending champions and still have Kobe Bryant, the only player in the Finals who can shift a game entirely by himself.

Cube is pretty positive about the Lakers' dominance, but that doesn't mean that he isn't nervous. Like most basketball fans, he hopes that the referees don't play too heavy a part in the outcomes of the games. "I don't know if they telling them how to ref these games, but it's just ridiculous sometimes when I see these refs making sure that the series is extended," Cube told MTV News. "Games are leaned towards this team or that team. Every year is the same old dance. Everybody can pick two or three games where you knew the league had their hand in it. It ain't about the series. It's about 'Will it go to Game 6 or Game 7?' That's all the league cares about."

In addition to rooting for the Lakers, Ice Cube is busy preparing for the release of his latest solo album I Am the West, which hits stores on July 13. The Lakers and the Celtics continue their best-of-seven series on Tuesday night in Boston.

Who are you rooting for in the NBA Finals? Let us know in the comments!

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LeBron James Has Excellent Musical Options No Matter Where He Ends Up

Posted 5/18/10 5:00 pm EST by in Music


Ever since the Boston Celtics bounced the Cleveland Cavaliers from the NBA playoffs last week, the question on the mind of every sports writer, basketball fan and resident of Cleveland has been the same: Where will LeBron James end up once his contract expires and he enters into free agency on July 1? Despite his underwhelming performance in the playoffs this year, James may be the most coveted free agent in the history of the NBA, as he is undoubtedly one of the games greatest players and an incredibly dynamic presence who could easily change the face of a franchise.

There are only a few teams that have the right combination of salary cap room, an attractive city and the appropriate support staff (or the willingness to go out and get said support). There are also a handful of other reasons that disqualify certain teams (the Lakers theoretically could pay for LeBron, but they are in the hunt for a second straight championship and wouldn't want to disrupt the fact that the team belongs to Kobe Bryant). It all comes down to five different teams: The New York Knicks, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Chicago Bulls, the Miami Heat and the New Jersey Nets. No matter where he ends up, he'll have plenty of musical options to distract him.

New York
It's an embarrassment of riches. If he LeBron came to the Knicks and donned the blue and orange, he would be close to his associate Jay-Z as well as a number of the best crews in hip-hop (G-Unit, Dipset and the like). If he needs a little rocking, he can befriend the dudes in the Hold Steady or the National. And the Strokes are never far behind.

Cleveland
LeBron has had access to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (where he probably already has his favorite exhibits marked out in his brain). Read More...

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The Lakers-Suns Series Has At Least One Fan: The Hold Steady Guitarist Tad Kubler

Posted 5/17/10 6:00 pm EST by in Music


We have arrived at the conference finals of the NBA playoffs, which means we're getting dangerously close to what could be one of the greatest Finals series of all time. In the Eastern Conference, the upset-minded Boston Celtics (having knocked out LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers) opened up their series against the Orlando Magic on Sunday (May 16) and took a quick 1-0 lead in the series with sturdy defense and a huge game from Ray Allen. In the Western Conference, the series kicks off tonight between the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns. While Ice Cube has naturally thrown his support behind the Lakers, the other side of the court will contain at least one famous member: The Hold Steady guitarist Tad Kubler, who will be rooting for the Suns this series.

However, the Brooklyn native isn't necessarily a Phoenix fan. He usually throws his support behind the New York Knicks, though admits that it's always difficult to root for a team who is actually contemplating bringing back Marcus Camby. And when the playoffs started, he attached himself to the San Antonio Spurs, who bounced the Dallas Mavericks out of the playoffs but fell in the second round to the very Suns that he will be rooting for. So how did he arrive at that?

"I root for anybody who is playing the Lakers," Kubler told MTV News. "I'm not a Laker hater. There one of those teams that just win all the time. They're kind of like the Yankees. Like I said, I'm not a hater, but it is fun to watch them get beat. Because in order to beat the Lakers, you have to bring your A game. So if the Lakers are getting beat, you're always going to see a good basketball game."

Like us, Kubler is just rooting for good games, and nobody should be disappointed, as the Steve Nash-lead Suns should give Kobe Bryant's team quite a run over the next few weeks. The official MTV Newsroom prediction is Suns in seven games (and over in the Eastern Conference, we're thinking Celtics in six). Enjoy the games!

Who do you think will win the NBA conference championships? Let us know in the comments!

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