“You love to hear the story again and again, about these young brothers from the city of wind”.
How’s this for the food? Jesus is King, but Yeezus was nowhere to be found this All Star weekend before Sunday service in Chicago. No matter. The eyebrow Ruffles of Anthony Davis is for all the chips. Like the Bulls will want for the Lakers forthcoming free agent this Summer. Expect a lot of him out the bag tomorrow putting on for his city in the same weekend his frontcourt teammate and back-to-back returning Slam Dunk Champion Dwight Howard looks to honour Kobe with that Mamba Mentality. You just know he’s going to rock the eighth wonder as he rocks the cradle. Give him the trophy now, unless Bull boy Zach Lavine can land that viral practice 360 from the Jordan bar raising free throw line.
But today he opened up the NBA All Star Celebrity Game in Chicago this weekend with a weird bag toss deciding challenge that along with a one handed tissue grab (What?!) for possession (guess celebrities like people who go to the bathroom before the cheque can’t tip) and some rock, paper, scissors (just playing ball beats all) between two of Chi-towns hottest M.C.’s made for some wheel spinning gimmicks the epic events could do without before tomorrow’s 24 second tribute to Kobe that really makes a fitting point.
Because Team Giannis and Team LeBron wearing 24 and 2 respectively and beautifully for Kobe and GiGi come tomorrow. Today saw Team Common and Team Chance The Rapper battle off wax for something straight out a court cipher. Okay so it was actually Team (Michael) Wilbon vs Team Smith (who else but Stephen A? But how about a face off with his brother (Jamie Foxx) Cleveland A. Smith on the ‘Saw’ trike…”he’s a close personal friend of mine”). But that like the 62-47 final score to Wilbon changing Chicago clothes under his suit barely mattered. This was all about fun, the love of the game and having a good time. And the city of Chicago that could sure use a break like the All Star one surely got that today.
After 24.2 seconds of silence for the late Bryant’s and the fellow victims of last months horrific helicoptor crash the game got underway in the same day as the Team USA vs World Rising Star preview to this year’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan (Konichiwa Rui!). And apart from some WNBA greats and NBA legends, despite the lack of professionals this was all a showcase of a mixed bag of talent that was all professionalism and some sweet skill. Despite ‘Get Out’ and ‘Uncle Drew’ star Lil Rel Howrey breaking the bandana headband rule (beautiful) and taking a turnover mid-court tumble (graceful). Somebody get him in ‘Space Jam 2’ too because that’s the only way like Wayne Knight he’ll play (I’m just kidding this guy is motherf###### NBA like he is TSA). And what would it take to get ‘Garfield’ star Bill Murray in one of these games? Probably the same chance as it would to get him in LeBron’s Monstar hoops solar system sequel out in Hollywood’s Lakerland.
Even without the balling Bieber there was still plenty of celebs who could ball like halftime show performer Quavo of Migos (who right now is forming a dynamic radio duo with good ‘Intentions’ alongside Justin). But it was WNBA leaders like the purple and gold of Spark Chelsea Grey who kept this game going like the green of Chance’s jerseys against Common’s ‘Electric Circus’ pink. Alongside former Clippers and podcast stars Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson going bam, bam, sneaker head-to-head, toe-to-toe. Miles being mic’d up to hilarious “I’m tired as hell” and swearing soundbites (“it’s a family show I apologize” Miles mused).
And then Chicagoland brought out the big dogs. Or the legends. As Chicago Bulls own Krypto-Nate dunk champ Nate Robinson put some heavy D on the boys and comedian Famous Los. I may be too old to know what a social media influencer is, but I know this kid can play (a like Mike 23 in the town M.J. put on the Jumpman map) like digital, video game 2K sports own marketing director Ronny 2K with his own custom jersey. And three-peating Bull-pen legend Horace Grant strapping the 54 and goggles back on like former NFL player, comedian and actor Anthony ‘Spice’ Adams (who was drawing “Zion in two years” social media comments. Well look at the man today) as he showed midrange vision off the glass, that was clear to see that even deep in the living well age of retirement he still had polish to his plays.
The homecrowd loved to see it.
But in a game that featured all sort of lists and rosters of owners (the Bucks money of Marc Lasry) and gymnasts (how about Katelyn Ohashi’s flipping introduction entrance?) it was Common that would ‘Be’ the Celebrity MVP with his Windy City skyline wood ingrained on the parquet. The before he was ‘Can I Borrow A Dollar’ famous the former Bull ball boy who used to mop up sweat off Jordan’s court wiped the floor with everybody. The ‘Just Wright’ Basketball movie star, ‘Let Love’ album and ‘Let Love Have The Last Word’ author artist coming off one of his ‘Finding Forever’ best years in the game ‘Like Water For Chocolate’ had the last word with a nice line of 10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals like his raps. Even if Smith’s mouth gave him lip service to the first Celebrity Game tech.
Only Stephen A.
What better way to start the All Star weekend with some real famous stars?
Basketball’s Hollywood takes stage tomorrow in Chi-city.
