White Chocolate.

Admittedly, I have a sweet tooth, and no folks, the nickname Sweets didn't come from a traumatic prison stint. With that being said, I have long since been a fan of white chocolate, the richness, smooth texture and taste are beyond compare. Don't get me wrong, it's not better than milk chocolate, but easily superior to that of dark chocolate.

Ten years ago, Jason Williams entered the NBA, and it didn't take long for him to impress and amaze everyone with his passing, ballhandling skills and showmanship. He was so good, that people believed that there was a black baller trapped in this white man's body, so they called him "White Chocolate". Yes there was The Pistol, but he never played with the style, flavour and showmanship that J-Will had. He was a player created for the You Tube age.

Beyond all the highlight plays, he toned down his game to become more of a floor general while in Memphis, and got his championship ring in Miami. But J-Will has been hampered with injuries as his career progressed and recently left the Heat during the summer to play with the Clippers, backing up Baron Davis. Then out of nowhere to the surprise of everyone, including his agent, he decided to call it quits, retiring after a fruitful career.

Jason Williams brought streetball to the NBA before there was streetball. He made unbelievable plays that captured our imaginations, and had us trying to duplicate them out on the court moments after a few rewinds on the VCR, he was smooth, he was sweet, he was white chocolate.

Chinese Food.

Toronto has a vibrant Chinese community, where China Town, is China Town. Not sweet and sour chicken balls and the North American infused junk, just the unadulterated pure hardcore Chinese cuisine. As I'm sure many of you can relate, at some point in your lives, you have found your way, (or stumbled your way), into a Chinese restaurant at the end of the night.

In 2005, SLAMOnline linked to this story, which literally had me laughing out loud when I read it. Yao Ming's parents opened their restaurant in Houston some time ago, and here's a great first person account at the restaurant with Yao, Diekembe Mutumbo and Patrick Ewing chowing down. Click on the link for the whole read, but I'll leave you with a couple of quick bites.

Ewing (on the food) "I know Chinese. But what kind of Chinese? Snake? 'Cuz I don't eat snake."

Mutumbo [Sipping a virgin strawberry daiquiri] "I like your restaurant, Yao. It's made for 7-footers and guys like Patrick Ewing, who is really 6'9".

Bon apetit.

The Emperor's New Clothes.

In 2003-'04 where the Toronto Raptors endured another losing season, the franchise changed up their game and added the alternate red uniforms. Definitely a "good look", as they say in the streets, and pulled the squad another step away from the Dino/Barney Dynasty. While I can safely assume that merchandise sales saw a significant spike with the new unis, they were also markedly patriotic with the crimson red, and maple leaf additions. So now, with the reds becoming the official road threads, Maple Leaf Sports needed to get another alternate revenue stream... err sorry, another alternate jersey. Word on the streets is, Bosh and the boys will be wearing black this year. Well you know what they say... "real men wear black", or does this mean Raptors is the new black?

Regardless, we've come a long way from this eh?

NBA 2K9: Get your game on.

Well the game that everyone has been waiting for has shown it's hand. NBA 2K9 comes out October 7th, and Kevin Garnett is on the cover. Fortunately the 2K series hasn't developed the NBA Live curse where the poster boy succumbs to injury, (knock on wood). Watching the trailer I honestly felt some points were actual NBA footage, but hey, you decide.

I Beat Sam Mitchell.

In the summer of '89 in Stone Mountain, Georgia, I busted Sam Mitchell's ass in a game of one-on-one.

At the time, I was a 17 year old kid, down south for Georgia Tech's summer basketball camp. I was shooting hoops at a neighbourhood blocko, when an unassuming guy rolls up. Now this was a time before fantasy basketball, or the internet, where I know who every scrub in the league is, so when he told me that he played in the NBA, I refused to believe him.

I mean come on, what's an NBA player doing shooting hoops in a driveway with me? He told me he's playing on the new expansion team, the Minnesota Timberwolves and his name was Sam Mitchell. Well I figured I'd know an NBA player when I saw one after just watching Kenny Anderson, Mark Price, Dennis Scott and John Salley playing down at Tech, so I challenged him to a game of one-on-one.

While I don't remember all of the details of the game, I knew I used a combination of drives, pump fakes and tenacious defence to soundly beat him. "How can you be going to the NBA if you can't even beat me?" I said. "Sure you're playing for the Timberwolves, now go get me some punch." That part I clearly recall. Oddly enough I passed Sam in the mall today, and I forgot how tall he actually is, (he's 6'6"), and I thought to myself, I must have been what, 6'1" at the time tops? Likely weighing 165 lbs, (depending on how many hot dogs I ate). How the hell did I smash this guy in a game?

It wasn't that hard to figure out really, he let me win.

I've been telling this story for almost 10 years, which wasn't really a big deal until he came to coach the Raptors, as many people didn't know him as a player. Maybe he saw how badly I wanted to win, and how hard I worked at each possession that he just gave it to me.

Regardless, I still have my victory, but if you'd like to get a rematch Sam, you know where to find me.

More Than A Game.

The internets have been abuzz about the More Than A Game documentary featuring Lebron James and his high school friends. I missed the gala at the Toronto International Festival, but I was able to catch the following screening last week.

Much like everything you have heard, it's a fantastic glimpse into 5 boys and their coach coming of age. Personally, I think this is the best basketball documentary ever made, and I encourage everyone to see it. It's just a great story and a personal one, it's not a Lebron James story, it's all of their stories, more importantly, it's a story for everyone.

Lebron sat down with my man George S. from The Hour, and got more out of the "Chosen One", than the boxed standard answers he has known to deliver.

Gametime.

Last night was the first, (and only), game of my basketball league pre-season. Not enough to shake off the rust really, but it'll do. Fortunately I've had my touch football season to help me with my conditioning. It's funny how a season can change things, last year our team was eliminated in the league finals, largely because no one showed up, literally and figuratively. Since we handled the competition to get there we knew next year we would come back on point and ready to redeem ourselves.

Well a funny thing happened on the way to the forum... everyone bailed. From team captain, to team all-stars, it just started disintegrating for no apparent reason. I was a little disappointed at first, but realized I can't stress things I have no control over. Now I'm back on board with a team I won the championships with in another division last season, (YES, I play a lot of ball), and I'm ready like spaghetti to step it up this year. I have a tendency sometimes to play my role, and never really step out like I can sometimes. I think I defer to the other guys on my squad to do the work, but before it's all said and done, I intend to contribute and make an impact this season.

Oops, guess since I put keystrokes to screen I have to live by my words. Damn those interenets!

Oh and in case you were wondering, yes those are Chris Bosh PE's, (player editions), and yes, I do play in them.