EBOY FOREVER

The 2012 NBA season is finally underway, and so follows my masochistic sense of loyalty to the Sacramento Kings, who, through the power of good ol' fashioned California political maneuvering, are playing in the Capital City for at least one more year. Jimmer Fredette, now two games into his rookie campaign, made a few waves in the sneaker world last month by signing an endorsement deal with Spalding -- one of the first since Hakeem Olajuwon. The plot thickened earlier tonight when Fredette took the court in the Nike Zoom Hyperfuse 2011. This felt like a good opportunity to revisit one of my writings from the summer.

As seen on F5toRefresh 7/19/11

This past weekend, followers of my Twitter account caught a glimpse of the newest Sacramento King, Jimmer Fredette, endearing himself to fans and improving his golf game at the American Century Celebrity Golf Tournament. Despite the lockout, professional basketball remains a hot topic, especially for Kings fans.

In the course of a subsequent conversation, a friend asked, “do you think Jimmer is the next Jason Williams?” I really had to contemplate this question. I think Jimmer will have a nice career in the NBA. I think he could be better than Jason Williams. Mayor Fredette? Of course! Upon a few more moments of reflection, though, the answer was clear – Jimmer is not the next Jason Williams, because Jason Williams is incomparable. For a 11 year old point guard in 1998, there will never be another J-Will. Feelings of nostalgia ensued.

“To be a kid another year”

By the time I entered high school, J-Will was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies for Mike Bibby and Brent Price. The Sacramento Kings started a new era as championship contenders, but the “Attitude Era” of J-Will and the Greatest Show on Court still resonated with me. I needed the #55 jersey on every team. I needed McDavid knee bands (who the hell is Osgood Schlatter?). Most of all, I needed every pair of basketball shoes J-Will wore: The Holistic Uptempo, the Powermatic, the Big Flyer, the list goes on. I took the court for my first high school basketball game in our decades old, “home white” jerseys and, due to the unusual amount of large players on the team, I was afforded the pleasure of wearing one of three pairs of size small shorts (shout out to the public school system). Two inches above the knees and made out of some sort of dazzle cloth, this was needless to say, not a good look. What would J-Will do? Wear outlandish, shiny moonshoes. Yes. I did just that.

While the war over lightweight sneakers rages on to this day, the Nike Hyperflight was revolutionary for me, but not just because they weighed 13.7 ounces. Anything with Zoom Air and a Herringbone outsole is great for basketball in my book, but these were different. Designed by Eric Avar in 2001, the Hyperflights embodied J-Will’s style – the ethos of “the gym could be empty, and I’d still come down 3-on-1 and throw it behind my back.” I threw a half court alley oop with :02 left to win that game. I kid you not.

OFFICE HOURS

Over at SC HQ, NDP, Jotham and I started a new video series on the "mundane life of a sneaker magazine." With a little help from Nike Basketball Design Director Leo Chang, and musical backing by Percy Miller, the series is off to a promising start.

Check out episode one:

SAMPLE SUNDAYS 3

1. Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band "Cherchez La Femme"



2. The Emotions "If You Think It"



3. Antoine Duhamel "Belphegor Theme"

HARD WORK

Instant classic.

UFC 139 ended last night with one of the most outstanding battles in modern combat sports history, a 25-minute war of attrition between veteran fighters Dan Henderson and Shogun Rua. Hendo took the decision, in what was less a show of athleticism, and every bit a show of grit, determination, and hard work.

These characteristics defined the card, which was appropriately opened by Sacramento's own, Team Alpa Male fighter Danny Castillo. Castillo took the fight on short notice, matching up against The Ultimate Fighter Season 13 member Shamar Bailey, the reality show's much-ballyhooed number one pick. To fully understand the gravity of the situation, a little background is needed...

This was Danny Castillo's 11th fight for Zuffa, his first eight coming in the highly competitive WEC promotion. Things could be very different for Danny, as he was rejected at the last minute (more literally, the day before launch) for a spot in the lightweight division on The Ultimate Fighter Season 8. Producers for the show decided to "go in a different direction," opting to showcase eight other lightweights to a global audience on Spike TV. Danny had to go a more traditional route, building his record and developing his skills in the storied WEC lightweight division. While the eight fighters from Season 8 are no longer in the promotion, Castillo improved dramatically with every fight, eventually earning a spot in the UFC.

Going into his first UFC bout, I worked with Danny on a fight camp documentary and was afforded to see, firsthand, how much time and dedication goes into every 15-minute fight. Three-a-day workouts that push a fighter to the brink - a real exercise in physical and mental toughness. Castillo defeated UFC mainstay Joe Stevenson in that fight, but subsequent talks revealed that one victory in the UFC wasn't enough for Danny. The chip on his shoulder did not budge an inch.

SAMPLE SUNDAYS 2

1. The Main Ingredient "With You"



2. Billy Stewart "Cross My Heart"



3. The Whatnauts "We Will Always Be Together"

ON THE MOVE

I'm finally completing the move-in phase. Full-time Portland, the land of sneakers and hipsters. Please pardon the lack of updates, as I will be sans in-home internet until next week. My cable company adheres to the slow service movement. 

SAMPLE SUNDAYS 1

1. UFO "Between The Walls"



2. Isley Brothers "Voyage to Atlantis"



3. Ethos "Spirit of Music"

OSCAR MIKE

Back on the road.

I returned to Portland this past weekend, looking for a new abode. First, I had to pass through the new terminal at Sacramento International Airport - SMF(H). To my surprise, the new terminal is actually quite nice. Definitely taxing and confusing for older travelers, but nice. No more Cinnabon here - $1 billion worth of modern architecture, monorail systems, expensive eateries, and expensive artwork. Redwood ceilings and 56-foot-long aluminum rabbits. Best of all, it created 2,400 much needed jobs over the course of its construction.

Right now I can only compare Portland to other West Coast cities. It has elements of Sacramento, San Francisco, and Seattle. The general pace of people is much slower, and drivers rarely disobey the speed limit, but for some reason are taught that merge means "come perilously close to the car next to you until you both slam on your breaks, in unison, creating havoc on the freeway behind you." I have big expectations for the food. I heard it rains a lot.

Who says one hour flights don't have the romanticism of 10 hour drives?

(Not pictured: crying baby, goon kicking the back of my seat to the rhythm of a new Skrillex song.)

THE FUTURE

All he needed to do to complete the trifecta was float in on a DeLorean and inject himself with nanomachines.

Last week, I was invited along to see Amon Tobin perform at the Warfield in San Francisco. Tobin's ISAM tour, featuring a "25 x 14 x 8 multi-dimensional/shape shifting 3-D art installation" enveloping the artist, is decidedly next level.

True to form, I left my seat during a brief calm, subsequently missing the shot-out-of-air-cannons-confetti highlight of the whole thing. Nevertheless, this was an amazing performance. All other shows should be embarrassed to charge admission.

ROADS PT.2

After another 6 hours on the road, and a pitstop at The House That Griffey Built (furnished by Ichiro), I arrived on the other side of the border. Welcome to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Vancouver is arguably the best city in North America. Neo Tokyo meets the Great Outdoors. Equal parts East and West. The final frontier. If you don’t believe me, just go there. It will change your whole perspective on stuff.

One of my first stops was Gastown, home to several great independent businesses including Haven, Catalog Gallery, Roden Gray, Sea Monstr, Neighbour, Stussy Vancouver, Livestock, and for a truly curated shopping experience – the OK Boot Corral.

I caught Jeremy (Haven), Ryan (Saint Genius), and Robert (Prison Garde/Catalog) politicking about the next Kickspit Underground Rock Festival. Word to DJ Vlade Divac. These guys are doing big things; highly considered, next level, self-lacing, futuristic things.

A short ride from Gastown took us to a West End barbecue by the beach. Loud music and good food facilitating conversations in multiple languages. A natural gathering of good, affable people.

One of Vancouver’s best features is undoubtedly the food scene – a diverse selection ranging from Kentaro Ramen to one of my all-time favorites, Vij’s Indian restaurant. The best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be.

The good people at Vij’s treated us well. Delivered from the all-vegetarian-female kitchen (all whom miraculously cook world class meat dishes by smell) was a Jackfruit in Black Cardamom and Cumin Masala that could deceive even the most devout carnivore. For the lamb popsicles, I had to break vegan (vegetarian) edge. The final revelation, a delicious homemade rice pudding complete with edible silver. Of course, not all of the cuisine in Vancouver is high brow…

After picking up a wasabi mayo and nori Japadog on the street, we headed out for more entertainment. Jacques Greene, Prison Garde, Kevin Eames, and Saint Genius put on a great show in the W2 Media Cafe, a bunker vaguely reminiscent of Tokyo’s SuperDeluxe. For many in attendance, the night ended in the early morning, looking and feeling like a Yue Minjun statue.

There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.

(As seen on F5toRefresh)

ROADS PT.1

A few weeks ago, I set out on a journey up Interstate 5, travelling nearly 1000 miles through the Pacific Northwest. Embarking before dawn, passing through sleepy towns like Weed and Yreka, Shakespeare-obsessed Ashland, and Civil War territory, I arrived at my first stop just in time for rush hour. Welcome to Portland.

I wondered what Bill Walton thought the first time he entered the city as a rookie in 1974. A synthesis of grandiose nature and metropolitan sophistication at the very pinnacle of Western Civilization. A spectacle only possible through the intrepid clash of Bobby Anet diving head first into the trident of Poseidon, scattering pieces of genius across the Willamette Valley. Something along those lines. They certainly have good donuts.

I attempted to settle in, and a refreshing trip to the Portland Japanese Garden soon followed. Precise rock gardens and elegant ponds hide in the city’s west hills, respectful and free of impurities. Class.

Just when things seemed refined, I walked into Sushi Ichiban for dinner. Kaiten-zushi, or conveyor belt sushi, is an old favorite of mine. Sushi Ichiban has no conveyor belt, but instead, a toy train that takes plates around. This seemed very appropriate. It is so previous level, that by some circular bending of the space time continuum, it is possibly next level.

The truth about Portland, it seems, is somewhere in the middle of the extremes shown in these pictures. Maybe, it’s all of these things at once; the sum of eclectic parts. Laid back, but always innovating. Less than 48 hours later, just as I was feeling some sense of comfort after the initial 10 hour drive, I was back on the road.

(As seen on F5toRefresh)