Best of Beaverton

Good topic from online video archives....

I caught this post off of Yardbarker today. Parlayer compiled their list of the Top 20 Nike commercials of all-time. Great list!

I have to agree with most of the 20. My personal faves on the list include:

#17 - MJ's "Failure" Commercial - Should be watched over again and again.
#15 - Michael Vick's Amusement Park Ride - Creative and fun. Straight dope.
#14 - A Day in the Life of Carmelo Anthony - Kind of cracks me up more when I view it up close. They make 'Melo look like an ad exec. Classic.
#12 - MJ's "Moment" - Great color, the diva's voice is incredible. The fact that the viewer is supposed to believe that Corie Blount provides an obstacle to MJ's drive is what holds me back from placing this one in the Top 5.
#11 - "Instant Karma" - Great look on the Huraches
#10 - Agassi/Sampras City Game - Did anyone ever realize that the commercial was set in SF not in NYC. The Muni bus gives it away.
#8 - Lance's European Ride - Could have been rated higher. Incredible.

My personal faves that could have been included:

1. Revolution - C'mon, the intro of the Air Trainer. McEnroe switched from Tacchini to Nike and the national intro of the Nike's stable of athletes in the mid '80s. Plus, the Beatles went bonzo on it.
2. Bo Knows Diddley - Classic commercial that includes Gretzky, McEnroe, MJ, and the legendary Bo Diddley. This one needs more respect.
3. Nike Freestyle - Hell, the commercial had a huge impact on youth basketball. I'm not saying And1 didn't create a lot of the influence in kids working on playground moves. Yet, if you looked to the side of a court watching kids warm up, they were working on every move from that commercial. Plus, how can you not love a video that has Arnold Bernard working out in it.
4. Roswell Rayguns - Nuff Said.



Thanks to Parlayer for compiling this list...

"We All Shine On",
IronDog

Wrong Turn

I figured that I had to respond to my Saturday post...

Yeah, the one when I predicted that Oscar De La Hoya would beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a decision.

Perhaps, I put too much faith in Teddy Atlas. Perhaps, I went with my heart. However, I should know by now to never sway from your original predictions on gameday or fight night.

I'm with most boxing analysts on this fight. Mayweather won the fight. I had the rounds scored 7-5.

Why?...I didn't see a lot of aggressive moves by Mayweather. He sat back and dodged the whole fight. Incredible defensive performance, but is defense setting the tempo or pushing the action?

In my opinion, De La Hoya gave Mayweather way too much respect in the early rounds. I think he over-estimated Mayweather's strength, and he was fighting to not get knocked out or jabbed to death. Perhaps, that respect forced him to stay away from Mayweather Jr because throughout the early portion of the fight, I was wondering where the pressure was in rounds 1-3.

Mayweather Jr. is a phenomeonal defensive fighter. His Saturday night performance was a masterful defensive performance.

Now, where do I rank Mayweather among the greats over the past fifteen years. Comparing him to a Roy Jones Jr. as an entertainer...I'll say that he's an equal. Yet, Jones Jr. had some incredible knock-out performances.

Comparing him to fighters in his weight class, I do believe that Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker was a better defensive fighter than Mayweather, and he was a stronger tactical fighter. However, I believe that Mayweather may pack a little more sting than "Sweet Pea" with his left hook. I'll take "Sweet Pea" in a split decision.

My only hope is for a rematch...And, I do think that you would see De La Hoya far more aggressive with his tempo and jab. Now, how the hell did I sway my call on a fight night?

Grand Rapids,
IronDog

Fight Night - Floyd Maywether Jr. vs. Oscar De La Hoya

Where are you going to be tonight...huh?

You better be watching this fight. This one is special. And special enough, that I'm dropping the cover charge at Champs at Southpoint tonight.

Yeah, I'll be there early before all of the chuckleheads start lining up before the main event. You'll catch me with a few mags at a seat. I'm thinking that I can at least knock out this week's SI cover story that asks the question of "Is Boxing Dead?."

So, is boxing dead?...I don't think so.

This fight will probably generate $100M worth of PayPer View receipts, and I think that you'll see the skills craft, focus, dedication, and inner strength, that are needed to become an elite championship boxer. Along with Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker and Roy Jones, these are two of the best skilled fighters in the past twenty years. You better not miss this one.

So, who's my pick for tonight?

Up until the end of the week, I thought that Merriweather Jr.'s speed and youth would win over all. I also tended to agree with the points set forth by Dan Rafael of ESPN as well. He's right on a lot of things. Yet...

I'm going with the veteran experience of De La Hoya tonight. Why?

• De La Hoya is a 'Big-Fight' fighter - Whitaker, Quartey, Vargas, Trinidad, Moseley, Hopkins, Mayorga...Those are huge fights. By the way, look at those names that De La Hoya has fought over the past decade. Who says boxing has been dead since the rise of Tyson? What 'evs!
• Freddie Roach - De La Hoya's new trainer, Freddie Roach learned was mentored by the late great Eddie Futch. He's not a joke. I think that Roach is gave him a fresh outlook for De La Hoya, which is great for motivating a fighter at the middle-end portion of his career. I think Roach is going to provide fresh insights for De La Hoya in terms of setting up strategy.
• Corner Help? - Then again, if you're De La Hoya, is that corner going to mean that much at this point in his career other than for point checks and motivation? De La Hoya is perhaps the most skilled fighter in boxing. He's a master of his craft. I'm expecting De La Hoya to execute a very well strategy to create problems for Mayweather.
• Bulk - As much as I love speed, I think De La Hoya's strength could be a factor after six rounds.
• Experience Again - Ask yourself this question. Other than Carlos Baldomir and Jose Castillo, has Mayweather Jr. been in this strong of a fight. And no...I will never count Zab Judah as a great fighter. Early in his career, I thought De La Hoya was a little too sweet. After the Vargas fight, he became a beast. He has heart that has been tested. This is the final reason why I swayed toward De La Hoya.

He knows what he needs to do in order to get the job done....

De La Hoya on points in a split decision.

East L.A.,
IronDog

Live @ WXYC with Raymond Felton

Look who heated up the phone lines yesterday...

I jumped back into the booth of WXYC to interview, "The Pride" of Latta, South Carolina, former UNC point guard of the 2005 UNC National Championship team, and current Charlotte Bobcat, Raymond Felton yesterday.


(I had to go with a snapshot from his sophomore year...I always liked this shot)


Call the interview a "Special Edition" of SportsRap. Check out the interview here.

Special kudos goes out to Neil, the 6-9AM DJ, on Thursday. He put together a very impressive hip-hop set that precluded the interview...The freshman phenom kept it "local" with cuts by Little Brother, Edgar Allen Floe, and the classic 'Criminal Minded' of Boogie Down Productions. That youngin' knew is stuff...

I asked Felton if he would guarantee a playoff appearance for next year. (I thought his playoff prediction was pretty bold...Personally, I give much respect.) His answer...Same guarantee rests for Felton next season, he's guaranteeing a playoff appearance. Bold call from the young gunna'!

I'll be bouncing on and off the air this summer. Be sure to check back here for updates. By all means, check back in to SportsRap on Sundays between 9-10PM.

Special thanks to Raymond for joining us on the show. Hopefully, his workouts with Steve Nash this summer will bring his court presence to a new level. Now, if we can get Raymond to rock a WXYC 'T' with the number 2 emblazoned on the back. That would be Chapel Hill love.

P.S. Felton swears he's not wolfing Chick-Fill-A Chicken sandwiches on gamedays anymore. What a shame...His pre-game meals placed him as a Honorable Mention Selection on the "All-Lenoir" team.

I-95 South,
IronDog

Live @ WXYC with Raymond Felton 5/3/07

Look who's back on the WXYC airwaves this morning...

Yes, I'm back for a special edition of WXYC "SportsRap."

At 7:50AM, I'll be interviewing former UNC floor general and legendary point guard of UNC's 2005 National Championship team, Raymond Felton.

Be sure to tune in via iTunes, wxyc.org, or through FM 89.3. We'll be talking NBA, Charlotte Bobcat basketball, UNC hoops, and what's upcoming for the famed "pick-up" runs this summer in the Hill.

Sit down and pour yourself an extra glass of orange juice, add a little more soy to that chai, and be sure to tune-in.

#2,
IronDog