100 vs. 81

On the afternoon of  March 2, 1962 Wilt Chamberlin arrived in Hersey Pennsylvania with the rest of the Warriors.  They arrived at the arena about 5 hours before tip off and decided to go to the penny arcade located in one of the lobbies.  Wilt says he remembered picking up a pellet rifle to play a target game, and after shooting for a few minutes he realized he couldn’t miss…

On January 22, 2006 Kobe Bryant had arranged to have his grandmother come see her grandson play live, for the first time in a Lakers uniform.  Also, with it being the anniversary of his grandfather’s birthday he new it had to be a special night…

100 vs. 81

Wilt Chamberlin’s 100 point game can easily be categorized as one of the greatest moments in sports history.  Just the act alone of scoring 100 points seems like a feet that will never be challenged, or at least it did seem that way. Kobe Bryant dropping 81 on a Raptors team, that wasn’t as bad as the Knicks team that Wilt had his way with, should be right up there if not above Wilt’s performance.  After looking at the stats of both events it is clear to ME that Kobe had the greatest single scoring game in NBA history (sorry Wilt).

Basketball played in the early 60’s was a bit  different from the game that we see today.  The speed was alot faster and scoring was dominated by big men or should I say the BIG MAN, because Wilt really had no competition.  Also, there were only nine teams in the entire league, can you imagine the  amount of stars each team would have if we only had nine teams in the league today? Of course back then the talent pool wasn’t as full as it was today, but still each team did have a couple star players. With these factors in play scoring was higher back then compared to today. Wilt Chamberlin was an extremely difficult match up as well, at 7’2 and 285 pounds he was much larger when compared to his average competition at 6’7 235.

When the Knicks played the Warriors that rainy friday night they had no idea what they were in for.  Because no video of this game exists, all we have to go off of is a fuzzy radio broadcast, a few photos, and some personal accounts.  Wilt was off and running as soon as the ball was tipped off, after just mere minutes the score was 19-3 and Wilt had dropped 13.  By the end of the first quarter he had 23 points, and by the end of the first half 41. Looking back on the first two quarters it looks as though Wilt and Kobe could be on par with each other.

It was the second half however when things started to be focused on giving the ball strictly to Chamberlin and seeing how many he could get. By the description of witnesses that were in attendance, the Warriors would foul the Knicks immediately after the inbound pass, stopping the clock, and sending New York to the line.  The clock would not start up again until the Warriors had inbounded the ball which would inevitably wined up in the hands of Chamberlin, and then shortly after, through the hoop.  By following this process the Warriors were able to stretch the clock out considerably.  After the crowd saw that Wilt was scoring at will, a fan remembered that  everyone was chanting to give the ball to Wilt.  Most, if not all of Wilt’s points came just feet from the basket while he played all 48 minutes of the game.

The truly amazing stat with Wilt came at the free throw.  He was never know for being a stellar shooter from the line (if you want to see his form its in the clip below and its disgusting), but that night he went 28-32. In the long run the fact remains that Wilt Chamberlin scored 100 points in a professional game, and that act demands respect.

As a Laker fan and someone who watched ever second of that game on the night of January 22 (and at least ten times since) I have to admit that I do feel that Kobe’s night was better.  Simply because of the way he did it and how successful he was while doing it.  Kobe shot 28-46 from the field that night which included 7 three pointers and a large amount of mid range jumpers.  When totaled up these stats show that Kobe shot an AMAZING 60 percent from the field.  He was also 18-20 from the free throw line.  Oh, and Kobe did this all in 42 minutes.  Yes I know there came a point when Kobe was also seeing just how many points he could score but the difference was that the Lakers were not blowing the Raptors out.  It was more like the Raptors vs. Kobe Bryant at the end of the day.

I understand that Kobe’s game is much easier to criticize because it can be re-watched at any given moment via youtube (as you can see in the clip below).  Wilt’s game however can’t, and is up there with the home run that Babe Ruth hit after calling his shot by pointing to the wall.  It’s almost more legend then it is factual, and it is with those moments that sports fans (and Kobe haters) don’t want to see these records or events challenged.  With that in mind we came up with the 81 Tribute design.

We took the famous picture of Wilt while in the locker room after his historic night and swapped him for the Mamba.  We thought this would represent the comparable accomplishment of these players on a single night, and help remind people that NO sports record is untouchable as long as there are hard working and dedicated athletes working to pursue them.

Like many of you I will always remember where I was the night Kobe dropped 81 and will never forget how I felt watching every basket.  Knowing that after Kobe retires from this game I will ALWAYS use his game as a measuring tool to classify players and single game performances.  Will somebody break this modern accomplishment set by Kobe? Sure they will, I just hope I am watching when someone does.

We hope you like the design and enjoy representing it.  To buy the 81 Tribute Shirt please click the link at the top of the screen directing you to the online store.

Way-Back Wednesday

Back in the 86’-87’ NBA season basketball marketing was transformed by an ad campaign brought about by Converse.  When EVERY NBA finals during the 80‘s was featuring either the Celtics or the Lakers (sometimes both), Converse saw this as a perfect time to make fans pick sides.  They felt it was important to not only come up with a shoe that could compete with the ones a young man in Chicago started wearing a year earlier, but pairs that could appeal to multiple fans.  In doing so they told fans to “Choose Your Weapon”.  The Converse Weapons were a shoe most notably worn by six stars at the time, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Mark Aguirre, Bernard King, and Isaiah Thomas. Each of these players had shoes that followed the trend of Jordan by matching their teams colors.

Here is a poster featuring Magic and Bird holding their “Weapons”  as if they were guns, getting ready to duel.

Here are a few commercials (yeah I know there dated) but still fun to look back on.

Back in May of 2009 Acapulco Gold realeased a t-shirt based on this shoe  ad.  This is an awsome design that deserves mad props.

Although we may not have used this same style of these hall of famers back-to-back, we payed respect based on their accomplishments of the 80′s as well, in our Only Kings Have Rings series.

Now it seems like a common practice for shoe companies to customize their shoes to match everything about the teams their players  represent. But it was at back in the 80′s when it really took off and took hold of fans wallet’s.

2012 NBA Season Predictions

So far this is what we have seen…

5+ players not allowed to play in the NBA until their Chinese contracts are fulfilled.

David Stern steps in and voids a trade that all parties initially agreed to and would have changed the league.

Injuries get the best of players after condensed schedule begins.

Trade talks around Dwight Howard will not stop.

And a few highlights…

No one on this big blue marble we call earth could have predicted any of these (ok the Dwight one is a gimmie but still). With that in mind and with teams now six to seven games into the season its time for the annual LAKERMIKE NBA predictions. With topics like ROY, MVP, Finals match up, Champion of the 2012 season, and Finals MVP here are my picks and a brief explanation of my choices.

Rookie of the Year

There are a few rookies that can really make a splash in the league this year, its just too bad they all play for teams that have as much chance at winning a championship as Mike Tyson does at winning a spelling bee. But thats the way it goes, let these guys show their skills on bum teams and hone their skills so that when they leave, or are traded to better teams, they can really show what they are made of. The two players that stand out to me for this award are Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker. This award is no shocker but still, I have to go with Kyrie Irving. He is not above and beyond Walker but he is in a position to rack up the stats easier and unless Walker can make a strong push to get his team into an 8th seed (which I don’t really see happening) its going to Irving.

MVP

The MVP this year is an award that I am really excited to see be given out, especially if it goes to the player I am hoping it does. Starting a season that feels more like Star Wars Episode III then it does a regular season, it seems as though the Empire is looking for a new hope (insert nerd comment here_________). I believe that hope rests on the shoulders of Kevin Durant. Now that his team is one of the most stable in the NBA due to low, hell next to no, off season player movement, the chemistry is strong in Oklahoma. They now have circumstances (shortened season) and enough playoff experience to be a contender for a ring. With Kevin Durant leading this team I believe that the powers that be will see that the force is strong with this one and give the award to Mr. Durant.

Finals Match Up

The two teams I see in the Finals this year are those that have had the least amount of change and who have the most chemistry. With that being said the Miami Heat will go head to head with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Finals this year. Sorry everyone but unless the Lakers manage to keep Gasol and obtain Dwight I really do not see them taking the team they have now through the Western Conference.

Champion of the 2012 Season

This prediction is based on current teams and not including any trades that might happen, knowing the Dwight Howard will go somewhere brings some doubt but not much. I believe that this season is perfectly structured to suit the Miami Heat. Seeing that Lebron James only plays about %75 of a regular season, this shortened season will allow him to play at his full potential for an entire season. With Dwayne Wade next to his side and a mostly intact team, they still have a lot of chemistry as well. Also, “The Big Two” seem to have learned that they should stick to the high percentage shots resulting in them only taking three 3 pointers so far this season. Miami looks too strong as of right now to beat in a seven game series. So again, just like Episode III the dark side will prevail but we all know how this saga ends.

Finals MVP

Even though I really do not like this guy, the day he took his talents to South Beach the Heat quietly became HIS team. DWade may be the back bone, but Lebron is the leader of that team. If Lebron fails, so do the Heat and with that in mind Lebron will win his first ring and his first Finals MVP. With Darth Vader coming to life at the end of Revenge of the Sith so it is with Lebron James at the end of this season (Ok, seriously that was the last one).

I am excited to see what all this season has to offer. As a Laker fan I feel that we are in a very strange place right now and what we do could make or break us for years to come.

An Open Letter to Dan Gilbert

If Adam Silver (future commissioner of the NBA) would like to be successful and steer clear of any early troubles that may result in a negative legacy, just like the one that will soon be left by David Stern, I have one bit of advice for him.

Go to your computer, access our email account, highlight Dan Gilbert’s name, and next to his name click the option that reads: Mark as Spam. You do not want to get this man’s ideas, thoughts, notes, or feelings conveyed to you and influence the decisions you make in the same way it DID David Stern.

It is with that note that I now feel compelled to write my own letter to Mr. Dan Gilbert.

Dear Dan,

Can I call you Dan?  I feel like I can use your first name since you feel that you can screw me (as a Laker fan).  Why did you feel that it was your job to write to the commissioner describing how much of a “travesty” a trade was that was not involving you?  How can you not see that all of the teams involved not only agreed to the trade but were getting a fair deal as well?  I understand that this went against what you just spent five months fighting over but in case you were not aware, if untraded Chris Paul is leaving the Hornets at the end of this season.  So for them to have received Kevin Martin, Luis Scola and Lamar Odom (sixth man of the year 2010) in addition to guard Goran Dragic and a 2012 first-round pick, all for giving up a player that was going to leave anyway, was a great trade.  This was not a Kwame Brown for a Pau Gasol transaction, for crying out loud, this was a fairly balanced trade.

It was because of your jealousy and pettiness that other owners spoke up feeling they could hide behind your sad email and petition Mr. Stern to veto the trade.  Even though, the Hornets/Lakers (and I assume the Rockets) were in constant contact with the head offices of the NBA during every step of this process of negotiation.  It was not until your email that there was a problem.  How is it that you, in this age of social media, where not abreast of what was going on with this trade until everyone agreed to it?  Hell, even I knew what was going on through my personal Facebook and Twitter account and I am the furthest person on the planet from an NBA team owner.

Don’t you think that if David Stern truly felt, the way he later came out and said he did, he would have told all teams involved to not waste time with the Hornets for they would rather keep Paul there because that is what is best for a small market team like the Hornets?! Of course he would have!  But you had to send an email and infect his mind with this sense of disapproval from a group of owners (that funny enough later went back and tried to appeal their own appeal and allow the trade).

As soon as I read your letter to the commissioner I wondered how on earth would a situation like this cause someone to alert the authorities like a 3^rd grade hall monitor of a wrong doing?  It was then that it dawned on me, the reason you were so upset is because this did not happen to you when Lebron left.  You hoped and prayed that the greatest thing that ever happened to the Cavs would stay around and show his devotion to you.  But he did not.  You did not have a trade come your way that would allow you to piece together the slightest bit of a contender if Lebron left.  You thought you had a team that would still be relevant without Lebron but you were sorely mistaken.  You went from a 61-21 record in 2009 to a 19-63 record in 2010.

As an avid basketball fan it is plain to see that this is the plan by which you operate your franchise, receive a #1 pick, and then hold on to them like a lifeboat at the end of the movie Titanic.  The sad thing is that your franchise is the Titanic in the ocean of the NBA, and like the Cavs, no matter how many times you watch the film Titanic, they always sink at the end.

I am glad to know that your legacy, however good you may see it, will go down linked to this event.  And just as I always remember David Green from my childhood years in school as the class “crybaby” I promise that as long as I am a basketball fan, I will always remember the name Dan Gilbert for the exact same reason.

Remember, women and children first Dan.

All the worst, Mike Anderson

Follow TFL#! on twitter, facebook & google+.

Kobe Bryant: G.O.A.T.?

If you think Kobe Bryant is satisfied with five championships your dead wrong.  Kobe has always held the position that he is constantly in pursuit of more hardware when each season comes to an end but, it wasn’t until two years ago after the Larry O’Brien trophy was hoisted above the heads of the purple and gold that we saw an underlying motivator in Kobe’s life: (Post Game Interview)

REPORTER: Can you speak in terms of what this means to you individually? We know what it means as a team, but what about individually for you?

KOBE BRYANT: Just got one more than Shaq. (Laughter). You can take that to the bank. You know how I am. I don’t forget anything.

Of course, there is an entire history between the “Big Fella” and “The Mamba” but it was not until that moment we were able to see Kobe’s determination to pass his long time  teammate and rival.  Kobe now feels that he has solidified his place in his generation of basketball players that is now coming to an end, but what about those not in his generation?

As of right now no one in the league comes close to touching the legacy that Kobe Bryant will leave.  Of course there are those that have the potential to leave their own mark but as of current players right now, Kobe is in a class of his own.  It is due to this fact that Kobe must now look to the past.  He currently has as many rings as Magic and is one away from joining the greatest player to ever step foot on the hard wood.

He has never had the same amount of drama between Magic or Jordan that he did with Shaq but the motivation to pass/join these legends is definitely there.

Due to the new CBA there is a small window of time that the Lakers can keep spending the way they are used to that will enable Kobe to a some what easier path to his sixth championship.  The “salary cap” that has been agreed upon will not go into effect for another year and half to two years but basically after this period what ever owners pay their players over a certain level MUST be matched dollar for dollar and given to the league.  Under this new agreement that means that the current Lakers would have to pay an extra 68 million dollars in taxes on top of what they are currently spending for players.  As with a few other teams this type of spending has got to be curbed, which theoretically means that we have two years left of spending before we are punished for it.  These two years also happen to be Kobe’s last two years of maintaining his level of play, after that we can expect a different Kobe.

With any other owner in charge of this organization we would have been able to expect these next two years to be a time to acquire young talent and usher in the post-Kobe era.  But, with Jimmy Buss holding the reigns who knows where he will steer this ship.  He has been known to be very emotional, judgmental, and quick to react in times of crisis. There are many players that are currently free agents and those that will have a chance to enter the waters next year that could all but guaranty us a spot in the finals.  Will any of these free agents join Kobe in L.A.? Who knows.  But these are the last few years we can spend money like T-Pain in a strip club so why not go for it.

No matter what happens though, we know that we are L.A.  We have the city, women, sites, and lifestyle that will be attractive to star athletes.  I just hope that with all the hard work that Kobe has put into this team they will in a final fair well act do what they can to give him the BEST possible shot at #6.  But then again we may already have that team and its only a matter of motivation and defense.

$10,000 GIVEAWAY x TFL#! x KIDS IN MOTION

We’ve teamed up with KIDS IN MOTION to giveaway up to  $10,000 in discounts on TFL#! merchandise in the name of charity. Plus, it’s for the kids!

On Sunday October 16th, 2011 KIDS IN MOTION (facebook, twitter), a non-profit group of friends & family, will participate in the Disneyland | CHOC Walk “In The Park”. The CHOC Walk is a 5k charity walk that raises money and awareness for the Children’s Hospital of Orange County. KIDS IN MOTION has a goal to raise $5,000 for CHOC this year.

So, TFL#! is going to double your $5, $10 or $20 donation to KIDS IN MOTION in the form of a cash-money discount – up to a total of $10,000 - off anything in stock in our online store!

There are three different donation/discount combo’s available:

• $5 donation = $10 discount
• $10 donation = $20 discount
• $20 donation = $40 discount

Interested? Just follow the simple steps below and in no time you’ll be looking fly and sleeping well for doing a good deed.

1. Visit chocwalk.net/kidsinmotion
2.  Pick a walker, any walker.
3.  Make your $5, $10 or $20 donation by Saturday, October 15th, 2011
4.  Forward your donation confirmation email to batman@theforestlab.com. No email. No discount.
5.  Wait for your special discount code to be delivered via email from batman@theforestlab.com.

In advance, we’d like to thank everyone for their support. Over the years the CHOC Walk has helped raise millions of dollars for the Children’s Hospital which provides quality health care for children in need.

*minimum purchase sub-total before discount/tax/shipping is applied must be equal to or greater than 2x the discount amount (e.g. $10 discount requires a minimum purchase amount of $20 before discount/tax/shipping is applied)
*all donations must be made by Saturday October 15th, 2011 to be eligible for discount code
*discount codes must be used by December 31st, 2011
*not valid with any other offer or discounts

Watching “The Throne”

The music industry is exactly what it specifies, an industry. An efficient, though flawed, system through which products are advertised, distributed and sold to the consumer. One of those aforementioned flaws is how often albums illegally make their way into people’s ears, sometimes long before they are intended to. This occurrence has frequently led to diminished sales because consumers feel no need to purchase something they can get for free.

Kanye West and Jay-Z have accomplished something revolutionary in this digital age. As the release date approached for their collaborative album “Watch the Throne”, days past without their album leaking and when the clock struck midnight Sunday night and Monday arrived, the album had successfully escaped that flaw.

West and his studio engineers reportedly took extra measures to ensure that the album stayed in their proverbial hands and somehow, some way, it worked.

In a rare movie, the duo decided to release Watch the Throne first to iTunes exclusively on August 8  and then the album was released in physical form exclusively to Best Buy on August 12.

The album did not reach the broad-range of retailers until August 23.

The reason they chose to distribute their album this way is because the source of album leaks is commonly the distribution process itself. Albums typically arrive in the backrooms of their retailers’ often a week prior. Once the album ships, it’s only a matter of time before somebody takes the album and uploads it to the masses.

It’s also a miracle that a fellow co-worker or acquaintance didn’t upload any of the music during the recording process. This has also become a big problem for many artists. Whatever precautions they took to keep that from happening worked.

Salute revolutionary marketing and get this album at your earliest convenience!

I picked up my copy at a Best Buy in Kanye’s hometown of Chicago!

CMC

Captain America: The First Avenger review

Marvel Studios has a grand scheme in mind.

Following 2008’s Incredible Hulk and Iron Man, 2010’s Iron Man 2 and this year’s Thor, Marvel had one more trick up their sleeve before the release of The Avengers next year. That trick was Captain America: The First Avenger. I was fortunate enough to get to see it on opening night and I left the theater feeling very satisfied.

No comic book adaptation is 100% true to its source material and Captain America: The First Avenger is no different. Despite the differences an addicted Captain America comic reader like myself might find in the film, it doesn’t hold it back from being a great comic book movie.

Captain America is the story of Steve Rogers, a scrawny young man whose desire to enlist in the military is thwarted by his physical appearance. After being denied enlistment, Steve is approached by Dr. Erskine (played superbly by Stanley Tucci) to be a part of Project Rebirth, a program designed to transform scrawny men like himself into American fighting machines.

After undergoing the procedure, we see as events unfold for the better and worse in Steve’s life. With a character like Captain America, it would be easy just to show his most proud moments of heroic valor, but the film makes sure to include misfortunes and moments of despair which helped forge the complex man he is. He is not a one-layered super hero and the film does a great job at getting that point across.

When I first heard that Chris Evans was going to play Captain America, I was let-down with Marvel‘s casting department. Chris Evans had already been in several comic book or graphic novel-based films in the past including both Fantastic Four films, The Losers, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and the off-brand super hero movie Push (imagine a bad episode of Heroes), so I was hoping that Marvel would have chosen someone new to the genre.

To my surprise, Chris Evans didn’t just pull it off, he excelled. Chris Evans gave a remarkable performance of Steve Rogers, echoing every facet of his personality. Hugo Weaving as the nefarious Red Skull was cast perfectly and Sebastian Stan (a relatively unknown actor at least to me) was great in the role of Bucky Barnes (another favorite of mine in the comics).

I highly recommend you give Captain America: The First Avenger a look as soon as possible. My only disclaimer is that the 3-D was rather bland, so if you can, I suggest seeing it in good old fashioned 2-D. Tell ‘em Cash Money Cravens sent ya!

It’s grade: A (Get it? Because I like it a lot AND because Cap wears an A on his mask?!?!)

NEW VIDEO: Beastie Boys x Action Figures

The Beastie Boys new music video will beat up your music video. The B-boys are back at it again. This time the New York trio bring us “The Continually Ill Adventures of the Beastie Boys” in an 11 minute new music video for “Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win” featuring Santi Gold. The track is off their newest album, “Hot Sauce Committee Part 2″. If you’re alive and breathing you should be into this. Enjoy!

Follow TheForestLab#! on twitter
Be a fan of the TheForestLab#! on facebook.

A New #1 for Captain America out Wednesday

This Wednesday the first issue of a brand-new Captain America series from veteran Cap writer Ed Brubaker and Civil War artist Steve McNiven hits stores.

After completing a 70-issue run of Captain America, which included the historical return of Bucky Barnes as the Winter Soldier and then as the new Captain America, Brubaker continues his legacy with a new series that showcases Steve Rogers back in the Captain America uniform.

Just in time for the release of the Captain America movie in theaters on the 22nd, this comic is a great starting point for readers new to the world of Cap.

Captain America #1 hits shelves and Marvel Digital this Wednesday, so grab your shield and head to the comic book store of your choice or just to your computer and make this guaranteed-to-be-great purchase!

Follow TheForestLab#! on twitter
Be a fan of the TheForestLab#! on facebook.