Times Select
SLAM and The Links appear in the most surprising places.
It’s funny how things work. I slept late yesterday and woke up in time to watch the US/Ecuador soccer game. Afterwards, I was leaving to get brunch with Wifey when my cell phone buzzed. It was a text message from my friend Marcus, noting, “Saw your blog in the New York Times today. Big ups.”
What? So I stopped at the next bodega and bought a copy of the New York Times. (I mean, I, er, I subscribe to the Times. I love the Times! I stay reading the Times!)
And sure enough, right there on page two of the sports section, was this:
Slamonline.com is the internet home of Slam Magazine, a monthly hip-hop and basketball publication. The site has much of the magazine’s content, but the real reason to log on is the semi-daily Links column written by Lang Whitaker, a regular contributor to the magazine.
He posts links and commentary, which range from nuts-and-bolts analysis to recounting a trip to Quizno’s with the Lakers’ Andrew Bynum, or explaining a comb-over to the Knicks.
Pretty cool, huh? Only a few complaints:
• We’re a “hip-hop and basketball publication?” That’s easily my favorite SLAM misnomer, when people say we’re a “hip-hop” basketball magazine. What does that even mean? Is it because we listen to hip-hop around here? Is it because we use hip-hop references in our headlines? Does that make the New York Times “a classical music paper that reports news”?
• It’s not a semi-daily column, it’s daily…well usually.
• I’m not just a contributor to the magazine, I’m the executive editor. But I guess I do contribute regularly.
Anyway, pretty cool. Thanks, Times.
- J.R. Smith Isn’t Going to Jail
- Odom and His Knee
- J-Rich Looking to Make All-Star Weekend History
- Darius Miles: Waived
- Are the Raptors Looking to Land Josh Howard?
- Stern to Feel the Wrath of Przybilla’s Grandma
- Dennis Rodman, Little People Make A Film
- So Much for that Marcus Camby Trade
- Corey Maggette Passed His Injury Off to Stephen Jackson
- More of the Wire »
- Conflict And Resolution
- J.R. Smith Isn’t Going to Jail
- Odom and His Knee
- Bobcats Would Not Be ‘Punked’ By Celtics
- J-Rich Looking to Make All-Star Weekend History
- Darius Miles: Waived
- Video: Darius Miles’ Big Block on Randy Foye
- Are the Raptors Looking to Land Josh Howard?
- The Post Up: Hornets Sting Lakers
- More of the Wire »
my fav line: “explaining a comb-over to the Knicks”, like the whole organization doesn’t know what a comb-over is. i suppose that figured everyone there had pulled their hair out already so there’s no hair left for comb-over.
oh and i’m with Lang on the “hip hop and basketball” mag whenever Slam is “explained to the public”. it’s annoying as hell.
also, it’s a shame they didn’t mention our new fashion column.
pretty fly for a white guy…hahaha
sorry, couldn’t resist, but saying you guys are hip hop isn’t a nice way of saying you guys are urban?….or black?
Minnesota Timberwolves guard
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Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, March 25, 2007 Q: Why does a basketball player write an advice column for Slam magazine? A: The main thing is a lot of these kids, they need guidance. So many times, people tell these young kids the wrong information on how to survive in today’s life. If I can shed light for somebody and tell them how to lead their life and how to help them lead a better life, then maybe that’s the calling God has blessed me with. Q: When they approached you, were you all for it, or did you have some hesitation? A: I was excited about it. I knew a lot of people read, and I knew it would be mostly kids writing in. Q: Did you read Dear Abby growing up? A: Not at all. But I’m like the today’s Dear Abby. It’s funny to be that. Q: What’s the hardest question you have gotten? A: The hardest question I’ve got so far was from a kid — his mother just remarried, and his stepfather wants him to call him Dad. He feels like it’s disrespectful that he doesn’t call him that. “What should I do?” Q: This isn’t people asking how to make their free-throw shooting better. A: Exactly. Q: Why do you think Slam approached you? A: Because I’m known for having a wide range of comments when asked questions. Q: What’s the best part about doing it? A: The best part is hopefully helping somebody. Hopefully a kid is hearing what I’m saying, and it’s really answering their question. That’s the best part about it — a kid feeling like his questions can be answered. Q: Do you ever hear from people down the line letting you know how things turned out? A: Not yet. This is still new. I just did the third column. Q: Do you ever worry about giving bad advice? A: No, because I never do that. Q: Never? A: Never. Everything I do, everything I say, I keep everything in perspective. The way I think, I think logically. One thing I’ve learned in life is that you cannot deny logic. Q: So you’re not worried that you’re going to meet somebody in 10 years and they’re going to tell you how you screwed up their life? A: Not at all.
Guess y’all would rather just be called a b-ball magazine, but you know how the main stream like to categorize everyting into what their perceptions are. still, any news about SLAM is good news, so long as people notice
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