WRTN...."The Kid" aka "The Natural" aka "Junior"

As I woke up today, the TV was on watching me like most mornings and of course ESPN's Sports Center was on. Like every day of the past month, steroids was one of the lead stories. As more and more names are coming out about alleged use and positive tested players, it makes what Ken Griffey Jr did over most his great career even more remarkable. The numbers that he was able to put up in a era where field players and pitchers were using roids to get a added advantage seem to standout so much more now. The roids cut back recovery time as well as adding pure muscle without much effort. Now some people say that roids don't help hand and eye coordination which is true, but when the player does make enough contact where do you think that ball is going to land? Ding, ding, ding, you guessed correct. The ball is smashed out of the park. Baseball saw the rise in ticket sales and interest and didn't care about pointing out the dopers from the purest like Griffey.

In 1987 Griffrey was selected with the first overall pick of that year's amateur draft by the Seattle Mariners straight out of high school. He was up in the big leagues full time by the spring of 1989 and there was no looking back. Junior would go on to establish himself as arguably the best all around player of the 1990's. In his eleven seasons with Seattle Griffey accumulated 1,752 hits, 398 home runs, 1,152 RBIs, and 167 stolen bases. He led the American League in home runs four seasons (1994, 1997, 1998, and 1999), was voted the A.L. MVP in 1997. As good as he was on offense, it was his play in center field that put him head and shoulders above his peers. With his impressive range, Griffey frequently made spectacular diving plays, and he often dazzled fans by making over-the-shoulder basket catches and by robbing opposing hitters of home runs at the wall—leaping up and pulling them back into the field of play. His remarkable play in the field got him 10 gold gloves over his career. Griffey had everything you could look for in a baseball player. His swing was poetry in motion, never looking rushed. He made playing baseball look effortless.




Junior is the son of former player Ken Griffery Sr, so he was raised in the clubhouse so he was able to handle the media from a early age. Because of his great play, boyish looks, and youthfulness, Griffery had many endorsement deals but none were bigger than the one he had with Nike. His signature shoe line is still one of the highest selling ever.





After the 1999 season Griffey asked for and was granted a trade the Cincinnati Reds in a desire to live closer to his relatives in his hometown of Cincinnati. He was never the same on the Reds. Like so many great players before him, Griffey was plagued by a string of injuries, including season-ending injuries in 2002, 2003, and 2004. He showed signs of the old Griffey we all grew to love when he could stay healthy and even made the National League all-star teams in 2004 and 2007.



This off season as a free agent he decided to return to his baseball roots and signed with the Mariners. I'm happy to see he is still able to play because he is the definition of a baseball player. He never caused any problems off the field and came to the park everyday to give his fans a show. That's all us fans ever ask for, and Griffey always gave us that plus more. If the injuries had never occurred it would be Griffey not Bonds who would be the all-time home run leader. One thing that we do know for certain is that when Griffey hangs up his cleats, he will be a first ballot Hall of Famers. As we are finding out more and more each day many of his peers will never be able to say that and even fewer will be able to say they put up their numbers off pure talent, the right way.

Related: Heaven Cent

Update:  Ken Griffey Jr retired on June 2nd 2010 after 22 seasons with 630 home runs which is 5th all time and a numerous amount of awards and accolades.

WRTN...."Prime Time"...

In a day and age when its hard for athletes to stay healthy and excel at one sport, I would like to take a little time out to remember a man that did it at two. He simply went by "Prime Time". People often forget about how great of an athlete this guy really was. He was a lead off hitting, base stealing, defensive outfielder in the spring and the best corner in the NFL in the fall and winter. He was an All-State honoree in all baseball, football, basketball, and track. At Florida State Deion played football, baseball, and track. Sanders was a 3-time All American at corner while at FSU. He was also drafted by the Yankees during this the same time because of his defense and great base stealing ability.

After being drafted 5th in 1989 by the Atlanta Falcons, Deion would start a career in the NFL as the premier cornerback in the league. On his first career punt return, he returned it for a touchdown. While with the Falcons, Sanders was also acquired by the Atlanta Braves. With the Braves, Deion played in 2 World Series. Deion led the NL in triples in 1992 with 14. He was often told to pick one sport, but felt if he was blessed enough to play both, he was going to until he couldn't anymore. He would have his most productive season in 1997 with the Cincinnati Reds where he was second in the NL with 56 stolen bases.


After leaving the Falcons for the 49ers, Deion won his only Defensive Player of Year award in 1994. He would also help push the Niners over the hump as they won their first title that year since the end of the Joe Montana era. Deion would go on to leave after the season and join the Dallas Cowboys where he would win another title. At Dallas, Sanders was able to play both ways. That was something Sanders had always dreamed about but had not done so since his high school days. At the time Deion signed with the Cowboys, he was the highest paid defensive player in the NFL.


Sanders would go on to play one season with the Redskins in 2000 after leaving the Cowboys. He showed signs of his greatness, but could not produce at his usual elite level and retired after the season. After a 3 year retirement Sanders joined the Baltimore Ravens in 2004 at the age of 37. With the Ravens Deion was a nickel back and helped with the development of the young secondary.



Deion's ability on the field was just half of what made him "Prime Time". The term "swag" is so over used in today's society but if ever any player ever had some, it would be "Neon Deon". Deion was one of few football players to ever have a successful shoe line. His shoes were a must have and are still a hit as Nike continues to retro them.


Deion also had a rap cd "Prime Time", which went gold and hung out with the biggest entertainer of the time, MC Hammer. Deion Sanders will mostly be remembered by his famous "High-Stepping" into the end zone followed by his touchdown dance celebrations or his huge gold chains that he wore while on the field and the diamond. I will remember him for that and so much more. Deion made you want to look good while you played sports. I still see players today rocking bandannas and du-rags under their helmet or wearing multiple pairs of socks and wrist bands with no idea who made it "cool". He was fly, fresh, flashy, and phenomenal on the field. Deion still remains the only person ever to play in a Super Bowl and World Series. He is also the only person ever to hit a home run and score a touchdown within the same week. It has also been rumored for years that Deion ran 4.0 flat in the 40, but was never officially recorded.

These days Deion works on the NFL network as a analyst. Sanders currently stars in his own reality show -- Deion & Pilar: Prime Time Love -- centered around him, his wife, and their five children, all of whom live in the small town of Prosper, Texas.

A Glimpse At Deion Dunking...


REMEMBER THIS...

WRTN.... Heven Cent....

They said he could pass like Magic, score like Mike, and had heart like Bird. He was the 1 in more then one way. His name was Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway. From being the national player of the year as a high school senior to being named a two time college All American, Hardaway had the complete package.



Do you really remember how good Penny was????? He almost made you forget about Mike. Ok well not totally but you were still ok with the direction of the league. His shoe game was also classic. Besides Jordan, Penny's shoes are probably the most wanted retros of any player.

And how can you forget his sidekick Lil Penny. He had the best shoe commercials ever. Mars Blackmon was cool but Lil Penny was the man. Penny along with The Fab Five helped bring in the Hip-Hop ERA of the NBA.

Like many great players before him, Penny’s career walked through an all too familiar path. His body just couldn’t keep up with his incredible god given abilities. After his break-up with Shaq and a couple of knee surgeries, Penny never returned to himself. Far to many basketball fans were robbed of seeing another great player like Penny fail to reach his prime due to health issues. Another what if story of what could have been....

WRTN... Mase

I thought this sunday would be a perfect day to talk about rapper turned pastor turned rapper Mase. Now I have to admit that back in the day Mase was my man on Bad Boy. He could do no wrong in my eyes especially after Biggie pasted away. M-A-dollar sign-E had that unique Harlem swag and style yet was very chill and laid back. During this time in hip-hop after the deaths of Tupac and Biggie people wanted to party and have a good time and Bad Boy lead by Puff and Mase ushered us into that phase of rap. Mase was on the cusp of Bad Boy's assault on taking over radio & had no true foes in the game. Betha was more widely accepted by the wearers of Timbs as well as those who preferred Coogis & gators.



On April 20, 1999, during an interview with Funkmaster Flex of New York radio station Hot 97, Mase announced his retirement from music. This was during the promotional period for his second album. The rapper left Bad Boy and Harlem and moved to Atlanta and became a preacher. There were rumors that he was ran out of town or that we lost the love for the music and lifestyle. Mase would go on to say that he left because he felt had a higher calling.

In 2004, Mase made a come-back to the game with his album Welcome Back. On this album Mase had a much cleaner image and didn't curse on the entire CD. He stayed away from topics that he was once know for.



After his short clean return, Mase returned to his old rap ways and joined 50 Cent and G-Unit. Betha would go on to have half hearted beefs with Camron and Jim Jones of Dipset and follow label mate Loon.

Hot 97 Interview Cam & Jim Jones Diss Mase - Cam,Jim Jones & Mase

What Happend To You?

I can't lie, I really didn't like Rich Boy when he first came out but after I heard his whole album he gained some points in my book. Looks like another one album artist bites the dust. Here's the video to his best song in my opinion.




Listen/Download: Rich Boy ft. John Legend, Lil Wayne, and Nas -Ghetto Remix