#EntertainmentPSB: EROVER Hoverboard – October 24, 2015

The Hoverboard craze has swept the country with entertainment artists like Wiz Khalifa riding them through LAX Airport while college students nationwide are riding them on campus. I received a cool SnapChat from a college assistant this week with their players riding through the offices.

By: Brandon Clay @BBallPlusMusic

To date, there are limited supplies on store shelves so the first question becomes where do you get one? I went through Amazon.com struggling with one company while finding success with another. Sanatop was the second company I used. They delivered on time and with no damage to the product. I’ve had mine about a month and love spending time on the board.

Secondly, the boards are running between $269 and $450 depending on the retailer. I would be diligent in reading reviews like this before buying one. That said, WalMart is supposed to be stocking them soon on their online site in time for the holidays. That would be an ideal route to go for both guaranteed assistance and quality delivery times.

I rode mine into #EBATop40 Workout as we closed out the event series for the 2015 calendar year:

Brandon-Clay-Bio-2 Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @bballplusmusic.

Category: #EntertainmentPSB | 1 Comment on #EntertainmentPSB: EROVER Hoverboard – October 24, 2015

#ProSportsChop: USA Basketball Roundtable – Gregg Popovich – October 24, 2015

Earlier this week, current USA Basketball Senior National Team coach Mike Krzyzewski announced that he would step down after the 2016 Olympics. USA responded by striking gold as they landed five-time NBA Championship coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs as Coach K’s replacement.

Here’s what USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo had to say about the decision, per the team’s official press release:

“I’m absolutely delighted to announce Gregg Popovich as head coach of the USA Basketball Men’s National Team for 2017-20. There is no doubt in my mind that we have the great fortune of bringing on board one of the NBA’s best and most successful coaches ever to lead the USA National Team for the 2017-20 quadrennium. By making this decision now, it will allow us to have a clean, efficient and immediate transition following the 2016 Olympic Games.”

Per the same release, here’s Popovich’s reaction:

“I’m extremely humbled and honored to have the opportunity to represent our country as the coach of the USA National Team…What the program has accomplished over the last decade under the leadership of Jerry Colangelo and Mike Krzyzewski is truly impressive. I will do my utmost to maintain the high standards of success, class and character established by Jerry, Coach K and the many players who have sacrificed their time on behalf of USA Basketball.”

Here is reaction from our PSBPopCulture.com experts:

CLAY: This move is right in line with the type of decisions that Colangelo has executed since taking over as USAB director in 2005. He has been impressive with his forward thinking and has once again made USA Basketball a destination for both elite coaches and players. The youth levels have shown both consistency and production as well. My educated guess is that Popovich will guide the USA to the 2020 Gold Medal and probably step aside after that. It will be interesting to chart who the next coach will be. Will they go in the direction of a younger guy Brad Stevens (Boston Celtics coach) who will be 41 after the 2020 Olympics or choose another veteran leader like Coach K or Pop?

HEMINGWAY: The hiring of Spurs coach Popovich is a home run. There is no other coach that has worldwide respect like ‘Pop.’ His longevity and success in the NBA give him instant credibility among America’s top players. Plus his ability to get superstars to buy into roles makes this a union that will work. Add in the fact that Spurs have traditionally played an international style of basketball and Pop appears to be the perfect coach for the job.

MOORE: Looking at the changes USA Basketball has made over the last decade, it’s evident they are organization working hard to stay ahead of the curve as opposed to reacting and responding late in an ever changing industry. As represented by this summer’s USA mini-camp in Las Vegas, we now have a true national team pool. Unlike the late-90’s/early 2000’s when we were begging players to “give up” their summer and play with the national team, we now have players that are jumping at the opportunity to put on a USA jersey. This is a testament to the work done by Colangelo and Krzysewski. Right now, the U.S. National program is arguably in the best place it has been in it’s history. Popovich is the perfect choice as the standard bearer for continued future success into the next decade.

Brandon-Clay-Bio-2 Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @bballplusmusic.

HEMI-HEAD-SHOTJonathan Hemingway is a Chicago sports fan who reps the Bears, Bulls and Cubs. He’s also a diehard NFL Sunday Ticket subscriber. Like Clay, Hemingway’s music taste are wide-ranged and depend on the day. He is also a major part of PeachStateBasketball.com wearing multiple hats with the title of Director of Domestic Scouting and owning CoachHemi.com.

Keil Moore Keil Moore is a Philadelphia sports fan who loves the Eagles, 76ers and Phillies. He’s the go-to NBA League Pass subscriber in the PSBPopCulture.com. Moore will contribute his expertise to multiple categories on the site. He is the owner of Keil Moore Basketball, Inc. You can follow him on Twitter @KeilMoorePSB.

Category: #BCSSportsChop | LEAVE A COMMENT

#FreshStyleFits: Jordan 11 Retro Backpack – October 23, 2015

Nike released the Jordan 11 Retro Backpack at the tail end of 2014 to coincide with the re-release of the Jordan 11 sneaker. The Backpack has the sneaker attached to the bottom. It’s a pretty unique design. They released two color ways: Black / Red “Bred” for Jordan’s Chicago Bulls theme and the Carolina Blue / White in Jordan’s UNC alma mater.

By: Brandon Clay @BBallPlusMusic

The Backpack wasn’t mass delivered to retail shelves and most casual fans missed the release with Nike.com selling out of the product in a hurry (surprise, surprise). I wore the Carolina Blue / White color way last week to an event and was asked several times where to get them.

The best answer I have right now is to search secondary sites like eBay or Amazon. Upon quick glance, both have limited quantities selling between $229 and $300. The bag originally retailed right at $199 so the markup isn’t astronomical given how quickly the bag disappeared from traditional retail outlets. Add it to the holiday Wish List.

UPDATE 12/25/15: After inquiring about the backpack at the Elite Basketball Academy Top 40 Camp, Hannah Fuller then received it as a Christmas present. Here she is on Christmas morning:

Hannah-Fuller-Jordan-Bag

Yesterday's Home: #EBATop40 Pantone Jordan 11's & Retro Backpack | #SoleFlow Cred: Ty Freeman | #AnyGymIsHome

A photo posted by BrandonClayPSB (@brandonclaypsb) on

Brandon-Clay-Bio-2 Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @bballplusmusic.

Category: #PhotoshootFresh | LEAVE A COMMENT

#ProSportsChop: Decade of the Point Guard – October 22, 2015

Every NBA generation gives us a wealth of depth at a certain position. In the 1990‘s, it was the Shooting Guard’s that ruled the league. Michael Jordan, Clyde Drexler, Steve Smith and the list can go on and on. In the 2000’s, it was the Power Forward position that ruled the Association. Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Amare Stoudemire were just a few of the great Power Forwards of the generation.

By: Keil Moore @KeilMoorePSB with commentary from Brandon Clay @bballplusmusic

This decade is all about Point Guard play. Right now, the position is without a doubt he deepest in the NBA and here is a look at the top five playing the position to date.

Here is my list of the Fab Five right now with Brandon Clay’s commentary on each:

1) Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

MOORE: While one could make an argument for Chris Paul here. Curry is on top of the Basketball world right now. League MVP, NBA Championship and even his daughter has ridden the “Curry Wave” to stardom. With Curry’s recent success, it is hard to not give him the top spot.
More on Riley Curry

CLAY: What a run over the past two years for Steph. From a 5 year, $55 million extension guard to the future starting point guard for the US National Team and NBA MVP.
SIDENOTE: Riley Curry is the cutest kid in the game since Chris Paul’s son made “the Blake Face.”

2) Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

MOORE: Paul is the definition of the point guard position. Pass first, lead second, pressure the basketball, and score when needed. In my humble opinion, there isn’t a better point guard in basketball. There also might not be a better leader in basketball.

CLAY: He’s successfully made the Clippers the primary team inside Staples Center which also plays host to the Lakers. That said, if Paul plans on winning a title in LA he has to find a way to be more impactful than Curry and the guy below him again this season.

3) Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

MOORE: Westbrook was phenomenal last season. He put up video game numbers almost all season long. That said, Westbrook’s health issues keep him out of consideration for the top two spots here.

CLAY: What Westbrook did sans Kevin Durant last season was phenomenal and deserves praise. From the national Mountain Dew Kickstart campaign to the Jordan Brand signature lifestyle shoe, marketers and fans nationwide have taken notice.

4) Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers

MOORE: Irving might be the most creative ball handler in the NBA right now. He is a dynamic athlete and brings flair to the point guard position. Like Westbrook, his health is also an issue. The best example of this is the 2015 NBA Finals.

CLAY: Irving could miss a chunk of time early in the season recovering from the season-ending knee injury Keil alluded to above. That said, Irving is the premier point guard in the Eastern Conference though I feel like John Wall is on his heels.

5) John Wall, Washington Wizards

MOORE: Clay’s favorite team, Atlanta Hawks, lucked out last season when Wall hurt his hand during the series against them. A healthy Wall might have propelled the Wizards into the Eastern Conference Finals. Wall is as explosive as any guard on this list and in my opinion Wall has been the victim of some tough USA Basketball National Team cuts.

CLAY: Wall is playing great basketball. He’s come a long way since his days of shooting less than 10 percent from beyond the arc during his rookie season.
SIDENOTE: Even though he’s on the verge of being an established veteran, I’d be remiss if I forgot to mention Jeff Teague. He’s easy to overlook in a league full of top shelf guards but Teague did lead the Atlanta Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals last season.

Who Is Next?

D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers – I am buying his stock. He showed himself as an excellent passer and a confident young player. Plus having Kobe Bryant as a mentor is always a nice way to start off a career.

Elfrid Payton, Orlando Magic – In Orlando, Payton has a chance to grow alongside of the best young players in the league. He has to improve as a shooter but everything else is there.

Dante Exum, Utah Jazz – Exum is out this year due to an ACL tear. My extensive NBA League Pass research showed that while Exum struggled shooting the ball last year. He became a reliable starting point guard for Utah towards the end of the season. I’m “ALL IN” on Exum.

Brandon-Clay-Bio-2 Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @bballplusmusic.

Keil Moore Keil Moore is a Philadelphia sports fan who loves the Eagles, 76ers and Phillies. He’s the go-to NBA League Pass subscriber in the PSBPopCulture.com. Moore will contribute his expertise to multiple categories on the site. He is the owner of Keil Moore Basketball, Inc. You can follow him on Twitter @KeilMoorePSB.

Category: #BCSSportsChop | LEAVE A COMMENT

#ProSportsChop: Top 5 NFL’s QB Right Now – October 20, 2015

I am on record as saying that the position of Quarterback is the most difficult position to master of all of sports. It is often impossible to predict the success of quarterbacks from college to the NFL. There is so much more involved than athleticism or arm strength. I often engage in lively debates in our PSBPopCulture.com group chat about the better QB’s in the league (which never included Tim Tebow).

By: Jonathan Hemingway @JLHemingwayPSB with commentary from Brandon Clay @bballplusmusic

Even quarterbacks who we believed to be sure-fire ELITE QBs this year are struggling. Look at Peyton Manning – his defense has carried the Broncos this year. Drew Brees has struggled to find his rhythm without Jimmy Graham. Even Andrew Luck has struggled with both injury and production!

Here is my list of the five best right now with Brandon Clay’s commentary on each:

CLAY: Before we start, do you have to keep reminding Keil Moore that his beloved Florida Gator Tim Tebow isn’t currently in the NFL? Come on Hemingway.

1) Tom Brady, New England Patriots

HEMINGWAY: Say what you want about the Patriots, but Brady is still the gold-standard. No one out-smarts these guys. Brady has laser focus that we have not seen in professional sports in years.

CLAY: Facts. Only. ACL Tear – No problem. Deflategate – No problem. Winner.

2) Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

HEMINGWAY: This guy is terrific. Laser arm. Great athlete. His best attribute this year is to make plays even when the pocket collapses. His wideouts have been great even with Jordy Nelson being injured this year.

CLAY: Rodgers confidence is the steam that powers the Green (and Yellow). He plays with a chip on his shoulder despite all the success. No Nelson, insert James Jones and roll on to victory. At times, it seems that Rodgers still visualizes that 2005 NFL Draft night when he was selected 25th nightly.

3) Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

HEMINGWAY: I became a Newton fan this year when I drafted him in my dynasty-league (I said dynasty, not keeper. That is another blog post for another time). You have to give Cam a lot of credit. His best WR, Kelvin Benjamin, went down in the preseason. No problem though, 5-0 for Newton and the Panthers.

CLAY: Despite Newton being a NFC South rival to my Falcons, I respect his play so far. He’s using Greg Olsen, his tight end, as a primary target. In addition to Olsen, Newton is leading the team with three rushing TD’s as well.

4) Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

HEMINGWAY: Atlanta people never seem to be happy with this guy. He is not flashy and has not won the big game (yet). But the fact is that he puts up big numbers and the Falcons are 5-1. He is as talented as they come in the NFL. This year is big for him to crack the conversation of the ELITE.

CLAY: Hold on now Jon. Atlanta people (myself included) respect Ryan. We also know his salary eats up a considerable amount of the financial cap. So far this season, Ryan is earning his pay with Julio Jones cashing in on Ryan’s accuracy. “Matty Ice” should have a chance to earn postseason stripes this winter.

5) Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals

HEMINGWAY: Casual NFL observers may be surprised to see Palmer’s name on this list. Fact is that if Palmer had not been injured last year, the Cardinals may have challenged the Seahawks as the best team in the NFC. The veteran puts up big numbers week in and week out and he has some of the best wide receivers in the game.

CLAY: Agree 100%. Palmer picked up right where he left off. After two ACL surgeries, he’s throwing the ball as well as I can remember. In the process, Larry Fitzgerald looks like an All-Pro receiver once again.

Brandon-Clay-Bio-2 Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. With a degree from Georgia Southern in Sport Marketing, he keeps an eye of marketing trends in the entertainment field. Clay’s full-time position is serving as the Owner of PeachStateBasketball.com.

You can follow him on Twitter @bballplusmusic.

HEMI-HEAD-SHOTJonathan Hemingway is a Chicago sports fan who reps the Bears, Bulls and Cubs. He’s also a diehard NFL Sunday Ticket subscriber. Like Clay, Hemingway’s music taste are wide-ranged and depend on the day. He is also a major part of PeachStateBasketball.com wearing multiple hats with the title of Director of Domestic Scouting and owning CoachHemi.com.

You can follow him on Twitter @JLHemingwayPSB

Category: #BCSSportsChop | LEAVE A COMMENT

#FreshStyleFits: Embellish NYC Jeans – October 20, 2015

Embellish denim is an up and coming NYC based label that is bringing top-quality distressed denim to streetwear enthusiasts. Motorcycle style stitching and heavily distressed jeans have been popularized by high-fashion labels all over the world. Notably these styles have been worn by rockstars, street style icons and celebs like Kanye West, A$AP Rocky, Rihanna and more, but the price tag of most of these jeans have kept them out of the hands of the mass public.

By: Brandon Clay @BBallPlusMusic

I was actually introduced to the brand through an Instagram post that I came across from Isaiah Thomas (Boston Celtics guard).

After doing some research, the combination of the quality, style and pricing was right on point. I ordered multiple pair with varying color schemes and styles. They were delivered within a week and minus being a little long (you can only order by waist size not length), they were good to go. I’ve rocked them at Lenox Mall as well as to meetings with a blazer, a tie and hard bottom dress shoes.

Here’s the outfit I chose to wear with a pair of Embellish jeans for a meeting with WBCA Executive Director, Danielle Donehew:

By: Jordan Davis @JDavisPSB

Brandon actually sent me a message last month saying “you gotta see these jeans, young fella.”

I thought they were clean so I just picked up my first two pair this past weekend after I got my check from the skate shop I work at. I haven’t even gotten to wear them out in public yet but it’s coming soon. I like that they’re different from what my roommates or anyone else on campus has on right now. I’ll let you all know the response I get.

Brandon-Clay-Bio-2 Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @bballplusmusic.

J-Davis-PSBPopCulture Jordan Davis is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com with a unique blend of #iTunesSounds & #PSBPopCulture reviews. Davis has been dropping jewels in both areas since arriving here in 1995. He is currently a student at Kennesaw State, a Social Media Intern with PeachStateBasketball.com and is well on his way to being the youngest in charge sooner than later.

You can follow him on Twitter @JDavisPSB.

Category: #PhotoshootFresh | LEAVE A COMMENT

#iTunesSounds – James Bay – “Need the Sun to Break” – October 20, 2015

James Bay is an emerging artist from England. The 25-year old has a number of EP’s out and his “Chaos and the Calm” album released earlier this year rose to No. 25 on the U.S. Billboard Charts.

NOTE: I came across Bay through an assist from Riley Chlupacek. Thanks Riley.

By: Brandon Clay @BBallPlusMusic

“Need the Sun to Break” is my go-to song on the album. Here’s why:

Bay has a very distinctive sound to match the style of music that he plays. On this track, he’s struggling to deal with a love lost. Bay can’t see the sun without the love he sings about on the track.

“Been in the dark for weeks and I realized you’re all I need, I hope I’m not too late.”

LISTEN TO: “Need the Sun to Break” by James Bay

Brandon-Clay-Bio-2 Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his #iTunesSounds reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @bballplusmusic.

Category: #iTunesSounds | LEAVE A COMMENT

#iTunesSounds – Alessia Cara – “Four Pink Walls” – October 20, 2015

On her debut five-track EP titled “Four Pink Walls,” Alessia Cara came out of the box swinging lyrically. She caught my attention with a song playing on Sirius XM during a trip to Seattle in late-August. Cara’s smooth vocals mixed with quality production set the stage for a debut album that should arrive sooner than later.

By: Brandon Clay @BBallPlusMusic

Here are my two favorite tracks from the EP:

1) “Here”

BREAKDOWN: The song has been a major hit for the 19-year old Canadian singer. It’s charted as high as No. 20 on the Billboard ladder. Cara sings an easy relatable story about attending a party with her friends but wanting to just chill somewhere else.

2) “Four Pink Walls”

BREAKDOWN: The title track off of the album has all the makings of a follow up single to “Here.” An uptempo beat with some bounce gives Cara a chance to let her voice dance on rhythm with a cadence that floats between singing and almost rapping parts of the song.

FINAL GRADE: B

Brandon-Clay-Bio-2 Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his #iTunesSounds reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @bballplusmusic.

Category: #iTunesSounds | LEAVE A COMMENT

#iTunesSounds – Bryson Tiller – “TRAPSOUL” – October 19, 2015

Bryson Tiller came out blazing on his first album titled “Trapsoul.” The 14-track output is a nice mix of uptempo songs and more traditional R&B. It’s a must have for fans of the genre as Tiller establishes himself as one who we’ll keep an eye on over the next 12 months.

By: Brandon Clay @BBallPlusMusic

Here are my five favorite tracks from the album:

1) “Exchange”

BREAKDOWN: Tiller samples the “Shawty Swing My Way” beat from the 90’s and delivers a homerun in the process. I expect this one to hit airwaves soon.

2) “Don’t”

BREAKDOWN: First single off the album to touch the airwaves has been on fire. Slow tempo, Tiller’s voice carries the track.

3) “Sorry Not Sorry”

BREAKDOWN: The song starts with a mean “Street Fighter” drop that the most hardcore video game fans have to appreciate. Tiller goes on to show the 502 love (as he does throughout the album) while explaining that he’s not the one for his ex-girl.

Listen to more about this topic on the PSBPopCulture.com Report at the 5:30 min mark:

4) “Been That Way”

BREAKDOWN: Tiller addresses the rift between him and his girl. There’s love there but a combination of time, money and success has taken it’s toll on the relationship.

5) “Right My Wrongs”

BREAKDOWN: The album’s final track gives Tiller a chance to display his vocals with a soft track in the background. For an album where the beats assist his voice much of the way, Right My Wrongs is very much the opposite and it works for him.

Honorable Mention: “502 Come Up”

BREAKDOWN: In an ode to his Louisville area code, Tiller brings the heat while putting the city on his back in the process. He even shouts out Louisville native D’Angelo Russell (Los Angeles Laker rookie guard) in that gold and purple.

FINAL GRADE: A

BREAKDOWN: This is a complete album with enough substance to satisfy pure R&B fans but enough uptempo tracks to keep mainstream listeners entertained.

Brandon-Clay-Bio-2 Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @bballplusmusic.

Category: #iTunesSounds | LEAVE A COMMENT