Monday, May 28, 2012

Summer X Games: 11Yr Old Skateboarding Phenom Jagger Eaton

Summer X Games 2012 takes place in Los Angeles California June 28th - July 1st. You know the name Tony Hawk, Christian Hosoi, Travis Pastrana, and Jake Brown. You had a BMX when you were young, you skateboarded to the neighbors house and jumped a ramp made out of plywood. You seen the videos of people skateboarding and jumping off of roof tops and having nasty falls. We even seen Mike Bancroft "Do the Dew" at the Mountain Dew Classic. 


This Summer ESPN and the X Games have given us something different, something new, really new 11 year old "Big Air" Jagger Eaton is competing for Gold at the X Games. Yes, the kid is only 11 yrs old and he is competing in the Summer Classic against the best boarders in the world. That's because at age 11 he is one of the best Skateboarders on the planet. The young kid gets "Big Air" on his jumps and is ready to show the world what a real young age phenom is all about. Currently he has only "5 followers via Twitter" and let me be the first to tell you to follow and support the kid. 


No pressure Jagger go out their and do your thing dude. JMC Sportsbook supports every young kid out there doing their thing. Good kids like Jagger are the future they make it happen.  Jagger I am sure KTR Skateboard School in Mesa AZ are proud of you and so are we.  Remember when you were 8 yrs old and gliding the ramps at Plan B Warehouse, and Encinitas Skatepark? It's the same thing "Just Make it Count". 


So go ahead follow Jagger and support the future of skateboarding and the X Games....

Follow Jagger Eaton on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/jaggereaton

Follow us on Twitter @JMCSPORTSBOOK or feel free to leave a comment below
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Sunday, May 27, 2012

Western Conference Finals 2012: "Hunger Games"


The JMC Sportsbook @ Box on Twitter is filling up with questions regarding the NBA playoffs and our NBA playoff outlook for the Western Conference Finals. Here's the call and outlook according to Book of JMC Sportsbook NBA Playoffs 2012 "Hunger Games".

Like Katniss Everdeen the Oklahoma City Thunder are young yet feisty athletic phenoms coming into their own hitting their stride prior to their prime. OKC Thunder play tough interior defense with PF Serge Ibaka nicknamed "IBlocka" by NBA fans for his defensive prowess and ability to block shots in the paint. I feel he should be nicknamed "Blanka" for his monster type ability to block, grab rebounds, and command the paint but that's a different article.


The OKC Thunder are led by new "King of Clutch" Kevin Durant known for his accurate and precision type shooting "Durantula" led the NBA in points averaging 28.0 ppg during his 2011-2012 campaign. Equally important to the Thunder's success is Russell Westbrook and James Harde. Russell is a dynamic NBA All Star Point Guard and James Harden is the glue that holds this team together his "Sixth Man of the Year" play off the bench has risen the Thunder to new heights. Thunder return to the Western Conference Finals for the second consecutive season.  Durant, Westbrook, Harden and company are more poised and confident than ever after defeating the NBA version of  "Career Tributes" Los Angeles Lakers.  Their next test? the San Antonio Spurs.


San Antonio Spurs we all know the story of Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli but the real play here comes from the addition of Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard. Two young star buds that look to be the future of the Spurs. Greg Popovich the best active coach currently in the NBA has done a masterful job this season. Giving Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli time to rest throughout the season to increase the maturation process of Green and Leonard.  The two young talents have been incredible breathing new life into the Spurs organization on and off the court.

Spurs have been the best team in the NBA for two consecutive seasons posting a 2010-2011 season record of 61-21 and completing 2011-2012 season 50-16. In 2011 the Spurs playoff chances were cut short when Manu Ginobli sprained his elbow in the last game of the regular season. Fast Forward to 2012 and the Spurs are back riding a 18 game winning streak the into the Western Conference Finals.


The Call: This is totally unfair to the OKC Thunder and their new fans in Oklahoma after defeating the Lakers with last second clutch shots in the playoffs teams should automatically be advanced to the NBA Finals. Well just like in Hunger Games that's not the case because in this latest version the Spurs represent the biggest challenge the Thunder have faced in their four year existence.

Here's my exhort as I explained it to Israel Sports Radio Producer and CEO Ari Louis and Raphael Gellar in Jerusalem. Manu Ginobli is the original James Harden they cancel each other out.  Russell Westbrook and Tony Parker are equal parts slight edge to Tony Parker then you examine Tim Duncan vs. Kevin Durant all the stars equal each other out with very slight advantages. Now your left with the Spurs bench and counter pieces against the Thunder's spare parts and you have a 4-2 Spurs Series in San Antonio's quest to an NBA Finals Championship in 2012. Sorry Miami- Greg Popvich and David Stern "President Snow" would like to thank everyone for playing.

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Thursday, May 24, 2012

Sixers and Celtics Game 7: Ingredients of a Boston Massacre...

Philadelphia Sixers the most uninteresting team in the world, the team without a true superstar their the opposite of a "Dos Equis" commercial. Pushing the Celtics into a Game 7 the Sixers are committed to playing hard nose tough style 1990's defense. Head coach Doug Collins a legendary Philadelphia 76ers has invested every ounce of energy coaching this young yet wise defensively talented bunch and the personality has been adopted by the players. While fans across America are scratching their heads wondering how are the Sixers one game from the Eastern Conference Finals. Doug Collins is proclaiming that his a Sixers for life and Allen Iverson is receiving standing ovations. How is this happening?

Key Answer: Boston Celtics are playing poorly in the middle of a playoff series.  Something tells me the Celtics understand the playoffs are a 7 game series and their bodies are just a little bit tired. Okay maybe not a lil bit their exhausted the offense is not flowing correctly and the Sixers are about 20 years younger. Don't turn your back against the Boston Celtics yet, this could be the last hit single put together by "Rajon Rondo and the BIG 3" and the platinum winning 2008 NBA Finals champions is gearing up for their final tour.


The Sixers playoff success is a product of style and injury mishaps "Derrick Rose".  Despite the Bulls first round injury voodoo or hex the Sixers style is perfect versus the Boston Celtics my favorite top analyst John Hollinger could see the writing on the wall calling for a game 7 between the Sixers and Celtics two weeks ago . Celtics are not known for scoring their a little bit older and the Sixers younger legs are winning over the aching "old bodies" of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce.  The key to a Sixers victory is defense and a slow offensive pace mirroring the blueprint of the Boston Celtics. A young team playing slower than the "Grandfather" Boston Celtics?

As my father once told me "I may be old but wisdom and knowledge conquers all". Four of the six playoff games in this series have been decided by 10 pts or less. with game seven, "sudden death", winner take all series on the line Saturday in Boston here's the call and details...


Philadelphia Sixers: Hold Boston under 100 pts and keep the game close...  Boston has scored over 100 twice in the series winning both games by 16 points.

Boston Celtics: Field Goal percentage Celtics 3-0 against Sixers when shooting over 43.9% in the series. Sixers defense has been lock down solid during the playoffs Rajon Rondo has to initiate the offense create a free offensive pace for the Celtics sounds "backwards or upside down" but the slower pace falls to the style of the much younger Sixers...

Prediction Winner: Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen Boston Celtics hit recording group "Rondo and the BIG 3" are 2-10 when attempting to close a playoff series on the road now the band group returns to TD Gardens where the Celtics are 17-4 in game 7 as a franchise. Doc Rivers knows his history and will have his troops prepared. Rajon Rondo will have a triple double, pencil in Kevin Garnett for 19pts 10rebs, Paul Pierce's 25 pts and Ray Allen to hit clutch 3 pointers and you have the ingredients for a Boston Massacre at TD Gardens...

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Manny Pacquiao Misquoted and Persecuted!!!

Manny Pacquiao the famous Filipino boxer recently came under fire by American journalist, citizens and the LGBT community for his comments regarding his view on gay marriage.  On Wednesday May 16th Pacquiao was asked on about his view on same sex marriage by a credible news source.  


News Source reporter stated Pacquiao as saying he opposed President Barack Obama's support for gay marriage. Pacquiao was stated by an American journalist saying he opposes gay marriage, when the reporter asked why? Pacquiao replied "It's the law of God". 


The reporter wrote a column stating Pacquiao as quoting Leviticus 20:13 NIV "‘If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads" This caused a media bonanza as the LGBT community went to the social streets of Twitter, Facebook and other social sites calling for the banning and disenfranchisement Pacquiao. Citizens gathered on social networks asking individuals to sign a petition requesting Nike drop the endorsement of Pacquiao. The petition was signed by over 4,868 people. 


Pacquiao who was scheduled to at the Grove Mall for his appearance on the news syndicated show  "EXTRA" was banned from Mall premises. Grove Mall management announced that Pacquiao was not wanted on the premises of Grove Mall property due to his earlier statements on gay marriage. "Based on news reports of statements made by Mr. Pacquiao, we have made it be known that he is not welcome at the Grove and will not be interviewed here now or in the future."


The terrifying effect of this matter is that the quote followed on the heals of President Barak Obama's statements on supporting gay marriage rights. Creating a media public relations nightmare for Pacquiao and the LGBT community. 

Floyd Mayweather the opportunist decided to tweet the following message "I stand behind President Obama & support gay marriage," Mayweather tweeted. "I'm an American citizen & I believe people should live their life the way they want."


Now the real facts Pacquiao never quoted Leviticus 20:13 he never quoted that a man should be killed, lit on fire and banned to the pits of hell. The reporter who quoted Pacquiao in his article column also apologized saying that even though the statement appeared in quotations Pacquiao did not make the comments. 

The Grove Mall management made a hasty move with out fact banning Pacquiao based on the columnist intentional misquote. Yes, intentional this was written to hype hatred toward the Filipino boxer. 

EXTRA decided to carry the interview privately at the home of Pacquiao. In the interview Pac-Man simply stated that he was against same sex marriage and that it was not inline with his Catholic religion.. During the interview he stated that he has friends and family members who are gay and that he loves everyone. 

Pacquiao Message: "To the gay community, I apologize," Pacquiao said on the show, according to an "Extra" news release. "I'm against same-sex marriage, but I'm not condemning you. My favorite verse is 'Love one another as you love yourself. Love your neighbor.' So I love everybody!"

Personal Message: For years we have heard and preached messages of love, compassion and not judging a book by its cover. What kind of society do we live in where a persons religious belief makes him or her a villain in the eyes of the community?


The LGBT Community believes that gay marriage is right that they should receive and reserves the right to be respected. Yet, the LGBT Community must also realize that their are some who do not belief in that same right and their belief is to also be respected equal to the same as your beliefs. 

Aretha Franklin once sang a famous song about R-E-S-P-E-C-T. We are all gods children here to replenish the planet earth our longevity as a human race depends on two facts RESPECT and LOVE!!! Live it, share it and educate....

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Friday, May 11, 2012

The Junior Seau Effect: Athletes are Human too



Junior Seau
In the rules of life tragedies occur so that we may learn the lessons of the past in order to birth a better new future. 


So when news broke of Junior Seau and his unfortunate suicide my heart felt like it was struck by lightning. I held my words in hopes that the reported suicide attempt was false and that at the very least the true killer would soon be caught.  


Seau's life was full of celebration, his career numbers legendary but he had some issues and remembrance of failure was attached to his successes. Two Super Bowl trips but no Lombardi trophy and then the businesses he once owned but soon faltered. His story effects more than just the life of Seau and the NFL it effects the majority of sports athletes living through the same issues. Forget about studying Seau's brain for concussions and brain pattern activities and let's start a new focus let Seau's tragedy be a open light to sports owners and organizations to make a critical change from the "Athlete First and Person Second Approach" 


Ask yourself should the NBA, NFL, MLB and other sports organizations, leagues and associations be responsible for the mental growth and stability of athletes. Athletes grow up in a certain protective bubble that allows the athlete to be catered to financially making BIG money while living the rest of life care free. The question I ask after hearing and seeing the aftermath of  the Seau incident is this "do athletes need more life skill programs"? 


Erica Blasberg
It's one thing to give a teenager a lot cash and it's another to provide life skill programs during the off season to assist athletes in the areas of social science, financing and other important elements of life. George Washington University School of Business STAR E.M.B.A. program, does a tremendous job with helping train athletes during the off season but most of these programs are volunteer only.  


Fact according to a 2009 Sports Illustrated article “How and Why Athletes Go Broke.” 75% of NFL players go bankrupt after retiring from the NFL. The numbers are staggering and sad reflecting upon on how the associations and leagues view their athletes.


Baskerville Holmes
Athletes are more than just a city sports figure head, running and jumping for leather pigskin on a green field, dirt track or hardwood floor they are humans. Humans who have been viewed differently since the age of a child due to their athletic abilities. No one pity's an athlete because of their popularity or financial status but then again no one seems to care about their mental or social capabilities either.  Should owners be responsible for providing off season financial and social skill courses and seminars for athletes so that the tragedies of  Erica Blasberg, Kenny McKinley, Baskerville Holmes, and Junior Seau become less frequent. So that their tragic life lessons are not studied in vain. Athletes are Human too.

As a U.S. Veteran I also would like to see this question addressed to our military leaders. Soldiers being discharged have been released into a faltering economy unaware of life on the other side of the fence. Blind to the struggles of normal life without the support of the military. For some this dramatic shift in life is to hard to bare and yet it goes unnoticed because everyone is so focused on the perceived financial or social status of the individual. Soldiers and Athletes are humans too. 



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Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Kobe Bryant vs. Derek Fisher: The Hunt for Six!


Kobe Bryant the "Greatest Lakers" of all time confessed by both Magic Johnson and Shaquille O'neal is on a quest to capture his 6th NBA Finals Championship. Kobe Bryant was drafted in the 1996 NBA Draft "Charlotte Hornets" and debuted in his first NBA game November 3rd 1996 versus the Minnesota Timberwolves. Kobe was scoreless in his NBA debut logging 6 minutes of play but over the next 15 years his career would go on to be the story of legends. The all time Lakers great is looking to join Michael Jordan with 6 rings and win more Championships than any player in the post Jordan Era.

Kobe Bryant "Black Mamba" is not the only player in the NBA seeking his sixth NBA championship ring. Long time friend and former Lakers teammate Derek Fisher now of the Oklahoma City Thunder is quietly on a mission of his own. Fisher drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers 24th overall in the 1996 NBA Draft has won 5 NBA  Championships and has been a key member of the Lakers last 5 championship banners hanging in Staples Center.

Fisher has also played for the Golden State Warriors and Utah Jazz. In both stints Fisher has been unable to win an NBA championship without playing next to his 1996 rookie teammate Kobe Bryant. Ditto for the Black Mamba for years Kobe and Fisher have meshed together like a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich. "No one just eats a Jelly Sandwich" the two players together have produced 7 trips to the NBA Finals and won 5 NBA championship rings since 2001.


Now in the 2012 NBA playoffs the two compadres will be known enemies each searching for their sixth NBA championship. Ask Kobe about the subject and he will probably deny he ever thinks about it "it's just a question in the wind"  Well hopefully those winds are the Santa Ana winds that tend to blow through the greater Los Angeles area instead of the Thundering thud from Oklahoma City. We all know that some where deep inside of the competitive mind of Kobe Bryant he knows the real score is 5-5. Not only must he make a statement against up and coming OKC Thunder but he wants to remain the best in every way possible and that includes receiving his sixth ring before Fisher.

In the main plot there's the L.A. Lakers vs. OKC Thunder in the sub plot there's Kevin Durant vs. Kobe Bryant but not on the list, not on the club brochures or team websites is the battle from within a small tug o' war between two very close friends. The Race to 6            has begun!

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Friday, May 4, 2012

Miami Heat: LeBron James NBA Royalty?

On this day in history May 4th 2009. LeBron James won his first MVP award edging out Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant (698 points), Miami's Dwyane Wade (680), Orlando's Dwight Howard (328) and New Orleans' Chris Paul (192). With the award LeBron James became the first NBA MVP in Cleveland Cavaliers history. 

During the 2008-2009 NBA season LeBron James averaged (28.4 ppg, second in the NBA), rebounds (7.6 rpg), assists (7.2 apg, fourth), and steals (1.7 spg, eighth). LeBron James career record pace not only set James as the NBA MVP but made him a apart of history becoming the fourth player to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals, while also leading his team to 50-plus wins (Larry Bird 1985-86; Grant Hill, 1996-97; Kevin Garnett, 2002-03).  Leading the Cavaliers to an NBA best- franchise best 66-16 season. 


LeBron James 2008-2009 credentials included leading the league in triple-doubles (seven) and became the 12th player in NBA history to record three-consecutive triple-doubles (March 7, 10, 12). In his sixth season, James became the ninth player in NBA history to have at least five consecutive 2,000 point seasons.

Th following season LeBron James won his second consecutive NBA MVP award carrying the Cleveland Cavaliers to a league leading 61-21 record. That season the Cleveland Cavaliers teamed LeBron James with Shaquille O'Neal during the offseason. LeBron's 2009-2010 NBA season produced one of the greatest player statistics in NBA history. LeBron averaged 29.7 pts, 7.3 rebs, 8.6 ast, 1.6 stls and 1.0 blks during the 82 games schedule.


Fast forward to the 2011-2012 NBA season and LeBron James is once again playing the best basketball in the NBA. James now a member of the Miami Heat has elevated his game playing next to Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in "South Beach" Miami. The Miami Heat ended the regular season with a 46-20 regular season record. LeBron James 2011-2012 has clearly defined his role in South Beach as "Batman" averaging 27 pts, 7.86 rebs, 6.23 ast, and 1.89 stls.

So LeBron was right his going to win not 1, not 2 but at least 3 NBA MVP trophies. With his 3rd MVP trophy LeBron James will join the elite in NBA "first class" only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird and Moses Malone as players who have accomplished the feat of 3x MVP. The only item missing from the resume and trophy case of the former 2003-2004 NBA Rookie of the Year is an NBA Finals Larry O'Brien Championship trophy. Regardless of this fact LeBron James is the best NBA player in the Association.  


In my opinion LeBron James is 8 Championship trophies away from being the Greatest player in NBA history. Yes, 8 is a lot but Michael Jordan was 6-0 in Finals competition and James has to make up for the 0-2 Finals record he posses. Also the great Bill Russell won 11 NBA Finals so LeBron James the most gifted athlete in NBA history has to add the missing piece to his trophy case 8x. Is it possible?

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