Dunk of The Week

With apologies to Andre Iguodala, who posterized Yao Ming, there was just no way that Josh Smith's dunk on Steve Nash was NOT going to be Dunk of The Week. Also, Brandon Roy caught a nice dunk on the Clippers this week that was worth some mention. Brought to you by You Got Dunked On.

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Kyle Montgomery Interviews Rajon Rondo (Video)

Rajon Rondo sat down with NBA.com's Kyle Montgomery to talk about his roller skating skills, his role on the Boston Celtics, and Rondo's goals of winning another championship, and making the All-Star and All-Defensive teams.

Yes Sir - Raekwon feat Ghostface & Crooked I

Another new joint from Raekwon & Ghostface, this time featuring Crooked I and it won't be on Raekwon's album.

Yes Sir - Raekwon feat Ghostface & Crooked I

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What G Means To Bill Russell - Gatorade Commercial

Check out what G means to a legend like Bill Russell.

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What G Means To Peyton Manning - Gatorade Commercial

Check out what G means to Peyton Manning.

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What G Means To Serena Williams - Gatorade Commercial

Serena keeps it short and sweet when she explains what G means to her.

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What G Means To Misty May-Treanor & Mia Hamm - Gatorade Commercial

Check out what G means to volleyball player Misty May-Treanor & soccer player Mia Hamm.

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What G Means To Usain Bolt - Gatorade Commercial

Check out what G means to Usain Bolt. The man loves to dance apparently. Also, be on the lookout for MissionG.com, which will be a new online sports and entertainment network that will go live 2.1.09.

More: Commercials

Minor League Prospect Watch (Update): Matt Wieters, David Price, Elvis Andrus, Travis Snider, Dexter Fowler, & More

Here are updates on some of the players I highlighted last season in my Minor League Prospect Watch segment, via Keith Law's Top 100 Prospect list on ESPN:

Matt Wieters, Catcher, Baltimore Orioles, Rank (1): Wieters is typically compared to one of two current big-leaguers: Mark Teixeira and Joe Mauer. Those are tough comps to hang on a player who has yet to sniff the big leagues, but in Wieters' case, they're merited. Wieters' similarities to Teixeira don't end with their common alma mater of Georgia Tech or the fact that each was selected with the fifth overall pick (Teixeira in 2001, Wieters in 2007). Like Teixeira, Wieters is a switch-hitter with plus hit and power tools from both sides. He's a little more fluid from the left side with slightly better raw power, but he could stand on his head and still be short to the ball and get good extension on his follow-through. His plate discipline is strong and improving, and he's filled out since college, adding power to the point where he's at least major league average right now. He does glide a little bit on both sides, but it has no discernible effect on his ability to hit. Like Mauer, Wieters is an offensive catcher with a plus arm who makes everything he does look easy. He's consistently around 1.9 seconds from home to second - I've never gotten anything over 1.96 from him - and his receiving skills have improved dramatically since he entered Baltimore's system. And like Mauer, Wieters is big for the position; he's not as thick as Mauer, who was a high school football star, but he's 6-5 with long limbs and is, like all tall catchers, at risk for knee trouble over the very long term. If he has to spend the last half of his career at another position, his bat will play anywhere on the diamond. Wieters could start 2009 in the majors, although giving him a one-month stint in Triple-A would give Baltimore the advantage of another year of control before Wieters hits free agency. Other than that possibility, there's nothing stopping him from becoming an impact catcher from Day One.

2009 Outlook: Word on the street is that Wieters might start the season in the minors, while recently signed Greg Zaun plays behind the plate. This would allow the Orioles to keep Wieters out of free agency longer, similiar to the way the Rays handled Evan Longoria last season.

David Price, Pitcher, Tampa Bay Rays, Rank (2): I would offer to introduce Price, but he seems to have already introduced himself. Price, like Wieters, is ready to play in the majors right now, although he has a little more development ahead of him that may have to come at the big league level. Price is primarily a two-pitch pitcher today, working at 90-94 mph as a starter but sitting around 94 as a reliever and bumping up to 97. His slider is his out pitch - ask the Red Sox about it - in the low to mid-80s with very good tilt; he can lengthen it against lefties or shorten its break against righties. He does throw a changeup, also in the low 80s, with good action, but it's far enough behind his other two pitches that the Rays had him put it aside for his September callup. He'll need to continue to develop that pitch and improve his fastball command to reach his ceiling as a No. 1 starter, and his workload may be somewhat limited since he threw only140 innings in total in 2008 (including Triple-A and postseason action with the Rays). Given more development time, whether in Durham or in St. Petersburg, he will become a workhorse at the top of the Rays' rotation who racks up strikeouts and shuts down hitters on both sides of the plate.

2009 Outlook: With the Rays trading away starter Edwin Jackson, all indications point to Price being in the rotation for 2009. Price could be the best rookie pitcher this side of Doc Gooden if he's at his best. He certainly has the stuff and makeup to be dominant on the mound.

Travis Snider, Outfield, Toronto Blue Jays, Rank (5): Snider was rushed to the majors this year, but to some degree it's his own fault, as he never stumbled after any of his previous promotions and continued to hit in the majors despite a big drop in his contact rate. Snider is a fair athlete who should have defensive value -- especially from his arm -- but the bulk of his value will be in his bat. His setup and swing are very simple, and his path to the ball is short, so he should be able to hit for a good average even if he's striking out 140 times a year, and he's already showing good power and projects as plus down the road. He looks a little stiff, but is an average runner and more than adequate in right field, with a 60 arm. Putting him directly into Toronto's lineup this year is probably too aggressive -- he was the youngest position player to get a major league at bat in 2008 -- but he should be a big league regular by Opening Day 2010 and an impact player two or three years after that.

2009 Outlook: Snider will be in the Blue Jays lineup somewhere in 2009, but whether that is in LF, 1B, or DH remains to be seen. The Jays were hurt by the struggling economy so a cheap and productive player like Snider is just what they need if they want to compete.

Dexter Fowler, Centerfield, Colorado Rockies, Rank (30): Fowler was one of the top players to just miss my list last year due to concerns about his swing. He has always been a plus defender in center with good speed. He showed patience as soon as he reached pro ball, but he had swing issues from both sides of the plate; it's not surprising that he had issues from the left side, since he's only been switch-hitting since instructional league in 2004, but he was leaking badly as a right-handed hitter as well. The Rockies have done a great job cleaning up both swings -- he keeps his weight back much better now than he did as recently as late 2007, and he does a better job keeping his hands inside the ball when he's hitting left-handed. He's still obviously more comfortable hitting right-handed, but the improvement on both sides is a great sign, and he shows above-average power from the left side when he gets his arms extended on balls out over the plate. Fowler's a plus runner -- albeit a below-average base stealer -- and covers a lot of ground in center. He gets good marks for makeup and work ethic, and given the strides he's already made, there's reason to expect further improvement.

2009 Outlook: All indications point to Fowler having every opportunity to claim the starting CF position for the Rockies. Fowler should be solid, but not outstanding as a rookie. He could have a similiar impact for the Rockies that Denard Span did for the Twins last season.

Elvis Andrus, Shortstop, Texas Rangers, Rank (39): Andrus had more than 1,550 plate appearances in full-season leagues before his 20th birthday, and 2008 was his best year yet in a career that's been more about tools and promise than performance. Andrus' only tool that doesn't project as plus is his power, which could end up as average because he makes such hard contact but isn't likely to surpass that. He does everything else easily: he's got an easy swing, using the whole field and working the count well for someone who doesn't take many walks; he's a plus runner; he has a strong, accurate arm and throws effortlessly; and he's a plus defender at short with a lot of range (something Texas hasn't exactly had over there for a few years) and fast hands. He's been so young for everywhere he's played that he hasn't had a chance to develop fully as a hitter, but it's a testament to his skill set that he has survived, and even performed well this year in Double-A with a .295 average and .350 OBP. He's penciled in as Texas' starting shortstop this year because of his defense, but if the line for 2009 is an OPS of .700, I'd take the under. Down the road, once he's old enough to stay up past the seventh inning, he should be a top-of-the-order hitter, hitting for average and getting on base while adding value with his speed.

2009 Outlook: Unless he fails miserably in the field, Andrus will be the starting SS for the Rangers in 2009. Michael Young has already been asked to move to 3B, which sets things up for Andrus to come in and play from day 1 of the season. I don't expect him to hit much, probably in the .250-.260 range at best, but he should be able to swipe a few bags.

Kyle Blanks, First Base, San Diego Padres, Rank (54): Blanks is a big human being -- he's listed at 6-6, 270 pounds, and it wouldn't shock me to hear either figure was low. The size means two things: he has a huge strike zone, and he has raw power. Blanks has defied the odds on a guy his size by making contact and hitting for average, reducing his strikeout rate and raising his batting average two straight years despite moving up a level each year; he has good hand-eye coordination and his swing is less long than you'd expect from a 6-6 hitter. He has a simple approach at the plate, but because he doesn't stride into the ball, he doesn't make maximum use of his bulk, and has less raw power than a hitter his size should have. In the field, he's limited to first base but should be no worse than average there; he moves around well and it's obviously hard for anyone this side of Chuck Knoblauch to throw one over his head. His home run output hasn't been bad -- San Antonio's a tough place to hit -- but it should be better; if the Padres can get him to use his whole body better, he'll have a chance to be a star, but it'll probably be somewhere else with Adrian Gonzalez standing in front of him.

2009 Outlook: Unless he or current Padres 1B Adrian Gonzalez gets traded, then Blanks will be playing the 2009 in the minors again.

Ben Revere, Outfield, Minnesota Twins, Rank (63): Revere was a surprise first-round pick in 2007, receiving the lowest bonus of the round, a figure well below the commissioner's office's slot recommendation for that pick, but he's off to a roaring start to his pro career. After a month in extended spring training, he went to the Midwest League, as he was old for a high school product (he turned 19 a month before he was drafted), and hit .413/.463/.565 in the first half before cooling off to hit .340/.398/.417 after the break. Revere's best tool is actually his speed, as he's a plus runner and covers a lot of ground in center for that reason alone. But he also has shown he can make a ton of contact with a hard, slashing stroke despite a high setup and late trigger. He's strong for his size (5-9), but isn't ever going to hit for power between that and the flat plane of his swing, so he'll need to improve his ability to work the count as he moves up the ladder and sees his batting averages come down to earth. With his combination of speed and contact, he has a chance to become an impact leadoff man if he can keep his OBPs up, with the potential for plus defense in center if he improves his reads.

2009 Outlook: I don't see Ben Revere being in the Twins plans for 2009, but damn if he hits .379 again, they might just give him a chance towards the end of the season, especially if they have injuries.

Be on the look out for more Minor League Prospect Watch features once the season begins.

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Brandon Jennings Warns Against Playing Overseas

I'm a little late on this one, but you know I had to post something on my favorite young basketball player, Brandon Jennings, via the New York Times:

Perhaps white sails will one day appear on the horizon behind Brandon Jennings, a flotilla of high school basketball stars trailing him to Europe eager for a payday. But Jennings does not want anyone to get shipwrecked overseas just because he made the trip.Brandon Jennings was regarded as the nation’s best high school guard a year ago but decided to play in Italy. He issued that warning this week from Italy, where he is playing for Lottomatica Virtus Roma, a top professional team. He fears that top high school players may be seduced by visions of instant riches, fame and success in Spain, France, Italy, Greece or some other destination.

“I’ve gotten paid on time once this year,” Jennings said in an e-mail message. “They treat me like I’m a little kid. They don’t see me as a man. If you get on a good team, you might not play a lot. Some nights you’ll play a lot; some nights you won’t play at all. That’s just how it is.”

Jennings, a 6-foot-2 point guard who was regarded as the nation’s best high school player at his position a year ago, signed a $1.2 million deal in salary and endorsements to head to Europe in August instead of staying in the United States to play college basketball. Some analysts suggested that other elite players would follow the same path because of the rules requiring prospects to be a year removed from high school before becoming eligible for the N.B.A. draft.The deal for Jennings allowed his mother and his half brother to live with him in Italy, and he said it still made economic sense. Yet he said he wanted others to know about his experience.“I don’t see too many kids doing it,” his e-mail message said. “It’s tough man, I’ll tell you that. It can break you.”Lottomatica Virtus Roma officials did not respond to requests for comment submitted through Francesca Mei, the team’s media director.

Jennings does not resemble the pioneer some envisioned when he left for Europe as a dynamic player who could create his own shots and score 20 points or more a game. In Italy, he said, he has been stifled offensively. He is averaging 8 points a game.“My role is to play D and take open shots — that’s it,” he said. “And I’ve accepted that role.”He acknowledged that the journey had helped him mature, and he said the rigors of playing in Europe may benefit others.

An N.B.A. assistant coach who has been to Europe and has watched Jennings play said his potential draft standing had not been harmed. The coach requested anonymity because he was discussing a player currently ineligible for the draft.“I think it is good for him,” he said. “He was getting a defensive component that he needed. If I was a scout and I needed a point guard, I would be extremely impressed with what he has done over there.”

Sonny Vaccaro, the former sneaker company executive who brokered Jennings’s deals with Lottomatica and the sponsor Under Armour, said he had been in contact with high school players and their parents who were interested in Europe. But Vaccaro said there had been a change from last summer, when he worked on the deals for Jennings. Economic conditions in Europe are just as difficult as they are in the United States, and he said he underestimated the emotional strength a player needed to compete overseas. “A less-driven kid would have come home,” Vaccaro said. “They practice twice a day, and the Europeans play everybody. It is not like one of these silly college games where the same seven guys play every minute of every game. When it’s over, the fact he was able to handle it is going to be more landmark than him just going over there.”

From what I've hear abour Euro Basketball, 14-15 points a game is like scoring 20-25 a game in the NBA, so I would imagine Jennings' 8 points a game is kind of like him scoring 12-15 points a game in the NBA. Even so, 8 points a game for a kid who is 19 years old and playing in a different country is still pretty solid in my mind. People who don't understand basketball look at Jennings numbers and think he is doing poorly, but that is not the case at all. I'm glad Jennings is learning over in Europe, I think the experience is going to help him immensely next season in the NBA, because he is already going to know what it's like to not be the star on the team and accept his role. Plus, he should have no problem with the transition of playing in a professional league that many rookies struggle with. I can't wait to see how Jennings performs next season at the NBA level.

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Do Or Die - Cambatta feat Reks

Another hot new joint from Cambatta off his new mixtape, The Visionary, so make sure you download that.

Do Or Die - Cambatta feat Reks

Previously: The Visionary (Mixtape)

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Who's The Enemy - Rasco feat Royce Da 5'9

New joint off of Rasco's album Global Threat featuring Royce Da 5'9 and two other joints from the album.

Who's The Enemy - Rasco feat Royce Da 5'9

Bonus: Classic - Rasco & Mental Combat - Rasco

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What's G - Michael Jordan, Peyton Manning, Usain Bolt, Tiger Woods, Lil Wayne, & More - Gatorade Commercial

Somehow I missed this commercial, but it's been on YouTube for a few weeks now. This one features Michael Jordan, Peyton Manning, Mia Hamm, Billie Jean King, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, John Wooden, Usain Bolt, Tiger Woods, a Jackie Robinson look-a-like, Jason McElwain and some others who I don't recognize.

Previously: What's G Commercial - Part 1 & What G Means - Super Bowl Commercial

What Does G Mean To: Bill Russell - Peyton Manning - Usain Bolt - Serena Williams - Misty May-Treanor & Mia Hamm

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My President Is Black (Remix) - Young Jeezy feat Jay-Z

Here's the official remix of Young Jeezy's "My President Is Black" with a new verse from Jeezy going at Bill O'Reilly and Dennis Miller.

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Renaissance Rap (Remix) - Q-Tip feat Busta Rhymes, Raekwon, & Lil Wayne

New remix from Q-Tip featuring some heavy hitters.

"...god body, wise intelligence/smack niggaz and wrestle with elephants..."

Renaissance Rap (Remix) - Q-Tip feat Busta Rhymes, Raekwon, & Lil Wayne

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Tight Pants Are For Girls - Termanology

New joint from Termanology over the Primo beat for "Return of The Crooklyn Dodgers". I co-sign this joint heavily 'cause Term speaks the truth on this one.

Tight Pants Are For Girls - Termanology

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Too Strong (Produced by DJ Premier) - Blaq Poet

Another new joint from Blaq Poet produced by DJ Premier. Props to DJ Premier Blogspot for this one.

Too Strong (Produced by DJ Premier) - Blaq Poet

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NBA Weekly: Mo Williams is NOT An All-Star, Steve Francis Waived, Brad Miller for Shawn Marion?, & More

Mo Williams: Mo Williams blew up the other night and dropped 43 points on the Kings and now everyone suddenly thinks this means he should be an All-Star. Look, it's great that he scored 43 points, but in case you haven't noticed the Kings are the worst team in the NBA and give up 108 points a game. Putting that aside, he still should not be an All-Star over other players like Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, Devin Harris, Vince Carter, and hell even Jameer Nelson. Williams currently ranks behind all of them in PER, where he is ranked 67th overall....right behind Matt Bonner. He also ranks behind these guards in the East: Joe Johnson, Nate Robinson, Andre Miller, Mike Bibby, Andre Iguodala, and Jose Calderon. To top it off, while still respectable, Williams has a lower shooting percentage than last year and is averaging less assists and steals, yet nobody was trying to get him selected to the All-Star game last season because he was on a horrible Bucks team. Williams is a solid player, but he is nothing more than that, and he certainly doesn't deserve to be in the All-Star game simply because his teammate Lebron has the Cavs off to a great start.

Steve Francis: Stevie Franchise was waived by the Grizzlies and it's possible he may never play for another franchise in the NBA again, nevermind actually being the franchise. Francis has averaged 18.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.0 assists in nine seasons with Houston, Orlando, New York, and Memphis. He was also an All-Star three times. It's amazing how quickly his career has fallen off. I never really saw him as a great player and he was kind of a bootleg Allen Iverson, but he certainly was a solid player who had plenty of talent. The problem with Stevie Franchise was that he never improved and was always seen as someone who was not a team player or who made his teammates better. Unfortunately, when you are a point guard, that is a tough label to shed. I'm not sure what kind of interest is out there for Francis or even how much Francis can help a team at this point in his career. I imagine the Celtics would be involved at some point if they can't land Marbury.

Other NBA News:

- The Miami Heat and Sacramento Kings are talking trade with Shawn Marion and Brad Miller the key guys thats would be changing teams. Brad Miller would be a nice pickup for the Heat because they need more size downlow. I still don't think it makes them a contender in the East though. Nice move, but just not enough for them to compete with Boston, Cleveland, and Orlando. The deal would also send Kenny Thomas to the Heat and possibly Marcus Banks to the Kings.

- Carmelo Anthony is eying January 30th for his return from injury. The Nuggets have gone 6-3 since 'Melo was shut down because of a nagging hand injury. I had mentioned that Linas Kleiza & J.R. Smith should be able to fill 'Melo's scoring void, while he was out with an injury and they both have been able to do that so far. Kleiza is averaging 15.7 points a game since 'Melo's injury, while J.R. Smith is averaging 16.3 points a game. Both have helped Denver keep their lead in the division with a 30-15 record.

- Charlotte's Gerald Wallace left the game against the Lakers the other night after being hit by Andrew Bynum and he suffered a possible collapsed lung and fractured rib. This is bad new for the Bobcats, who have gone 6-4 over their last 10 games, and look to be improving with each game. Their improved play made me believe that they would sneak into the playoffs as the 8 seed in the East. Wallace is one of Charlotte's best players along with Emeka Okafor and to lose him for a significant period of time would certainly hurt their chances of making the playoffs for the first time in team history.

- Bucks SG Michael Redd out for the season with a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee. The Bucks are currently the 8th seed in the East, but I would imagine they will fall out of the playoffs before all is said and done.

More: NBA Weekly

True Magic (Remix) - Cambatta feat Skyzoo

New remix from Cambatta featuring Skyzoo off of Cambatta's new mixtape, The Visionary, which I recommend you download below 'cause it's pretty tight. Cambatta is one of the few new jacks that gets a co-sign from me.

True Magic (Remix) - Cambatta feat Skyzoo

Original: True Magic - Cambatta feat Skyzoo

Mixtape: The Visionary (Mixtape) - Cambatta

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E-Mail Bag Mix: The SHOW Show - A Gift from President Barak Obama, Notorious Review, New Diddy Book, Dwyane Wade Gets Divorced, & More

Don't Ya Dare Laugh (Remix) - B-Real feat Xzibit & Young De

New joint from B-Real featuring Mr. X to the Z off B-Real's 'Smoke N Mirrors' album in stores February 24th.

Don't Ya Dare Laugh - B-Real feat Xzibit & Young De

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E-Mail Bag Mix: Anotha Day Up Tha Way Pt 2 - Hosted by Don Cannon & DJ InFamous

Download: Anotha Day Up Tha Way Pt 2 - Hosted by Don Cannon & DJ InFamous

Criminology II - Raekwon feat Ghostface

New joint from Raekwon and Ghostface going back to one of their classic joints.

Criminology II - Raekwon feat Ghostface

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Letter To B.I.G. - Jadakiss feat Faith Evans (Video)

New video for Jadakiss' "Letter To B.I.G."

Audio: Letter To B.I.G. - Jadakiss feat Faith Evans

Famous Finishes: Alonzo Mourning Hits Game Winning Jumper To Beat Celtics - 1993 Playoffs - Game 4

You could just imagine the hysteria in The Hive. After four years of averaging 24 wins a season, the Charlotte Hornets had finally made the playoffs in their fifth season. But now the Charlotte Hornets were facing a daunting prospect in Game 4 of their first round Eastern Conference series with the Boston Celtics. Down one with three seconds left, the Hornets were facing a Game 5 back in the Boston Garden, where the tradition-rich Celtics rarely lost. The Hornets needed a hero. Enter the Hornets' Alonzo Mourning. The rookie center found himself alone at the left side of the top of the key. One dribble and the ball was gone. Mere moments later, the Hornets were celebrating and on their way to the second round. (NBA.com)

The latest installment of Famous Finishes highlights one of the best moments in the career of the recently retired Alonzo Mourning. That day was pretty much the beginning of the end for the Celtics, until they finally returned to glory last season. Zo put the nail in the coffin for the Celtics of the 80's. Only McHale and Parrish were playing at that time, but McHale would never suit up for the Celtics again and Parrish would play only one more season with the Celtics before moving on to, ironically, the Charlotte Hornets.

Not only did Zo hit the game winning and series clinching jumper, but he also was an absolute beast that day scoring 33 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and blocking 6 shots. He shot an outstanding 9 of 13 from the floor and 15 of 18 from the line. It was only fitting that he won the game and secured the Hornets their first ever victory of a playoff series.

Boxscore: Charlotte Hornets 104 Boston Celtics 103

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NBA TV - Al Jefferson Interview (Video)

The guys from NBA TV interviewed Big Al Jefferson last night. Jefferson is finally starting to get some love and I think he has a great chance to make the All-Star team with the T-Wolves playing well lately.

Smooth Flight - Cambatta feat Torae

New joint from Cambatta featuring Torae. This joint is pretty tight.

Smooth Flight - Cambatta feat Torae

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Old School Wednesday: Black Boy - Cappadonna

I don't even remember this song having a video, but I guess it did.

Audio: Black Boy - Cappadonna

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E-Mail Bag Mix: J. Cardim

Up and coming producer J. Cardim released his first compilation-style project Your Favorite Rapper’s Favorite Producer on 1-19-09. The album, hosted by world renowned DJ and Hip-Hop tastemaker DJ Envy, is 22 songs deep and boasts a list of cameos that reads like a who’s who of today’s Hip-Hop circuit. J Cardim, a New York resident by way of Rio Di Janeiro and Boston has been on the scene for several years crafting superior soundscapes for many of Hip-Hop’s most talented and highly esteemed MCs including; Lil Wayne, Shawty Lo, Fat Joe, Cassidy, Red Café, Styles P, Saigon, Wale and Talib Kweli. Most recently, J has been working with Red Café, DJ Envy, Sheek Louch, Jae Millz, and Paul Wall on their respective albums, as well as putting the finishing touches on a collaborative effort with gifted Brooklyn rapper Sha Stimuli entitled Cinderella Man. Your Favorite Rapper’s Favorite Producer features J. Cardim produced street smashes from some of today’s brightest artists. “In addition to releasing some exclusives we were holding on to, we needed a forum to draw attention to the fact that J has produced a lot of records that people are already familiar with. We really just wanted to connect the dots for people; show them just how many records J has on his resume and raise people’s awareness of this great new producer” says Zack Einhorn, Cardim’s manager and partner in Dice Music Group.

J Cardim has also been selected as a finalist for Loud.com’s producer competition (http://www.loud.com/J_Cardim) and his Your Favorite Rapper’s Favorite Producer is currently available through all major digital music stores including: Itunes, www.amazon.com, www.amalgamdigital.com and Rhapsody. For more information, log on to www.dicemusicgroup.com.

Born And Raised - J Cardim f/Shawty Lo, Paul Wall & Ghost Ridah

Straight Cash (Remix) - J Cardim f/Max B, Cassidy, Gorilla Zoe and French Montana

Tracklisting and credits for J Cardim’s “Your Favorite Rappers Favorite Producer” (all tracks produced by J Cardim):

1.) Intro f/DJ Envy
2.) Holla At A Playa f/Jae Millz & Lil Wayne
3.) Money Come Fast f/Cassidy
4.) Rubber Grip f/Fat Joe, Sheek Louch & Styles P
5.) Move Like A G f/Red Café, Styles P & Uncle Murda
6.) Dope Boy For Real f/Sheek Louch, Affiliate & J Cardim
7.) Just Blaze Intro/Ryders f/Memphis Bleek & Saigon
8.) Ride Out Freestyle f/Ransom & French Montana
9.) My Life f/Sha Stimuli & Block McCloud
10.) Straight Cash f/Gorilla Zoe, French Montana, Cassidy & Max B
11.) Star Struck f/TUGE
12.) Born And Raised f/Ghost Wridah, Shawty Lo & Paul Wall
13.) Hustle Just To Make Bucks f/G-Eyez, Affiliate & Jae Millz
14.) Follow The Leader f/G-Eyez
15.) Hard Body f/Certified Gz & Ed Rock
16.) The Dopest f/Jae Millz
17.) What You Call That f/Royce Da 5’9 & Termanology
18.) Villain f/Styles P & Ariez
19.) Hood f/Sha Stimuli
20.) Breathe Thru The Years f/Saigon
21.) Rise And Fall f/Little Brother & AZ
22.) That’s Life f/Termanology
23.) Play With My Dough f/Red Café, Wale & MIMS (***Amalgam Digital Bonus Track)

When The Money Goes - Jay-Z

Leftover track from the American Gangster album recording sessions.

When The Money Goes - Jay-Z

More: New Joints

E-Mail Bag Mix: Amber Rose - Smooth Magazine - from Ludacris' "I Know What Them Girls Like"

Amber Rose - Smooth Magazine - from Ludacris' "I Know What Them Girls Like", via Dynasty Series:

NCAA Basketball Weekly: Louisville's Final 4 Chances, Duke, Marquette, Jerel McNeal, Notre Dame In Trouble, & More

Overall Efficiency:

Here are the top 10 teams in Overall Efficiency this season with strength of schedule in parentheses:

1. Duke .987 (25)
2. North Carolina .978 (27)
3. Pittsburgh .975 (19)
4. Gonzaga .968 (42)
5. Arizona State .965 (28)
6. Connecticut .965 (39)
7. Louisville .962 (22)
8. Missouri .960 (170)
9. Memphis .959 (48)
10. West Virginia .958 (9)

Last Week:

1. Duke .982 (52)
2. North Carolina .976 (91)
3. Gonzaga .976 (44)
4. Pittsburgh .971 (16)
5. Georgetown .970 (102)
6. Wake Forest .967 (2)
7. Connecticut .967 (64)
8. Missouri .966 (23)
9. Arizona State .963 (214)
10. Memphis .959 (138)

Wake Forest(11) & Georgetown(13) both dropped out of the Top 10 in efficiency and were replaced by a red hot Lousiville(7) team and West Virginia(10). The reason for Wake Forest's drop out of the Top 10 is their offense, which ranks only 47th in Off. Efficiency. Most of that is because they don't shoot the 3 well(190th) and they turn the ball over too much(194th). Georgetown has lost three straight to Duke(1), West Virginia(10), and Seton Hall(99). The first two losses are understandable, but the Seton Hall loss should cause some alarm.

Louisville: This team has been on a tear of late winning 7 in a row, including victories over Pittsburgh(3), Kentucky(20), Villanova(26), Syracuse(33), and Notre Dame(50). They have been doing it with exceptional defense and are rated as the # 1 team in Def. Efficiency. However, the offense is still not so hot and I can seem them getting knocked off in the tournament if the offense doesn't pick it up a notch or two. They are ranked 82nd overall in Off. Efficiency, including 146th in Effective FG%, 190th in 3-Point%, and 205th in Free Throw Rate. Basically, they don't shoot the ball well from the floor, especially from deep, and they don't get to the free throw line enough to make up for their poor free throw shooting. I don't know about you, but I don't like that combination around tournament time. If the offense doesn't improve, then they'll only advance deep if they keep playing teams that play a more grind it out style and it's unlikely that will happen all the way to the Final 4.

Missouri: One thing you will notice about the Top 10 teams is that Missouri has played far and away the WORST schedule of those teams, ranking 170th overall. The next highest is Memphis at 49th, which means all the other teams have been pretty well tested. I have to wonder if Missouri ranks so high in overall efficiency because they have been rolling up big numbers on inferior opponents. They have beaten some decemt teams, USC(31), Cal(32), OK State(34), but I'm not sure how they would far against Top 10 teams. They do have a couple of semi-tough games coming up against Baylor(28) and Texas(27), but I'm not sure those games will tell us much about Missouri. We may have to wait until they matchup with Oklahoma(12) in March before we have a good read on them.

West Virginia: You might look at West Virginia's 13-5 record and wonder why they are in the Top 10 in overall efficiency. I know I was wondering the same, until I looked at who they have lost to: Pittsburgh(3), UConn(6), Kentucky(20), Marquette(22), & Davidson(35). There's not a bad team in that group and it's possible that West Va. played well against those teams and just didn't play well enough to win. The key to beating them is to rebound the ball well on the defensive end. They shoot the ball poorly from the floor and rank just 163rd in Eff. FG%, but since they are 4th in offensive rebounding, they make up for it with putbacks and extra chances on the offensive end. They also are 6th overall in defense, which means you need to be pretty good offensively to beat them as well.

Duke: Duke is really pulling away from the field and I'm starting to wonder if they really are that much better than everyone else. We should find out Wednesday, when they travel to play Wake Forest, just how good they are. If you are looking for a weakness, the Blue Devils do not shoot the 3 all that well, ranking 129th in the country. A good defensive team like Wake may also be able to slow them down offensively a little bit as well because they rank 52nd in Effective FG%, which is solid, but not great.

Gonzaga: Gonzaga is pretty much an afterthought in most people's minds at this point, but the rankings show they are still one of the best teams in the country, so don't count them out yet. That will especially be true if they are seeded a lot lower than they should be, which will most likely be the case. I still think they are a long shot for the Final 4, but with the right matchups, they could still go deep into the tournament.

Teams To Keep An Eye On:

Marquette: Marquette(22) is a team that has been on fire lately with 10 straight wins. They are currently 15th in Offensive Efficiency and 51st in Defensive Efficiency. They are solid in every area on offense, but are particulary good at not turning the ball over(10th) and getting to the free throw line(15th). Their defense is what is holding them back from being ranked a lot higher, since they have a rating higher than 100th best in the country in almost every defensive category, including Eff. FG%(128th). Despite their defensive problems, I still think they could be dangerous in the tournament, because their offense is so good. I love the play of Jerel McNeal(see below), as well as, Wesley Matthews(19.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 51.6% FG, 37.7% 3FG) and Lazar Haywood(16.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 47.9% FG, 36.7% 3FG). If Dominic James ever turns it up on offense, then Marquette could be scary good on offense.

Washington: The Huskies(19) are 6-1 in the Pac-10 and have won 4 straight games, including victories over UCLA(14) and USC(31). There next best wins are against OK State(34) and Cleveland State(65). Not actually big wins, but you should still keep an eye on Washington in the Pac-10 at least. They are similar to West Virginia in that they miss a lot of shots(138th in Eff. FG%), but they are first in the country in offensive rebounding, which gives them extra chances to score. Defensively, they are a solid 20th, but aren't great in any one particular area. I don't know how far they will go in the tournament, but they should be solid for the rest of Pac-10 play. They are led by Isiah Thomas(16.3 points, 1.2 steals, 33.7% 3FG), Jon Brockman(15.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.0 steals, 52.2% FG), and Justin Dentmon(14.3 points, 1.3 steals, 47.3% FG, 41.4% 3FG).

Players Catching Wreck:

Jerel McNeal, Marquette: I LOVE Jerel McNeal's game and I think he might be able to become a solid player on the NBA level. I first saw how good he was when he dropped 30 points on Stanford in the NCAA Tournament last year. He's been great all season and he seems to play his best in big games. McNeal is currently shooting 49.1% from the field, including a deadly 46.2% from 3m, while averaging 19.4 points a game.

Stats: 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.9 steals, 49.1% FG, 46.2% 3FG.

Unheralded Player of The Week:

Paul Delaney, III , UAB: Delaney is a senior guard for UAB that has been pretty damn efficient from the floor this season. He is 35th in the nation in effective FG% and is knocking down an incredible 59% of his shots. The UAB Blazers are just 13-7 this season, but they have played a tough schedule that included Oklahoma(12), Louisville(7), Butler(24), & Memphis(9). With Delaney teaming up with Robert Vaden, the Blazers might be able to knock off Memphis in the Conference USA tourney to make the field of 64.

Stats: 16.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.7 steals, 59.0% FG, 35.1% 3FG.

Other Thoughts:

- Notre Dame(50) is in big trouble, mostly because of their horrible defense that is ranked only 129th in the nation. Now three of their next four games are against Pitt(3), UCLA(14), and Louisville (7). It's possible they could lose all 3 of those games, which would give them 10 losses and they still have to play West Virginia(10), Villanova(26), and UConn(6). They might even miss the NCAA Tournament.

- Austin Johnson backed up his recent strong performance with a impressive 22 points against OK State, on 7 of 12 shooting, including 5 of 8 from three.

More: NCAA Basketball

NFL Weekly: Super Bowl XLIII Preview, Kurt Warner, & More

Super Bowl XLIII Preview:

Arizona Cardinals (9-7) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): The Super Bowl is less than a week away, but I still don't have a good feel on this game, and I wouldn't be surprised if either team won. The matchup on paper is not very appealing to me, but I actually think the game could turn out to be a pretty damn competitive one. When analyzing this one, it really doesn't make sense to look at the regular seasons stats for each team, because the Cardinals are pretty much a whole different team right now. The question is if the extra week off will cause them to lose the edge they've had all season on defense.

Here are a few thoughts on the game, and only a few because, quite frankly, it doesn't interest me all that much:

Kurt Warner: Anyone doubting the chances of the Cardinals in this game needs to remember two things. The first being that QB play is a major factor in who wins football games and the second is that Kurt Warner is a pretty damn good QB since he is former Super Bowl champ and 2-time MVP. If Warner has time to throw and protects the ball then the Cardinals should be able to score points against the Steelers and then it will be up to the Cardinals defense to get things done. Don't forget that Ben Roethlisberer is no slouch either with a 7-2 career playoff record, however, he did struggle in his one Super Bowl appearance.

Defense: The Steelers defense is based on pressuring the QB and creating turnovers and it's likely that the Cardinals are spending most of their practice time getting ready for the different looks that the Steelers are going to throw at their offensive line. I also think it will be tough for the Cardinals to run on the Pittsburgh defense and they might have to resort to throwing some designed short screen passes to their WR and RB. For the Cardinals, we'll have to wait and see if their defense is going to play as well as it has throughout the playoffs. If they can duplicate the success they've had, then I think they are going to be tough to beat.

Top 5 Most Likely to Win Super Bowl MVP:

1) Kurt Warner
2) Larry Fitzgerald
3) Ben Roethlisberger
4) Troy Polamalu
5) Adrian Wilson

Super Bowl XLIII Prediction: I've decided I'm picking the Arizona Cardinals to win it all. I didn't think they'd get past the first round, nevermind make the Super Bowl, but hey they are here now, so why not pick them to win it all? They have a better offense than the Steelers and their defense was decent all season and seems to have picked it up to a higher level in the playoffs. Plus, it's not like the Steelers offense is all that prolific. The Cardinals have plenty of playmakers on defense with Adrian Wilson, Antrel Rolle, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Betrand Berry, Darnell Dockett and Karlos Dansby all solid defense players. Are they as good as the Steelers' defense? No, but the Steelers offense isn't as good as the Cardinals offense either. Yes, defense wins championships, but I think the Cardinals defense will show up to play to complement their offensive attack. Or maybe I'm just trying to convince myself that this game will be interesting.

Arizona Cardinals 27 Pittsburgh Steelers 24

More: NFL & NFL Weekly

Album Release Tuesday: Slang Prostitution - Cappadonna

New albums this week: Cappadonna - Slang Prostitution

Joints: Fire - Cappadonna feat Masta Killa
Life's A Gamble - Cappadonna feat Raekwon & Ratchet
Somebodys Gotta Go - Cappadonna