GoRedSox34

Robert Christgau is 72 years old. The Dean of American Rock Critics, he is recognized as the most important and knowledgeable music critic of all time. Let's take a look at what he has to say about Kanye's body of work: http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Kanye+West All but 1 of Kanye's albums are rated as an "A". That's virtually impossible to accomplish with Christgau. Christgau is on point: "Anyway, he's as good as he thinks he is--a backpacker at heart who, like many brilliant nerds before him, has accrued precious metal by following his dream. He wants everybody to buy this record. So do I." It still baffles me how people who are completely ignorant as to Kanye's body of work are quick to call him "untalented" and "arrogant". I don't know why I'm talking about this in here. I'm probably talking to myself. I'm just defending the hip hop genre on this homogeneous, close-minded forum as I am someone who grew up playing the saxophone and the piano and I have a passion for jazz and rock and r&b and all that fun stuff. EDIT: I remembered why I posted this, it's because y4L (big surprise everybody) questioned his talent and his fanbase

Lakers Update 2013-2014 Roster Starters Derek Fisher Kobe Bryant Metta World Peace Pau Gasol Jordan Hill Bench Andrew Goudelock Ben McLemore Lamar Odom Luke Walton Adam Morrison Ronny Turiaf Vladimir Radmonovic Ryan Kelly Kwame Brown Didier Ilunga-Mbenga

Lakers Update The Lakers had some tough decisions to make this offseason, as almost the entire roster was on expiring contracts (the exceptions were Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Jordan Hill, whose contracts run through the upcoming season). Steve Nash retired immediately after the NBA Finals. Dwight Howard left for Cleveland. So what did Lakers General Manager, GoRedSox34 decide to do? He took the team in a direction that has proven to work in the past. Through Free Agency, the Lakers successfully re-acquired many of the players that were on the 2009 and 2010 NBA Championship teams in LA. Offseason Recap Sign draft pick Ben McLemore to 2 year deal (with 2 year team option) Re-sign Derek Fisher to 1 year, $490K deal Re-sign Metta World Peace to 1 year, $910K deal (with 1 year player option) Re-sign Andrew Goudelock to 1 year, $1.62M deal Sign free agent Luke Walton to 1 year, $490K deal Sign free agent Vladimir Radmonovic to 1 year, $490K deal Sign free agent Adam Morrison to 1 year, $490K deal Sign free agent Kwame Brown to 1 year, $490K deal Sign free agent Lamar Odom to 1 year, $910K deal (with 1 year player option) Sign undrafted free agent Ryan Kelly to 1 year, $490K deal Sign free agent Ronny Turiaf to 1 year, $530K deal (with 1 year player option) Sign free agent Didier Ilunga-Mbenga to 1 year, $490K deal

thanks a ton Jim, this will come in handy

With Kobe due to make $30 million and Pau Gasol $19 million in the upcoming season, the Lakers have almost no chance of re-signing Dwight Howard. In LA, there's Mo Money Mo Problems.

NBA Commissioner David Stern is ready to announce the Lakers' first round pick. "With the eighth pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers select Ben McLemore." NBA.com Prospect Profile Strengths - Exceptional athlete - Great 3-point shooter - Good rebounder for his position - Great free-throw shooter - Can get shots off the dribble - Unselfish - Great teammate Weaknesses - Needs to stay in aggressive mode - Has to become more consistent - Needs to get bigger and stronger NBA projection McLemore is the possible No.1 overall pick in the draft. He’s got rare ability for a shooting guard in that he’s both athletic and a deadly perimeter shooter. When he learns to more consistently take over games and adds more size and strength, McLemore will have an excellent career as a primary scoring option. What Insiders Say (Kansas coach Bill Self) “Ben is the most talented kid I have ever worked with. He may be the nicest kid I have ever worked with. I don’t say that strictly as a positive. I think it is one of those situations, and he knows this; we have talked about it a lot, he is hungry, he is so many things. One thing he can’t be is everything to everybody. He needs to be true to himself and his family and that is it. If he is able to do that, I think the sky is the limit on what he can potentially do.”

Welcome to the NBA Draft! The Lakers have the opportunity to draft a difference-maker with the 8th overall pick. Who is this year's best player? Who will be remembered as a bust? Are there any future Hall of Famers in this year's class? These questions will be debated for years to come.

Bay is such a great fit for your team (he's Canadian and gives you right-handed power)

In a trade that sent point guard Chris Duhon to Sacramento, the Lakers have swapped multiple draft picks with the Kings for this year as well as next year. As a result, the Lakers are in the unique position of being NBA Champions and holding the 8th pick in the NBA Draft. 2013 NBA Draft Order

what an impressive thread. It just will not go away

thank you!

White House Visit

Hall of Fame Inductees

Retirements

* Lakers win NBA Championship * 118 | 99 The Los Angeles Lakers are the 2013 NBA Champions, after defeating the Heat 118-99 in Miami in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Steve Nash was the leading scorer, as he put up 38 points in the final game of his illustrious career. It is the 17th NBA Championship for the historic Lakers franchise, which ties the Boston Celtics for most all-time. Laker Nation is once again atop the basketball world. Kobe Bryant was awarded NBA Finals MVP for the third time in his career. He finished Game 5 with 31 points, 2 rebounds and 13 assists. The Mamba had arguably the most successful individual season in NBA history, as he won the MVP Award, NBA Finals MVP Award and All-Star Game MVP Award.

The 2013 NBA Finals Game 5 @ American Airlines Arena Los Angeles Lakers @ Miami Heat Steve Nash | Kobe Bryant | Metta World Peace | Pau Gasol | Dwight Howard Mario Chalmers | Dwyane Wade | LeBron James | Shane Battier | Chris Bosh

at least you're still in the wild card hunt

watching some Braves-Nats. Turner Field is desolate

The 2013 NBA Finals Game 4 @ American Airlines Arena Los Angeles Lakers @ Miami Heat Steve Nash | Kobe Bryant | Metta World Peace | Pau Gasol | Dwight Howard Mario Chalmers | Dwyane Wade | LeBron James | Shane Battier | Chris Bosh

The 2013 NBA Finals Game 3 @ American Airlines Arena Los Angeles Lakers @ Miami Heat Steve Nash | Kobe Bryant | Metta World Peace | Pau Gasol | Dwight Howard Mario Chalmers | Dwyane Wade | LeBron James | Shane Battier | Chris Bosh