The Los Angeles Lakers played inspired basketball on the night of Kobe Bryant’s jerseys (plural) retirement. Chris Carlson/AP

2003 NBA Draft Class member Jarvis Hayes checks in with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on Scoop B Radio and talks NBA Draft classes, Kobe and more. Press Play Below To Listen! 

Last night, the Los Angeles Lakers retired Kobe Bryant’s #8 and #24 jersey during a halftime ceremony at Staples Center. Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Bryant is a 5-time NBA champion, 18-time NBA All Star, holds a regular season MVP award, a NBA Slam Dunk Champion and became the youngest player in league history to reach 30,000 career points.

Slam Magazine’s ’96 Draft cover. Photo Credit: Ball Is Life

Bryant also holds the distinction of being drafted in the 1996 NBA Draft, an exclusive club.

Add Allen Iverson, Stephon Marbury, Ray Allen, Steve Nash, Marcus Camby, Jermaine O’Neal, Antoine Walker, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Peja Stojakovic to that list.

“Kobe was the last one to finish, but you’re starting to see most of the guys finish with Hall of Fame careers,” Shareef Abdur-Rahim, a member of that class told me on Scoop B Radio

The 2003 NBA Draft class was also impressive. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh headlined it.

So who’s draft class is better?

“I think it’s really difficult sometimes to rank eras,” said Abdur-Rahim. “But I guess because I was in the 1996 draft, I rank it the best.”

Jarvis Hayes was drafted tenth by the Washington Wizards in the 2003 NBA Draft. He shares similar sentiments. “Well the book is still being written on my class,” Hayes said on Scoop B Radio.

“So you have to put it up there. But that 1996 draft class was loaded. I think my class is up there, but right now I would give a slight nod to the ’96 class until the rest of the guys from my class finish up their careers.”

The 1984 NBA Draft class was loaded with studs: Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon and John Stockton.

Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. Photo Credit: SI

While none of those guys are currently playing, they left impact on the NBA. Charles Barkley is running the TV world Thursday nights on TNT and MJ is majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets.

MJ also still has kids waiting out in the winter cold for Air Jordan sneaker releases.

No doubt ’84 impacted Kobe, Wade, ‘Melo and others.

But hey, Kobe does have a one up! Not even MJ who wore three numbers while a member of the Chicago Bulls ( 12, 23 and 45) has multiple numbers hanging in the rafters at the United Center.

But Bryant does at Staples Center!

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Shareef Abdur-Rahim dropped by Scoop B Radio. Photo Credit: Image: The Big Lead

Shareef Abdur-Rahim discusses the 1996 NBA Draft class with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson while on Scoop B Radio. Press Play Below to Listen!

Retired NBA All Star Shareef Abdur Rahim had a decent career averaging 18 points and 7 rebounds in 12 NBA seasons. Drafted with the third pick in the 1996 NBA Draft by the then-Vancouver Grizzlies, Abdur Rahim was an All NBA Rookie First Teamer.  

There was a glut of talent in that 1996 draft class that includes Hall of Famer, Allen Iverson and future Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant.

Ray Allen, Steve Nash, Marcus Camby, Jermaine O’Neal, Antoine Walker, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Peja Stojakovic round out that list

Many remember SLAM Magazin’e’s iconic cover with those names.

“Kobe was the last one to finish but you’re starting to see most of the guys finish with Hall of Fame careers,” Shareef Abdur-Rahim told me on Scoop B Radio.

While the ‘96 draft class was electrifying, so was the 1984 draft class that included mainstays like: Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon and John Stockton.

The 2003 NBA Draft class was also impressive. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh headlined it.

Slam Magazine’s ’96 Draft cover. Photo Credit: Ball Is Life

Abdur-Rahim acknowledges that there’s a lot of talent in ’84 and ’03.

But does he have a favorite?

“I think it’s really difficult sometimes to rank eras,” he said. “But I guess because I was in the 1996 draft, I rank it the best.”

Abdur Rahim would suit up for the Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings during his 12 year NBA career.

His best statistical season came during the lockout shortened 1998-99 season where he’d post 23 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 1 block per game.

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NBA analyst Charles Barkley and U.S. President Donald Trump. Photo Credit: Bodybuilding.com

NBA player turned sports analysts and budding political pundit Charles Barkley has been pretty consistent when it comes to assessing the job of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Appearing as a guest at the desk of CBS’s NFL Today show, earlier on Sunday, the Round Mound of Rebound weighed in on President Trump’s criticism of NFL Players kneeling during the playing of the U.S. National Anthem and taking back the White House’s invitation to the NBA’s World Champion Golden State Warriors.

“The president of the United States should never use the word SOB,” Barkley said referencing President Trump’s subliminal reference to embattled NFL free agent Colin Kaepernick during a Friday rally in Alabama.

For the record, Alabama is Barkley’s home state.

“That’s just 100 percent inappropriate. I’m embarrassed because he said the speech in Alabama and got a rousing reception when he said those things. So it hurts me that those ignorant folks in Alabama would applaud something so stupid.”  

Video: On @NFLonCBS #CharlesBarkley: “Hurts me that those ignorant folks in Alabama would applaud something so stupid” #NationalAnthem #TTT pic.twitter.com/lKPd5L7hj4

— Brent Baker (@BrentHBaker) September 24, 2017

Barkley admittedly has been anti-Trump from the start dating back to the President’s ‘locker room talk’ controversy before winning last year’s election. A tape from 2005 emerged of Trump boasting to former NBC correspondent Billy Bush that being famous allowed him to ‘do anything’ to women, including grabbing “them by the pu**y.”

“It’s never appropriate to touch a woman, or grab a woman,” Barkley told me last fall.

“I have a daughter too. It’s never appropriate to sexually assault or harass a woman, ever!

Check Out Charles Barkley & Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson’s Discussion On President Trump on Scoop B Radio

“I’m gonna try to do everything in my power to support the President because he’s the President of The United States,” Barkley told me on Scoop B Radio in April.

“I mean we got to get behind him, he’s done some things already that I don’t like. I’m against the Muslim ban, I’m against the immigration deportation, he’s got to stop trying to paint everybody with a broad brush. I mean, it’s just wrong. Most of these Muslim people here are amazing, hard-working people same thing with these illegal immigrants, they’re here, they’re hard working people. I think most people don’t want gangsters here, people don’t want terrorists here we all understand that, but people have to be able to be treated with respect and dignity.”

Barkley’s thought process is pretty much aligned with the growing list of athletes who have been vocal about President Trump over the weekend. That list includes the Golden State Warriors Draymond Green, Houston Rockets’ Chris Paul, retired NBA player Kobe Bryant and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James who on Saturday called President Trump a ‘bum’ via twitter. San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich have been vocal about President Trump as well.

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The post Scoop B: Charles Barkley’s Criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump Has Been Fair & Balanced appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Sports & Entertainment journalist Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson at a recent taping of Scoop B Radio at New York’s Power 105.1. Photo Credit: DJ Manny El

So you think journalism is for you? Interviews, transcribing those interviews, managing personalities, freelancing, staff writing, podcasts, breaking news, getting content aggregated…all of those terms are par for the course for today’s millennial journalist.

Although I began my career at 12 years old, hosting Nets Slammin’ Planet, the Nets’ official kids radio show with Albert King, Lynn Wilson and Nets play-by-play guy, Chris Carrino, my footing in journalism out of school was not strictly in sports.

I wrote about lifestyle stuff too!

I recently sat down with Black Enterprise Magazine’s #AskBE Facebook Live chat with Selena Hill and discussed the journey.

Black Enterprise Magazine’s Selena Hill and RESPECT Magazine’s Managing Editor and Columnist Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Photo Credit: Angie Vasquez

While Chatting with Hill, I talked about building strong working relationships with a-listers.  I did so with  Shaquille O’Neal, Rihanna, Carmelo Anthony and Charles Barkley during my three year run as a staff writer at The Source Magazine.

Connecting with both the Cleveland Browns’ Jabrill Peppers while he was in high school and the Boston Celtics’ Kyrie Irving when he was a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers pre-LeBron James were both beneficial.

I mentioned how working at my family store  in Harlem, Men’s Walkers taught me about business.

Freelancing at places like the Brooklyn Courier, Queens Times Ledger, SLAM Magazine, and MaxPreps were essential to my growth.

After those opportunities, I transitioned over to CBS where I hosted the hit show,  Brown & Scoop  and became a contributor at CBS Local Sports and CBS Sports Radio.

Following CBS, I found my way to RESPECT Magazine where I became a columnist and managing editor.

Lastly, just like Lavar Ball and Lonzo Ball created their own brand with Big Baller Brand, Scoop B Radio is leaving an impression in media, also.

I shared how taking partnerships and becoming a brand ambassador to brands like Cleveland-based Cleanlife Energy, Sony PlayStation, XBOX  NBA 2K, Volare France and Adidas were all musts.

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The post Scoop B: A Candid Talk About Entrepreneurship, Branding, Journalism & Media/Brand Ownership appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Jesse Ventura and Donald Trump. Photo Courtesy of: Politico

Jesse Ventura has always told it like it is and did it his way in the ring and in politics.

In the ring, Ventura had classic feuds with former WWE Champion Bob Backlund. He also was the man in the ring with Adrian Adonis, as he and “The Body” made up The East-West Connection.

On the microphone as a commentator in wrestling, he was Charles Barkley before he took over “Inside The NBA” with Ernie Johnson, Kenny ‘The Jet’ Smith and Shaquille O’Neal on TNT!

 He kicked butt working alongside Gorilla Monsoon and Vince McMahon as a broadcaster.

Think I’m lying? See for yourself!

As a politician, or a statesman as he calls himself, he was the mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minneapolis before becoming the governor of Minneapolis in 1998.

Post political career, Ventura has been a political watchdog. In his book, DemoCRIPS and ReBLOODlicans: No More Gangs in Government, Ventura states that ‘both parties are street gangs warring with each other for power over the country and the American people.’

On Scoop B Radio Overtime, Ventura addressed regulation in how much time politicians should spend in office. “Well you know you look at it this way, we have term limits on the President,” Ventura told me.

Check Out Jesse Ventura and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on Scoop B Radio

“You know the President can only serve two four year terms that’s it, you know but then again it comes back to us. When you strip everything away from it all it comes back to us. We can implement term limits, vote him out of office.”

Ventura continued:

“We have the ability to do that so ultimately all problems in this country could be resolved by the people but the problem is the people aren’t vigilant, and the people aren’t paying attention, and also I found this out you know people tell you that they wanna hear the truth and all that and this and that I don’t believe they really do and I’ll tell you why. I don’t think people like the truth because many times the truth takes them out of their comfort zone, and people do not like to be taken out of their comfort zone and the truth can do that, when you learn the truth like a lot of the things our country does internationally, then you learn about it we don’t look so good but you notice that we never come back, that’s one thing I notice about this country, we never admit to a mistake.”

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The Golden State Warriors hold a 3-1 lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2017 NBA Finals. Photo Credit: The Huffington Post

The Cleveland Cavaliers avoided a sweep in the NBA Finals Friday night, beating the Golden State Warriors 137 -116. The Cavs handed the Golden State Warriors their first loss of the postseason and the Warriors still hold a 3-1 lead in the series.

With the NBA Finals prolongoing to a game 5 after the heroics of the Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving’s 40 points and LeBron James’ triple double in game 4, the scene shifts back to Oakland, where the Warriors won the first two games of the series.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving, his dad, Drederick Irving & sports and entertainment journalist Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Photo Credit: Will Robertson

Earlier this week, I checked in with DJ Tarzan and Cliff Po on the Henny & Redbull Podcast, to talk about the NBA Finals, LeBron James’ Michael Jordan comparisons and more.

Check Out The Conversation With RESPECT Magazine’s Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson and The Henny & Redbull Podcast.

The NBA Finals resumes Monday with Game 5 in Oakland.

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Inside The NBA’s Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny ‘The Jet’ Smith and Charles Barkley. Photo Credit: Getty Images

Kyrie Irving’s monstrous game in Tuesday’s win against the Boston Celtics, Charles Barkley’s maroon suit selection on Tuesday along with he and Shaq arguing caught my eye. It all somehow tied into my observation of the play of the Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown.

Firstly, on Tuesday, Charles and Shaq did a ton of bickering on camera. Can’t lie, it was very funny, but made you wonder what was serious and what wasn’t

As per Yahoo Sports’ Dan Devine:

In discussing whether or not Game 5 was a “must-win” game for a Cavaliers team that heads back to Boston with a 3-1 lead, just one win away from a third straight trip to the Finals to take on the Western Conference champions (and their now-bitter rival) Golden State Warriors, O’Neal made the point that it would be in Cleveland’s best interests not to “mess around,” lay another egg and give the Celtics new life. A reasonable point!

And then, the bit:

“Chuck, you have no idea what we’re talking about, because you’ve only been to the Finals once,” said O’Neal, noting that Barkley only played for a championship once, when his Phoenix Suns fell to Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls in the 1993 NBA Finals.

“I wasn’t riding on Dwyane Wade and Kobe’s coattails,” Barkley barked back, giving Shaq short shrift for his contributions on the Los Angeles Lakers teams that three-peated from 2000 through 2002, and the Miami Heat squad that won it all in 2006.

“Doesn’t matter, Chuck,” O’Neal said. “I got the same thing you got, and I passed you up 10 years ago.”

“I’m just letting you know,” Barkley said, as O’Neal repeated “Anyway” in an unsuccessful attempt to get the last word. “If I had been riding on Kobe’s coattails, and Dwyane Wade’s … and [Heat center] Alonzo Mourning’s, too, I forgot about him. And [Lakers forward] Rick Fox. Derek Fisher.”

“People question why you’re in the Hall of Fame anyway,” Shaq replied. “Bum.”

The two began smiling and laughing as Smith attempted to step in. Host Ernie Johnson, who had taken the opportunity to eat some macaroni and cheese while his two bookend big men squabbled, retook the reins and asked why the back-and-forth had gotten so personal so quickly.

“Because Chuck’s always interrupting,” Shaq said. “Don’t interrupt me, Chuck. I’m going to punch you right in your face one time, I’m telling you.”

Barkley responded by saying he’d “throw one of these chicken wings at [Shaq’s] fat ass.” Things then got back to normal — well, as normal as things get when you’re dealing with threats of hurled chicken wings, and jokes about barbecue-sauce-colored suits — before Shaq offered one more reminder that Barkley had only been to the Finals once.

The segment moved on.

Hope they worked out their differences before tonight’s Game 5.

Secondly, Charles Barkley‘s suit selection on Tuesday was maroon; it took me back to him being selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1984 NBA Draft. The suit he wore Tuesday was more tailored; and even though someone teased Barkley by saying that if he spilled Merlot wine on his suit, no one would noticed, I was intrigued.

When Barkley appeared on Scoop B Radio last month, we chatted about that suit selection, with Chuck telling me: “Man, burgundy was my favorite color.”

Barkley added:

“Well when you’re poor, you get that one suit and that was it. You know, first of all I don’t mind growing up poor it just made me a better person, but man burgundy was my favorite color. I wanted to have a nice suit for the draft and we went out and got it. Listen let me tell you something, that bring back some good memories,” said Barkley. “You know the draft was a start of my amazing journey through life, and I’ve had an amazing life and it all started that night.”

While I was observing Charles’ attire in between he and Shaq’s bickering, I started reflecting on the undermanned Boston Celtics and the fact that Jaylen Brown is 20 years old!

In fact, Brown is literally one month younger than my baby sister, Kandace. I felt old!

I also thought about how fast Brown has grown in the past year. The third pick in last year’s NBA Draft, the guy is legitimately playing against the NBA World Champion Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals as a rookie and holding his own.

Kudos!

Brown averaged 6.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 17.2 minutes per game during the regular season. Through 16 postseason appearances, the 20-year-old is averaging 4.9 points and 2.3 boards on 47.1 percent shooting from the field, including 21.7 percent from three.

My mind was wandering towards Brown though because his draft attire last year reminded me so much of a cross between Charles Barkley’s suit with a splash of Hakeem Olajuwon’s when the Houston Rockets drafted him in 1984. Brown’s tie and blazer combo of Brown’s was reminiscent on point!

What made you pick that one out, J? “I had thousands of suits to choose from and I’m super meticulous and picky,” Brown told me. “So I had to make sure I did my due diligence on suits so it took me a while.”

He furthered:

“This is the one that kind of popped out a lot of young guys tend to go with flashy colors or fluorescent patterns or floral patterns I just wanted to keep it simple and classy, timeless but definitely classy I wanted to do it like that because it matches my personality so I expressed my personality through my suit.”

Bleacher Report’s Adam Wells reported yesterday that the Celtics may be without Brown for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Thursday night. ESPN.com’s Chris Forsberg, reports that Brown is officially questionable for the elimination game due to a right hip pointer.

The Celtics have a bright future. They’ve got the first pick in this year’s NBA Draft, a good coach in Brad Stevens, a bench full of depth and the ever stylish Jaylen Brown.

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