Since Michigan is the in thing, here it goes: everybody knows who the Fab 5 is and was and Jalen Rose was the team leader that made it cool.

Leading that team takes both strong leadership and social skills. Rose, now retired after a 13-year NBA career, earned his stripes. A 6’8 was a scorer with uncanny court vision, like a point guard, Rose made an appearance in the NBA Finals as a member of the Indiana Pacers, was the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2000 and made a smooth transition into broadcasting. Currently the host of NBA Countdown on ESPN, and co-hosting ESPN’s Jalen & Jacoby, Rose plays it cool and is around everyone and everywhere.

I remember that being the case evern when he was a player. Making cameos in music videos like, Jadakiss’ We Gonna Make It and playing himself in the movie, Barbershop. He was everywhere at the right time!

How did he become so cool?? 

Check out Jalen Rose and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson Chat on #ScoopBRadio

“I am that kind of guy that when I walk into a room I speak to everybody,” Rose told me on the Scoop B Radio Podcast. “How you doing? What’s going on? Hugs and kisses and dap whether I’m at the barbershop, on the airplane, that’s just something that I’ve adopted.”

Rose also credits many in his tight knit family that served as positive role models. Those folks include his mother who raised him alone while working at Chrysler for 20 years and his grandfather who owned a grocery store in Bainbridge, Georgia.

ESPN’s Jalen Rose and sports and entertainment journalist, Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson chat at the NBA Draft. (Photo Credit: Gemini Keez KeezCam/ScoopVision Media)

The 13th pick by the Denver Nuggets in the 1994 NBA Draft, Rose has been in the national spotlight since his high school days at Detroit Southwestern High School. It was there that he played alongside future NBA stars Voshon Lenard and Howard Eisley. On the podcast he discusses the high regard that he holds for Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas, both of whom coached Rose during his days as an Indiana Pacer and why he’s able to get along with just about everybody.

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Hey, did you know that Dirk Nowitzki  joined the 30,000 point club this week?

2017 NFL Draft prospect Jabrill Peppers put on a show at the NFL’s Combine. Speaking of which,his alma mater, the University of Michigan had a wardrobe malfunction! The Wolverines basketball team played a conference game in their practice jerseys!

Then there’s also NFL free agency. By the way, Michigan aren’t the only folks with wardrobe malfunctions! White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer had a wardrobe malfunction of his own.

All of that and the late Notorious BIG 20 years later on #ScoopsTopPlays!

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The post Dirk Nowitzki’s 30,000 Points, Michigan Wolverines & More In Scoop’s Top Plays appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

It’s been a busy week in professional sports! Northwestern beat Michigan in hoops and that never happens! Additionally, Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James and New England Patriots coach, Bill Belichick had a quick huddle moment the other night when the Cavs faced the Boston Celtics in Boston at the T.D. Bank Arena. The Celtics would go on to win the game.

Check Out #ScoopsTopPlays 

Speaking of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kyrie Irving had a killer crossover Friday night against the Atlanta Hawks. The Cavs also added two new pieces to their nucleus. Former Utah Jazz, Brooklyn Net and Dallas Mavericks point guard, Deron Williams joined the team. The Cavs also claimed former Golden State Warriors big man Andrew Bogut off waivers. Lastly, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s forward, Taj Gibson’s arm is a cannon!

No, like really!

Gibson’s cannon was rocket launching when he hit a buzzer the other night against the Portland Trailblazers.

While you’re enjoying Scoop’s Top Plays earlier in the week, make sure to round out your week by listening to the Scoop B Radio Podcast.

#ScoopBRadio is a mix of sports and entertainment interviews never heard before.

Learn more by visiting ScoopBRadio.com.

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The post Scoop’s Top Plays: LeBron James and Bill Belichick Share A Moment, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid Sidelined appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Los Angeles Clippers guard, Jamal Crawford has been in the NBA for 16 years!

Time flies when you’re having fun.

Drafted out of Michigan in the 2000 NBA Draft, Crawford is revered for his smooth ball handling ability and crafty scoring. That combo has won him three NBA Sixth Man of The Year awards.

Although a member of the Clippers, many folks out east remember Crawford as a member of the New York Knicks.

One guy who remembers J-Crossover’s talent is the man who traded for him, NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas. Thomas, once the Knicks’ President and head coach, had a keen eye on the Rainier Beach High School product. “I had followed Jamal since he came from Seattle to Michigan,” Thomas told me by phone on a recent episode of the Scoop B Radio podcast. “And I thought: a 6’6” guy with handles.”

Crawford’s best statistcal season came during the 2007-08 NBA season while with the Knicks. He averaged 20 points and 5 assists in 80 games for the orange and blue. “His body was just, his game was ahead of his body, if that makes sense; like the things he was trying to do out on the floor,” said Thomas.

“He was seeing the right things to do. You knew he was mature. And over the last couple of years, once his body caught up with his game, I mean, he’s been swinging points whenever he wants to.”

Hey did you see Crawford and DeAndre Jordan’s chemistry last night in the Clippers’ 120-108 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder yesterday?  It was a thing of beauty!!!

Remember Jamal Crawford S. Carter Reebok Sneaker Commercial? 

At one time, the Knicks had a roster that included Crawford, Stephon Marbury, Zach Randolph, David Lee, Wilson Chandler, Nate Robinson, Channing Frye, Steve Francis and Trevor Ariza. That’s a few championship rings, NBA All Star appearances and Slam Dunk Contest trophies attached to those names.

Disappointingly, the formula didn’t work out.

In a day and age where teams build through the NBA Draft like the once intact Oklahoma City team that included Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden, as well as the current ‘Trust the Process,’ Philadelphia 76ers.

Imagine if that Knicks team had stayed together. “They were all under the age of 27 and that was a young team,” said Thomas “Had they been able to stay together and flourish, that would’ve been a pretty good team in the East.”

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The post Isiah Thomas on Jamal Crawford as a Knick: “You Knew He Was Mature” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Jalen Rose had quite the career and transitioned well on every level.

It began on the basketball courts of Detroit and then Fab Five stardom at Michigan. Rose then went on to have a successful 13-year career in the NBA as a 6’8 small forward that could create any shot he wanted and push the rock on the fast break like a point guard and run the offense in the half court set too!

Think James Harden today! 

Now an ESPN basketball analyst, Rose chatted with me about his evolution on yesterday’s episode of Scoop B Radio.

Heralding the University of Michigan’s this-close-to-heaven Fab Five in the 90s with teammates Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Ray Jackson and Jimmy King, they introduced the world to looking good on the court while also playing even better.

That self-expression transcended race, creed, gender and socio-economic status. Many basketball purists were critical, and even downright nasty toward their early following.“We looked different, we sounded different, we were a lot more brash,” told me.

“When we became mainstream, people didn’t know that we weren’t malicious, we weren’t mean, we were just different. We were just loud! We were giving you guys something that you hadn’t seen before. So I used to take it personal because I had to fight that off for years.”

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The post Jalen Rose on The Michigan Fab 5: “We Were Just Different” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.