Tim Thomas (left) and actor Denzel Washington (right) in downtown Paterson, NJ. Photo Credit: Tim Thomas/Scoop B Radio

Tim Thomas drops by episode # 74 of Scoop B Radio and chats with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson about the love of his hometown of Paterson New Jersey, Rubin “Hurricane” Carter and the time actor Denzel Washington got him out of class. Press Play Below to Listen!

Tim Thomas is a pretty good story teller.

The retired NBA vet has given you his recount of his feud with Kenyon Martin during the 2004 NBA Playoffs, which subsequently found its way to the nightclub.

He and Martin have finally moved on from that, praise the Lord!

Thomas has  also given you the low-down on Charles Oakley’s GM abilities. While sitting with Scottie Pippen at Michael Jordan’s card game party  Oak informed Thomas that the Chicago Bulls would waive him. And yup, it happened!

Thomas’ stories don’t end there! Apparently, Thomas also has clout with Oscar award winning actor, Denzel Washington.

According to Thomas, Denzel once got him out of basketball practice early, while he was a high school junior at Paterson Catholic High School in Paterson, NJ.

Appearing on the Scoop B Radio Podcast, Thomas says that a police officer dressed in a suit interrupted practice and approached the team’s coach. “The first thing we’re thinking is that somebody got in trouble,” Thomas joked.

“I’m thinking it’s a detective or something like that, not knowing that it was Denzel Washington that was downtown shooting a movie called “The Preacher’s Wife,” at that time and he actually called for me.”

“The Preacher’s Wife” was a pretty big deal in 1996, by the way; particularly in church circles! Directed by Penny Marshall, the film starred the late, Whitney Houston and Courtney Vance. The movie had a decent soundtrack, too.

Washington’s request to meet Thomas would change Thomas’ life. 

“So we ride downtown and we’re actually behind City Hall and he was going through his scene. We talked for a bit in his trailer and he was a good dude and dropped a lot of jewels on me about managing money and the stuff that I was about to come into as far as fame.”

The advice would pay off. Thomas was drafted 7th in the 1997 NBA Draft by the then-New Jersey Nets. He’d later be shipped to the Philadelphia 76ers in a draft day deal for the ’97 Draft’s 2nd overall pick, Keith Van Horn.

Thomas said the most important thing that came from the meeting was Washington introducing Thomas to boxer, Rubin “Hurricane” Carter.

For those tardy to the party, Rubin “Hurricane” Carter was a middleweight boxer who was wrongfully convicted of murder and later released following a petition of habeas corpus after spending almost 20 years in prison.

Washington would later play the role of Carter in the 1999 film, “The Hurricane.”

In 1966, police arrested both Carter and friend John Artis for a triple-homicide committed in the Lafayette Bar and Grill in Paterson, New Jersey. Police stopped Carter’s car and brought him and Artis, also in the car, to the scene of the crime. Upon the search,  police found ammunition that fit the description of weapons used in the murder. Here’s the kicker: Paterson, NJ Police took no fingerprints at the crime scene and lacked the facilities to conduct a paraffin test for gunshot residue. Carter and Artis were tried and convicted twice (1967 and 1976) for the murders, and both served time in Rahway State Prison. After the second conviction was overturned in 1985, prosecutors choose not to try the case for a third time.

“I knew nothing about Hurricane Carter,” said Thomas.

“I wasn’t even born at the time that the stuff involving him was going on. So it was great for him to connect us and for me to have the opportunity to meet a man that couldn’t come back to our hometown and went through so much in his life as far as sitting in prison for 20 years and it was beneficial for me to get the information that he gave me about our hometown and the politicians and what people do there with so –called famous people and celebrities from that town.”

While on Scoop B Radio, Thomas detailed his conversations with Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. Thomas also detailed his documentary, I Am Tim Thomas while will release next year.

Check out our Q & A below:

Rubin “Hurricane” Carter (right) and Denzel Washington. Photo Credit: Tim Thomas/Scoop B Radio

Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson: What specifically did Hurricane tell you?

Tim Thomas: He told me to watch out pretty much for how our city moves. Our city is small so once you make it there’s a lot of people that’s going to come around mainly politicians and try to benefit off of your stature and financial situation and that was pretty much it because of things that he went through it just opened my eyes to a lot of the corrupt stuff that city officials actually were doing at that time and with him being a lot older he knew of what was going on and who was in position at that time and truth be told he was right because there were a lot of things going on with different mayors who ended up getting into trouble and he told me if I was ever going to do anything in the city for the youth to do it on my own and try to find loopholes where I didn’t have to give money to the city itself because the money would disappear. It was great advice because there were mayors who got in trouble back then and are still getting into trouble now. I had a cousin who was actually mayor when we had Hurricane Sandy, Jeffrey Jones but it was great advice that I got from the champ.

Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson: What did you do with that advice as you progressed in the NBA and even now that you’ve retired?

Tim Thomas: I took it to heart even though I was in a position to give back and I definitely did that for numerous things I’m probably the only guy who has put a million dollars into my city for the youth, so I took the advice for what it was but I still made sure I did things for the community and youth in various ways, for 10 plus years I took care of full tuitions at my high school, started a Pop Warner football team with Marcel Shipp and flew the team out to LA to play against Snoop, started an AAU program we had 23 pros who came out of the program, I got two girls basketball programs that I started, donating money to Kennedy and Eastside High School just different things man there’s nothing in Paterson pertaining to youth that I haven’t touched and the people that are around me know what I have done. As far as the real information that he gave me pertaining to politicians I have helped a lot of people get into office with my celebrity but I haven’t really crossed the line with using my name to go towards the actually city itself. There was one building that I actually wanted but the city wouldn’t help me financially with taxes and different things. It was called the armory, an older building that could have been used for different sporting events it could actually could have been rebuilt into a new stadium for the high school teams that are there, concerts, basketball games but they had armory trucks and stuff in there. When I was younger my grammar school was right next to that actual building it was just sitting there for forever and that was the one building I actually wanted to get but the city wouldn’t  back me on that but other than that I’ve been doing numerous things for the community, especially the youth.

Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson: When Denzel reached out to have that conversation and wanted to get to know you did he make a call to someone in Paterson how did you know about you?

Tim Thomas: I don’t know that’s a great question. But Denzel is a sports junkie so he probably knew that he was in my town so he sent for me like in American Gangster because literally I was in the middle of practice. I lived like two blocks from the high school so I had to asked the guys hey can you shoot me over to my house to crib so I can change because I wanted to look right but in the picture I don’t even think my jeans were ironed or anything I just threw them on and took off, but pretty much that’s what happened he sent for me and that was it and once I got there it was cool because on my 33rd birthday I got to meet Obama when I was with the Chicago Bulls and that was a great weekend for me  and that’s also going to be in the documentary in 2018 but it was similar to that with all the security and everything being blocked off, but Denzel is one of those type of people that he is a major figure anywhere and if you can get around him he’s a great guy with a lot of information and a lot of jewels he can drop on you.

Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson: Your mom must have been jealous that you got to meet Denzel.

Tim Thomas: Sort of. It was kind of weird because when people are in town shooting movies nobody announces it unless it’s in New York or LA nobody is going to say or put in the paper that Denzel is in town shooting a movie, you just won’t get that kind of information so when it happens it’s all a shock to everyone, especially me. When we actually met after we introduced ourselves I couldn’t even talk because I couldn’t believe I was sitting there with Denzel Washington, I was in high school and it’s awkward but he was so cool that he made me relax and be myself so it was a good thing and the other thing was that he was giving me so much information about my town that I didn’t even know, I had no clue about it. We were right behind City Hall and the old police station was right there the same police station that they held Mr. Carter in during his days so with his powers he took me in there to see that old prison and that’s something to this day even with me being who I am from my hometown couldn’t get the okay to go see that old jail cell so that just goes to show you the power that he has.

Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson: Tell me more about the I Am Tim Thomas documentary that you’re dropping next year.

Tim Thomas: The doc is pretty much about my life as far as what I have seen and been through good and bad from an early age up until now. I had so many different stories, playing in the 90’s which most people consider the golden era of the NBA so during that time there were a lot of things going on but we didn’t have social media or camera phones and people weren’t walking around with cameras in their pockets or anything like that. This documentary gave me an opportunity to tell my story and give you an inside look on my life the good, the bad, and the ugly. I’m putting it out there especially for the younger generation because I have an AAU program based out of Jersey and 23 pros have come out of that program and a lot of kids know of me but they don’t know the story, they don’t know that I’m the player to the players and that I was such a bad dude that I had Kobe and Vince Carter playing with me which was a good thing because we went out there and we were like rock stars so I’m trying to change the way that the AAU manifest is being ran now and days as far as not having these super teams with the AAU programs.

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The post Scoop B: Ex NBA’er Tim Thomas says Denzel Washington once got him excused from school appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Carolina Panthers Pro Bowl safety Mike Adams discussing eduation on his panel. Photo Credit: Eric Salvary

Paterson and Wayne, NJ were the places to be over the weekend as Carolina Panthers safety Mike Adams hosted a weekend of community events.

The festivities began on Friday, June 9th, at Paterson, NJ’s Passaic County Community College.  Knowledge is Power, a signature “parent-invite-only” panel moderated by former Super Bowl champion and current SNY and ESPN analyst Willie Colon. The panel featured Adams along with Tim Lewis, the NCAA’s Associate Director of Development, local coaches and former Paterson, NJ success stories.

The discussion educated parents of student athletes on the academic requirements for high school graduation, college admission and athletic participation. It also highlighted useful tools to ensure a successful transition from high school to college.

Check Out Mike Adams’ Highlights 

“I think it was very important because we have to make sure that we give back to the community,” said Tim Lewis. Lewis, an Associate Director of the NCAA’s Development and Eligibility Center took pride in knowing that folks in the community grasped what SAT, ACT and GPA scores were needed in order to be an eligible student athlete on the collegiate level.

“We have to make sure to give the knowledge that we know. We have a lot of stories and a lot of experiences that can be very helpful. Sometimes what we see in certain areas is that we don’t always have the knowledge and we want to make sure that we pass that along.”

Carolina Pathers safety, Mike Adams and ESPN/SNY analyst Willie Colon. Photo Credit: Eric Salvary

On Saturday, June 10th, Adams, along with a host of NFL friends, ran a Team Adams Foundation Youth football camp at Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne NJ. The camp promoted morning fun, exercise and friendly competition with a mission to develop positive well-rounded young athletes by providing an exciting and safe environment that encourages teamwork, gamesmanship, self- confidence, respect and dedication to the game.

Current New York Giants cornerback, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was one of the notables in attendance. The camp focused on basic football drills and focused on advanced techniques used in the offense, defense and passing phases of the game.“It was great,” Mike Adams told me afterward.

“We have to do it again. It was a great turnout. We want more people to come next year. It’s great if you have a kid that’s trying to go to college. This is the place to be!”

For more information on everything Mike Adams philanthropic, visit:  www.mikeadams29.com.

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The post Scoop B: Carolina Panthers’ Mike Adams Hosts Paterson, NJ Educational Panel & Camp Featuring Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Willie Colon & Others appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Rapper 50 Cent took to instagram today to announce that in fact he and Floyd Mayweather are putting together a celebrity boxing lineup that will include Chris Brown and Soulja Boy.

According to the G Unit boss, he and Mayweather will set up a fight that will host 21 Savage and 22 Savage.

With Brown and Soulja Boy allegedly prepping for their fight, Fif says that they’re on board.

Respect Magazine was told earlier this afternoon that 50 Cent and retired NBA basketball player Tim Thomas have been in talks to set up a bout between Thomas and Martin. The two have been rivals since 2004.

It all stems from this play

50 Cent confirmed those talks via his instagram rant this afternoon, stating: “They really need to go ahead and get that shit off their chest.

In a recent interview with me on the Scoop B Radio Podcast last year, Thomas said that he was approached by Mayweather but the bout never seemed to happen. Thomas insists that he’d like to step into the ring and box Kenyon Martin with the proceeds going to a charity of Martin’s choosing.“Brother let’s get in the ring,” Thomas told me.

Check Out Tim Thomas’ Scoop B Radio Chat With Brandon ‘Scoop B Robinson

“I know you got some charities you can send the money to. I’ve got plenty of kids to help out, plenty of organizations. We could give it to charity. Or we can get some boxing promoters. I can call Floyd and we can get this off my chest once and for all. And the world will see what type of individual he is all at one time.”

Kenyon Martin was not available when reached out to for comment at press time. Tim Thomas was available for comment and said “Man, I cannot wait. Let’s set this up!”

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The post 50 Cent, Floyd Mayweather Setting Up Boxing Match Between Kenyon Martin & Tim Thomas appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Fetty Wap is accomplished beyond measure after smash hits like 679, My Wap and Trap Queen that lit up the airwaves like Christmas in July.

The Paterson, NJ native won Billboard, BET and MTV awards for his accomplishments and many in the New York tri-state area are proud of his success.

With the success that he’s received, one person is complaining that business dealings with the artist have not gone successful. In an interview with DJ Tarzan and Cliff Po on the Henny & Redbull Podcast, local artist Muscle Team Fuzz who also produces and promotes club functions claims that he helped Fetty Wap build his brand during his climb. Muscle Team Fuzz, also from Paterson, NJ native says that while he and Fetty Wap have had no problems and thinks the world of Fetty Wap, he believes that Nitt da Gritt is responsible for changing Fetty Wap’s perception of him. From that, their business relationship went sour.

Listen To The Show Below

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The post Henny & Redbull Podcast: Muscle Team Fuzz Explains Why He, RGF, Fetty Wap Parted Ways appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.