Our chaos has now spread to Twitter. Just ask LeBron AKA LeFraud.
As of this wacky autumn New York evening, Hitting Back’s joined the Twitterverse. We’ll now have a place to post our random musings during each day. Having already been a Tweep over a year thanks to success with my other blog Battle Of NY covering the three area hockey locals as well as the Sabres, I’m now set to embark on a similar journey.
One which shall include following athletes, media, celebs, etc. Unfortunately, we haven’t discovered Derek Jeter or A-Rod yet. But everyone’s fave NBA ME-star LeBron “LeFraud” James is on there along with more respectable Heat ‘mate Dwyane Wade.
Get ready for insanity and lots of wackiness courtesy of yours truly. Hope to see some of ya over there!
It’s hard to lose someone you really care about. Especially a close friend who touched so many lives, making us better for knowing him. I didn’t know Lyndzay Richburg that long but you never would’ve known it by the way he treated me along with everybody else.
You came from Atlanta, Georgia- your hometown and brought your flavor, enthusiasm, unselfishness and sheer genius to our place in VG, Shaolin NYC. Always smiling, cracking jokes and using innovative expressions we all enjoyed/laughed at.
“Bow Bow!!!!!”
Between how positive you were and the unbelievable gift you had in the music industry, it was always a party. Never any bad times. Only the good which have touched all our hearts.
In the beginning, I hardly knew you but already could tell what kind of great person you were. Complimenting me for the kind of person/brother I was to Justin. At a challenging time in my life, that kinda spirit/positive reinforcement meant the world. Maybe it was a few weeks but for you to share that just took my breath away. The feeling is mutual. That’s the kind of good natured, human being you are. Are because I refuse to believe you’re really gone!
How to describe Elroy Futuristic? H-E-A-R-T. Nobody had a bigger one. That’s why I’m crushed that you’re not here. Though in spirit I know you’re up there smiling and laughing, looking down on us. We will NEVER let you down.
I was instantly amazed by your musical prowess. Formulating ideas for remarkable beats that blew us away. You were ahead of your time. When I remarked to your wonderful Mom during our tribute last night, “He was the Ritchie Valens of VG,” I wasn’t kidding. I love music as much as anyone. It helps us get through heartbreaking moments such as this. You were special. I wasn’t surprised to hear that you took part in a choir and took to music from an early age. You could see it. All the flow you had. And the swagger which was mentioned plenty by your big brother PJ along with Ramon. Sometimes, we come across something that catches us. I feel fortunate to have known you because you had the magic.
It’s not just about the talent but how big a man you were. Always taking on responsibility, working tough hours at Home Depot and then doing what you loved. Living the dream. Those last few beats we listened to over and over again including, “Oh My God,” signify what you were all about. I wondered last night what was going through your mind at the very moment you put it together. And all I could think of was a rap/reggae Jimi Hendrix who was high above in the haze another dimension. Though you easily could’ve been a young Bob Marley. The style. The clothes. The hair. Original. I know you would’ve made it. And to me, you already were a success. Just in the way you conducted yourself.
Such class, which was exhibited by your loving family. I can’t imagine what they’re going through. It reminds me how lucky we really are. I still find myself asking, ‘Why???’ 24 hours later. I think Kayla’s right. They always take the good ones early. I feel lucky to have known you and will honor ya the best way I can. I want so much for your voice to be heard in the game. You DESERVE it!
Love forever,
Derek, Justin and Dad
We at least have one video to remember you by working with P showing off your flair.
You’ll always be remembered. So chill. For my homie, Future Boy!
Yes. I am as ALIVE as the Pearl Jam classic back in the good ‘ole days when anything seemed possible. Well, I’m still here to tell you that it still is! Just gotta:
Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn and Jake Taylor are warming up for a new season.
As the exciting, action packed Vancouver 2010 Winter Games draw to a close with Team USA (that’s right!!!!!) battling Canada for Olympic Gold in men’s hockey later today, believe it or not baseball’s around the corner.
February’s gotta be the fastest month ever. Especially with President’s Week and you know. The whole leap year thing. Normally, I don’t mind it but this winter’s been one of the craziest with plenty of white stuff here in Shaolin and all over NYC, the Garden State, CT and the East coast. Just wild. We got hit pretty bad the other night with another foot-plus flying down in the morning hours. Should’ve seen how it looked outside my window. As Crazy Eddie might chime:
“Insane!”
March can’t get here soon enough and is tomorrow! Spring Training will be in full bloom as prognosticators get ready for another season. Can the Yankees do it again minus World Series MVP Godzilla and Johnny Damon? Will Curtis Granderson light it up in center field and Nick Johnson make fans forget Hideki Matsui? Can Jason Bay carry the Mets until Carlos Beltran gets back? Is Jose Reyes batting third a novel concept or just more proof that Jerry Manuel has lost it? What about Oliver Perez, John Maine and Mike Pelfrey? Bounce back or Amazin’ attack? Can Javier Vazquez II work in the Bronx? Will Da Melkman be missed? What of Joba and Phil Hughes?
All are great questions for locals. Getting more to the point, baseball’s already started up in the land of BK. Park Slope to be exact where coach Walter Paller’s Berkeley Carroll Lions take aim at defending their title. Last year was a coming out party for one of the best baseball programs this city has to offer.
The BC Lions dethroned heavy favorite Poly Prep in a classic, hanging on for dear life thanks to a great diving catch by right fielder Theo Guest (Dayton University) and superb closing from Phil Seay (Denison College), who look to help their new schools this Spring as will former ace James McDonagh (Trinity College). Senior backstop Walker Harrison returns looking to lead Paller’s club to the promised land again along with slugger Rob Paller. He’ll be joined by plenty of hoop ‘mates such as Sean Cunningham, Nate Barr, Jesse Chalfin, Joey Martinez, Mike Andria and Adam Kochman.
With the crack of the bat and pounding of the mitt coming before you know it, one of our favorites from Major League to get warmed up and melt away all the snow. Paging Willie Mays Hayes, Rick “Wild Thing” Vaughn, Jake Taylor, Roger Dorn and Pedro Cerrano!
Watching Voltron growing up even as a kid, I could tell the amazing chemistry Voltron force leader Keith and Princess Allura had. There was plenty of affection. So, why didn’t they make it part of the series? Maybe cause it was a different time.
To any viewer who was a fan of the show, it made complete sense for them to be with each other just based on the words and expressions in their body language.
Didn’t Allura, such a beautiful princess deserve her prince or knight in shining armor? And they helped team up with Hunk, Lance and Pidge to form Voltron. Defender of the Universe. Oh well. I can dream. At least I’m not alone in this thought process as great YouTuber Sabrina (sapphirestone99) has put together another winning video tribute to the Voltron couple.
It’s appropriately entitled, “What If…” The clips she chose were wonderful and it just might be her best Voltron work to date featuring Red’s “Pieces” as the music for over a six minute video.
Watch it and admire. Fall in love all over again with this great cartoon which shall always have a special place in my heart. Hey. The kid in ya never ever dies!
Besides. The day that happens is the day it’s over.
Part of Voltron’s appeal was watching the great lengths the devious Prince Lotor would go to try to win over Princess Allura. But the fifth and final member of the Voltron Force effectively replacing Hans to defend her own Planet Arus never gave into Lotor’s charms.
She saw Lotor for what he really was which was King Zarkon’s evil son of Planet Doom who was part of their schemes along with the ugly Witch Haggar to conquer Arus and rule the world. While he disagreed plenty with his father wanting to do things his own way and get all the recognition, Lotor was still dangerous and could even go as far as to double cross the Voltron Force pretending to be good just to lure them into a trap as he did in one episode. That’s why he never could really be trusted though at times, you weren’t sure what was going on in his head due to his affection for Allura.
Understanding Lotor sometimes became a chore cause you felt that there just might be some human qualities in him. But just when he looked like he wanted to be good, he’d quickly resort and reveal his true colors. Like in one dialogue, he talked about how he could never really be good. It just wasn’t in his blood or human nature. Did we just say that?
Last time out, we looked at a very good video depicting the lost prince’s affection for Princess Allura.
Here, we see another well executed video on Lotor’s fascination with the beautiful Arus ruler:
there are some excellent scenes including a few great exchanges between the two during various episodes. you can even pickup where they were taken from if you remember well enough. excellent song selection too featuring one of my fave bands Depeche Mode appropriately entitled, “It’s No Good.” plus the finish is classic.
A while ago, I made an entry dedicated to Voltron which still ranks as my fave cartoon for its creativity. While the characters lines could’ve been better and a couple of storylines more developed by creator Peter Keefe, it definitely had its appeal.
The classic robot and defender of the universe and all things on Planet Arus was larger than life successfully formed by five lions. One of my favorite storylines was the evil Prince Lotor’s fascination with Princess Allura. King Zarkon’s son from Planet Doom was quite taken with the lovely Planet Arus ruler.
Allura never liked him though and refrained choosing loyalty to her planet and black lion leader and commander Keith. Why they didn’t develop that storyline further remains a mystery. Chalk it up to the time period as the mid-1980′s were quite different than today.
In any event, I always felt Lotor’s character was misunderstood. Here, we see a quality video on the Prince’s relationship with Allura.
