Coverwatch: Birdman on the cover of XXL Magazine

Birdman returns to the cover of XXL. Issue hits newsstands on June 7th. B’lee dat.

Here's a recent video of Birdman with his Cash Money/ Young Money artist Bow Wow & Lil Wayne:

Sports: Mike Brown new Lakers coach

Props to ESPN  for the video !!

Your Sports 1st on BlvdAve: Stairway to Seven

Follow Your Sports 1st & "Chicago, As I See It" on Twitter @CSF_Inc

In case you missed Dirk's greatness.....

A flower cannot grow on it's own. It takes a village to raise a child. There is no "I" in team. These quips not only define the strategies for simplicity in life, where help simplifies everything. It is the blueprint for success. In team sports, like no other, the teams that play together are the most successful. Even the seemingly omnipotent Michael Jordan had a supporting cast of Horace Grant, Scottie Pippen, and Steve Kerr who silently holds what 3-pt shooting record scraps Reggie Miller left over.

So why is it that it seems like it's Derrick Rose vs the Miami Heat?

Despite a 20-10 effort from Carlos Boozer, a very solid game from Luol Deng ( 20pts, 8rebs, 3stls, 2blks) the Chicago Bulls were dominated down the stretch physically and Derrick Rose couldn't find the lane like a drunk driver.

Rose hasn't fully trusted his teammates as they have trusted him all season, and with reason. Mainly because alot of the reason he even earned his MVP above his current nemesis LeBron James, was that he carried an otherwise shoddy offensive front to compete with the NBA's best. Ultimately rewarding the Bulls with the best record in the NBA.

Motivation

With this new assignment comes adjustments. Alot of which required Rose to negate the open looks in order to establish aggressiveness and keep the defense on it's heels. But when the gaps get smaller and ultimately close, the learning curve opens wide up.

With LeBron James guarding Rose late in the 4th quarter, and seeming to do a damn good job at it. What does Rose do if there isn't a corner to turn? Kick it out to a defended wing? Simply put his head down and run into whatever brick wall may lay ahead and hope for the best? Or step back for a jumper that is probably doubtful coming off the finger tips?

Rose chose the latter with seconds remaining in the 4th quarter with the score tied 85-85. He stuttered, James stayed grounded. He jabbed, and James didn't budge. 6...5...4.. Rose stepped back for a 18ft jumper that missed left. Korver came up with the rebound but Chalmers picked his pocket to send it into overtime.


It was another opportunity at MVP time. Which Derrick is quickly finding out is earned still after the regular season is over. Despite his struggles, the Bulls still believe he's the guy to go to late.

"We wanted the last shot," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said Thursday of the final possession in regulation.  

"That's his shot. If he sees an opening where he can drive, then we want him to drive. But if he wants the pull-up, he's made that shot all year for us. If it goes in, we're all praising him. If it doesn't go in, everyone wants to criticize him.

LeBron had Shaq

But that's the life of a reigning MVP. Pressure is two fold more than ever before. But more to the point is that this is life of the NBA playoffs. Something a spurned LeBron James has had to learn the hard way throughout his career, after being dubbed "The Chosen One," and "King James," LeBron suffered having to carry not only the scoring load, but most of all the work while being the only star player on a competitive Cleveland Cavalier team.

“I can definitely relate,” James said of Rose recent struggles. “Having a coach of the year and being MVP and then having to go out against teams that have multiple guys that can break you down."

James makes the case for "The Decision" seem easy when you take into account what is happening with the Bulls lack of scoring contributions. A team that relies so heavily on team defense that it often forgets how to play team offense.

Anyone miss Ben Gordon yet?


The Stairway To Seven Begins Tonight.....

Tonight is a must win, not just because the Bulls will ultimately be eliminated if they lose Game 5 falling 4-1 to the Miami Heat. Tying the Heat 4-4 in the years series, a morbid result of being 4-0 then choosing to lose the 4 in the playoffs. The Bulls must win because they let an opportunity slip in both games 2 and 4, and the Bulls still have a chance to seize home-court advantage merely by winning Game 5 tonight.

Here's why...

The Bulls have won in the American Airlines Center. They have deflated the Heat at the American Airlines Center. The Heat Wave are still uncertain about their team when the chips are down at the American Airlines Center. And to be fair, the chips haven't really been down for any team in this series. It has been that close. So for me, regular season or post, the Chicago Bulls could walk into the AAC and grab a grimey win sooner than Miami. Back-to-back wins for Chicago seems more realistic with the discipline they've shown than a four game sweep from the Heat.

And there's the MVP, beat down gang style for two straight games in South Beach, Rose gets a chance to come back home to heal his wounds. He's fine regardless. Frustrated, but fine. Who wouldn't be frustrated in this situation, going back home down 3-1 with the chance of Miami celebrating a berth to the NBA Finals on their home court. But he's not going to admit to showing fatigue from a grueling season carrying the Chicago Bulls, at times, on his uber-tattooed shoulders.

He hasn't lost his fast twitch explosiveness or his rock solid confidence either. Just listen to him.



"Im fine, man," says Rose.

"Trust me, no excuses"
              
                   -Derrick Rose on Game 5

Forget South Beach, meet D. Rose and the Bulls on the West Side of Chicago.....

New Kicks The Nike SB Blazer CS Low

In a skating world where vulcanized and cup soles are the chocolate and vanilla of sneaker bottoms, the Nike SB Blazer CS Low is the delicious ‘twist’.  The SB Blazer CS features vulc aesthetics and overall board feel with the extra cushioning of a cup sole plus Zoom Air in the heel for one of the most rideable designs yet from Swoosh skateboarding.  The latest CS Blazer SB is a lowtop in Bison brown suede with Sport Red and white accents that’s sufficiently neutral to stick around for pretty much every season, and you can find them at select Nike SB retailers like Flatspot.

In case you missed it: The Lebrons Episode 6 "Bullies" & 7 "Drake"

 "The LeBrons" animated short series has been a favorite on BlvdAve since we started posting them on the blog. Therefore it's only right we continue giving you guys what you like ! Here's the latest episodes now:

Mixtape Downloads: Trae The Truth, Chamillionaire, Lil Chuckee, DJ Paul

There's always new music dropping, here's a couple more you can check out and see if you wanna download or not. Props to datpiff.com

 Download Here

 Download Here

Download Here

Download Here

In case you missed it: Mortal Kombat: Legacy (Episodes 6 & 7)

Much like how we do with "The LeBrons" , we like to keep our blog views entertained and in the know when a new update comes along on a prior blog post. A few weeks ago we hit you guys with the first 5 episodes of "Mortal Kombat: Legacy" and todays post we're updating you on the latest 2 episodes to be released. Enjoy !!!



Episode 6:


Episode 7:

New Music: Ja Rule - Black Vodka

Rule is back !! Ja drops a vid to a snippet of one of his new songs off the fourth coming album 

‘P.ain I.s L.ove 2′ titled "Black Vodka"

 Say what you will about Ja, but this joint is pretty smooth, lookin forward to the rest of it Rule !!! 

‘P.ain I.s L.ove 2′ in stores June 7, 2011

Freshness: Nike Air Max Skyline

The Nike Air Max Skyline was one of the first models to mark Nike Sportswear’s surge toward hybridization and modular design back in 2009, but we’ve only seen a single new colorway so far this year.  Make that two thanks to this new Air Max Skyline, a mostly black model with white and grey accents plus a burst of energy from select neon accents.  

The Skyline already had that early ’90s look down pat and with the AM95-leaning neon incorporated this is far-reaching pastiche.  Click through to see some more angles and grab a pair from SNS.
Nike Air Max Skyline
Black/White-Dark Grey-Black
343886-025

Game Heads: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Gamplay trailer

Due to be release in November, CoD:MW3 gameplay trailer has just raised the hype to a fever pitch with this one ! I'll see my fellow Game Heads outside of Gamestop at midnight on November 8th !!

Cover Watch: Rick Ross Covers Complex & Vibe Magazine

Ross imitating the Jaws 2 poster on Complex

Inspired by the film Jaws 2, Rick Ross and actor Andy Samberg cover the June/July issue of Complex. As always, the feature is already available to read. This issue hits newsstands June 7th. Ross is also featured on the cover of Vibe magazine in a feature that includes himself and his Maybach Music Group roster (Wale, Pill, Meek Mill). Rick Ross & his Maybach Music Group release there first compilation album "Self-Made"  Available now ! Click Here 

Rozay on the Cover of the new issue of Vibe

Here's a new video by Ross & Meek Mill titled "Perfectionist”