The more we watch the Olympics and the open court style of ball that the USA can play, we can make our prediction for 2010:  Chris Bosh, not LeBron James or Dwayne Wade will be wearing a New York Knick jersey.  We all know there is a bumper crop of free-agents coming in the summer of 2010.  Its only 2008 and already the Nets are making room for their run a Lebron.

LeBron is a great player.  Hands down.  Maybe the best in the NBA if you want the argument.  King James would be the toast of Broadway.  On that short list would also be Dwayne Wade (not a one-name player).  Already won an NBA Championship.  Would look great in the white-orange-royal blue of the Knicks.  But it is Bosh that fits the bill of what the Knicks need.

He's 6'10", mobile, only 24 yrs.old (26 in 2010) and most of all fits perfectly into the up-and-down style of Knick (and current Olympic assistant coach) Mike D'Antoni.  You don't think its a coincidence that D'Antoni is on Coach K's staff?  He is the US expert on the European style of basketball.  The same style he instilled in Phoenix and the same style Donnie Walsh wants in the Garden.  Bosh is the right fit for this puzzle.  LeBron is more of a power player, working on the blocks.  Wade will work the perimeter and yes, in the D'Antoni system that is an important element.  But that can be found easier than the talent that Bosh has.

So if we were you, to beat the rush, line-up now at Cosby's at the Garden to get your New York Knick Chris Bosh jersey.

Who are they fooling?  We've been watching for the past 8 days and seen some tremendous performaces, listened to insiteful commentaries, and learned of new athletes arournd the world.  NBC and its sister stations that air additional coverage don't need to commercialize the Olympics anymore than it already is.  They hit us with enough NBC coming shows this Fall as it is.  But have any of you noticed how the Olympic Fanfare music has been replaced when the USA Men's basketball team is playing?  If you just hear the familiar tune, you would think there is an NBA game on.

Now, we know that is essentially what we are watching.  Like today, as we see USA play Spain, with all the pros Spain has on its roster.  Did David Stern make it part of the contractual requirement with NBC that whenever an NBA player is being shown, it is an "NBA" event and therefore identifying music and/or other identifying marks need to be used?  Isn't the Olympics already a Summer League game for the NBA?  Stern has done such a magnificient job in elevating basketball to the second most popular game in the world (and could be argued as number one) that he can let the reigns loose and just let the games be games.

Or is this a decision by NBC?  Branding-in-branding of its brands?  Trust us, we all know when the basketball games are on.  Just like there are boxing fans and NBC has basically dedicated MSNBC to show as many baoxing matches as possible, and the boxing fans know that, we basketball fanatics know when the games are shown (and its not on some secondary channel).  Kobe Bryant is already treated as an Earthbound deity in Beijing, China, not being able to walk or go anywhere without being mobbed.  Kobe jerseys out-sell Yao Ming jerseys in China.  Everyone knows about basketball and everyone knows about the NBA.  We're not against free enterprise (in fact, go to our Store now and buy a T-shirt!).  But does the Olympics embody the ultimate games of athletes or does the NBA?

So here is the question NBC.  Which is the greater brand you are promoting, the Olympics or the NBA?  We'll just follow the money trail.  Game Over.

If you have been watching the Olympics (and who hasn't?) you've become aware of the controversy surrounding the Spanish men's basketball team.  That, apparently, is just the beginning.  Now members of Spain's Federation Cup team are seen doing the same in a photo back in April after they defeated China in the semifinals.

The men's basketball team "explained" away the photo of their members slanting their eyes to look Chinese as not to be offensive but as an affectionate gesture.  Would that be the same if the Games were played, in say, South Africa, and the players painted themselves in blackface?

Madrid, Spain is making a bid to host the Summer Games of 2016.  This is not speaking well of a community that is nothing like what is being depicted in the photos.  Game Over has recently had the pleasure of hosting the winner and runner-up of Last Man Standing Spain.  The two gentlemen were anything but courteous, appreciative, and diplomatic in the means they presented themselves.  They were, and are, fine representatives of not just themselves, but of their country.

The winner of Last Man Standing Spain and the runner-up traveled to NYC last Thursday and spent the weekend traveling around New York and seeing all the ball sites.  "Nacho" Martin, Last Man Standing Spain Champ and runner-up Carlos Rios flew into town on Thursday and were escorted around by Game Over President Eric Hicks.

They saw such sites as tournaments at 145th Street (Kareem Reid wowed them), West 4th Street, Rucker Park, Dyckman, and a performance by the Harlem Wizards.  Interviews and videos will be posted shortly of all the excitement.  The success of Last Man Standing Spain is spreading to other parts of Europe, news to come shortly.

Let the redemption begin!  The thought that the USA Olympic men's basketball team was going to "play" games in Beijing, China went out the door a long time ago.  This team, constructed of NBA superstars Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, et al., is on a mission to re-establish American basketball as the premier brand of basketball.  Or should we say, NBA Basketball.

Lets wash away all the distractions and get to the heart of the matter.  This is the ultimate marketing of the NBA to over 300 million citizens of the world that we, frankly, don't really consider in our day-to-day lives.  When you realize in China that the Yao Ming NBA jersey is only the sixth most popular purchase (Kobe is #1), you have to take your hat off to the marketing machine known as the NBA.  When you further understand that the mission David Stern has been on these past 20 years, stressing the importance of the Jerseys versus individuals wearing them (such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird), he has created a continual replenishment of jersey sales around the world (just with different numbers on the front and names on the back).

And now we understand the mission.  If the NBA led USA Olympic team fails again, especially in front of this home crowd, the value of selling Laker jerseys even in this NBA mad country will fall, with jersey sales of European teams picking up.  Doubt that? - Shoot, even Kobe and LeBron are now talking of trading in their NBA jerseys for European ones when their contracts expire.  Game Over.

After hearing Ron Artest's last comments (see below) on representing his culture, I wanted to puke!  In short, he explains his erratic behavior as just a part of black culture and that's what he represents.  Correction Ron, your nuts!, and that's what you represent.  I can't blame the reporters for sticking a mic in front of Ron Ron and clowns like him because like Forrest said "like a box of candy, you never know what your gonna get".  Well in this case, No candy!  Just nuts!  To all you reporters that claim to be his friend and the friend of other clowns that spew these stupid things, well to barrow a phrase from the "ghetto"  (Since that's what Ron Ron says he represents) "Grab these Nutz!" and try to talk some sense into them.  Let them know how fortunate they are to be in the position they're in and that there are plenty of us back here in the hood, the ghetto, that are trying to move ahead the old fashion way (Whatever the hell that means these days).  Let's be real, if you say or do some of the things these guys do, you would be out of a job for a long time.

My heart goes out to all the coaches and teachers in the inner cities around the country who are teaching the right things.  These nutz represent no one but themselves.  The good work you (coaches and teachers) do is seen around the league and around the world.

To all sports reporters in Houston . . . Sharpen you pencils, with T-Mac, Stevie Franchise, and now Ron Ron, you just won the "Triple Clown" and maybe an NBA championship . . . maybe this is planet "Ron Ron".

Ron Artest's Comments:

Game Over will be entering into discussions with the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program.  “Having the assistance of the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program with Hoopin’ to Health would allow for penetration of the Hoopin' to Health events but more importantly, the importance of the medical message we are broadcasting”, says Eric Hicks, President of Game Over. 

Hicks continued, “their goals and ours are the same, to assist the community in education.  Ours (Hoopin' to Health) in the education of prostate cancer, screenings for early detection, and other diseases that afflict the black community, while their main educational goal is of the affliction of cardiovascular disease on African American men and two of its main causes, diabetes and hypertension.  What our community has to understand is that this is not an either/or decision, each of these are potentially life threatening.  With the possibility of having the Black Barbershop Network involved, we will be able to reach more men and hopefully save more lives.”

Game Over this week officially announces its newest program, the Hoopin' To Health Tour.  "It's something that we have been wanting to do as part of our company's mission to be involved with our community" said Eric Hicks, president and founder of Game Over.  "Our goal is to create awareness and screenings for the African-American male community.  Our community, which is afflicted with prostate cancer more so than any other ethnic group is also in the greatest need to get themselves screened.  Hoopin' To Health's number one priority to lower the amount of deaths due to prostate cancer.  The best way to do so is educate younger men and to have all men over 35 get themselves screened as part of their normal health maintenance.  Prostate health is not just a male issue, but a family issue".

"We are pleased to announce today that we have just gained a commitment from Foundationforscreening.org for them to pay for 1,000 prostate screenings" Hicks continued.  "It's tremendous to have the involvement from an organization whose first commitment is for the health of people"

The Hoopin' To Health Tour is a series of events that will begin with a banquet to celebrate the individuals throughout the New York City community that establish and put on the various tournaments throughout the city.  Three separate tournaments for 35-and-over will be held at three different borough locations.  At each event information will be made available for the screenings.

To see how your company can be involved with this initiative, Email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it