MR. WELLS : God Shammgod
Growing up around sports my entire life there are many monikers for different aspects of sport and usually these monikers come from a supreme athlete. The term Moss'd is one that comes to mind when thinking of Football , giving reference to the unstoppable nature of "The Freak" Randy Moss when the pigskin is up for grabs.
In basketball you have the crossover, but when you sprinkle a little flare and a little pepper on top you get the SHAMMGOD. The man behind that name is non other than God Shammgod, current Player Development coach for the Dallas Mavericks, a playground legend hailing from Brooklyn NYC.
God was a teammate of Metta World Peace (Ron Artest) while in high school, childhood friends of Mase and Cam'ron and credited with helping the "Mamba" aka Kobe Bryant hone his dribbling skills. In short, he has been around talent and is still praised for his uncanny ability to maneuver pass defenders.
In this video God discusses teaching Kobe Bryant his signature crossover dribble.
“I don’t think he can do it like I can do it, but he did it justice... (referencing Kobe perfecting the “Shammgod”)
-GOD ”
God didn’t last long in the NBA, playing just 20 games his whole career. He left a timeless move and a playground legacy that will never be forgotten. God has stayed close to hoops after being a player. He has been a part of his Alma Mater's staff at Providence and currently the Dallas Mavericks.
I used this blog to pay homage to a player that is still alive and left something in a sport that will last forever. Players like Earl " The Goat" Manigault, Skip to my Lou and Demetrius "Hook" Williams are some young inner city youth's Lebron James, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird. All phenoms don't make it to the pinnacle, but they leave a lasting impression on the youth to be relentless without incentive just the respect of your environment. Sometimes that's enough.
THANK YOU SHAMMGOD!
LAURIE : The Football Dandy
Laurie Cunningham in all his Splendor.
Laurie Cunningham may not be a household name in the US, but I am sure he was lead my way through Google's complex algorithm of my constant search for outstanding athletes, trendsetters and style tastemakers. Laurie Cunningham was the son of a Jamaican prize horse jockey hailing from the north side of London.
The above image has popped up in my Pinterest numerous times and I just assumed it was a guy from the Sub-Saharan culture Sapeur Movement or Society of Tastemakers and Elegant People. To my astonishment this is Laurie Cunningham, the first black professional footballer to represent England at any level.
“At a time when institutionalised racism was rife throughout society it would have been easy for Laurie to fade into the background, but his passion for music and fashion ensured he stood out from the crowd...”
Cunningham was the first of a group of homegrown African - American pioneers who shook up the English football landscape in the 1970s and 80s. He achieved a total of six full international caps. The black players of this generation were required to tune out the constant disrespect of chants and unimaginable actions of having bananas hurled at them by fans. SALUTE TO MR. CUNNINGHAM for fighting through the noise to leave a legacy of Style and Grace.
Check out the below to see a 4 part documentary giving you a little more context on the legendary Laure Cunningham!
The Man behind the Air : "H"
Howard "H" White was a hometown hero out of Hampton, Virginia. White was well known as a playground legend with handles that left defenders gasping for air and command of the court resembling General Custer. White was being recruited by the likes of North Carolina’s Dean Smith and Maryland’s Lefty Driesell, the former whom would help groom a young prospect later known as "Air" Jordan.
At Maryland, White dazzled onlookers just as he did in his hometown of Hampton, Va. White's hard work, was rewarded by having his nickname “H” placed on the back of his jersey instead of his last name. Not sure if this has ever been done in NCAA Hoops, but this made "H" a household name. Maryland had an NCAA Elite 8 appearance and was the NIT Champion in White’s last two years with the Terps.
"H" produced a short-lived NBA career due to injury, but this would just prove to show his impact on Basketball was imminent by any means. "H" would sign on as a Field Representative with Nike. During this tenure White developed a relationships with budding stars, one of them being a young man by the name of Michael Jeffrey Jordan.
““I could not have made it through my fifteen-year career without Howard White.”
—MICHAEL JORDAN”
"H" would lure Jordan to "The Swoosh" after watching his exploits in the college ranks. The attack plan was to get Jordan to drop the Converse sneaker and be a leading tastemaker of a sneaker phenomenon. In other words, Jordan was known for wearing only Converse sneakers while with Carolina, but Nike wanted him. The rest is history.
Jordan and White would eventually create Jordan Brand under Nike. Fast Forward to the present and "H" is now Vice President, Jordan Brand. As stated earlier Howard "H" White's impact on the game of Basketball was imminent. Instead of simply being known as a court General for the Terps, he is also know as the "Man Behind the Air", raising the Jordan brand to iconic status and laying a path for former student-athletes to pivot to create synergy between sports and corporate America.
The Original Jordan "Wings" logo paid homage to Mike's freakishly-long wingspan and ability to fly across the floor. The logo was created in 1985.
Thanks "H"