Devin "James" Brown:
R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Nice to see hard work pay off.

**FROM NBA.COM**
Hornets Swarm into Salina
Hornets guard Devin Brown's jersey to be retired by USBL team

Oklahoma City - The New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets announced today that guard Devin Brown and members of the Honeybees dance team will make a special appearance at a United States Basketball League (USBL) game in Salina, Kansas on Friday, April 27.The Kansas Cagerz of the USBL will retire Brown's number 14 jersey to honor his career with the team. In 2002 he was named the USBL Rookie of the Year after averaging 17.3 points and 6.2 rebounds for the Cagerz.

"This is a real honor for me," said Brown, who was then named MVP of the NBA Development League one year later. "The USBL played a huge role in my professional development and the experience I gained there helped me to become the player I am today."

In addition to Brown's jersey retirement, the Honeybees will be in attendance performing throughout the game and at halftime, and will be available for a pre-game autograph session.

KOBE BRYANT:
BENDING OVER BACKWARDS

Despite only scoring 15 points in game 2, Kobe Bryant has put the L.A. LAKERS on his back, and last night he got his second wind. His 45 points, 6 assists and 6 rebounds gave the LAKERS their first playoff win against a SUNS team that had been blazing hot. With all the hype surrounding Lebron, Josh Howard and Kevin Durrant and Greg Oden, it's hard to ignore what K/O/B/E has done for a team that doesn't even have a solid point guard, let alone a second option. Withot a true center and a true second scorer, the LAKERS will have to relay on getting the ball to Kobe and scoring on every easy basket they can. Jordan Farmer can't be held responsible for the ball control troubles, neither can Smush Parker, they're both back-ups in this league. Matter of fact, I don't see either of them starting in the league. Farmer and Smush can only hope to stay in the league. You can't bank on the LAKERS making it to the finals. The west is just too deep for the LAKERS to get past, but I wonder if Kobe see this series as a moment of truth, a chance to prove he's a champion in his own right?

Shaq proved he could get to the NBA finals again and, in fact, he proved he could win. I hate Kobe and I posted on him twice in a short span. You can't deny his talent but, what is it that holds him back from his very own personal chip?

SEBASTION TELFAIR:
Blame Him Too

I know I should be talking about the playoffs but just so you know, with all that's wrong in the world, it's ok to give hip-hop a break. Sure, rappers appear to promote all kinds of negativity with their music, but what about when well paid athletes revert to acting like street-thugs. I mean, I hate to point Telfair out, but it's about time. He's been given everything. He was on the covers of SLAM and Sports Illustrated way before he was drafted into the NBA. He's a relative of Stephon Marbury and was given the best the basketball world had to offer before he was a pro. However, the Boston Celtics reserve point guard was arrested in New York for having a gun in his car. This, if I am correct, is the second time since coming into the league that Sebastion has caught a gun charge. He was also allegedly involved in an altercation with fellow-Brooklynite and rapper Fabolous. Some reports about the weekends arrest, which may not be accurate, say Telfair's car smelled like weed, making it seem as if Telfair was celebrating 420 (April 20= Stoner's New Years). I just want to step out and say that NBA guys should stick to basketball and stay out of trouble.

Message to NBA players: You're not so hood, street or gangster. The fact that you made it as far as the NBA proves that someone guided you, someone saw something in you and wanted you to make the right decisions. Furthermore, it shows you made smart choices. Why does a kid who has been a millionaire since he was 18-years-old need to have a gun at all? Hire body guards, travel in numbers - don't hold gats!

If you've read my previous posts and article on ProBasketballNews.com, you'll learn that there is an entire lost generation of would-have been superstars that fucked-up their chances at the NBA. As a New Yorker, I pray Telfair will have what it takes to stay in the NBA 10-years.

Hey Sebastion: Read the short sports blurbs in the Post, Daily News or Boston Globe, guys fall out of the NBA everyday. Try not to lose your spot. I'm not trying to wrongfully blame the NBA or hip-hop for that matter for the V-Tech shootings or anything. I don't really see the relationship there. But I do know that there are enough bad influences in the world for kids, NBA players don't need to add to those poor influences.