National Geographic

As we should agree on, the NBA is known for their basketball talent, NOT LOOKS. Don't you ever wonder why most of the guys are not good looking? Well this came to my attention last week now that it's during playoff season. I managed to pick the best looking NBA players in the league, which proved difficult, but it had to be done. ENJOY!!!

10. AMAR'E STOUDEMIRE: not only is he making it big on the court, but off the court as well being at the top fashion shows sitting next to Vogue's Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour. He also gives a lot back to his community through his Each 1 Teach 1 Foundation to provide safe drinking water in Sierra Leone by funding the building of water wells in impoverished villages.

9. DERRICK ROSE: nothing is more attractive than an NBA player who not only won Rookie of the Year in the 2008-2009 season, but is the youngest player in history to win the MVP of the Year award for the 2010-2011 season. He's also a very humble guy who values his family and friends.


8. THABO SEFOLOSHA: this Swiss player speaks three different languages -Italian, French, & English- and is well traveled, living in five different countries. He catches your attention on the court, so foreign.


7. RUDY FERNANDEZ: he's Spanish, that's all I have to say.


6. DWIGHT HOWARD: this dominator leads the NBA every year in rebounds and blocks. Not only is his body physically insane, but his boyish face makes him very likable. He is also very active in community service where he has his own foundation, and aims "to raise the name of God within the league and throughout the world."


5. DANILO GALLINARI: he's Italian, that is all.


4. KOBE BRYANT: The Black Mamba...enough said. He may be the veteran of the list, but he still dominates, and doesn't look like he aged at all.


3. CHRIS PAUL: his hazel eyes sparkle, sighhhh.


2. TREVOR ARIZA: every since I saw him for the first time, he became the apple of my eye, LAUGH OUT LOUD!!! He's of Dominican and Turks & Caicos Islands descent = too spicy.


1. GEORGE HILL: he is currently the Apple of my Eye, this man is too good looking for words. The word is he has only 3% body fat, get me some of that!!! HAHA.


Whether you agree or not, this is the TOP 10 LIST. There is not much to choose from in the NBA, but there are a few privileged players out there who are blessed with talent and attractiveness.




You Just Do You, Imma Do Me

Camille

Starting the 2005-2006 of the NBA basketball season, the NBA instituted a mandatory dress code where players actively involved in team or league business had to wear collared dress shirts or turtlenecks with dress slacks, dress jeans, or khakis paired with appropriate shoes and socks. Senior Vice President of Player Development for the NBA, Michael Bantom said, "The dress code was part of a larger discussion about the business of basketball, the players' role in it and projecting a positive image."



Gone are the days when the professional athletes would buy dress shirts and slacks in bulk such as the convenient custom shop Elevee in Van Nuys. "True to their competitive nature, once they started dressing up...they started competing with each other to see who could dress the best," Bantom adds. LET THE COMPETING BEGIN...


Top NBA players of the game found this rule change as an opportunity to show their fashionable side by hiring stylists for themselves. Many of the guys actually enjoy fashion and found this as a form of expression away from their daily uniform work attire. According to a Sports Illustrated poll of the best fashion sense off court, 137 NBA players named Dwyane Wade as best dressed, with Kobe Bryant in second, and Lebron James in third.

4. Chris Paul
5. Carmelo Anthony
6. Kevin Garnett
7. Juwan Howard
8. Ray Allen
9. Keyon Dooling
10. Zaza Pachulia
11. Steve Nash
12. Dwight Howard
13. Amar'e Stoudemire
14. Derek Fisher
15. Jarrett Jack



You can see these guys gracing the covers of men's style handbooks like GQ and Esquire, even sitting front row at fashion shows alongside Vogue's Anna Wintour. It's common for them to have fashion side projects and brand endorsements aside from the usual basketball shoes. Jermaine O'Neal from the Celtics just launched a menswear line called Le Jaunty. Knicks' player Amar'e Stoudemire is collaborating on a women's collection with popular fashion designer Rachel Roy. Kobe Bryant of the Lakers is partnering with Nubeo to create a line of ridiculously expensive watches.


To each man comes a certain fashion aesthetic that clearly defines him. Wade's style is Gucci/Ralph Lauren. Bryant gets his clothes custom made, but Giorgio Armani and Dolce & Gabbana are his favorites. Wade and Odom stylist Calyann Barnett along with Bryant's stylist Paige Geran both swear by Tom Ford suits and George Esquivel shoes.


These professional players have more than just a career to uphold, now it's all about what they can bring to the fashion world. Whether it's on or off the court, the competitiveness of the NBA runs in their veins.




You Just Do You, Imma Do Me

Camille

Last Friday during the Lakers game against the Spurs, the Lakers who haven't been exactly ending their season on a good note, were playing another disappointing game. Kobe Bryant, the main player on the team was obviously frustrated and after being called for a technical, called the ref a "f(bleep)in fa(bleeeeppp)ot" This gay slur caught on tape and repeatedly replayed for everyone to see caused a huge controversy especially to the gay community.


After an apology and $100,000 later, Kobe Bryant is turning this hurdle as another obstacle to overcome. The Lakers have teamed up with NBA Executives and GLAAD to help fight homophobia in basketball. Lakers spokesman John Black spoke, "We appreciate the input we've received from GLAAD the past two days and will look forward to working with them on ways to help educate ourselves and our fans, and to help keep language like this out of our game."


Kobe is hoping to meet with gay groups to turn this negative outburst "into a positive and raise as much awareness as we can to say that it is not OK to...insult and disrespect." Speaking with President Joe Solmonese of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay lobbying group, affirmed that Kobe was very solemn in his discussion with him. "We had a very sincere conversation in which he expressed his heartfelt regret for the hurt that his words cause," Solmonese said in a statement. He told me that it's never OK to degrade or tease, and that he understands how his words could unfortunately give the wrong impression that this is appropriate conduct."


GLAAD most recently worked with the New York Yankees and World Wrestling Entertainment to also fight homophobia in sports, especially those which are male dominated.





You Just Do You, Imma Do Me

Camille

So lately, I have been having the craziest dreams involving celebrities. For the past few nights, my dreams have included one celebrity and all of them have been males...Interesting.




So this all started the other night when I had a dream where Kobe Bryant and I were homies. My friends and I went to this Lakers basketball party and didn't know where to fit in. Then when Kobe Bryant arrived, he automatically went up to me and kicked in. You're probably thinking there was some kind of inappropriate behavior, but it wasn't. We were platonic friends who were homies.



The Interpretation...
"To dream that you are good friends with a celebrity, represents your idealized version of someone you know in your life. Perhaps you hope that a real-life friend can act more like a particular celebrity. Consider the qualities that you see in this celebrity and how you want your friends to have those qualities. Alternatively, the dream may be trying to compensate for your own lack of self-confidence. You want to escape from your own reality and live the high life. You want to fit in."

The next night, I was at this event with my dad when Sky Blu from LMFAO asked my dad for permission if we could date for 2 weeks. I knew my dad wouldn't approve, and I was also skeptical myself since I know his "Party Rock" lifestyle.




That same day which was yesterday, I took a very short nap. It was very complicated, but one thing that definitely stood out was when my mom took me to get my hair done, when it was already done for some reason. In the dream, my hair was black, blonde, and hot pink, and seemed to work! Then when I was about to leave to watch Dancing With the Stars, my hairdresser's daughter and 2 friends (1 girl and 1 guy) came back home. This is when I noticed Jake Gyllenhaal who was the guy, but a super low key version. Not only did he look like the Prince of Persia character he played, but for some reason much hairier. Before I left I whispered to him, "I know who you are, you can't play me, but I know who you are..." and I went through the door.



The Interpretation...
"To see a celebrity in your dream, represents your beliefs and understanding about him or her. Consider what the celebrity is famous or known for and how you relate to that quality. Something in you waking life has triggered these similar beliefs and feelings. It is not uncommon that your obsession with a certain celebrity may carry over onto your dream world. Celebrities are often seen as heroes and all that is mighty. Also consider any puns within the name."




Now last night, the dream of Sky Blu and I continued where we were actually dating! It honestly seemed like a match made in heaven, we seemed very compatible.

The Interpretation...
"you are longing for someone in your life..and you long for them to have status..powerful and rich!.. your dreams is telling you don't settle for less...your special!"


Since many of the interpretations can be negative and positive, one thing for certain is that these male celebrities I have been dreaming about are ones I value highly. Kobe Bryant has been my favorite NBA player since I was 8! I fell in love in Jake Gyllenhaal ever sing he starred in Prince of Persia. And I have had a thing for Sky Blu ever since he took me onstage to sing La La La to me with Red Foo of LMFAO. From that moment on, I have been uber obsessed with them. I have no idea why this dream theme has been so consistent within these past few days, but all I know is that I don't mind them at all!!! JAKE GYLLENHAAL AND SKY BLU, CALL ME!!! ;D


You Just Do You, Imma Do Me

Camille

KOBE BRYANT...(aka Black Mamba, aka Bean Bryant) is an all-star player with his own line of sneakers sponsored by Nike. With 6 different versions of his sneaker out, it's hard to decipher which one is right for you.



The Nike Air Zoom Kobe I was collaborated with graffiti artist and Nike collaborator Stash. This first official shoe of Kobe's made it's debut during the Lakers and Heat game Christmas Day 2005, but was on sale nationwide February 10, 2006 along with his Nike clothing line. These shoes have a thick looking sole and look kind of stiff.


In 2007, Kobe introduced the Nike Zoom Kobe II (ZKII) to the public. This shoe line called "Weapons of War" combined 3 separate basketball shoes of the Zoom Kobe Sheath, Strength, and Lite. According to Kobe's expectations, this shoe provided speed, strength, traction, increased flexibility, and support. Average price runs between $130-$150.


In January 2008, Kobe released the Nike Zoom Kobe III which was more of a softer looking shoe covered with a netting design.


The Hyperdunks launched April 7, 2008, where Kobe regarded them as the "lightest and strongest basketball shoe ever." These were the shoes used by the U.S. Mens Pro Basketball Team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. This shoe represents different players by having its own colors and characters. This shoe was made ultra famous by the commercial of Kobe jumping over an Ashton Martin full speed. Price range runs between $100-$140.


With the success of the Hyperdunks, Kobe released the Nike Zoom Kobe IV which was a basketball shoe, but didn't look like a typical one. This version features a reptile print on the heel and toe box along with a translucent midsole. The tongue on the shoes have the phrase "Carpe Diem" which in Latin means "Seize the Day."


The Nike Zoom Kobe V was available January 16, 2010 and was the lightest shoes ever made by Nike. The design of the lower top was inspired by the footwear of soccer players and this shoe has skins of snake scale and shark fin.


Kobe's shoe for the 2011 NBA season are the Nike Zoom Kobe VI which look like the Kobe V, but have a netting (or snake skin) design throughout most of the shoe.

I don't know the exact reason for Kobe's sneaker line to be the most popular amongst the public, but love him or hate him, Kobe Bryant is very marketable. Not only is he one of the greatest basketball players of all time, but he knows what he wants when he decides to promote something. The thing that makes the Kobe line of sneakers "tick" is the great design, and it doesn't hurt that everyone wants to be like this superstar. The price range for almost all his shoes are $130-$200 depending on the style and type of edition you prefer. All I know is that Kobe's shoe empire will continue and leave a legacy in the basketball sneaker world.





You Just Do You, Imma Do Me

Camille