Jalen Rose's City Power Rankings aka Black Guy City Power Rankings

VIDEO: Jalen Rose's City Power Rankings 

aka Black Guy City Power Rankings

After spending considerable time together in the Blues City for the 2013 NBA Western Conference Finals. Bill Simmons and Jalen Rose came up with an interesting Power Rankings list:

Jalen Rose, Bill Simmons and David Jacoby on The NBA Playoffs Pt 2 | Jalen Rose Report 
BILL SIMMONS: (33m 52s) So Jalen and I were in Memphis and Memphis is definitely an urban city. It piqued my interest, we'd had lunch every day and we were running out of stuff to talk about – "Hey Jalen, let's say I'm an African-American NBA basketball player. What would be my favourite city to visit?" 

JALEN ROSE: Yay! I love this topic.
SIMMONS: ... We jokingly called it the Black guy city power rankings.
ROSE: Everybody that clips this and uses this for their websites and blogs, make sure you title it right. BLACK–GUY–CITY–POWER–RANKINGS. That's what this segment is called... and I'm black if you haven't noticed so it's OK.
The great thing about being a player in the NBA that plays for 6 teams, besides playing for 6 teams and doing it for a living and getting paid is learning different cultures... I loved all the cities I lived in [Denver, Indiana, Chicago, Toronto, New York, Phoenix]

The essentials for appealing to the Black Demographic include:

- No State Taxes
- Good Strip Clubs, Gentleman Clubs
- Being able to take a nap before "kicking it"
- Great Soul food, Restaurants
- Hard Workers, Blue Collar
- Cool Juke joints
- Respectful, friendly interactions

You'll have to listen to get Jalen's full listings. It originally began as a Mt Rushmore list with no particular order but was eventually revealed as a Countdown.

Black Guy City Power Rankings:
Washington DC, Houston, New Orleans, Atlanta, Memphis

Find Champagning and Campaigning posts here:
- NBA Cities: Eastern Conference
- NBA Cities: Western Conference
- Jalen's Black Guy City Power Rankings
- Sydney celebration

Australian-born Kyrie Irving to host Basketball Camps in Melbourne, July 2013

I'm coming home 2 Melbourne 2 run basketball camps in the July school holidays. Register at http://t.co/qLE0rJkrZI and get on board!!
— Kyrie Irving (@KyrieIrving) June 7, 2013

Australian-born Kyrie Irving will be coming to Melbourne to host a series of Clinics in July. "Uncle Drew" will be teaching 3 tiers of youngbloods for his camp:

Welcome to Kyrie Irving's 1st Pick Hoops - Australian Basketball Camps
KYRIE’S ROOKIE CAMP
Ages 9-12, Boys & Girls, Domestic and Representative Players
KYRIE’S EMERGING STARS CAMP
Ages 13 – 16, Boys & Girls, Domestic and Representative Players
KYRIE’S ALL-STARS
Ages 15 and above, Boys & Girls, Representative to Advanced Players

For those interested in taking home some footage of Kyrie in action you might be out of luck as the Official '1st Pick Hoops' webpage forbids any documentation:

Please note that First Pick Hoops will not be permitting members of the general public or registered camp members use of camera's, video camera's, iPhone's or other Photography devices during this camp.

Listen to Andrew Gaze on 'SEN Sports Sentral' interviewing Kyrie Irving about his Camp, NBA Future and personal history with Australia - Kyrie Irving on 'Morning Glory'.

Update: The former Dukie tries his True Blue Aussie accent at the airport

NBA Finals 2013: Game 7 between Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs is a sports fan's dream

Going into these 2013 NBA Finals with the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs, I didn't have a team to support. Both are historically great teams, the Spurs arguably the most consistent of the 2000s (with respect to the 5x Champion Lakers) and the Miami Heat for this decade. Once the Spurs swept my beloved Grizzlies, I knew I wanted Miami to advance. Despite my love for the underdog, the collision of these two supreme teams was a dream matchup.

The Spurs interestingly dispatched both my favorite teams (Warriors and Grizzlies), The Heat eliminated two teams I admire (Pacers and Bulls). In various times throughout the playoffs I've rooted against these Finalists. Ultimately though as a Sports Fan I'm after the best narrative. The most interesting possible way for the game to unfold, after the Game 6 game thriller I got just that. I had been worried that the Finals would be decided with a ping pong of blowouts and end in a whimper. Crisis averted.

Despite providing great fodder for my NBA memes, I was still waiting to witness a game for the ages that was befitting of this Generational matchup...

Game 6 provided that and much more. It was such a remarkable comeback for the Heat that it provided this absurd news story about Miami's Fairweather Fans

VIDEO: Heat Fans Who Left Early Locked Out Of Thrilling Win

Chris Bosh to Heat fans who left early: ‘Don’t come to Game 7′
MIAMI — Sorry, Heat fans. Chris Bosh is unwilling to forgive your lack of faith.

In the closing minutes of regulation of Game 6 on Tuesday, a significant portion of the home crowd left American Airlines Arena early, missing the Heat’s dramatic 103-100 overtime comeback.

Bosh chastised the fans who headed for the exits during a media session on Wednesday.

"For all those guys [fans] who left, make sure they don’t come to Game 7," he said. "We only want the guys who want to stay. … You never give up. People gave up on us. They can stay where they are and watch the game at home."

Can't wait for Game 7. Its a bonus, I feel like Sports fans have already won. 

Miami Heat: The Avengers or Miami Vice, Dominant but Complacent

Who do you have closing out the 2013 NBA Finals?
As historically good as the Heat have been since they were assembled 3 years ago, they've been vulnerable despite making 3 consecutive Finals appearances. In 2012 they were down 1-2 against the Pacers with Bosh injured for the series. Down 2-3 against the gutsy Celtics, they survived as LeBron went Beast mode and unleashed his "Anger Game". They would finally break away in Game 7 after entering the 4th quarter all tied up.

In these 2013 playoffs, Miami traded blows with the Pacers advancing after 7 games. In a matchup of generationally great teams the Heat are locked in an epic battle with the Spurs. Yet to take the series lead, Miami hope to win the pivotal Game 5. Will they succumb to being complacent (Miami Vice) or will they show a sense of urgency and unleash their true power.

The Avengers: The Heat have won 6 games
by an average of 20pts after  each playoff loss

Miami Vice - The Heat have dropped 4 of their games
after returning serve with blowout victories 

Update: Miami almost buck the trend in Game 6. They finally do in Game 7, winning twice in a row

Miami almost lost twice in a row to surrender the Championship.
They're comeback  from 5 down with  30 seconds to go changed that

NBA Playoff Hashtag Graphic compilation

You'll find most of my NBA graphics on my 30HomeGames Tumblr page but this blog is your best bet to find compilations.
I proudly present the #Hashtag Collection:

Chris Bosh #Raawr

Nate Robinson #Letsdodis

LeBron James #Fiyah

LeBron James and Paul George #Gameon

Joakim Noah #Trolling

30 Home Games: Plans for the Americas 2013 - FIBA Americas Caracas, Venezuela

Europe 2011 highlighted by EuroBasket in Lithuania.
South America 2013 awaits with FIBA Americas in Caracas, Venezuela

I spent 2011 traveling around Europe, amongst other things I was able to have a Basketball experience in each Country I set foot in, highlighted by the month spent in hoopsmad Lithuania for EuroBasket.
In 2013 I'll extend my adventures to South America where I will reconnect with "Familia Feliz" in their native Brazil and enjoy the FIBA Americas Championship in Caracas, Venezuela.

Caracas, Venezuela hosts the FIBA Americas Championship.
By all accounts, its nothing like Disney.

Schedule Announced for the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship
The Championship will be played from August 30th to September 11th in the Poliedro of Caracas with the participation of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and Venezuela.

August 30
11:00 - Jamaica vs. Canada
13:30 - Argentina vs. Paraguay
17:00 - Puerto Rico vs. Brazil
19:30 - Venezuela vs. Mexico

August 31
11:00 - Uruguay vs. Jamaica
13:30 - Canada vs. Puerto Rico
17:00 – Dominican Republic vs. Argentina
19:30 - Paraguay vs. Venezuela

September 1
11:00 - Brazil vs Canada
13:30 - Mexico vs. Paraguay
17:00 - Venezuela vs. Dominican Republic
19:30 - Puerto Rico vs. Uruguay

September 2
11:00 – Dominican Republic vs. Mexico
13:30 - Jamaica vs. Puerto Rico
17:00 - Uruguay vs. Brazil
19:30 - Argentina vs Venezuela

September 3
11:00 - Paraguay vs. Dominican Republica
13:30 - Canada vs. Uruguay
17:00 - Mexico vs. Argentina
19:30 - Brazil vs. Jamaica

Map of South America

General Travel resources
- Smart Traveller: Americas listings
- The Travel Doctor
- Vaccinations for Travel
- National Geographic 'Scam City' video playlist
- Sleeping in Airports
- Hostel Bookers

South America
- Argentina 
- Bolivia 
- Brazil 

Australian Embassy, Brasilia
SES QD 801
Conjunto K, Lote 07
BSB, DF 70200-010, Brasilia, Brazil
Telephone: 55 61 3226 3111
Facsimile: 55 61 3226 1112
E-mail: embaustr@dfat.gov.au 

- Getting a Brazil VISA from S.America (Buenos Aires) - Passport with at least six months validity; Passport photo; Roundtrip ticket to Brazil; Proof of hotel reservation; and financial records, which may include bank statements and proof of earnings
- General Brasil VISA info

- Chile 
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Guyana 
- Paraguay
- Peru
Shipibo Ayahuasca Retreat in the Amazon - Iquitos, Peru
- Suriname
- Uruguay
- Venezuela

Canadian Embassy, Caracas
Avenida Francisco de Miranda con Avenida Sur
Altamira, Caracas, Venezuela
Telephone: (58 212) 600 3000; 600 3042 or 600 3043
Facsimile: (58 212) 263 4981
E-mail: crcas@international.gc.ca
Website: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/venezuela/

- Handling money
- Border Crossing from Colombia
- CouchSurfing suggestions for Baloncesto in Caracas