Posts Tagged ‘Michael Jordan’

Velvet ropes hung gingerly from metal stanchions throughout Nokia Plaza. Satellite lots bordering Staples Center transformed into gifting suites and production base camps.   And if you followed stars’ Tweets, then you know that many of them descended upon Los Angeles for the summer’s biggest awards show.

My regrets, movie and tv junkies –  this awards shindig was of course, for the athletes. With Seth Meyers hosting, the 2011 ESPYs aired last night from the Nokia Theatre at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles.

There were many highlights from the night, especially the music scene — featuring funky soul man, Raphael Saadiq, as the leader of the house band …

… and N’Sync-er turned actor, Justin Timberlake, as a presenter.

Because the worlds of music and sports are so intertwined, Positively Celebrity is celebrating this annual gathering of modern day Goliaths by saluting athletes’ major contributions to music!

Lakers megastar Kobe Bryant had humble beginnings as a rapper. Long before he donned the “24,” Bryant joined forces with R&B singer, Brian McKnight, on “Hold Me” back in 1998 (see Kobe’s rap at the 2:39 mark).

You’d have better luck winning the lottery twice than beating Carl Lewis in a foot race when he was in his prime.  Lewis left competitors in the dust during his track & field days, but his Star Spangled Banner performance at an NBA game in the early 90s left people plain confused.

Unfortunately, Carlos Arroyo’s stint with the Celtics has been uneventful, but at least his music career is seeing some success.  Last year, Arroyo released “Se Va Conmigo,” and the single made a big impression on reggaeton charts.  Check out the remix featuring Ivy Queen.

Without Michael Jordan, the movie, Space Jam, would have never existed. And without the movie, we would have never known the awesomeness that is the Space Jam soundtrack. So thank you, Michael Jordan, for making it possible to enjoy the music of Monica, Seal, and the Quad City DJs on one CD.

For more of the latest music news and reviews from Erica Renee Davis, check back often right here on Positively Celebrity.

You could call Spike Lee the basketball auteur. Not only a huge basketball fan, he’s filmed some of the most famous Nike commercials ever with Michael Jordan; shot a full length feature called “He Got Game,” in 1998 starring Celtics superstar Ray Allen; and is currently working on a documentary feature of Jordan’s last 2 NBA seasons.

His latest hoops project to hit the airwaves is a behind-the-scenes look into the NBA life of Lakers star, Kobe Bryant. The project, entitled “Kobe Doin’ Work,” is a documentary of Kobe’s game vs. The San Antonio Spurs on April 13, 2008. Spike used 30 cameras to captures Kobe’s every move in the game. The film was inspired by the 2006 documentary about soccer star, Zidane, entitled “Zidane: A 21^st Century Portrait.”

Bryant later recorded a commentary for the Lee film, describing his thought process behind every screen, shot, and pass. As it happened, Kobe laid down the commentary just hours after annihilating Spike’s beloved New York Knicks with a 61 point performance. The film airs at 8PM Eastern on ESPN, May 16.

Since his imminent fame after winning a staggering eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, Michael Phelps has been making appearances everywhere from London, to Frosted Flakes boxes, and every other advertisement on TV. What hasn’t Michael Phelps been up to since the Olympics?

He’s replacing Tony the Tiger on Frosted Flakes cereal boxes. He’s destroying computers at the ESPN office in their new ad. He’s the golden boy of Visa. He’s partying in Vegas.  He’s sitting in box seats at the Steelers Browns game. And he’s getting great ratings for SNL.

According to Davie Brown Entertainment, an LA-based talent agency that compiles a celebrity endorsement index, Phelps is now the number one sought-after celebrity beating out basketball legend Michael Jordan for the top spot.

It is said 95% of American consumers now recognize Phelps—an upgrade from 33% prior to the Olympics. As Perez Hilton commented yesterday, Phelps has the Midas touch.

I recall playing blackjack at a casino in Las Vegas several years ago; the woman dealing cards was talking about her experiences dealing at the high rollers tables. She talked about Michael Jordan leaving the worst impression with her and Mike Tyson the best. I was incredulous. Mike Tyson? The Mike Tyson? This was only months before he bit off a chunk of Evander Holyfield’s ear in a bout at the MGM Grand in the summer of 1997. “Yes. He’s such a kind man,” she said.

Thus, you have the walking paradox that is “Iron” Mike Tyson. The documentary feature based on his life (and rise and fall from grace) is called simply Tyson. It hits theaters in November and, back in May, received a rousing ovation from spectators at the Cannes Film Festival. Tyson, who was in attendance that night, spoke about the shocking reception:

“I had no idea this thing was ever going to make it to this grand scale here. I feel totally overwhelmed. I’ve lived a wild and strange life. I’ve used drugs, I’ve had physical altercations with dangerous people, people were angry. I’ve slept with guys’ wives, they wanted to kill me. I’m just happy to be here. It’s just a miracle. I feel good about being here with you.”

Directed by James Toback, Tyson attempts the inconceivable: to make Mike Tyson look human again; and if Cannes was any indication, maybe that blackjack dealer wasn’t so crazy after all.