Sports & Hip-Hop: The Jets Collapse, SF’s QB Controversy & More Posted by Lucas Garrison on 11/28/12 | Filed under Sports, Sports & Hip-Hop

A Note from Nathan S: Since the dawn of time, or at least since N.W.A. started rocking Raiders hats, sports and hip-hop have gone together like Rosa Acosta stretching videos. So while most sites might just recap the last week's biggest sports stories, we're upping the level of difficulty and attempting to recap the week's biggest sports stories...via music.

I'll let the homie Lucas Garrison take it from here:

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Dilated Peoples "Back Again"


There is an old football saying that goes something like, “If you have two starting quarterbacks than you don’t have one.” The logic here is that every team should have a go-to player under center and if you are not sure which of your guys that is, then neither one is fit for duty. While this rule is true for the most part (just ask Cardinals fans), there are always a few exceptions. One of those exceptions would be the quarterback controversy in San Francisco.

Last year, one of the better stories in the league was the rise of Alex Smith. Smith had woefully underperformed for his whole career, but once Jim Harbaugh took the reigns, Smith turned over a new leaf. After being labeled a bust, Smith took the 49ers all the way to the NFC Championship, beating the heavily favored Saints with a late touchdown run.



After a great performance, Smith earned the job and entered the season as the Niners’ starting QB. Smith is a role player for this team. He is a game manager not a playmaker, which is the perfect fit for this run-heavy, defensive based team. He is not expected to make incredible throws or toss 40 plus balls; his duty is to move the sticks when needed and limit turnovers; and he did this well. Smith leads the league in completion percentage with 70% completion rating, and has only thrown more than 30 passes in a game this season, two of which were losses. While he played adequately enough, many complained that he was too conservative, often throwing to his check down receivers instead of going deep. Just take a look at his highlights from week five against the bills



As you can see, Smith is not explosive and doesn’t really go deep. That is why, despite his 70% completion rating, he ranks 29th in yards, which is even behind the beleaguered Matt Cassell. So while he does not make mistakes, he certainly doesn’t make plays, which is something every team needs fromt their field general. That is why, after Smith went out with a concussion against the rams, many were excited to see what 2nd year backup Colin Kaepernick could do. In his firs start against the stout Bears defense, Kaepernick proved why the 49ers moved up in the 2011 draft to get him.

While it was known that he can run, as the 49ers have used him in wildcat/designed run situations, what was not known was how he would fare when having to make throws. Well The Nevada alum proved he can throw as he went 16 of 23 for 243 yards and 2 touchdowns, leading the team to an important 32-7 victory. Last week, against the Saints Kaepernick threw for 231 yards and had both a passing and rushing touchdown. While he is very young, its clear Kaepernick possesses a spark, which seems to be lacking in Alex Smith. There aren’t too many stats to backup Kaepernick right now, as he only has two starts, but he certainly passes the eye test. He has the ability to make plays with his feet and shows a strong playmaking ability. Just watch the highlights below and tell me he doesn’t have the intangibles and playmaking ability that all the greats do.



While Kaepernick is good, I still wonder if it was a good move calling him the starter. I get that he makes plays and is a dual-threat, but is that really more valuable than Smith’s playoff experience? When the Niners, who have second best record in the NFC reach the playoffs, I find it hard to believe that Kaepernick will have the same kind of success. NFL playoff games are much different from regular season games in terms of intensity, and Kaepernick has no experience in these kind of situations. Also, I can’t imagine Kaepernick going into Lambeau field or the Medowlands and being able to stay calm in those kinds of hostile environments. Alex Smith, while not the sexy pick, is a better choice to lead this team, who relies more on their defense and a smash mouth run game than the quarterback.

I chose Dilated Peoples, “Back Again”, because Smith should be “back again”. While there is no question Kaepernick is the future, it is not time to change the foundation of your team. If it aint broke don’t fix it; and the Smith led Niners weren’t broke so why make a change and change the chemistry of your team with the meaningful football still ahead of you.

A Tribe Called Quest "Award Tour"


The Heisman Trophy is given to the most outstanding college football player of the year and is one of the most prestigious awards given in any sport. Famous past winners of the trophy include Cam Newton in 2010 and Bo Jackson in 1985. Normally, the race for the Heisman trophy is littered with quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs, in fact only one defensive player, Michigan’s cornerback Charles Woodson, has ever won the award. This bias is mostly a result of the nature of the game. Offensive players are under the spotlight much more than their defensive counterparts and have more chances to make highlight reel plays and put up gawdy numbers. Well this years race is exciting because there is finally a defensive player who is in the running for the trophy; Notre Dame Line Backer Manti T’eo.



I could list off stats of why T’eo is worthy of being the 2nd defensive player to win the Heisman, such as Te'o’s 103 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, or his 7 interceptions, which is tied for 2nd in the FBS (that includes defensive backs as well), but T’eo is much more than statistics. He is the heart and soul of this Notre Dame team, whose defense is currently ranked 6th, above the much talked about squads of LSU and Georgia. He has led the team to an undefeated season, leading to number 1 ranking and a spot in the national championship. You can tell that how much he means to his team, and the university, just by watching these videos.



This second video is from a pep rally before Notre Dame took on rival Michigan. Before watching, you should know that early in the Fall, Manti T’eo lost both his girlfriend and grandmother within a 6 hour span, yet did not miss a game, and even put on his best performances in the two games following their deaths.



According to the Heisman website, “The Heisman Memorial Trophy will be awarded to an individual designated as the outstanding college football player in the United States.” Well you cant tell me there is a player more outstanding than Manti T’eo. If you watch a game you can see what he brings to this team. He commands you attention and always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Not only does he play well, but he inspires his teammates and is the backbone of this undefeated squad. Its time to buck the trend of offensive players winning the Heisman and hopefully, Manti T’eo can win and forever change how the Heisman is awarded.

A Tribe Called Quest’s “Award Tour” is the best dong for this topic, because if all goes as it should T’eo winning awards like the legendary hip-hop crew.

Juvenile "Back That Azz Up"


Has their been a more disappointing team this year than the Jets? Okay, maybe the Eagles have sucked more, but that should not be an source of comfort for Jets fans. While The Jets have been bad this season they hit rock bottom last week. On Thanksgiving, the Jets had a chance to turn things around by beating their hated rival, the New England Patriots. Well, they certainly didn’t do that, in fact they got blown out. The worst of it came in the second quarter when they gave up and astounding 21 points in 52 seconds. The performance was so bad that it cased Fireman ED to hang up his hat as the team’s unofficial mascot.

And as you can see below, Ed isn’t the only one who was embarrassed and outraged by the performance. Take a look at how the fans treated their team as they walked into the locker room at halftime.



The awful display of what can barely be called football was highlighted (or low-lighted) by one of the funniest bloopers I have ever seen. Sanchez attempted to scramble, but ran into the large backside of one of his offensive lineman and proceeded to fumble. Making matters worse, the butt fumble was retuned for a Patriots touchdown. I laughed for literally 10 minutes after it happened and haven’t been able to stop watching the play. It might be the worst, most unathletic play I have ever seen. I know a lot of times people say “I could have done better”, but in this case, I am pretty sure anyone could have done better. Serisously… its that bad.



I chose Juveniles "Back That Ass" up because If it wasn’t for Sanchez’ miraculously awful play, in which he ran into a lineman’s ass, nobody could ever say butt fumble without catching a few weird looks. J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!

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