When asked whether he has ever fully comprehended the public fascination with his physical stature, personality, and his vast interests, Abdul Jabbar laughs and says, it not like I am Halle Berry or something. it his reality.

He is a walking, breathing basketball bible, his brilliant mind carrying thousands of stories from his days at Power Memorial in New York, UCLA, the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, and a not so pleasant life after basketball. What aOlernKienOP air jordan spizike stealth black Top 7 Tips to Master Time Management and 3 more, he felt inclined to speak out when statues of air jordan 5 v retro black metallic silver fire red Magic Johnson and announcer Chick Hearn were erected at Staples Center before his.

Abdul Jabbar arrived in Los Angeles in 1975, the post Wilt Chamberlain Jerry West era, and helped reestablish the Lakers as contenders before Magic arrived in 1979 and took the Lakers to greatness.

that I talked to is happy to see it happen, Abdul Jabbar said of his statue, set aOlernKienOP air jordan 2010 anniversary white grey silver Surprise adjournment in Roone to be unveiled this season. funny, for me, I kind of was like annoyed, and that why, last spring, I mouthed off about it. Once I got to that point, I was OK.

I in the Hall of Fame and people appreciate my career. So now to have it turn around so quickly, it rather ironic. cherished his privacy during his playing days and was considered aloof and unapproachable, especially when compared with Johnson, who as a 20 year old embraced the Los Angeles fan base, the lifestyle, and his leadership role with a large, toothy smile. Abdul Jabbar remained rather introverted throughout his career, something that may have affected how he was embraced or not embraced following his 20 year playing career.

was kind of a trend, you know, at that time, he said. remember when I started, I came in on the era when the press didn ask anything about your private life and that stayed out of the public. You did your thing and people related to you as a sports figure.

was 1969. By the time I got out in 1989, you got Dennis Rodman running around in wedding dresses. And now another 20 years has passed and I think it reached some kind of balance.

was not trying to inject myself into that issue, but being as visible as I was, I had no choice but to have to cope with it. appreciation for his accomplishments six MVP awards, six NBA titles,

owner of the game most unstoppable shot in the Skyhook has come slowly. He has not been one of the game celebrated players, partly because of his reclusive style, and partly because his lack of brashness Air Jordan 17s was misunderstood.

it doesn make me bitter at all, he said. feel better aOlernKienOP air jordan 4 green glow dark grey green glow cement grey black How To Dress that I adjusted to it and realized my life doesn really have much to do with that. I have to live my life, that the most important thing. announced a few years ago that he had been diagnosed with leukemia, but he said it in total remission.

always tell people that what I would have done if I had to have a real job, he said of writing. think it more rewarding than basketball because you leave a legacy. The whole interest I have in education, it allows me to make a statement about that and have it live beyond my lifetime. I very proud of what I have written and hope, as the years go on, that people relate to it and appreciate it. up during the civil rights era and emerging as a prominent athlete during the late 1960s fueled Abdul Jabbar thirst for education and political activity. He teamed with Bill Russell, Jim Brown, and Bobby Mitchell, air jordan 15 retro laser black gold among others, to support Muhammad Ali decision to refuse induction into the military. Political activity among African American athletes was customary during those times; in baseball, Curt Flood sacrificed his career to achieve a semblance of free aOlernKienOP air jordan 13 infrared black infrared 23 black Mill Creek Wilderness Area T agency.

Many current athletes refrain from political activity for fear of losing endorsement dollars or marring their well manicured images.

watched the civil rights movement unfold and that had a profound effect on me, said air jordan 4 thunder black tour yellow Abdul Jabbar. knew that black Americans had to overcome something that was formidable. It wasn just an inconvenience, it could cost aOlernKienOP air jordan 3 true blue 2011 Newton Gravity III running shoe review you your life.

still haven recovered from the effects of slavery and Jim Crow, economically and many other ways, and at least now there been progress.

Abdul Jabbar understands current athletes who choose not to risk earnings and image to be more politically active.

all depends on what you value and what important to you, he said.

But he does encourage them to become more educated in terms of handling money.

you come to the NBA now, and you are a top pick, it serious wealth, he said. league is doing what it can. I was involved recently, just two weeks ago [in the NBA rookie symposium].

can tell, you see the guys with big earrings and big chains. It sad. Some of the guys who understand what going on plan to air jordan 4 retro military blue white be businessmen. with Abdul Jabbar are rarely limited to basketball. science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, because subjects are going to be the foundation for jobs in the 21st century. So if young minorities don get that and don focus on that, then they are going to be again left behind. We have had enough being left behind. I would like to see that change. Abdul Jabbar continues to be misunderstood. The difference now is that he is more willing to offer time to reveal his complex personality.

LeBron James may have made some questionable decisions in terms of his public persona over the past few years, but he is definitely an astute businessman who has made sound decisions and can trust his inner circle. So it is not surprising that he has chosen to leave Creative air jordan 16 xvi retro black varsity red Artists Agency to sign with aOlernKienOP air jordan 8 viii retro black chrome Your Health is Important Get Fit For L his childhood friend, Rich Paul, who is becoming a certified agent.

James has formed a close knit group of friends dubbed the Four Horsemen that includes Paul, who should quickly become a power broker in the agent game, weakening the CAA stable and giving credence to the anti traditional route to becoming an agent.

It interesting how a group of younger aOlernKienOP air jordan 6 rings laser white black Venting to Your Friends About Your Spo cohorts is now branching out to form agencies, perhaps to offer competition to those larger conglomerates such as CAA, Wasserman Media Group, and BDA Sports. Paul now represents the game biggest star in James, who already has locked onto several endorsements and may be open to exploring acting roles.

Enough aOlernKienOP air jordan 12 gamma blue black gamma blue gym red white Sold Price for 9 St time has elapsed since the 2010 to where James image has been repaired. He won an NBA title with the Miami Heat last spring and backed that up with a gold medal for Team USA at the London Olympics.

The next major issue for James could be free agency. He has aOlernKienOP air jordan 11 retro concord 2011 Louisville knocks off No a player option for the final two years of his Miami contract and could opt out following the 2013 14 season. James will be 29 and still in his prime when he is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent, and it is uncertain whether the Heat will remain a title contending team after two more Air Jordan 18s seasons with Dwyane Wade already 30, Chris Bosh with the same opt out clause as James, and most aOlernKienOP air jordan 4 iv air force one fusion ajf 4 varsity red cement grey Mary Kat of the remaining roster aging.

James has given no hint that he wants to leave Miami, but with the Heat already having stashed away a title, the pressure to stay has lessened and there could be a handful of teams that would prepare their salary caps to make a run at James.

The departure of James from CAA was amicable, but it is a sign that these big agencies need to be aware of the emergence of younger agents who are peers with the players. Paul may have begun a new trend.

After years of futility and ineptitude, the city of Air Jordan 19s Seattle voted to approve a $490 million arena plan fueled by San Francisco businessman Chris Hansen. The city did not make this easy, agreeing to the deal only after Hansen agreed to personally cover any expenses over budget.

Seattle has been without basketball since 2008, when the Sonics headed for Oklahoma City, and because of shabby leadership and ambivalence, it missed an opportunity to stick it to owner Clay air jordan 15 original flint grey white Bennett, who agreed to pay the city $30 million if it devised an arena plan and did not have a new team within a year of the relocation.

Under previous civic leadership, Seattle failed to even come air jordan x 10 chicago retro 2012 up with an arena idea. But Hansen has to be credited with putting the NBA and NHL idea back into the minds of those who swore off basketball when the Sonics left and commissioner David Stern seemingly aided the relocation to help his friend Bennett.