THREE MUST-READ ARTICLES FROM THIS WEEK: SHAMMGOD, JOHN & JESSE, & TRESSIE

This has been an amazing week for “must-read” articles. I couldn’t let the weekend go by without recommending these three articles to you. #WESEEIT

1. “The Word of God” by God Shammgod (on the Player’s Tribune): This first-person article brought me right back to 1996. I grew-up playing hoops in the 90s, so everything Shammgod talked about I felt was woven into the fabric of my life. New York point guards were my Northstar, even from afar in Richmond. I remember getting the annual Street and Smith Magazine and looking for players from Richmond and New York City, that was it. I followed NYC point guards and tried the best I could to emulate their ball handling. The legend of Shammgod was already well established before he made it to Providence. In many ways, the article solidified the mythological status of NYC hoops in the 90s. I consider it a blessing that Shammgod let us into his world for this article.

2. “Behind John Thompson’s closed-door meeting with drug kingpin Rayful Edmond III” By John Thompson and Jesse Washington (on The Undefeated): Jesse Washington is a five-star writer. I find something new and noteworthy in every article he drops on theundefeated.com. This article is an excerpt from John Thompson’s new autobiography which Washington co-wrote. The article highlights the now mythical meeting between the Hall of Fame coach (Thompson) and legendary DC drug kingpin Rayful Edmond. Edmond was 23 at the time. A huge basketball fan who had established close ties to two of Georgetown’s players, one being a future star, Alonzo Mourning. Thompson never talked in detail about the meeting until this book. The article is informative and exhilarating. Make sure you place I CAME AS A SHADOW on your holiday list.

3. “Lizzo, “Body Positivity,” and the Impossible Expectations for Black Women’s Bodies” by Tressie McMillan Cottom (from Harper Bazaar) One day before I read Tressie’s essay, my wife, Aria, and I had a discussion about Lizzo and people’s outrage over her announcing a 10-day juice cleanse. Okay, let me be honest, Aria did the talking and I just tried not to say anything crazy. But, as always, Tressie put to paper what so many of us were thinking in her first sentence, “Lizzo never stood a chance.” Tressie is truly a genius. Don’t take my word for it ask the MacArthur Foundation. She literally thinks for a living and when it comes to this topic Tressie can not only apply academic research but her personal experience as well. The article reinforces what Aria and I were talking about that morning, it was never really about Lizzo and more about how people want to put Black women’s bodies into a box that fits them. Tressie helps us understand the history and why it’s happening now. Also, if you haven’t already, pick up a copy of THICK.

#WESEEIT