Due to these happenings, I’ve made it a point to turn this turmoil into creativity and have it influence my art. Maybe this a reflection of the fact that as a child I was always taught to face things head on, regardless of how bothered or fearful I may have felt. It is with that in mind that I challenge you to scan through the images below and find some positive for yourself. Looking forward to the feedback here….

And let us never forget….

“Living things have been doing just that for a long, long time. Through every kind of disaster and setback and catastrophe. We are survivors.”

- Robert Fulghum

We’ll start with one which debuted just a few weeks back, as JB released, “Break To Build”. This commercial and it’s title mimic the principal idea of boot camp in many, fundamental ways. With that said, let’s jump start the journey. Please follow along…

“Break To Build”
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To many (present company included) the Jumpman means more then simply footwear and apparel. Some consider it a status symbol as, although it is not necessarily on the same level of the luxury goods market pricewise, it is more expensive then other products in it’s category. Meanwhile, there is another group of folks (I’m not ashamed to admit I fit here) that consider it symbolic in a much different way. They view “all things Jordan” to equate directly to the kind of work ethic and intensity which his name has been synonymous with for more then the past two decades. This next video, “Maybe It’s My Fault”, is a testament to that point and another TCNY favorite.

“Maybe It’s My Fault”
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The feeling of defeat and lose is one we all agonize over during stages of our lives. More then likely, these instances are more relevant in your memory then your victories or gains. In the next commercial, “Failure”, MJ recounts the numerous times he himself has had these feelings. The irony here is that when we think of his career, we only think of his amazing feats. Funny, isn’t it?

“Failure”
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Anxiety is such a tough obstacle for many young people nowadays. Even as an adult it can bring unneeded and additional stress. “Look Me In The Eyes” is a piece which explores this exact state of mind and encourages the virtues of patience and self awareness to us all. In life, these specific characteristics are some of the most important, yet often lost.

“Look Me In The Eyes”
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Finally, JB’s latest features it’s most recent addition, Dwayne Wade. In “Nightmare’s Never Sleep”, the haunting voice which narrates the video describes the importance of mastering reaction, agility, focus and control while D.Wade displays his abilities amidst smoke and concrete. Accompanying the commercial is a game available to all on the Jordan Brand site which you can access by **clicking here**. Enjoy the ad, then play the game and keep an eye out for another batch of our favorite Jordan commercials coming soon.

“Nightmare’s Never Sleep”
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Become Legendary y’all!!

Okay, um… WOW! I need these RIGHT NOW!!! Set to release as part of Nike’s spring lineup, these bad boys are gonna fly off the shelves of retailers everywhere. Be sure to jump aboard and cop at first sight!

[Info and pics via CaliRoots]

Due to the recent playoff berth of my beloved NY Jets, I want to take a few moments to address some things which I’ve heard, read and witnessed as of late. And, before I “go in”, I want to issue a slight disclaimer — we here at TCNY are not simply casual fans, we are dedicated to our favorite sports teams with the greatest of devotion and loyalty. With that said, we are realistic about our expectations for these franchises and know not to expect too much from a struggling group while also holding a squad to the highest of aspirations when they have the talent and personnel necessary to achieve great success.

With the mandatory warning out of the way, I want to start by saying that IF Saturday afternoons game in Cincinnati does end in a loss I have nothing but congratulatory remarks for the entire New York Jets franchise on an overly successful season in 2009. To reach the postseason in the NFL is a great accomplishment and furthermore, to do it with both a rookie Quarterback and Head Coach is only that much more impressive.

Now, IF we happen to go into Cincy and defeat Mr. Ocho and his band of Bungles, that does validate the organization and the various beliefs about “backing into the playoffs” must cease as they will have beaten a very good team in a very meaningful game. Again, reaching the playoffs in the modern era of the NFL is not an easy task and winning in the postseason is even more difficult. So I look forward to the game and will be rooting for my team throughout, however, win or lose I will be wearing a smile regardless. I hope fellow Jets fans will follow suit.

Cheryl Cole, born Cheryl Ann Tweedy, is a 26 year old English singer, songwriter, dancer, fashion designer and author. Cole rose to fame in ‘02 after becoming a member of the pop group Girls Aloud through the UK reality television program “Popstars”. And sorry fellas, but she recently wed her soccer star boyfriend, Ashley Cole.

Now, if you’re like me, this is a very tough question as I’ve always had difficulties handling these situations. Don’t get me wrong, I think it is an incredibly kind gesture for someone to offer to purchase a gift, however, I’ve always felt a bit awkward. For instance, what if you give a person an idea and it is too expensive for what they had planned? That would be a weird moment. Or, perhaps you’re asked by a loved one who has no clue how to find the things which interest you — “Sorry Grandma, I thought you be able to find me Air Yeezy’s” — it’s simply not going to happen.

Aside from all of that, there is the fact that growing up poor has taught me that exchanging gifts is not all the holidays have to offer. This special time of the year should also be about spending time with those who have been by your side — even when times were grime. It wasn’t until I began making my own money that I truly got into the spirit of giving tangible gifts to others and I must admit, the feeling I have when my well-thought gift brings a smile to the recipients face is incomparable. And that central idea is what sparked the concept for this, TCNY’s Official 2009 Holiday Shopping Guide For Men. Just because some of us feel uncomfortable communicating our desires doesn’t mean we shouldn’t love the gifts we’re given, right? Below is a list of items which are cherished, owned and/or desired by the friends and family of TCNY and we’re sure the men in your life would truly enjoy each and every one. Happy shopping y’all!

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— Palladium Boots

Palladium opened it’s doors nearly 100 years ago and got their start making tires for the aviation industry during the WWII era. It wasn’t until 1947 that they launched into the footwear business with the idea of making a boot that was as durable as a tire. Fast forward to present day and they have become world renowned for their modern manufacturing techniques, use of premium materials as well as cutting edge style. Oh, and in case that wasn’t enough, these are the most comfortable boots I’ve ever worn — true story.

Check out all their styles over at **Palladium Boots**

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— Nike Air Max Lebron VII White

Ok, so we are by no way Bron Bron fans here, but I have to be honest… this is one of my favorite functional basketball shoes ever! They fit incredibly well and provide cushioning that is unparalleled in this category. I seriously suggest this clean colorway as well, but you know there will be many more coming available in the near future.

Head on over to the **Nike Store** for more info and availability.

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— Proper Cloth Custom Dress Shirts

Enough with the footwear, let’s get to the threads! Proper Cloth is a New York based company which began in 2008. All of the fabrics used are brought over from Europe and/or Japan and each shirt is hand sewn right here in the US to your exact specifications. These guys started with an idea and ended up with a fantastic business model and an even better product. Even easier, if you’re concerned about the fit or if you don’t happen to know your guy’s measurements, this is certainly a spot which would be an excellent candidate for a gift card…

But don’t believe me, hit their site and experience it yourself — **Proper Cloth**

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— The Economist (Magazine Subscription)

As I have grown into a business professional I have found this magazine to be extremely helpful. The Economist doesn’t just specialize in topics of finance, but rather explores the business and political avenues which traditionally transpire behind the scenes and are unseen by the masses. One of the most intriguing things about the magazine is it’s anonymity. You will never see an author stake his or her claim to any article they publish. According to the company’s website, the purpose of this is to convey the idea of speaking with a collective voice. In addition, anonymity also allows the magazine to employ multiple authors on one article which inherently prevents the possibility of potential bias. However, the greater reason for the cloak is to emphasize the integrity of the work and ensure that the language on the page is more important the who may have written it.

All in all, this publication is essential to any business professional who wants to excel at what they do. Need I say more?

Amazon offers a fantastic price on a one year subscription, **click here** to view.

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— Men’s Clinique 3-Step Skin Care

I’m sure we’re going to receive some feedback on this one, but truth be told, good hygiene is extremely important and a person’s face is the first thing seen each day we leave our homes. That should be reason enough to make sure you take care of it and Clinique has the right products to help. Their 3-Step program is simple and easy to follow, as it should be with men’s skin care! The package consists of just a cleanser, exfoliater and moisturizer. I swear by this stuff and for those of you who know a special gent with oily skin, trust me, he’s gonna appreciate this gift.

Create the perfect gift package over at **Clinique.com**

Well, that’s all we’ve got for now, but stay tuned for new additions as well as the Ladies’ Edition coming soon.

Anyway, I’ll shut up now and allow the drooling to continue. If you need to see more of Keeley, head to her site — www.KeeleyHazell.uk

Because like many of you out there, I too suffer from “gamblitis”. That is the term we here at TCNY use to define our erratic betting strategies used to “beat Vegas” on a weekly basis during the NFL season. And due to my recent success as of late, I’ve decided to share a few of my picks with you! Take a look below as I’ve picked a few potential locks so you all can join in the risk and reward for this week.

* Broncos at Ravens
— Favorite: Ravens, by 3 and a half [O/U: 41 and a half]
— Synopsis: Yours truly know that the Broncos will inevitably lose, but this ain’t gonna be the week. Denver’s Rookie Head Coach, Josh McDaniels, has his team rolling and believing in his system. This guy has turned Kyle Orton into a viable NFL Quarterback and transformed former problem child WR, Brandon Marshall, into a responsible teammate.
— TCNY’s Pick: Broncos to cover and the under

* Vikings at Packers
— Favorite: Packers, by 3 [O/U: 47 and a half]
— Synopsis: This may sound familiar, but yours truly know that the Vikings will inevitably lose, but this ain’t gonna be the week. Mr. Favre is returning to Lambeau and he also has his team rolling right along. Now, I know the Packers’ have had this game circled on the calendar since Brett’s signing and they’ve been chomping at the bit to get after him and that’s awesome, really. But there is one obstacle in the way — Adrian Peterson. “All Day” hasn’t been stopped all season and I doubt the suspect Green Bay defense will be the team to neutralize him.
— TCNY’s Pick: Vikings to cover and the under

* Rams at Lions
— Favorite: Lions, by 4 [O/U: Off]
— Synopsis: Here’s an interesting scenario, Detroit is the favorite! Come on, that doesn’t happen too often folks!! Now listen, I highly doubt the Rams will wind up replicating the Lions winless effort of last season, but they ain’t gonna change that this week. Even if Megatron ends up missing the contest and Stafford’s injury keeps him out as well, backup QB Daunte Culpepper and RB Kevin Smith are enough to lift the Lions over St Louis on Ford Field.
— TCNY’s Pick: Lions to cover

Good luck y’all and I hope these suggestions help! Let me know how you do.

** Number One Featuring Nicki Minaj, Buckshot, Crown Royyal & Joe Budden

** Number Two Featuring Wale, Nipsey Hussle, Gsan & KRS-One

(( Note to BET – Rap should never need subtitles!!! ))

** Number Three Featuring Mos Def, Black Thought & Eminem

Here we go! This’ll be the 40th time we’ve been in this position, and more importantly, it’s going to be the 27th time we win a championship! Mark my words, Yankees in 6. A-Rod is going to play well and certainly earn his first ring, but this is going to be a time when the new additions — Sabathia, Burnett and Teixiera will really shine.

Man, Wednesday can’t come fast enough!!