#MNR: SPECIAL DELIVERY

#MNR: SPECIAL DELIVERY
 
“You want a jewel? Don’t be cruel. It’s authentic. Don’t be fooled by these phony accusations, backlash, and slander. Front, in their publicity stunts and propaganda.”
G. Dep
 
The Deputy is home y’all.
 
After thirteen years in state corrections for a cold case murder he committed in 1993 and confessed to 2010, former Bad Boy recording artist and Eastside Harlem native G. Dep is a free man. For a few years now, I’ve been fervent in my support of the state of New York releasing Dep. He did his time. Rest in peace to the man (John Henkel) whose life he took long ago, but I didn’t know that nigga. I know Dep. Welcome home.
 
Caitlin Clark had a historic 2023-2024 basketball season and NCAA career. She led the nation in scoring AND assists (31.7 & 9). She obliterated the NCAA all-time scoring record (3,921). She is certain to be the top pick at 4.15 at the 2024 WNBA Draft. She brought her Iowa Lady Hawkeyes to the brink of immortality. But she fell just short.
 
The South Carolina Lady Gamecocks defeated Iowa 87-75 for their third title in seven years. SC withstood an early 10-0 Iowa run and 18 first quarter points from Super Caitlin. A coaching adjustment on Caitlin and heavy board work were the difference for Carolina. Senior center Kamila Cardoso led the way with 15 points, 17 rebounds, and three blocks. Raven Johnson, the “coaching adjustment,” sacrificed her offensive game to hold Super Caitlin to just 12 points after the first quarter. Freshman sensation Tessa Johnson led the Lady Gamecocks in scoring with 19 points. Nine ladies played 14 or more minutes in a team effort that was indicative of their surprising undefeated season. After all, this was supposed to be a rebuilding season. Coach Staley lost five starters to the WNBA. 38 up, 38 down. Congratulations, ladies.
Big ups to 215 legend Dawn Staley on her third national title, putting her in rarified air. Dawn joins Geno, Mrs. Pat (RIP my love), Bigot Kim Mulkey, and Tara VanDerveer as the only coaches with three or more championships. She just pulled even with Tara. She’s one behind Bigot Kim. She’s got a way to go before reaching Mrs. Pat and Geno. My lady won eight of those things. Geno has 11 [and counting]. But hey...this thing Dawn has created is far from over. This was the Gamecocks’ fourth consecutive Final Four appearance. Dawn has won the Naismith Coach of the Year award three years in a row. She has seven ladies returning and a top-rated recruiting class on the way. Freshman phenomenon Juju Watkins and her Lady Trojans of Southern California have the number one recruiting class of 2024. 2024-2025 is going to be as exciting as its predecessor. I can’t wait. Girls rule.
 
I love you, Dawn. #BlackExcellence #BlackGirlMagic
 
The men’s championship will be decided tonight as the defending champion UConn Huskies take on Naismith Player of the Year Zach Edey and the Purdue Boilermakers. This blog will be live in these streets by the time the national championship is decided. I have two predictions. The first was made in October, when I proclaimed that Coach Dan Hurley would repeat and win his second NCAA title. The other prediction is that UConn big man Donovan Clingan is going to have his way with Edey.
 
This past weekend, WrestleMania XL was a nightmare – an American nightmare. But we’ll get to that.
 
WrestleMania XL (40) was a two-night extravaganza, held on 4.6-4.7 at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, the home of my beloved Eagles. More than 150K fans attended this year’s event, with crowds of over 72K both nights. Wrestlers braved the elements to provide ardent fans with non-stop action both nights. Night one highlights included Rhea Ripley retaining her world title, defeating Becky Lynch. Sami Zayn finally had his night of serendipity, defeating the seemingly invincible Gunther for his Intercontinental Title, a strap he held for 666 days (a WWE record). In an exciting Six-man Undisputed WWE Tag Team Ladder Match for the Undisputed Tag Team championship (2 sets of belts), A-Town Down Under won the SmackDown titles and Awesome Truth snatched the Raw titles. Big ups to R-Truth. He finally had his signature WM moment.  My future wife Jade Cargill made her WM debut in a Six-Woman Tag Match beside Bianca Belair and Naomi. They defeated Damage CTRL. In the Saturday night main event (pun intended, IYKYK) The Bloodline tag duo of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and tribal leader Roman Reigns teamed up against Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins. Yadda, yadda, yadda...The Rock pinned Cody Rhodes, meaning Sunday night’s match with him versus Reigns for the Universal Title would be fought under Bloodline rules, basically meaning Reigns and company could do whatever the fuck they wanted to do. Oh, what a night.
 
For me, night two came after having already watched the Yankees beat the Blue Jays and South Carolina defeat Iowa earlier that afternoon. That came a day after watching night one of WM as well as the Yankees beat Toronto in primetime and both men’s national semifinals. I’d seen plenty of sport by the opening match Sunday evening. I was ready for the main event around 2:30 (hours before the first match of the night). But just for the record, Seth Rollins, fatigued from his tag match the night before, dropped his World Heavyweight Championship belt to Drew McIntyre, who then dropped the belt to Damian Priest. Priest cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase with the golden ticket to a title match at any time, immechiately. Ha Ha (Nelson from The Simpsons voice). Social media whore Logan Paul retained his U.S. Championship, defeating RKO and Kevin Owens in a Triple Threat match. My vanilla boo Bayley won the WWE Women’s Championship, defeating IYO SKY in a good and well-paced match. Night two was crazy. I loved every minute. But there was one match left to be fought.
 
Cody Rhodes finally defeated WWE Universal Heavyweight champion Roman Reigns to claim the belt for the first time in his career. This has been his mission since his return to the WWE a couple of years ago. He is the winner of the last two Royal Rumbles and fell just short of beating Reigns to claim the strap in WM39. Reigns held the belt for over three years. Whoa, oh! The match was well paced and entertaining from front to back. Errbody and they mama made an appearance (Bloodline rules, remember), from both Uso brothers to one of the Bloodline cousins (I don’t know that nigga’s name) to John Cena to Seth Rollins (in his Shield garb) to The End Boss (The Rock) to the Dead Man (yes, the Undertaker). Taker’s chokeslam on Dwayne Johnson helped to clear the way for three consecutive Cross Rhodes, followed by 1-2-3. It was time for a change. A change has come. Congratulations, Cody. You finished the story.
 
 
I’m back to business next week. Trust. This one was for the little girl and little boy in us all. Long live sport.
 
Y’all know where the fuck to @ us. 


P.S. I see you Coach Cal. Arkansas? I'm with it. The swoosh remains.