I’m pushing 25-years old. The usual age where an individual begins to comprehend information is around 3 or 4 years old; For the sake of this article lets say four. So, 21 out of my 25 years I have been a fan of the New York Knicks. It’s something that has been embedded in me from my mother, uncle, cousins, place of origin etc. Consequently, I am no stranger to disappointment, frustration, the Isiah Thomas era (which I prefer to so eloquently refer to as “the great depression” for reasons easily understandable to anyone even slightly knowledgeable of professional basketball) and the current era of the franchise which I refer to as the “pump fake.”

For years I have been subjected to ridicule, laughter and the butt of many jokes (just like every other loyal Knicks fan; I believe only 10 of us exist) about being loyal to such a tumultuous franchise. All of that was cool but now more than ever it’s demoralizing. Why? I should be used to it by now right? Well this year was supposed to be different. That’s what every fan of a losing franchise tells themselves at the beginning of a new season. It’s a lie! We all know it’s a lie, but we say it ever so gingerly, grasping onto the small sense of hope that for some reason we actually believe the most foolish of things. I’m sure Redskins fans understand what I am trying to convey.

All unrealistic expectations aside this was supposed to be our year. Last season we acquired Carmelo Anthony, one of if not the most prolific scorer in the NBA to pair up with our building block (though extremely fragile) Amare Stoudemire in a trade that seemed to be pointing the franchise in the right direction. A winning direction! This off-season we acquired Tyson Chandler to be the defensive anchor for a team not known for anything close to playing defense on this side of the Hudson river. Easily we now have the most talented frontline in basketball. To everyone, both fans and analyst alike, this was a sign that things were going to change for the Knicks. No longer were we to be haunted by the ghost of Isiah Thomas’s horrible decisions that handicapped us for a decade. We are committed, focused, dedicated to winning. Along with these new acquisitions came raised expectations and rightfully so. The Knicks were talking championship. The Knicks opened this season by beating the Boston Celtics off of Carmelo Anthony’s heroics, and it looked like all these expectations could actually be somewhat attainable. We all thought it was a sign of things to come. {Insert pump fake here}

As the season progresses, guess what? WE SUCK!!!! This entire season has been nothing short of an abomination with a few sprinkles of promise. Linsanity… Promise, Carmelo’s complete domination throughout the month of April… Promise. Knicks even moved from 6 games under .500 to acquiring the 7^th spot in the Eastern Conference (Not like a cookie goes out to being a bottom feeder in a horrible conference standing but still, we got to take pride in something right?)  In reality, those glimpses of promise are nothing short of a pump fake {Again, insert pump fake here}. Knicks showing us the potential every one in the world knows they have just to let us down time and time again.  At this point in time, the playoffs have started against the Miami Heat, and we are down 0-2. Doesn’t look promising at all, but its something we should be used to by now right? I mean, we haven’t won a playoff game in 11 years for crying out loud. No worries though, I will bask in the reality now but next season, I will fall for the pump fake again. It’s our duty as devoted Knicks fans. I’m sold we don’t know any better.

- Chris

1. The matchup everybody wants to see= LAKERS v. HEAT

No disrespect to KD or to any other teams that have played well all season, but the matchup we all want to see is Kobe versus Lebron.  Fans have been patiently waiting to see the leagues 2 biggest stars battle in the Finals for years. It would be must-see TV! The Lakers looked shaky early but they have re-emerged as serious threat. Could it happen this year?

2. The matchup nobody wants to see= SPURS v. ANYBODY

The 3 old men and Coach Pop have the Spurs working like a fine tuned machine down in San Antonio. They finished the season tied for the NBA’s best record and would be a tough match for anybody in these playoffs. With that being said, the Basketball deities have got to step in and prevent them from making it to the Finals. Sitting through a series being forced to watch the Spurs will have us all impatiently waiting for football to return.

3. Injury bug is striking hard

With the abnormal offseason and missed training camp, everyone expected that injuries may play a role this season. But if you were like me you thought they would’ve been worked out by now and players would be in good shape. In the past 2 weeks we have witnessed season-ending injuries to some of the leagues best and already 2 blown knees in Game 1. Hopefully, this trend doesn’t continue.

4. No lead is safe

When I turned off the game and hopped on the subway to head home with 6 minutes left in game 1 between the Clippers and Grizzlies I was reminded that no lead is safe in the NBA Playoffs. By the time I got home and opened ESPN Watch I was looking at highlights of the Clippers winning the game. Teams that have made it a habit of blowing huge leads this year will want to lose that bad habit fast if they plan on advancing deep in this years post-season.

5. Coaching for a job next season?

A few teams have more to play for than just themselves. Some coaches could benefit from their team at least competing in a series. The Knicks interim head coach, Mike Woodson, is one of those who is looking to lead the Knicks to their first playoff win since 2001 playoffs. Not many expect the Knicks to upset the strong Miami Heat team, but for a team as talented as the Knicks who had high preseason expectations, a few moral victories could go a long way!

When the Clippers acquired Chris Paul this summer the unrealistic expectations and predictions came in right behind him. Del Negro’s contract expires in June and the team would have an option for next season. Del Negro has already been on the hot seat once this season.  They need to at least advance past the first round if you ask me.

Let’s not even discuss Stan Van Gundy and the madness that has surrounded the Magic this season. This may end up being his last season either way.

6. Who will hoist the Larry O’Brien in June? 

You can see who I picked, as well as a few of my Rat Pack brethren by clicking on the brackets below. So what, Im bias! Also, keep in mind these picks and games were made prior to the playoffs starting so we had no advantage. It will be interesting to see how things play out. Let us know who you believe will win it in the comment section below.

-Chei

Facts 2 Know

 1. Posture matters

Slouching is a sure way to sabotage your abs. Be sure to sit up and practice good posture outside of your time in the gym.

2. Sugar and 6-packs don’t mix!

Excess sugar directly leads to belly fat and that layer of belly fat will never allow your abs to shine.

3. Drink more water

You probably don’t realize how many extra calories and sugar are in the beverages you drink. 6 to 8 glasses of water a day is recommended and will help avoid some of those sugar filled juices and sodas.

4. Overworking your abs is counterproductive

It is not necessary or smart to do ab exercise every day. Your abs need to rest like every other muscle in the body.

5. Cardio is the X-factor

Core exercises alone will never produce the abs you desire. Cardio is a necessary evil.

6. Mix it up!

Muscle memory is what you want to avoid when working out so refrain from doing the same exercises, same reps and same sets every day.

Workout (Intermediate)

              Exercise {Reps}

• Jack-Knife Sit ups {1 x 10}
• Decline Weighted Twist {1 x 20} (10 each side)
• Hanging Knee Raise {1 x 20}
• Captain’s Chair Leg Raises {1 x 20}
• Side Plank {Max time, both sides}

REPEAT 2 MORE TIMES

• STRETCH

- Chei 

The other day I was having a conversation with one of my good friends over a glass of crown.  As we began telling our war stories about different women a very interesting topic came up.  The money shot! For those women who are not familiar with the term, go to your closest male friend and ask him to define the money shot.  As another close buddy of ours joined the conversation he posed a question: Is the money shot an illegal procedure to take with wifey? As simple of a topic as it may seem, this is a very a difficult question.

My friend and I disagree on said topic; he is totally opposed to the money shot with wifey.  His argument is that the money shot is for girls such as Kapri Styles and Pinky not for a respectable girl he would call his wife. In his claims his wife shouldn’t be subject to such “disrespect” or “tarnishing” as he put it.  My rebuttal; well is the money shot a part of your routine sex life?  As he inhaled his cigar and responded… yes.  So my question remained, why wouldn’t you want to incorporate the money shot into your sex life with wifey?  The discussion brought about a larger question to mind – Why would you want someone as your partner/wife if you could not express yourself 100% with them in the sexual realm?  As my divorced dad says “don’t marry someone if they’re not going to f^*$ you and s%&k you the way you want ?”  Yea, I know, listening to the advice of a divorced man on the topic of relationships probably isn’t the best thing to do, but hey he obviously knows what doesn’t work.  Strangely enough, I’ve began to live by that statement, not singularly, but if marriage puts a halt to my “playa” days why would I end that with someone who is not willing to take it (our sex life) to the next level?  The money shot is definitely next level.

So ladies, what do you think about the money shot, is it acceptable or not?  Am I the only person who places sex life near the top of my relationship totem pole?

- S

Benjamin Percy, a writer for GQ recently wrote an article in the March 2012 issue on getting a vasectomy.  If you’re like me and you have/had no clue what the hell that is, it’s a surgical procedure for male sterilization and/or permanent birth control.  In simple words, the male version of getting your tubes tied.  In great detail, he walked through the before, during, and after feeling of the procedure resulting in one of the most painful, interesting, hilarious, and thought-provoking reads I’ve had in less than five pages in a long time.  Take this excerpt for instance

“I don’t scream, but I clamp my jaw so tightly it clicks.  I arch my back so much I end up looking behind me at the door.  The technique differs from doctor to doctor.  Some cut diagonally.  Some puncture “key-holes” with a hemostat on either side of the scrotum.  Mine scalpels a vertical slash right down the middle.”

For the record, as much as the article may make you cringe, I urge you to check out the full version here when you get an opportunity.

As I approached the end of the article, it got me thinking, would I do the same thing?  I mean, it seems like a simple answer, hell no!  But then I thought about it… Women pretty much spend their entire lives on some form of contraception before they’re pregnant.  And after they’ve endured the pain of having children and the baby making is over, it’s almost a foregone conclusion that they would be the ones to get their tubes tied.  Wouldn’t it be the manliest deed of all time and a life-long easy pass to breakfast in bed and unlimited back rubs if you endured a fraction of the pain women go through to get a vasectomy?  On second thought, the ability to reproduce is part of what makes you a man.  Outside of the health concerns for women on birth control are alarming… still, I’M A MAN!  Conflicted as I’ve felt in a while, I thought I would gauge my Ratpack brethren, and their answers came back as I thought they would… Interested to see what everyone else thinks.

- Boone  

Now to be clear, by no way am I bashing a positive movement – but it seems “Fighting for the Cause” is merely a trend of the times. How much research have you conducted on a subject before you decide to retweet someone? How many articles did you read before deciding to get involved? Before being for or against a so-called movement, I would think one would want to know the complete details of each situation.

We also have to ask ourselves, how effective is my support if it never goes beyond my phone/computer screen? Supporting a cause as a spectator is great, but being active is better! I could never imagine if the Greensboro Four protested via twitter. How effective would they have been if they had? Picture Dr. King doing such a thing as this, we wouldn’t be nearly as far along. Which brings me to my point: if you’re going to stand for something, know the details, and be truly for the cause.

Over the past few years I’ve seen these short-lived movements start off so big, then I see them quickly forgotten with not so much as a solution. Troy Davis was all over my Timeline the day of his execution, the following day I saw no more than five mentions. If people were really for Troy Davis, their protests would have lasted long after his death. The same goes for Jena 6; thousands went down and protested, but it was again easily forgotten. But hey, these are just my thoughts – without sheep, the world wouldn’t need shepherds…

- Domo

I’m sure some of you have seen the recent movie Friends with Benefits. I haven’t and there isn’t a need to. It was probably the perfect depiction of boy meets girl where boy and girl decide they’re just not ready for commitment and decide to just have sex; by the end of the movie boy and girl realize that they just can’t live without each other and live happily ever after. Am I close?

THESE MOVIES AREN’T REAL LIFE and they’re a leading cause of women having hope for situations that were never meant to end in a relationship.  Because of this movie, there were probably hundreds that continued to stay in their current situation waiting for the guy to realize that he can’t live without them. I hope you’re not holding your breath. So let’s break this thing down.

The Original Agreement:

-       there is no commitment

-       we just have sex. When we hit each others phone, you already know what it is.

-       We’re cool, but don’t bring attention to the situation in public.

-       We don’t go on dates

-       We don’t have to entertain questions such as “where are you? Who are you with? Who is she/he? “

Sound a bit harsh? Then having a friend with benefits isn’t for you.

Where men go wrong

You enter into this situation with a female that you mildy like.  You’re not ready to commit to her but you actually don’t mind spending extra time with her. Later you figure out she’s pretty cool to talk to and you start opening up to her.  You tell her about your past, current plans, future goals. She’s falling already. Then you begin to text her all day. Now she’s got gps on you and can pretty much locate you at all times. You’ve put her onto your favorite music, she’s seen your baby picture from 89 and you EVEN agree to go grab some food at a popular restaurant in town.  BLEW IT. You have just opened the door with the big word HOPE on it and allowed her to walk right in. Congratulations.

Where women go wrong

Simply by agreeing to be in these situations. 9 out of 10 women can’t handle strictly being friends with benefits. Women naturally want attention, to feel important and all the rest of that mess. Not to say you don’t deserve it, but every man isn’t equipped or desires to give it to you. There are a lot of reasons women fall into the friend with benefits stage.

-       the relationship didn’t work out as planned but you stay around for the sex.

-       Hurt by your previous relationship so you think you’ll just have sex until youre ready to trust again

-       You like a guy but you know he’s not ready for a relationship, but you think he’ll eventually change his mind.

All of these reasons are setting yourself up for failure. Stop it, because when the guy adheres to the guideslines ( isn’t hitting you up consistently, wants you to come over late at night, never wants to go out in public ) you automatically write him off as an asshole when he is simply living up to the terms of  the agreement. Now there are those females that can actually handle sex with no strings attached, but they are a rare breed.

When a man says he just wants sex with no relationship, he just wants sex!!!! When a woman says she just wants sex, she just wants sex but eventually she’s going to want more!!!

Conclusion

Just realize what you are signing up for before you get in it and remember, “Expectations = Disappointments”. The success rate for friends with benefits is  low, but who’s really more at fault for the failure??

-Domo

As a grown man, there are certain things that- well, now that you iron your own clothes and make your own bed- any grown man should know just are NOT socially acceptable in this world… or the realm of reality, period. We, as men, like to call these things Violations against Man Law.

Below I have listed the Top 20 Violations against Man Law (no particular order), and if you have ever committed any of these heinous acts, you my friend are guilty of having your manhood called into question, and are hereby sentenced to: watching a minimum of 20 hours of ESPN, or any sporting event (this does not include chess, swimming, or badminton), your “ManCard” shall be suspended for the remainder of the year, and you shall be referred to as a woman until further notice. While these may be facetious, they are to be taken with the utmost seriousness. Check’em out…

Top 20 Violations against Man Law

thou shalt not…

- Admit to watching any movie on the Lifetime channel.

- Coin his own nickname.

- Share an umbrella with another male.

- Use a wallet that is fastened with Velcro.

- Show fear in front of a dog or small child.

- Call “shotgun” before getting in a car.

- Dispute someone else’s call of “shotgun.”

- Request extra sprinkles.

- Rank his friends in order of best, second best, and so on.

- Stop and ask for directions when a woman is in the car.

- Name his penis his name plus junior.

- When texting another male:

• put a smiley or winky face.
• agree and reply to a text with “k.”
• use the acronym OMG.

- Dance directly in front of another male.

- Eat Oreo cookies in stages.

- Hug amusement-park characters.

- Skip, prance, or hippety-hop.

- Know the complete lyrics to a Lady Gaga song.

- Say “two points” every time he throws something in the trash.

- Bend over and pick up a personal item with all back….knee bends are required.

- Talk to people using a Godfather or Scarface accent.

Honorable Mentions:

- Blow bubbles with bubble gum.

- Wear Disney-themed neckties.

- Wake up to cartoons.

- Choose 69 as his jersey number.

- Volunteer to be a magician’s assistant.

- Whine.

- Refer to oneself as a “playa.”

- Squeal when a bee or small bug is around.

Feel free to leave any additional Violations against Man Law in the comment section.

-Locka