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The basketball world will have to wait a bit longer than usual for the marquee international event, the Summer Olympic Games. But when they are finally held in Tokyo in 2021, at least one American basketball player will have a different affiliation.
Spencer Dinwiddie of the Brooklyn Nets will obtain a Nigerian passport in order to play for the nation’s men’s basketball program. The news comes via The Athletic’s Shams Charania, who on Saturday detailed that Dinwiddie would take steps to play for Nigeria after he did not receive an invitation to play for Team USA.
Sources: Nets‘ Spencer Dinwiddie is acquiring a Nigerian passport to play for the Nigeria national team. Dinwiddie didn’t receive Team USA Olympic invite; now joins Nigeria roster under Mike Bown that includes Al-Farouq Aminu, Josh Okogie, Chimezie Metu, Ekpe Udoh.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 18, 2020
Soon after, Dinwiddie confirmed the news on his Twitter account.
Well now y’all know lol https://t.co/7FnFAMIbVt
— Spencer Dinwiddie (@SDinwiddie_25) April 18, 2020
The American team is the most competitive of international basketball rosters, so not making the cut may have been expected by prognosticators, even for a player as good as Dinwiddie. But the move to suit up for Nigeria means Dinwiddie gets to play international basketball more consistently, and he joins a team with talent that includes Al-Farouq Aminu, Josh Okogie, Chimezie Metu, Ekpe Udoh. He’ll suit up for an NBA coach, too, as Warriors assistant Mike Brown leads the squad.
All of this is just paperwork right now, as no one can play basketball and the Olympics have officially been pushed back. But we’re starting to see more of what Team USA’s competition will be in the Summer Games — Nigeria has already qualified for the tournament — something anyone who’s a fan of basketball would love to see take place next year.
With people locked inside from coast-to-coast as a way to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the opportunities to do some sort of physical activity are limited. There’s regular, in-home exercise, and in some states, folks can head outdoors for a walk, run, or bike ride as long as they recognize social distancing guidelines.
For those with a basketball, Dallas Mavericks coach and handles icon God Shammgod wants to make sure you emerge from quarantine, whenever safe, with his namesake move in your bag of tricks. Shammgod made a video that NBA TV posted to its official Twitter account that serves as a how-to on the move, which has been used on courts around the world to make defenders look foolish for years.
Want to learn how to do the “Shammgod”? @dallasmavs Player Development coach @therealshammgod walks you through his signature move! pic.twitter.com/XELFDA5Mpr
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 18, 2020
Shammgod stressed the importance of having proper footwork, which he says would make everything else moot if it’s done incorrectly. The video rules, largely because learning how to do a thing from a person who invented it is always going to be extremely cool. It also lets me drop in this video of people using the Shammgod, which is legitimately a thing of beauty when it is done right.
While we’re here, this is a video of God himself giving Arizona the business in the NCAA Tournament.
And for good measure, enjoy this clip of a young Lamar Odom Shamgodding the soul out of someone.
Quarantine is going to end at some point. It might take a while to get to that point, so as long as you have a spot where you can work on this, you might as well get the Shammgod in your bag. Just make sure if you live in an apartment building that you apologize to your downstairs neighbors.
Passing by the three-year anniversary of Run The Jewels 3 this past December, Run The Jewels have been more than ready to share the fourth installment in the series, but a number of factors have stopped them from doing so just yet. In February, El-P revealed that the album was finished but Run The Jewels counterpart Killer Mike wanted to make some changes.
As the coronavirus pandemic began to make its impact across the music industry, El-P hoped that the album would not be delayed, but by the end of March the rapper told fans he was unsure of a release date for Run The Jewels 4. Entering a new month without Run The Jewels 4, April has presented a new problem for the duo: clearing samples.
pro tip: sample clearance can really be hell.
— el-p (@therealelp) April 18, 2020
and now you know why we haven’t posted the release date . one. damn. song. https://t.co/wuL1mpIguB
— el-p (@therealelp) April 18, 2020
Taking to Twitter to voice a bit of frustration, El-P tweeted, “pro tip: sample clearance can really be hell.” Sensing that this issue may affect Run The Jewels 4, a fan replied saying, “Might this affect the tracklisting for RTJ4?” to which El-P replied back “and now you know why we haven’t posted the release date [shoulder-shrug emoji]. one. damn. song.”
Last month, Run The Jewels shared two singles, “The Yankee And The Brave” and “Ooh La La” with the latter sporting guest appearances from DJ Premier and Greg Nice. Hopefully the sample clearance issue can be resolved rather quickly to take the next step toward the album’s release.
Earlier in April, Fountains of Wayne bassist and songwriter Adam Schlesinger tragically passed away after complications caused by coronavirus. Following his death, Schlesinger was honored throughout the entertainment world. Death Cab For Cutie’s Ben Gibbard said Schlesinger helped him “realize a life-long dream” before covering Fountains Of Wayne’s “Barbara H.” Earlier this week cast of That Thing You Do! said the 1996 film’s boy band The Wonders would reunite to honor Schlesinger, wrote the film’s theme song.
Taking a moment to honor the songwriter, Mark Ronson shared a six-minute tribute to Schlesinger on Instagram.
In the video, Ronson looked back at the work Schlesinger contributed to the world with a nearly 7-minute DJ set backed by music from Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Dolly Parton, Prince, Aerosmith, Rakim, Three 6 Mafia, Lady Gaga and more. In addition to words from Rachel Bloom, co-creator and star of My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Ronson shared his own thoughts on Schlesinger in the video’s caption.
Schlesinger wrote one of the most memorable, beloved pop songs from any film of modern times, “That Thing You Do”—a jangly ear worm that has made its way into the canon. He was also beyond versatile—starting off in acclaimed indie band Fountains of Wayne and ending up as composer for the brilliant and adored TV comedy-musical “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”… Adam passed away from CV earlier this month but MUSIC LIVES FOREVER. so thank you for the music
It’s clear Schlesinger had a significant impact on a lot of musicians, so these tributes are likely to continue as the music world mourns his tragic loss.